Stiliana Nikolova dominates Baku Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup

Stiliana Nikolova upstaged reigning world champion Sofia Raffaeli at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Baku on Sunday (23 April).

After taking all-around honours on Saturday, the Cairo-born Bulgarian athlete won the hoop, clubs and ribbon in the apparatus finals although a dropped ball which rolled out of bounds ended her chance of a clean sweep of titles in the Azerbaijani capital.

Darja Varfolomeev capitalised on Nikolova's error to take victory with the German also making the podium thanks to a clubs third place.

It was also a good day for Nikolova's compatriot Eva Brezalieva who won three medals including ball and ribbon silvers to go with her all-around bronze.

For Italian Raffaeli, who won five golds at last year's World Championships, it was a largely forgettable weekend.

The 19-year-old led the all-around going into Saturday's last two events, but an error-strewn ribbon routine handed Nikolova victory.

She took hoop silver on Sunday but then, like Nikolova, suffered a drop in the ball final. Raffaeli experienced a similar fate in the clubs final where she finished only sixth.

In the group events, Israel took victory in both the 5 Hoops and 3 Ribbons + 2 Balls competitions.

Results from Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Baku, 22-23 April 2023:

All-around (Saturday)

1. Stiliana Nikolova (BUL) 133.800
2. Sofia Raffaeli (ITA) 129.700
3. Eva Brezalieva (BUL) 126.300
4. Darja Varfolomeev (GER) 124.900
5. Takhmina Ikromova (UZB) 124.900
6. Viktoriia Onopriienko (UKR) 124.550

Hoop

1. Stiliana Nikolova (BUL) 34.650
2. Sofia Raffaeli (ITA) 34.400
3. Eva Brezalieva (BUL) 33.550

Ball

1. Darja Varfolomeev (GER) 33.150
2. Eva Brezalieva (BUL) 32.950
3. Takhmina Ikromova (UZB) 31.800

Clubs

1. Stiliana Nikolova (BUL) 34.150
2. Viktoriia Onopriienko (UKR) 32.650
3. Darja Varfolomeev (GER) 32.550

Ribbon

1. Stiliana Nikolova (BUL) 31.300
2. Eva Brezalieva (BUL) 31.100
3. Takhmina Ikromova (UZB) 30.950

5 Hoops

1. Israel 34.950
2. China 34.650
3. Ukraine 33.350

3 Ribbons + 2 Balls

1. Israel 33.100
2. China 32.450
3. Azerbaijan 32.300