Baku, Azerbaijan, March 6
By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:
The conditions created in Azerbaijan for gymnasts allow to prepare well for the First European Games, Azerbaijani gymnast Maria Smirnova told Trend on Mar.6.
Smirnova won two gold medals in the Open Joint Azerbaijan Championships in Gymnastics Disciplines that kicked off in Baku on Mar.4.
The gold medal winner said she is satisfied with her result.
"Today I performed better than on the first day," said Smirnova. "If I performed on the first day as well as today, I could be in the top 3 in the all-around competitions."
The gymnast added that her coach is also satisfied with her results, since they expected to win a medal only in the floor exercises.
Furthermore, Smirnova added that she will prepare for the European Games in Baku, since the conditions created in Azerbaijan allows to fulfill all the tasks of the gymnast.
The Open Joint Azerbaijan Championships in Gymnastics Disciplines will be completed on Mar.6.
Coming from 22 countries, 133 gymnasts compete for medals in both the all-around and individual competitions.
Such well-known gymnasts, as two-time absolute world champion Yana Kudryavtseva (Russia, rhythmic gymnastics), Olympic silver medalist Filip Ude (Croatia), European champion Alexander Shatilov (Israel, both - sports gymnastics) and other athletes have arrived in the capital of Azerbaijan - Baku.
What makes this competition special is that it will be held on the same scheme with the First European Games. Open Joint Azerbaijan Championships in Gymnastics Disciplines will set a precedent in the history of gymnastics and a great opportunity for the masters of aerobics and acrobats to compete together with rhythmic and artistic gymnasts and trampoliners.
The European Games to be held in Baku on June 12-28, 2015 are the first games in the history of the European continent.
Edited by SI
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