Varfolomeev is going to be in the history books with a super show
Olympic History: Germany Wins First Gold Medal in Rhythmic Gymnastics. Darja Varfolomeev Takes Top Spot in All-Around. Margarita Kolosov Narrowly Misses Podium.
Darja Varfolomeev has made history. 345 days after her five-event triumph at the World Championships, the 17-year-old from Schmiden has become the first German Olympic champion in rhythmic gymnastics. Varfolomeev triumphed in Paris in the all-around with ribbon, ball, clubs, and hoop, scoring 142.850 points and breaking down in tears upon hearing the results. This was the first medal for the German Gymnastics Federation (DTB) at the Games in Paris and the first gymnastics Olympic medal since Regina Weber won bronze in 1984 in Los Angeles.
Silver went to Borjana Kaleyn of Bulgaria with 140.600 points, followed by Italian favorite Sofia Raffaeli with 136.300. German all-around champion Margarita Kolosov from Potsdam finished a strong fourth with 135.250 points.
Varfolomeev had a shaky performance in the qualification the day before. She had to use a replacement hoop after the first one rolled away, and a knot in the ribbon cost her valuable points. Despite these setbacks, she finished second behind Raffaeli and ahead of Kaleyn.
Mother of Leroy Sané's Last Medal
In the final, Varfolomeev showed no signs of her earlier struggles. She presented her routines with high difficulty and apparent ease, building a 2.3-point lead after three apparatuses. After the final ribbon routine, she collapsed in relief and embraced her coach, Yuliya Raskina.
Rhythmic gymnastics has been an Olympic sport since 1984, when Regina Weber became the first and only German to win a medal, a bronze. Weber is the mother of football national player Leroy Sané. Varfolomeev's victory has not only made history but also capped an extraordinary career. She started at the age of three, following in her mother's footsteps. At 12, she moved to Germany from Barnaul, Siberia, without her parents and without knowing the language. Thanks to her German grandfather, she was able to change citizenship. Now, she lives in Fellbach near Stuttgart with her father and Chihuahua. Her mother was present at the gold medal win in Paris.
"She had potential when she arrived," said Raskina, who has coached Varfolomeev since she moved to Germany. As a junior, she was "okay," but they built her up slowly without pressure. Varfolomeev's dedication has made her the face of German rhythmic gymnastics. In 2021, she won her first World Championship title with clubs, and last year, she achieved a historic five-event victory in Valencia, a feat only Russian gymnast Yevgeniya Kanayeva had accomplished before.
The Olympic Games 2024 in Paris are eagerly anticipated by Varfolomeev and her coach, as she aims to defend her title and continue her remarkable journey in rhythmic gymnastics. Furthermore, the DTB is optimistic about their chances of securing more medals at the 2024 Olympics, building upon the success of Darja Varfolomeev.
