The European Gymnastics Podcast

In episode 8 of ‘The European Gymnastics Podcast’, Olly Hogben and Blythe Lawrence focus on the upcoming TeamGym European Championships in Espoo (FIN) and the World Championships in Artistic Gymnastics in Rotterdam (NED).   Blythe recaps the gymnastics news, starting with the ever spectacular Paris World Challenge Cup where host France and neighbour Belgium divided the women’s titles, the World Cup in Szombathely (HUN) and the retirement of 2017 World medallist Bart Deurloo (NED). Who won a European floor title with the music playing in the background? Olly looks back on his highlights of the recent World Championships, starting with Aerobics in Pamplona. Our last episode’s special guest Miquel Mane became the star of the event, retaining his World title, while Greece celebrated its first ever medal courtesy of Faidra Diamanti. At ACRO Worlds in Pesaro, Roni Cohen and Shiraz Sokolovsky (ISR) clinched the treble in women’s pairs plus team gold. Superstars Ivan Labunets and Yevfrosyniia Kryvytsa (UKR) secured two titles and the joy of the Azerbaijan’s women’s group after their dynamic win was simply contagious.  It’s TeamGym time! Finland hosted the very first European event 30 years ago, and we return there this year. From 14 to 17 October, Espoo’s Metro Areena is the place to be for all TeamGym fans. Olly is joined by former Team GB athlete and European Gymnastics co-commentator Liam Gallagher and Swedish TeamGym coach Emma Göransson who discuss TeamGym’s unique format, the pace and the high stakes, the team spirit and the rivalry of the Nordic countries. Learn all about this spectacular discipline so you can follow the entire competition live on gymtv.online, with expert commentary by Olly and Liam! Ahoy to Rotterdam! Find out three topics Blythe is excited about for these World Championships before we speak to Italian great Manila Esposito about her success in Zagreb, her return to her childhood gym in Civitavecchia, the support of her family and a selfie with… Simone Biles.  So … did you guess the music? Let us know on social media!

In episode 7 of ‘The European Gymnastics Podcast’, Olly Hogben and Blythe Lawrence focus on the upcoming World Championships as they chat with the Aerobic man of the moment Miquel Mane (ESP) and Ukraine’s ACRO mixed pair Ivan Labunets and Yevfrosyniia Kryvytsa.  A World Championships in 60 seconds: Blythe recaps Rhythmic Worlds held in Frankfurt last month. Which ACRO pair found World Games glory using this piece of music? Blythe looks back on the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics European Championships, held in  Zagreb recently. Her top moments include the all-around title of Angelina Melnikova, the comeback stories of Helen Kevric and Manila Esposito, and the rise of the French team lead by Elena Colas.  Olly dissects the Men’s week in Zagreb, highlighted by an incredible team final, 6 nations winning 6 apparatus finals, the one thousands mark separation in both all-around finals and Illia Kovtun’s return to competition, this time representing his new home, Croatia.  ·       Reigning mixed pair World Games Champions Ivan Labunets and Yevfrosyniia Kryvytsa (UKR), who’ve been training in Poland for 4 years already, are getting ready for the Acro Worlds in Pesaro. Despite being far away from home - Yevfrosyniia and Ivan see their family and friends in Ukraine only once a year - the duo strives thanks to the total focus on their sport. Join us as they talk about trust, commitment, and the Broadway and Nutcracker ballet inspiration for their routines. A glimpse back at the extraordinary performances at the Mediterranean Games where Kaylia Nemour shone brightest, Türkiye and Italy won the team titles and Super Marios Georgiou excelled yet again.  Reigning World Champion Miquel Mane is heading to a home Aerobics World Championships, in Pamplona. When you see Mane perform, fans witness moments of pure art. Mane’s passion for theatre, aesthetics and science give way to a lust for life that shows on and off the competition floor.  So … did you guess the  music? Let us know on social media!

In episode 6, Olly Hogben and Blythe Lawrence talk Artistic Gymnastics with reigning European All-Around Champion Adem Asil (TUR) and Croatian trailblazer Tijana Korent as we head to Zagreb this month for the European Championships!Blythe recaps the essential gymnastics news including the success of Ruby Evans, Reuben Ward and Luke Whitehouse at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the dominance of Darja Varfolomeev at the Rhythmic World Cup final in Milan in the lead-up to home World Championships in Frankfurt, an all Romania – Ukraine affair at the Aerobic World Cup, and  heartfelt goodbyes to Italy’s Nicola Bartolini and Türkiye’s Ahmet Onder. o   An iconic piece of Artistic Gymnastics music is playing in the background. Can you guess who used this and when? 2023 and 2025 European All-Around Champion Adem Asil opens up about the pressure and the prestige of being an all-around gymnast, continuously pushing his limits, the focus on his physical, and even more importantly, his mental capabilities and the incredible development of Türkiye’s men’s team. What advice does Adem give his younger self coming to Türkiye 10 years ago? Find out in this candid interview! Olly and Blythe discuss the top three things they look forward to most at the upcoming European Championships in Artistic Gymnastics. Can you guess the descriptions?  At 37 years old, Tijana Korent is still leading the Croatian team to new heights. Back after a  pause caused by a kidney illness, Korent speaks about her desire to end her gymnastics career on her own terms and the thrill of competing at a home Championships. As a history-maker for her nation, where she became the first female gymnast to compete in an European Championships final, Korent loves to give advice to the younger gymnasts and show her love for the sport. The best is still to come! So … did you guess the floor music? Let us know on social media!

In this episode, Olly Hogben and Blythe Lawrence count medals with the Spanish Rhythmic group, go to Austria to learn about Gymnastics for All and check out the power of representing Scotland ahead of the Commonwealth Games. Blythe recaps the essential gymnastics news including the comeback of French star Melanie de Jesus dos Santos, the success of the Bulgarian men led by Daniel Trifonov at the Tashkent World Challenge Cup, the return of Taeja James who’s back after a 5-year layoff and the unique turn displayed by Darja Varfolomeev which could see her name printed in the Code of Points. An iconic piece of Artistic Gymnastics music is playing in the background. Can you guess who used this and when? Spain swept all three group titles at the 2026 Rhythmic Europeans, just like they did in 2025. The captain of the Spanish group Ines Bergua joins Blythe for an open-hearted talk about their ambition and the feelings during a routine, even revealing what the secret ingredient to their success is.  With the European Gym for Life Challenge and EUROGYM coming up in Pistoia, we focus on ‘Gymnastics for All’, the most inclusive discipline -and non-competitive- in the gymnastics portfolio. We welcome Nina and Sarah from Austria’s Tanzhaus Hohenems whose performance at last year’s World Gym for Life Challenge contained a profound message of inclusivity and breaking down barriers as their group of dancers with and without disabilities, coming together as a unit, dancing on stage together.  The Commonwealth Games are coming up in August. One of the biggest multi-sports events in the world sees athletes competing under different flags like Northern Ireland and Wales. We’re joined by Shannon Archer who is vivacious and overjoyed to talk about her pride in wearing the Scottish colours. The Scottish star retired after the 2022 Commonwealth Games where she won the bronze on vault becoming Scotland’s first ever female artistic gymnastics medallist.  So … did you guess the floor music? Let us know on social media!

In this episode, Olly Hogben and Blythe Lawrence talk to Spanish Acro trailblazers Juan Daniel ‘Dani’ Molina and Jose ‘Pepe’ Moreno and focus on the European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics that will kick off next week in the Bulgarian seaside resort Varna with a trio of Bulgarian greats offering their insights. Finishing on a high with Vasco Peso and the analysis of his killer dismount at the Trampoline Europeans.  Spring is here, the season of possibility! Blythe recaps the recent World Cup stages with the senior debut of the already iconic Elena Colas (FRA), European Champion Manila Esposito (ITA) in a rare World Cup outing, the battle between Onofriichuk and Varfolomeev in Baku, the triumph of Tara Dragas and the groups from Spain and German in Portimao and a trio of high-level retirements. This time a famous piece of Rhythmic Gymnastics music is playing in the background. Can you guess who used this and when? Dani Molina and Pepe Moreno (ESP / Acrobatic Gymnastics) have taken the world by storm, winning their country’s first medals at the World Championships, at Europeans and at the World Games. This Dinamic duo talk about their start, their facial expression, and the inspiration for their routines. Get to know their amazing story! With the Rhythmics Europeans about to kick off, it’s preview time! Looking back on the stellar performances of Taisiia Onofriichuk, Stiliana Nikolova, Sofia Rafaelli and Daria Varfolomeev last year in Tallinn, what can talents like Tara Dragas and Polina Karika do? And all eyes on the Bulgarian group in full rebuild mode. Let’s hear some insights from Bulgarian greats Elisabet Paisieva, Stefani Kiryakova and Boryana Kaleyn! Want to get into the Rhythmic mood? Check out our European Cup documentary ‘Chasing Perfection – Inside the Cross Battle’ on Youtube.  Anatomy of a skill: recently crowned European tumbling Champion Vasco Peso (POR) talks us through his ‘killer’ skill … the quad-twisting double layout! Hard to control, lots of power, and impeccable timing needed, Peso pulled it off in Portimao last month to the delight of the entire audience.  So … did you guess the rhythmic music? Let us know on social media!