The Butterflies won a splendid silver medal in the general team competition of the European Championships 2024 in rhythmic gymnastics. Italy showed up in Budapest (Hungary) with great ambitions after the excellent performances offered in the World Cup in recent months and the girls of DT Emanuela Maccarani promptly responded, managing to get on the second step of the podium in the all-around (the only race that will also be present at the Olympics of Paris 2024, where the specialty finals are not scheduled) thanks to two splendid exercises performed in the Hungarian capital.
Alessia Maurelli and her companions were splendid with the beloved five circles, being rewarded with a score of 38,900 (21.9 for the D Score, 8.350 for the execution, 8.650 for panel A: second score of the day). The Italians defended themselves with stubbornness in the always difficult match mixed exercise with three ribbons and two balls, closing with the result of 32,300 (17.2 for difficulty, 7.05 for execution, 8.050 for artistry: sixth result of the evening).
Italy finished with an overall score of 71,200, bowing only to an unbeatable Bulgaria (74,000: 39,150 with hoops and 34,850 in mixed). The blues succeeded ahead of Spain (71,200: 36,750+34,450) and Azerbaijan (70,200: 37,050+33,150), only fifth a disappointing Israel (70.050: 38.150+31.900), World Champions who did not perform as expected.
Bulgaria defended the continental title won twelve months ago ahead of Israel and Azerbaijan. Italy won silver for the seventh time in history after 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2021, 2022: the gold medal remains a taboo for this group, which has proven to be highly performing and which can look forward with great optimism to the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they will try to confirm themselves on the podium after the bronze in Tokyo 2020. The Butterflies will return to the stage tomorrow to compete in the specialty finals.
