The Miss Valentine tournament of Rhythmic Gymnastics has concluded in Tartu. The tournament set a new record - over 1,500 athletes from 55 countries competed in the Tartu gymnastics marathon over five days. At FIG level, The Miss Valentine tournament in Tartu hosted Estonia's fifth Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix stage, where Ukrainian gymnasts achieved the highest results, winning a total of 7 medals. Among Estonian gymnasts, Anette Vaher (ball, clubs, ribbon) and Valeria Valasevitš (hoop, clubs, ribbon) competed in the finals.
The individual all-around competition at the Miss Valentine tournament saw Ukrainian gymnasts take the top two positions, with Taisiia Onofriichuk delivering a commanding performance to claim the gold medal. The 17-year-old Ukrainian demonstrated exceptional skill and consistency across all four apparatus, scoring a total of 115.800 points.
Onofriichuk particularly impressed with her hoop routine, scoring 30.650, and maintained strong performances in ball (28.550), clubs (28.050), and ribbon (28.550). Her technical execution and artistic presentation set her apart from the competition, establishing her as one of the rising stars in international rhythmic gymnastics.
Fellow Ukrainian Polina Karika secured the silver medal with a total score of 109.100. The 20-year-old veteran showed remarkable consistency, scoring 27.850 in hoop, 27.400 in ball, 26.050 in clubs, and 27.800 in ribbon. Despite a minor deduction in her clubs routine, Karika's experience and polished performances ensured her place on the podium.
American gymnast Megan Chu completed the podium, taking bronze with a total of 106.800 points. The 17-year-old from the USA showed particular strength in her clubs routine, scoring 27.450, which was the second-highest score in that apparatus across the competition. Her performances in hoop (26.700), ball (25.900), and ribbon (26.750) demonstrated the growing strength of American rhythmic gymnastics on the international stage.
The all-around results reflect the increasing global competitiveness in rhythmic gymnastics, with Ukrainian gymnasts maintaining their traditional strength while athletes from countries like the USA continue to close the gap at elite competitions. These performances set an exciting tone as gymnasts prepare for the European Championships in Tallinn this June and look ahead to international competitions later in the season.