On to Play! Nina Derwael will make her comeback at ‘her’ bridge at the European Gymnastics Championships in early May

Team Belgium is traveling with a team of gymnasts to the European Championships in Rimini, Italy. For men this will take place from April 24 to 28, for women from May 2 to 5.

Selected are seniors Nina Derwael, Erika Pinxten, Maellyse Brassart (who will compete at the WB in Doha this weekend), Jade Vansteenkiste and newcomer Mika Webster-Longin. The men are Luka Van den Keybus, Noah Kuavita, Victor Martinez, Maxime Gentges (good for silver on the horse last year), Glen Cuyle and Nicola Cuyle.

For 24-year-old Derwael, this will be the first European Championship since Glasgow in 2018. She then won gold on the bars and silver on the beam. Since then, she has never participated in a European Championship for various reasons: injuries, corona or other planning towards a greater goal.

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It will also be the first time in a year and a half that she will perform a bridge exercise in a major competition. Her last appearance on her favorite device was the 2022 World Cup in Liverpool. Then she won the bronze medal. She competes on bars and beam. Webster-Longin takes care of floor and vault. She trains in the US.

For other girls, the European Championships are their last chance to qualify for the Olympic Games. There is still one ticket to earn for the best in the all-round competition for the girls who have not previously qualified. Brassart, Pinxten and Vansteenkiste (in the team for the first time in three years) are eligible for this.