European Championship Gold earned by Eder and Schoenmaier at the grand premiere event - Gold medal win at the premiere: Duo Eder/Schönmaier secure European Championship title
Gymnastics Duo Clinches European Mixed Team Gold
Germany clinched the gold medal in the inaugural mixed team final at the European Championships in Leipzig, with Timo Eder and Karina Schönmaier delivering a flawless performance to defeat favorite Great Britain.
"It's simply incredible. I'm still shaking with goosebumps. This is just legendary what we've accomplished together with Timo," said Schönmaier, the Chemnitz native, cradling her gold medal. "A dream has come true."
The German duo scored 25.566 points in the last of three apparatus, with Eder earning 13.333 points on the rings and Schönmaier securing 12.233 points on the balance beam. Their performance marked the second medal for the German Gymnastics Federation (DTB) following the women's team's silver medal.
Eder expressed his satisfaction with the victory, stating, "We didn't make any mistakes. We won a gold medal, I can’t complain. This provides even more motivation for the upcoming competitions and eases some of the nervousness, as everything now feels like an encore."
Great Britain claimed the silver with a total score of 25.466 points, while Italy took third place in the small final against France, scoring 27.966 points on the horizontal bar and floor exercise.
The mixed event will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. In this new competition, one woman and one man will represent each nation. The format and rules for LA have not yet been determined.
During the three rounds, the starting fields were halved each time until only duels for third place and the final remained. The rule was that only one apparatus was turned in each round, with a different apparatus in the second round than in the first, and the third apparatus in the final round.
"Competing in this event is really cool. I'm really excited," said Eder. National coach Jens Milbradt shared his anticipation, saying, "I think it will be a great competition."
Eder and Schönmaier, both 19 years old, strategically chose the floor in the first round, advancing as the sixth duo with 27.866 points. Their tactical decision to choose the supposedly strongest apparatus in the second round paid off, with each athlete scoring 13.933 points in their performances, securing a spot in the big final against Great Britain. They had already secured silver before their performances on the rings and balance beam.
The mixed team gymnastics event marks a significant addition to the Olympic artistic gymnastics program, which hasn't seen a new event in nearly 80 years. The event is part of a broader initiative by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to introduce more mixed-gender events across various sports. It is anticipated that countries will select team members from existing delegations rather than sending additional athletes specifically for the mixed team event. This approach aligns with the quota spots allocated for artistic gymnastics during the Paris 2024 Olympics. The concept of mixed team events has been successful in other sports, and the European Championships serve as a test ground for this innovative artistic gymnastics format.
The Commission could potentially propose a directive on the protection of gymnasts, as well as other workers, from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation during their routines, considering the new mixed team event in Olympic artistic gymnastics.
With the Olympic debut of the mixed team event in Los Angeles 2028, this addition to the gymnastics program might influence an increased interest in the sport, similar to the surge in sports participation seen after successful Olympic events.
