Rhythmic sports gymnastics
Varfolomeev confused: hymn breakdown in gold award ceremony
Updated on 23.08.2025 – 06:20 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
That was a victory with an announcement. As in qualification, gymnastics queen Darja Varfolomeev gives no chance in the World Cup all-around competition. The wrong hymn is running at the award ceremony.
Gymnastics star Darja Varfolomeev only came out of rhythm in her first of five possible world championship titles at the award ceremony. When the flag was hoisted, the Georgia was played instead of the German national anthem. “Unfortunately, this sometimes happens that the wrong hymn is being turned on. But I definitely thought that this would not happen at World Championships,” said the old and new all-around world champion about the embarrassing hymn breakdown.
The Olympic champion was just as confused on the podium as the other members of the German delegation. “I thought: What should I do now? Should I just sing my hymn?” Said the 18-year-old. She thought that the right anthem would still be played. But that didn’t happen. “But it’s okay. Then let’s just look ahead. It’s not to change anyway,” said Varfolomeev. On Sunday she has four more chances of World Cup gold in the individual finals.
Previously, Germany’s athlete of the year had made the gold triple in the all-around after the 2023 World Cup title and the Olympic victory last year. The 18-year-old from Schmiden clearly left the competition in Rio de Janeiro with 121,900 points.
Second on her 20th birthday Stiliana Nikolowa from Bulgaria with 119,300 points. Third place went to the Italian Sofia Raffaeli (117,950) as at the Olympic Games in Paris. WM debutant Anastasia Simakova from Schmiden increased compared to the pre-fight on all devices and became strong sixth with 114,300 points.
“It went quite well, there were four clean devices. At the end of the tire exercise there was a great relief because everything was through,” said Varfolomeev and once again emphasized that “the all -around is the most important thing”.
The opening with the ball was unusually angular for her conditions. 29,850 points meant half a counter less than in qualifications. With a famous 31,950 points, she then jumped from fourth to one at halftime with her clubs and no longer gave up the top position. With 30,000 points for the band lecture and 30.100 points for tire performance, the Olympic champion held the competitors at a distance and was able to accept congratulations before competitive.
With her victory in the all-around, Varfolomeev paved the way to a renewed five-time triumph. She won all five titles two years ago in Valencia. Before Varfolomeev, the Russian Jewgenija Kanajewa 2009 and 2011 succeeded.
WM debutante Simakova, who had replaced the Olympic-fourth Margarita Kolosov (Potsdam) to the rank of the replacement gymnast, presented herself nervous. The sixth rank of the 20-year-old was a deserved reward for a sovereign appearance. “Today it was good for me. I am very satisfied that I was able to take part in this big competition,” said Simakova. On Sunday, the Russian -born still competes with the tire and the band in the individual finals.