DTB hopes for Olympic gymnast Varfolomeev to win

After winning the World Championships, those responsible for the German Gymnastics Federation believe that rhythmic gymnast Darja Varfolomeev has a bright future.

“Everything is possible now,” said team manager Isabell Sawade at the national team center in Fellbach-Schmiden. “Everything” also includes the Olympic victory in Paris in 2024. “Dascha”, as Varfolomeev is called by her colleagues, has “very, very great potential”.

Born in Russia, Varfolomeev became world champion last week in Sofia and was the first German gymnast to win gold with clubs since 1975.

You can’t believe it yourself, said the 15-year-old near Stuttgart. In the direction of the Olympic Games, together with her trainer Yulija Raskina, she will increase the difficulty of her exercises again. In Paris she would then try to win a medal.

In addition to gold with clubs, Varfolomeev also won silver with ball and bronze with hoop at the World Cup. She also won silver in the all-around and in the team. Even if the Russian gymnasts, who are normally among the best in the world, were admitted to international competitions again after a possible end to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, Varfolomeev would be “absolutely competitive,” said Sawade. “She would be one of the top favorites in Paris.”

Varfolomeev, who was born in West Siberia, only came to Fellbach with her family at the age of twelve because she thought she had better chances of being able to compete for the national team at the DTB. Her grandfather is German.

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