The European Gymnastics Podcast

4: Episode 4: Join our club and have a ball!

In this episode, Olly Hogben and Blythe Lawrence talk to Spanish Acro trailblazers Juan Daniel ‘Dani’ Molina and Jose ‘Pepe’ Moreno and focus on the European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics that will kick off next week in the Bulgarian seaside resort Varna with a trio of Bulgarian greats offering their insights. Finishing on a high with Vasco Peso and the analysis of his killer dismount at the Trampoline Europeans.  * Spring is here, the season of possibility! Blythe recaps the recent World Cup stages with the senior debut of the already iconic Elena Colas (FRA), European Champion Manila Esposito (ITA) in a rare World Cup outing, the battle between Onofriichuk and Varfolomeev in Baku, the triumph of Tara Dragas and the groups from Spain and German in Portimao and a trio of high-level retirements. This time a famous piece of Rhythmic Gymnastics music is playing in the background. Can you guess who used this and when? * Dani Molina and Pepe Moreno (ESP / Acrobatic Gymnastics) have taken the world by storm, winning their country’s first medals at the World Championships, at Europeans and at the World Games. This Dinamic duo talk about their start, their facial expression, and the inspiration for their routines. Get to know their amazing story! * With the Rhythmics Europeans about to kick off, it’s preview time! Looking back on the stellar performances of Taisiia Onofriichuk, Stiliana Nikolova, Sofia Rafaelli and Daria Varfolomeev last year in Tallinn, what can talents like Tara Dragas and Polina Karika do? And all eyes on the Bulgarian group in full rebuild mode. Let’s hear some insights from Bulgarian greats Elisabet Paisieva, Stefani Kiryakova and Boryana Kaleyn! * Want to get into the Rhythmic mood? Check out our European Cup documentary ‘Chasing Perfection – Inside the Cross Battle’ on Youtube.  * Anatomy of a skill: recently crowned European tumbling Champion Vasco Peso (POR) talks us through his ‘killer’ skill … the quad-twisting double layout! Hard to control, lots of power, and impeccable timing needed, Peso pulled it off in Portimao last month to the delight of the entire audience.  * So … did you guess the rhythmic music? Let us know on social media!

3: Episode 3: Let’s get ready to Tumble!

In this episode, Olly Hogben and Blythe Lawrence talk to Italy’s Elisa Iorio (WAG) about her comeback before focusing on the European Championships in Trampoline, Double Mini-Trampoline and Tumbling that will kick off on Wednesday in the Portuguese town of Portimao.  * Blythe recaps the recent World Cup stages with victory for Ukraine’s Taisiia Onofriichuk, the return of Olympic pommel horse Champion Rhys McClenaghan (IRL), the senior debut of the already iconic Elena Colas (FRA), the amazing Anastasiia Kurashvili (UKR) and Miquel Mane (ESP) in Aerobics and the retirement of Belgium’s Luka Van den Keybus … can you guess the floor music? * Elisa Iorio (ITA / Women’s Artistic Gymnastics) talks about her comeback. Iorio recently won the uneven bars title at the Cottbus World Cup after being sidelined all of 2025. She also looks back on her part in the historic Olympic team medal for Italy, her passion for the Chinese language and the Eastern cultures inspired by the band BTS.  * With the Trampoline Europeans about to kick off, it’s preview time! Who should you look out for? And we sat down with 32-year-old Diogo Abreu from the host nation Portugal. World Champion, 7x European medallists and two-time Olympian, Abreu is still going strong, still loving trampoline and training with his friends, now with the support of his young family. Can he answer this important question though: why is Portugal so good at the Trampoline disciplines?! * In DMT, we expect an Iberian clash: Spain – Portugal. However each country is missing one of its strongholds: reigning World Champion Melania Rodriguez and World Games Champion Diana Gago are out. In Tumbling, we’ll see a showdown between Azerbaijan’s Tofiq Aliyev, Mikhail Malkin and the British guys. Will we see the out-of-this world triple triple again? Shout out also to Belgium’s Lani Spiessens and defending Champion Alexandra Efraimoglou (GRE).  * Your complete guide to Double Mini-Trampoline and Tumbling with Pete Cracknell and European Coach of the Year Mikey Barnes! Which one has a higher nutcase level? So … did you guess the floor music? Let us know on social media!

2: Episode 2: Competition season kicks off

In episode 2 of 'The European Gymnastics Podcast', Olly Hogben and Blythe Lawrence are joined by Darja Varfolomeev (GER, Rhythmic Gymnastics), Céline Van Gerner (NED, Women’s Artistic Gymnastics) and Dora Hegyi (HUN, Aerobic Gymnastics) as we discuss the following topics: * Competition season kicked off with the World Cup series, the 2025 European ‘Gymnasts of the Year’ are crowned and … can you guess the floor music playing while Blythe recaps the headlines? * Join our club as we have a ball with the Olympic Champion in Rhythmic Gymnastics Darja Varfolomeev! The German star talks about the importance -and weight- of her Olympic title, the support of the audience, her ability to focus during competitions and her new routines. Exciting! * A trip down memory lane with Céline Van Gerner and her iconic Cats floor routine. After winning the Dutch first ever team medal at the 2018 European Championships, following a rollercoaster week, Van Gerner put up an incredible show in the floor final, giving the audience the full-on Cats experience including special make-up, hairstyle and theatrical moves, orchestrated by the experiences of Daymon Jones on the show.  * We’ll journey through the world of Aerobic Gymnastics with our guide Dora Hegyi’s 5 things you should know about Aerobics! This Hungarian Champion lives and breathes Aerobics and with all her explanations, you’ll be an expert in no time.  By the way, did you guess the floor music? Let us know on social media!

1: Episode 1: Welcome to 'The European Gymnastics Podcast'

Episode 1: Welcome to ‘The European Gymnastics Podcast’ hosted by Blythe Lawrence and Olly Hogben, the debut episode of 'The European Gymnastics Podcast' features none other than Max Whitlock (GBR, Men’s Artistic Gymnastics), Giulia Steingruber (SUI, Women’s Artistic Gymnastics) and Tofig Aliyev (AZE, Tumbling / TeamGym) as we take you through the following topics: ·       The 2026 European Gymnastics event calendar, part 1 ·       The return of the legend! The biggest gymnastics news of the end of 2025 surely was the return to competition of Max Whitlock after finishing fourth at the Paris Olympics. Hungry for more, the British legend explains his motives and his quest for a skill named after him on pommel horse.   ·       Jumping on the 2016 social media trend with Swiss superstar Giulia Steingruber who looks back on her epic year 2016 shining in front of home crowd at the European Championships in Bern, in the same venue she now works at, and battling the twisties en route to an Olympic medal.  ·       The story of the first ever full-full-full: Azerbaijan’s Tofig Aliyev took on - and completed – the first ever triple triple at the 2025 World Games. Now the tumbling icon exclusively tells us just how it happened.