Russia secure clean sweep of individual titles on final day of Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships

Yana Kudryavtseva earned three individual titles on the final day of the Championships ©AFP/Getty Images

Russia has secured every individual apparatus title at the Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships, which drew to a close in Minsk, Belarus today.

Having cruised to the team title with star trio Margarita Mamun, Yana Kudryavtseva and Aleksandra Soldatova yesterday, it was no surprise that the nation monopolised the individual events, with all-around world champion Kudryavtseva stealing the show by earning three titles.

She secured her first European crown of the day in the ball event, as she delivered a superbly executed and elegant routine to finish with 19.066 points, while Mamun took silver with 18.950 ahead of home favourite Melitina Staniouta, who took bronze on 18.466.

The Belarusian went one step further in the ribbon event, taking silver by posting a score of 18.133, but was again well adrift of Kudryavtseva, who clinched gold with 18.900, while Azerbaijan’s Marina Durunda completed the podium on 18.000 points.

Kudryavtseva's excellent form continued with gold in the clubs competition on 19.166 points, however her team mate Soldatova failed to impress and finished the competition in last, despite a good performance in qualification.

Melitina Staniouta of Belarus earned four medals but was unable to prevent Russia from earning every title on offer ©AFP/Getty Images

Ukraine’s Ganna Rizatdinova took advantage by securing silver after producing an excellent performance, while Staniouta claimed her second bronze of the day by finishing level with her compatriot Katsiaryna Halkina on 18.033 points, with the home crowd delighted to see a medal awarded to each athlete.

The two women also found themselves on the podium in the hoop final, as Staniouta earned her second silver, and fourth medal, of the day with a score of 18.500, while Halkina finished in the bronze medal position again after being awarded 17.950 points by the judges.

However, the two Belarusians were again trailing in the wake of a Russian athlete as Mamun produced a stunning performance, similar to her display in qualification, to comfortably claim gold with 19.000 points.

Russia will hope their dominance continues with the rhythmic gymnasts now set to compete at this summer’s inaugural European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan.