site.btaRhythmic Gymnast Nikolova Wins Silver, Brezalieva Eighth at World Championships

European champion for 2024 Stiliana Nikolova took silver in the individual all-around final, and Eva Brezalieva finished eighth at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Saturday.

Nikolova demonstrated significant potential, securing second place behind Olympic champion Darja Varfolomeev of Germany. Under the guidance of coach Valentina Ivanova, Nikolova achieved a total score of 119.300 points, with individual apparatus scores of 28.700 for hoop, 29.800 for ball, 30.650 for clubs, and 30.150 for ribbon, earning her the title of world all-around runner-up. This is Bulgaria’s first all-around silver medal at a World Championships since 2001 in Madrid, when Simona Peycheva also finished second.

Nikolova previously secured all-around bronze at Sofia 2022 and now holds a total of seven World Championships medals and 13 European medals.

Celebrating her 20th birthday on Saturday, Nikolova opened with a strong clubs routine, earning her highest score of the day, 30.650. She followed with an elegant ribbon performance for 30.150. Despite a minor mistake at the end of her hoop routine, she scored 28.700 and received 29.800 for ball.

Eva Brezalieva delivered a consistent performance. Under the guidance of Branimira Markova, Brezalieva finished eighth in the all-around with a total of 112.200 points: 28.450 for hoop, 27.950 for ball, 28.800 for clubs, and 27.000 for ribbon.

Darja Varfolomeev of Germany, Olympic champion from Paris 2024, claimed the 2025 world title with 121.900 points (30.100, 29.850, 31.950, 30.000), successfully defending her gold from Valencia 2023.

The bronze went to Italy’s Sofia Raffaeli, world champion at Sofia 2022, with 117.950 points (30.550, 29.100, 29.000, 29.300).

Completing the top six were Taisiya Onofriichuk of Ukraine, European champion for 2025, with 117.400, Takhmina Ikromova of Uzbekistan with 114.650, and Anastasia Simakova of Germany with 114.300.

Bulgaria was represented on the judging panel by Filipa Filipova.

The World Championships in Brazil continue on Saturday with the group all-around, including the Bulgarian team.