FISAF European Fitness Championships 2008,
The Press Release,
issued 18th of September 2008 The FISAF European Fitness Championships was held in Helsinki, Finland, from 11th till 13th of September 2008, organized by the Finnish Dance Sport Association. The final tilts for the European Champion title took place on Saturday evening. More than 250 athletes (of the senior age division) competed in four Sports Aerobics categories (Women Individual, Men Individual, Mixed Pairs and Sports Aerobics teams) and three FISAF Fitness Teams categories (Fitness Aerobic, Fitness Step, Hip Hop Teams). Competitors from 12 countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain and Switzerland) participated in the Championships. The most numerous were the delegations from the Czech Republic (89 athletes) followed by delegation of Russia (72) and France (31). There were 61 routines presented in preliminary rounds. All categories provided a splendid show of brilliant performances beaming with enthusiasm, energy and joy of exercise. While fitness teams categories are usually more attractive for spectators with complicated choreography and impressive effect of collective acting, the athletes in Sports Aerobics demonstrate the exercise of highest technical difficulty and complexity. Everyone made a great effort to perform the best, and our respect and appreciation belong to all of them. Unfortunately, there are only three medals available, and beside the triumphs, there was seen lots of disappointment in athletes who believed in better placing.The hosting country had most competitors in the individual categories (2 women and 3 men), well known for their outstanding performances from previous championships. In the Individual Men category, Jouni Viitanen (Finland) prevailed convincingly in all three rounds of the competition, with the highest score of 8.9 given by technical judge Sonia Sava, and won the gold medal. Jonatan Canada from Spain gained the silver medal with very tight difference from the first place, Jan Pochobradsky (the Czech Republic) was ranked on the third place.The heaviest contest came about in the most numerous category of Individual Women. Rita Niemi from Finland achieved the highest total rank in all rounds, and was awarded with the gold medal. The second place belongs to Ludmila Kovatcheva from Bulgaria, who demonstrated major improvement in her performance under coaching by Jonatan Canada. Denisa Baresova form the Czech Republic is the bronze medallist. Irina Matilainen from Finland achieved major improvement in the final round and was ranked on the fourth place. All finalists and some of those who did not qualify for finals in these individual categories shown excellent performances of their routines of the high technical difficulty, and the ranks were quite tight. The results of the next championships can hardly be estimated, and highly attractive competition can be expected. In the category of Mixed Pairs, the gold medal was awarded to Veronika Sindelarova and Pavel Sirotek (the Czech Republic), the pair from Germany, Amelie Jung and Peterson Querubin, won the silver medal. The bronze medallists are Jana Vujtova and Josef Vujta (the Czech Republic). The mixed pair from Poland, commencing in the FISAF competitions, also performed a routine of decent level. Among Sports Aerobics teams the Czech prevailed and won all three medals in competition of total number of 8 teams. In the Fitness Aerobic category, the Czech teams gained the gold and silver medal (Aerobic Dancers Kladno – first, Aerobic team Veroniky Vrzbove – second). The Russian team Effect was awarded the bronze medal with only slightly lower rank. The Fitness Step category became a duel between the Russian and Czech teams, in which the Russian team Flamenco got the highest position, followed by teams from the Czech Republic (Aerobic Dancers Kladno – the second, Fitness Studio Zdeny Vitakove – the third). The Russian teams dominated the Hip Hop category, and finished on the first and second position (S-dance – winner, Ghetto Blasta – silver medallist). The third rank belongs to Boombastic team from the Netherlands. The European Championships became a great success for the Russian delegation. The representatives of the hosting country shined in solo sports aerobic categories. The Czech Republic confirmed its long-time position in FISAF competition.The next top-competition – 2008 FISAF World Fitness Championships, FISAF World Junior Fitness Championships and World Cadet Cup - is going to take place in Dubna, Russian Federation, in December 2008. Katerina, Josef Dvorak The complete results from all rounds of the competition are available at www.fisaf.org |
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