Execution skill of Russian female gymnasts at the 2026 Senior and Junior European Championships

The purpose of the study – determine the level of the strongest Russian female gymnasts’ execution skill at the 2026 European Championships, comparing them with foreign rivals after the national team’s return to the world gymnastics stage ahead of the 2028 Olympic qualification. Research methods and organization: analysis of the Russian female gymnasts’ results at European championships; analysis of the World Gymnastics’ 2025–2028 Code of Points and identification of differences in the requirements for junior female gymnasts; expert assessment of the Russian gymnasts’ performances at the 2026 European Championships; expert analysis of statistical materials on the official website of the European Gymnastics. Research results and conclusions. The level of the Russian national team’s gymnasts’ (seniors and juniors) execution skill has been determined in comparison with the best foreign rivals based on the results of the 2026 Continental Championships. It has been revealed that, after a five year absence, Russian female gymnasts have once again taken leading positions in Europe, confidently winning the team and individual all around championships. The team’s leader, A. Melnikova, won the all around with a competitive score for the 2026 World Championships. The Russian team demonstrated a high level of execution skill, without even a single fall in the final. A problem remains in the execution of Russian gymnasts in the event finals. Russian junior female gymnasts confidently demonstrated their dominance, winning five gold medals out of six possible. Modeling their results, taking into account the Code of Points for senior gymnasts, showed that the two leaders, A. Andrianova and P. Dmitrieva, currently possess a high level of execution skill. Over the next two years, they could pose serious competitiveness to the gymnasts in the main roster for selection to the national team for the 2028 Olympics.