The EC team gymnastics championships will be held this weekend in Vantaa. Last year, the Helsinki team Gloria, which won its first prize medal, is ready to become the number one team in Finland.
Riikka Penttilä has been piloting the Helsinki team Gloria towards the top of Finnish team gymnastics for six years. Gloria has gymnasts from two clubs, Elise and Pakila Gymnasts. Minet and OVO Team have held the top two places in both domestic and international competitions for years. Last year, Gloria knocked OVO Team out of the World Championship final and took the World Championship bronze.
– The cry came after the medal performance. There was such a strong desire and faith in the team and the girls. When the hard work was rewarded, I started crying, head coach Riikka Penttilä says.
– It was a wonderful experience and a great achievement. We have been training for many years and it felt good that the long-term work brought results, Gloria’s captain Erika Luoto remembers.
The rule changes that came into effect at the beginning of the year aim to make all aspects of team gymnastics equal. The maximum score is now 30. The importance of artistry was increased, the degree of technical difficulty and, for example, body movements were increased. You get ten points for all areas, artistic, technical and performance.
– It didn’t make any sense that the top teams got full points for the technical and artistic aspects in every race. Now there is more scale, which brings more differences between the teams. I’m thumbing up the new rules, Penttilä smiles.
The success of the recent WC silver team Gloria motivates other teams as well. There is room at the top if you persistently want to get there. Your faith must not waver. According to Gloria’s head coach, the team’s journey has not always been easy, but the motivation has remained even in difficult moments.
– The first thing is desire and belief in one’s own thing. I think that’s the number one thing. If you don’t believe in what you’re doing, who will. I get motivation when I see that an athlete gives his all. It also makes me want to push harder, Penttilä analysed.
– We have developed a similar business language and with the help of it we have risen towards the top positions. The motivation has grown over the last few years, as we have challenged the best and reached the top. It’s been nice to train, Luoto says.
Gloria has competed this season with a program inspired by strong music. The theme is the insomniac’s longing for another person. Choreography has been done Riia Kivimäki.
– We are in good shape. The program has already been practiced for half a year. There is a good mood in every training session. We train hard with good humor, but not really, says Luoto.
– The girls enjoy being on the mat and the moment. It shows in their gymnastics, it’s a joy to watch, Penttilä says.
There are four Finnish teams participating in the European team gymnastics championships, two of which will make it to Sunday’s final. In addition to Gloria, Minetti and OVO Team, Sirius from Jyväskylä is also participating. 19 teams from eight different countries participate in the women’s series. Minetit won silver at the World Championships last year and silver at the European Championships two years ago. This season, Minetit has won both World Cup competitions.
Gloria has been to the European Championships twice, but now the goal is to be in the final and with medals. On May Day, the team finished second in the World Cup. With Russia absent, Finland has a good chance to grab two medals at the home games.
– We are going to challenge the reigning world champion Bulgaria and other Finnish teams. Winning is the goal, Penttilä states decisively.
– The goal is to make an even neater, more precise and expressively stronger performance, which would be enough for an even brighter medal. With good feelings and positive encouragement, Luoto smiles