Darja Varfolomeev from Germany speaks about her programs, the new signature element, and the history of meeting Mariia Borisova

At the World Cup stage in Tashkent Darja Varfolomeev from Germany, Olympic champion of 2024, eleven-time world champion, and three-time European champion, talked about her programs:

"The competition itself went pretty well. I'm happy with my performance because it was my first big competition, but I hope it gets better. We try to make every routine unique. That is, the hoop is slower and more lyrical, the ball is more feminine, the clubs are more dance-like, and the ribbon is more strict in style, you could say. It's important to me that the audience feels this too, that I can convey my emotions in different styles."

The athlete revealed the details of the creation of a new named element:

"My coach and I have been wanting to do a special element for a while. We also submitted a turn, like in figure skating, a leaning turn, like an attitude turn, but with the body on the side. But, unfortunately, it wasn't accepted. And also this element, which has now been approved, we tried to submit it in 2023, but it wasn't accepted there either. We decided to try it again this year, since all the rules have changed. And I'll be honest, my hoop isn't perfect, like everyone else's. So I thought, why not make it a little easier for some gymnasts and try it with their hand. You can also do a planche turn, and this one. I thought it would be good for other gymnasts to try something new too."

In addition, she shared the history of meeting Mariia Borisova:

"We saw each other at Gymnastik International in Germany, at a competition. We got to know each other there and got along really well. Now we've finally met after many years. We haven't seen each other in a while, but I've been following gymnastics, too, of course. She's always at the highest level. And, of course, I was very happy to see her and compete with her."

Dasha also named the gymnasts she wanted to get an autograph from and who inspired her at the very beginning of her athletic career:

"From many gymnasts, I think! Of course, Alina Kabaeva, Evgeniya Kanaeva, Yulia Raskina, my coach. Well, many, many more, of course, top gymnasts. Alina Harnasko, she was also my idol, so to speak. Now I compete with her, too. I'm very pleased that I can compete with a gymnast like her, someone I used to look up to."

Darja Varfolomeev came in second in the all-around and won gold medals in the clubs and the ribbon, and the bronze medal in the hoop at the World Cup stage in Tashkent.