Varfolomeev wins third consecutive all-around world title at home Worlds in Frankfurt

A rocky start

Darja Varfolomeev entered the all-around final at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Frankfurt as the overwhelming favourite, having dominated qualification across all apparatus. But the 19-year-old's opening routine with the hoop went awry: the judges awarded her only 28.300 points, and her displeasure was visible on her face as she left the stage. The stumble carried extra weight because Varfolomeev had missed the clubs final in qualification by just 0.3 points, finishing ninth in that apparatus. That near-miss added motivation for the all-around showdown, where she faced four rotations with the hoop, ball, clubs, and ribbon in front of a home crowd.

The comeback

Varfolomeev recovered immediately with a strong, error-free ball routine that earned 30.050 points and drew her back toward the leaders. She acknowledged the score with a relieved smile. Her clubs performance then became the turning point: on the very apparatus where she had struggled the day before, she delivered the day's highest score of 31.500 to take the lead after three of four rotations. The ribbon routine demanded composure, and Varfolomeev delivered 29.650 points, waving to the crowd in relief before the score even appeared. She was already smiling when the number flashed on the scoreboard. The title was hers, confirmed after a brief wait.

She finished 1.900 points ahead of Bulgaria's Stiljana Nikolowa, who took silver. Italy's Sofia Raffaeli claimed bronze. The victory gave Varfolomeev her third consecutive all-around world title, matching her triumphs from 2023 and 2025. Two years ago in Paris she became the first German gymnast to win Olympic gold in the all-around. Alongside the gold medal, she received the certificate confirming Germany's early-secured Olympic quota place for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

Home crowd and emotion

The Frankfurt Festhalle was sold out, with 4.250 spectators cheering Varfolomeev through every routine. The 19-year-old, who had shouldered enormous expectations as the face of the home championships, broke down in tears of joy on the shoulder of her coach after the victory was confirmed.

I can't describe my feelings at all. I cried, I smiled - and I'm simply grateful for the support. I have wonderful people at my side.

What lies ahead

On Sunday, Varfolomeev has three further gold-medal chances in the individual apparatus finals with the ball, ribbon, and hoop. The championships feature 300 athletes from 73 nations competing across the week. Despite Varfolomeev's growing fame as a five-time world champion, the event has generated limited public enthusiasm in Frankfurt itself. Organising chief Thorsten Weiß of the German Gymnastics Federation noted that rhythmic gymnastics in Germany still appeals almost exclusively to girls, though Varfolomeev's success has driven growing interest. The fanzone on the exhibition grounds was designed for the whole family rather than the sport's core clientele, an approach Weiß said would likely only be different in Japan or Spain, where gymnastics has long attracted male participants. A beverage company at the fanzone invites visitors to try spinning a hoop or swirling a ribbon for a free bottle of water, though the clubs station had not yet been supplied with equipment.