Manila Esposito arrives in Zagreb, Croatia this week chasing a third straight all-around gold at the 2026 European Gymnastics Championships ahead of Olympic gymnastics qualifiers for LA 28.
2026 European Gymnastics Championships Kick Off in Croatia
The 19-year-old Italian already owns the 2024 and 2025 continental crowns. But on Thursday, she opens competition in pursuit of one more at Arena Zagreb, which hosts the meet for the first time this year.
Her toughest test will be reigning world all-around champion Angelina Melnikova. The Russian's start was in doubt after Croatia initially denied visas to nine members of her delegation. Melnikova and Anna Kalmykova cleared that hurdle this week after diplomatic talks. Olympic champion Viktoria Listunova was unable to secure a reversal of her visa denial.
Still, the rest of the European field runs deep.
Esposito's Italian teammate Alice D'Amato, the Paris 2024 balance beam champion, is entered along with Britain's Becky Downie. Downie, 34, returns to international competition for the first time since Paris after injuries sidelined her the past few years. And France's Elena Colas also debuts at the senior continental level this week.
European Gymnastics Championships Previews LA 28
The tournament is scheduled to move quickly with Thursday's senior all-around and team qualification giving way to Saturday's apparatus finals and Sunday's senior team final. Eurovision Sports will stream all senior finals.
Beyond the medals, Zagreb offers an early read on the LA 28 pecking order. Another European crown would cement Esposito as the continent's top all-around contender heading into the next Olympic gymnastics cycle.
