SIMONOV'S GOLD

The World Cup in artistic gymnastics, which took place in Baku from 6-9 March, was characterised by intense competition and the triumph of Azerbaijani gymnast Nikita Simonov. Our representative demonstrated his prowess during the rings event, where he competed against athletes from 19 countries.

Securing first place in the qualifying round, the European Championship silver medallist also achieved the highest score in the final. Nikita Simonov ascended to the top step of the World Cup podium with a score of 14.233. This marks Simonov's second medal of the current season, having previously secured a silver medal at the World Cup in Cottbus, Germany. In the rings event, the other medallists included Zhiwei Meng (China) in second place and Alexander Diab (USA) in third place.

Simonov: "Every Routine Must Be Perfect"

Gold medallist Nikita Simonov shared his thoughts with journalists about the application of new rules in tournaments: "This year, my first competition took place in Cottbus. There, I secured second place. I was in a position to win, but a minor error on my part prevented me from achieving the top spot. In Baku, I performed without errors. I am very happy. As gymnasts performing on the rings, we strive for perfection. We aspire to perfection in every routine."

Simonov also reminded us that the next stage of the World Cup will be held in March in Antalya, Türkiye. He went on to say that he expects the competition to be even tougher. "There are some new combinations that need to be tested before the European Championship in Leipzig, Germany, at the end of May, and the World Championship in Indonesia in October. These events represent the most significant competitions of the current year," athlete said.

The gymnast who earned the gold medal emphasised the significance of winning at World Cups: "If you remember, before the Olympic Games in Paris, qualification for the Summer Games was also conducted through World Cups. I was very close to qualifying for the Olympics. Unfortunately, my performance in Baku ultimately played a decisive role. If the qualification system remains unchanged, World Cups will once again be pivotal in securing licenses for Olympic participation. I have an unfinished Olympic dream. I am currently working very hard and am fully focused on achieving my goal of participating in the Games. The Olympics provide a significant source of motivation. The pinnacle of achievement for any athlete, including myself, is securing Olympic gold. I am committed to achieving this goal."

A New Star

Azerbaijani athlete Nikita Simonov has had a successful start to 2025. Following his success in winning medals at two consecutive World Cups, he is already expressing his interest in participating in the 2028 Olympic Games. Simonov had previously been on the verge of securing a license for the Paris Olympics, but ultimately missed out due to errors made during the tournament. However, he now considers his chances of obtaining a license for the current Olympic season to be more favourable.

The World Cup in Baku also featured a notable performance by 15-year-old Deniz Aliyeva in the vault. Achieving her maximum goal by advancing to the final, the young gymnast delighted her coaches by finishing seventh in the final round. Demonstrating her readiness for adult competitions, Deniz Aliyeva reached the final at both the World Cup in Cottbus and in Baku.

Another World Cup is scheduled to take place in Antalya from 20th to 23rd March. Azerbaijani gymnasts Nikita Simonov, Ivan Tikhonov, Rasul Ahmadzade, Murad Agharzayev, Nazanin Teymurova, and Deniz Aliyeva will represent Azerbaijan at this event.