Over 850 gymnasts gathered on Saturday, March 21, and Sunday, March 22, at the Adrien-Zeller sports complex in Saverne for the Alsace ensemble championship. The GR Saverne club hosted the event and particularly excelled, with the under 17 team crowned Alsace champions.
The weekend was very successful for the Savernoise gymnasts led by Isabelle Châtel, who clinched five podium finishes. The Federal C all categories, narrowly beaten by Hoerdt, the Federal B under 15, surpassed by Schweighouse, as well as the under 13 National team, also finishing second behind Hoerdt, all secured commendable runner-up spots in Alsace.
The most remarkable performance came from the under 17 group. At 5:03 pm on Sunday, March 22, Mia Blasselle, Salomé Louis, Julie Hentz, Aélys Feeser, and Sofiia Shelakina made their entrance under the arch. Adorned in pink and black outfits, they confidently stepped forward before taking their place on the floor. The opening notes of “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows-Romani Holiday” echoed. With hoops and clubs in hand, the five gymnasts from GR Saverne were poised to captivate the audience and impress the forty judges.
“At that precise moment, the heart beats very, very strongly,” confided Julie Hentz. “We are in our bubble, almost out of time. We train several times a week for two minutes thirty of performance. It’s short for spectators, but very long for us, as the slightest mistake could cost us a medal. These are also incredible moments, etched within us.”
In a blend of energy and harmony, the five young gymnasts delivered a masterful performance where synchronization was total. Elegant and perfectly synchronized, Julie, Mia, Aélys, Salomé, and Sofiia expressed themselves gracefully through their movements.
As the scores were announced, joy erupted. A poignant moment before looking ahead to the next challenge: the Grand Est championships on April 11 in Pfastatt. “The goal is Tourcoing, at the beginning of June, for the French championships,” concluded Julie Hentz.
