Italy's National Rhythmic Gymnastics Team has claimed two podium spots at the final leg of the 2026 FIG World Cup Series held at the Unipol Forum in Assago, just outside Milan. Sofia Raffaeli secured silver in the individual all-around with 113.050 points, while Tara Dragas took bronze with 112.700, both finishing behind Germany's Olympic champion Darja Varfolomeev, who topped the standings with 119.400 points and clinched the overall 2026 World Cup circuit title.
Why This Matters
• Qualification momentum: The World Championships in Frankfurt are scheduled for mid-August, where the first qualification slots for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will be awarded.
• Live broadcast: Apparatus finals aired on La7 starting at 2:00 PM on Sunday, July 12, giving Italian audiences front-row access to their athletes' performance.
• Home advantage: The event marked a rare opportunity for Italy-based fans to watch elite rhythmic gymnastics without traveling abroad, with both Italian competitors reaching all-around podium positions on home turf.
Apparatus Finals Deliver Mixed Results
The competition extended beyond the all-around standings. On Sunday, July 12, both Italian gymnasts competed across multiple apparatus finals, with clubs emerging as their strongest discipline. Dragas earned silver in clubs with 29.750 points, while Raffaeli claimed bronze with 29.450. Varfolomeev maintained her dominance, taking gold with 30.950.
In the hoop final, results were less favorable for the Italian duo. Raffaeli placed 7th with 28.150, and Dragas finished 9th with 27.600. The German champion once again led the field with 29.700. The ball apparatus saw similarly modest outcomes: Dragas finished 5th (28.150) and Raffaeli 6th (27.850), with Varfolomeev securing another gold at 29.550.
The ribbon final results for both athletes were not immediately available in official communications at the time of reporting, though Dragas had previously captured gold in ribbon at the Italian National Championships in June 2026.
Varfolomeev's Unmatched Dominance
Darja Varfolomeev's performance in Milan underscores her current reign over international rhythmic gymnastics. The 18-year-old German athlete, who delivered a historic gold for her nation at the Paris 2024 Olympics with a final score of 142.850, has extended her supremacy into 2026. She is a two-time consecutive World All-Around Champion (2023 and 2025) and achieved a rare "sweep" at the 2023 World Championships in Valencia, winning all five individual titles—a feat previously accomplished only by Russian legend Evgeniya Kanaeva.
In May 2026, Varfolomeev added the European All-Around title to her collection, further cementing her status as the sport's leading figure. Her consistency across all apparatus disciplines and her ability to score above 36 points in multiple events during Olympic competition set a benchmark that rivals, including Raffaeli and Dragas, are striving to match.
What This Means for Italian Gymnastics
For Italy's Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation, the double podium represents both validation and a challenge. Raffaeli, who won bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has positioned herself as one of the sport's top contenders, but the 6.35-point gap between her and Varfolomeev in Milan signals the work ahead. Her technical director at Ginnastica Fabriano, her training club in central Italy, Maila Morosin, has publicly expressed confidence that Raffaeli can challenge for gold at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, a goal Raffaeli herself has embraced with ambition.
Dragas, meanwhile, continues to solidify her standing as Italy's second elite individual competitor, with particular strength in clubs and ribbon. Her bronze medal in the all-around and silver in apparatus finals demonstrate the depth of talent within the Italian program, offering the national federation options for team strategy and individual event specialization heading into major championships.
The team competition at the same Milan World Cup, however, revealed weaknesses. Italy's group squad finished 13th in the all-around with 49.350 points, well behind podium finishers Brazil (56.050, gold), and China and Spain (both 55.850, shared silver). This result suggests that while Italy's individual program is thriving, investment and development in group routines remain areas for improvement.
Road to Frankfurt and Beyond
The immediate focus for both Raffaeli and Dragas is the World Championships in Frankfurt, scheduled for mid-August 2026. This competition carries significant weight, as the first Olympic qualification spots for Los Angeles 2028 will be distributed based on performance. Raffaeli has stated her intent to "dream big" and aim for victory, seeking to upgrade her Paris bronze to gold in Los Angeles.
The Milan World Cup, broadcast live on La7, provided Italian audiences with a rare chance to witness elite rhythmic gymnastics in person. The event drew considerable attention, both for the home athletes' success and for the spectacle of Varfolomeev's near-flawless routines. For residents in Italy, particularly in the Lombardy region, the competition offered a glimpse into a sport that often receives limited mainstream coverage outside of Olympic years.
Context for Casual Observers
Rhythmic gymnastics combines elements of ballet, gymnastics, and apparatus manipulation, with athletes performing choreographed routines using hoops, balls, clubs, and ribbons. Scoring is based on both technical execution and artistic expression, with judges evaluating difficulty, precision, and creativity. The FIG World Cup Series comprises multiple international stops throughout the year, with cumulative standings determining an overall circuit champion.
Italy has a strong tradition in the sport, though historically it has been dominated by nations like Russia, Bulgaria, and, more recently, Germany and Israel. Raffaeli's Olympic bronze in Paris marked a significant breakthrough for Italian rhythmic gymnastics, and the continued success of both Raffaeli and Dragas suggests the nation is building a sustainable pipeline of elite talent.
For Italian sports fans, the double podium in Milan offers both pride and anticipation. With Frankfurt on the horizon and Los Angeles 2028 looming as a long-term target, the next 12 to 24 months will determine whether Italy can close the gap with the sport's current elite or whether Varfolomeev's dominance will continue unchallenged into the next Olympic cycle.
