Ancona, August 13, 2026 – Tomorrow, at the Festhalle in Frankfurt, the great event with the All-Around final of the 2026 World Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics takes place. Among the most anticipated protagonists is Sofia Raffaeli, ready to play her chances to return to the top of the world, 4 years after the 2022 triumph.
After a second day of competitions to forget, Sofia Raffaeli still managed to secure access to the individual All-Around final, scheduled for August 14, at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Frankfurt. The Italian is fifth with 85.000 points, four points behind the home favorite Daria Varfolomeev, first with 89.000.
But it will be a whole different competition. It starts again from zero, with a long race towards the world title and, above all, towards one of the first three individual Olympic quotas for Los Angeles 2028, awarded to the gymnasts who will reach the podium.
Raffaeli had started the World Championships in the best way. On the first day of qualifications, Wednesday, the Italian star enchanted with the hoop, performing an extraordinary routine scoring 30.100 points, the highest score awarded by the jury up to that moment. A superb performance that earned her first place in the specialty.
Also excellent was the performance with the ball, finished with 28.450 points and second place. Two routines that confirmed Sofia’s ambitions, appearing precise, confident, and fully in control.
Then, however, came the most difficult day. In the qualifications for clubs and ribbon, Raffaeli was unable to maintain the same level of performance. With the clubs she finished in 26th place, while with the ribbon she ranked 23rd, missing both specialty finals scheduled for Sunday, August 16. Tara Dragas also failed to reach the goal, finishing 32nd with clubs and 31st with ribbon.
A heavy setback, especially after the excellent debut, but it does not erase what was shown on the first day and, above all, does not compromise Sofia’s chance to fight for everything in the All-Around.
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The qualification for clubs also brought a stunning surprise: the reigning world champion Daria Varfolomeev, a big favorite in front of the Festhalle crowd and holder of the title won in Rio de Janeiro in 2025, missed the final eight, finishing ninth and becoming the first reserve.
With the ribbon, instead, the German immediately redeemed herself, dominating the qualification with 30.050 points. For Italy, therefore, there will be no Italians in the clubs and ribbon finals on Sunday. But for Sofia Raffaeli the World Championships are far from over: the most important competition is tomorrow.
In the All-Around final, a Raffaeli capable of regaining the continuity, precision, and quality that characterized her debut will be needed. The fifth starting place does not tell the full potential of the Italian, who has already shown she can reach top scores.
To get on the podium and win a precious Olympic quota, Sofia will have to leave behind the difficulties of the last routines and return to performing at her highest level. Three of the four apparatuses today can become the springboard to rewrite her World Championships.
The challenge is wide open. And Sofia Raffaeli still has four routines to turn a complicated qualification into a day to remember and try to secure, and give Italy, the pass for Los Angeles 2028. Angelo Campioni
