Milena Baldassarri (born 16 October 2001 in

Ravenna Ravenna ( ; , also ; ) is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. It was the capital city of the Western Roman Empire during the 5th century until its Fall of Rome, collapse in 476, after which ...

, Italy) is an Italian former individual

rhythmic gymnast Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which gymnasts perform individually or in groups on a floor with an apparatus: hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon and rope. The sport combines elements of gymnastics, dance and calisthenics; gymnasts must be strong, fle ...

. She won silver in the ribbon final at the

2018 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships The 2018 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships were held in Sofia, Bulgaria, from 10 to 16 September 2018 at Arena Armeec. The top three countries in the group all-around, Russia, Italy, and Bulgaria won the first three spots for the 2020 Olymp ...

, becoming the first Italian individual gymnast to win a silver medal in the World Championships. She also is the bronze medalist in the ball final at the

2022 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships The 2022 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships were held from 14 to 18 September 2022 in Sofia, Bulgaria. The competition was used to determine the first quotas given for the 2024 Summer Olympics. The three medalists in the individual and gr ...

, as well as a four-time Team medalist in the World Championships (2018, 2021-2023). She competed in the individual all-around at the

2020 The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...

and

2024 Summer Olympics The 2024 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad () and branded as Paris 2024, were an international multi-sport event held in France from 26 July to 11 August 2024, with several events started from 24 July. P ...

, finishing within a top 8 position at both games. Baldassarri is the 2016 European Junior Team bronze medalist. On the national level, she is a three-time (2018, 2020, 2021) Italian National all-around champion, a four-time (2019, 2022-2024) Italian National all-around silver medalist, the 2017 Italian National all-around bronze medalist, and the 2016 Italian Junior National all-around champion. She retired in November 2024.

Personal life

Baldassarri's mother was a swimmer who competed internationally for the Soviet Union, and Baldassarri competed in swimming through age 7, at which point she tried other sports, including rhythmic gymnastics. She started practising

rhythmic gymnastics Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which gymnasts perform individually or in groups on a floor with an apparatus: hoop (rhythmic gymnastics), hoop, ball (rhythmic gymnastics), ball, Clubs (rhythmic gymnastics), clubs, ribbon (rhythmic gymnastics), ...

. In addition to Italian, she speaks Russian. Baldassarri chose to pursue rhythmic gymnastics because she enjoyed the performance aspect, and she has chosen themes of social issues such as suicide, body shaming, and violence against women for some of her exercises.

Career

Junior

In 2014 she moved to

Fabriano Fabriano is a town and ''comune'' of Ancona province in the Italian region of the Marche, at above sea level. It lies in the Esino valley upstream and southwest of Jesi; and east-northeast of Fossato di Vico and east of Gubbio (both in U ...

and started being trained by the Olympian Julieta Cantaluppi and her mother, Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast Kristina Guiourova. In 2015 she was selected to be part of the Italian national junior group that competed at the

2015 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships The 2015 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships, the 31st edition, took place from May 1 to 3 2015 in Minsk, Belarus at the Minsk-Arena Minsk Arena () is the main indoor arena in Minsk, Belarus. The Minsk-Arena complex includes the main ...

Minsk Minsk (, ; , ) is the capital and largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach (Berezina), Svislach and the now subterranean Nyamiha, Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the administra ...

Belarus Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...

. They placed 6th in the group all-around and 5th in the 5 balls final. At the 2016 European Championships, Baldassarri won the junior team bronze with Alexandra Agiurgiuculese. She did not advance into any apparatus finals due to the one-per-country rule.

Senior

In 2017, Baldassarri made her senior international debut at the international tournament Città

Pesaro Pesaro (; ) is a (municipality) in the Italy, Italian region of Marche, capital of the province of Pesaro and Urbino, on the Adriatic Sea. According to the 2011 census, its population was 95,011, making it the second most populous city in the ...

, where she won the bronze medal in the all-around and silver in the ribbon final. She also won gold in the clubs final ahead of Russian

Ekaterina Selezneva Ekaterina Sergeyevna Selezneva (, ''Yekaterina Sergeyevna Seleznyova'', born 18 May 1995 in Pushkino, Pushkinsky District, Moscow Oblast) is a Russian individual rhythmic gymnast Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which gymnasts perform indiv ...

. In May she competed at 2017 Sofia World Cup, her first world cup, where she took the 10th place in the all-around. On 19–21 May, Baldassarri, along with her teammates Alexandra Agiurgiuculese and

Alessia Russo Alessia Mia Teresa Russo (; born 8 February 1999) is an English professional association football, footballer who plays as a forward (association football), forward for Women's Super League club Arsenal W.F.C., Arsenal and the England women's n ...

, represented the individual seniors for Italy at the 2017 European Championships, where she qualified for the ribbon final. She finished in 7th place. On 5–7 August Baldassarri finished 8th in the all-around at the 2017 Minsk World Challenge Cup. She qualified for two apparatus finals and finished 7th in ribbon and 4th in ball. Her ball score was tied with third place (16.650), but the tie was broken in favour of her teammate Alexandra Agiurgiuculese, who received the bronze medal. Together with Alexandra Agiurgiuculese, Baldassarri represented Italy at the 2017 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Pesaro, where she finished 9th in the all-around ahead of Bulgaria's Katrin Taseva; she also qualified for the ribbon final, where she finished in 6th place. She was awarded with the Alina Kabaeva Prize.

2018

In 2018, on 30 March - 1 April, Baldassarri began her series of World Cup events by competing at the 2018 Sofia World Cup. There she was 12th in the all-around, and she qualified for the hoop final, where she finished 5th. On 13–15 April Baldassarri competed at the 2018 Pesaro World Cup, finishing 9th in the all-around. She also qualified for the ribbon final. On 27–29 April she then competed in the event at the 2018 Baku World Cup, where she finished 8th in the all-around behind Japan's

Kaho Minagawa Kaho Minagawa (; born 20 August 1997) is a retired Japanese individual rhythmic gymnast. She is the 2017 Asian Championships All-around silver medalist. She trained in Novogorsk in Moscow, Russia. She is the first Japanese individual rhythmic gy ...

and qualified for one event final. On 4–6 May she competed at the 2018 Guadalajara World Challenge Cup and had a new highest all-around placement when she finished fourth in the all-around behind Russia's

Arina Averina Arina Alekseyevna Averina (; born 13 August 1998) is a Russian former individual rhythmic gymnast. She was a 2020 Summer Olympics finalist, a two-time (2017, 2019) world all-around silver medalist, a two-time European all-around champion (2018, ...

.Baldassarri had an overall successful event, qualifying for all four apparatus finals and winning her first World Cup medals. She won silver in ball behind

Linoy Ashram Linoy Ashram (; born ) is a retired Israeli individual Rhythmic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnast. She is the Gymnastics at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's rhythmic individual all-around, 2020 Olympic All-around Champion, the 2018 Rhythmic Gymnas ...

, and she also won a bronze in clubs. In both the ribbon and hoop finals, she finished 5th. On 16–17 May Baldassarri competed at the 2018 Holon Grand Prix, finishing 7th in the all-around behind

Salome Pazhava Salome Pazhava ( ka, სალომე ფაჟავა; born 3 September 1997) is a Georgian former individual rhythmic gymnast. She finished 4th in All-around at the 2015 World Championships. Personal life Pazhava was born to Georgian p ...

. She qualified for two apparatus finals, where she won her first Grand Prix gold medal in ribbon. She also won bronze in ball. Baldassarri once again represented Italy with Alexandra Agiurgiuculese at the

in Sofia. She won the silver medal in the ribbon apparatus final, becoming the first individual Italian gymnast to ever win an apparatus silver medal in the World Championship. Baldassarri said the medal came as a surprise and that she regarded it as "the reward for all the hard work, all the sacrifices we made during the months before".

2019

Baldassarri competed at the 2019 World Challenge Cup Minsk, where she won the bronze medal in the ribbon final. Next, she performed at the 2019 World Challenge Cup Portimao where she won the silver medal in the all-around competition. She also won a gold medal in the ball and ribbon final, and a silver medal in the clubs final. At the 2019 World Championships in

Baku Baku (, ; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Azerbaijan, largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the Caucasus region. Baku is below sea level, which makes it the List of capital ci ...

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...

, Baldassarri represented Italy together with Alexandra Agiurgiuculese,

and Sofia Maffeis. The Italian gymnasts placed 4th in the team competition. Baldassarri placed 4th in the ball final and 8th in the ribbon final. In the all-around final, she finished in 7th place and secured Italy an Olympic spot for the

2020 Summer Olympics The officially the and officially branded as were an international multi-sport event that was held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some of the preliminary sporting events beginning on 21 July 2021. Tokyo ...

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

2021

In April,

Mattel Mattel, Inc. ( ) is an American multinational corporation, multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment company headquartered in El Segundo, California. Founded in Los Angeles by Harold Matson and the husband-and-wife duo of Ruth Handler, ...

created a one-of-a-kind

Barbie Barbie is a fashion doll created by American businesswoman Ruth Handler, manufactured by American toy and entertainment company Mattel and introduced on March 9, 1959. The toy was based on the German Bild Lilli doll, Bild Lilli doll which Hand ...

doll modeled on Baldassarri. At the

Tokyo 2020 The officially the and officially branded as were an international multi-sport event that was held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some of the preliminary sporting events beginning on 21 July 2021. Tokyo ...

Olympics, Baldassarri represented Italy along with Agiurgiuculese. Baldassarri qualified to the all-around final in 6th place, and she ended in the same placement during the final. She said she was very happy with her performance at the competition. Her placement was a record for Italian rhythmic gymnasts. Baldassarri was selected to represent

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

at the 2021 World Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan. She won a silver medal in the team competition together with

Sofia Raffaeli Sofia Raffaeli (born 19 January 2004) is an Italian individual Rhythmic Gymnastics, rhythmic gymnast. She is the Gymnastics at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Women's rhythmic individual all-around, 2024 Olympic bronze medalist, 2022 Rhythmic Gymnas ...

, Alexandra Agiurgiuculese, and the Italian group.

2022

In 2022, Baldassarri competed at the 2022 Sofia World Cup, where she won a bronze medal in the ball final. On 22–24 April, Baldassarri also competed at the 2022 World Cup Baku. She won the bronze medal in the all-around competition behind her teammate

and

Boryana Kaleyn Boryana Nikolaeva Kaleyn (; born 23 August 2000) is a Bulgarians, Bulgarian retired individual Rhythmic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnast. She is the 2024 Paris Olympics, 2024 Paris Olympic all-around silver medalist. She is the 2023 Rhythmic Gymnast ...

from Bulgaria and won a silver medal with ball. On 27–29 May Baldassarri competed at the 2022 Italian National Championships, where she won the silver medal in the all-around competition and four more silver medals in the apparatus finals. On 3–5 June Baldassarri competed at the 2022 World Cup Pesaro and won the silver medal in the all-around competition. From 15 to 19 June Baldassarri competed at the

2022 European Championships The 2022 European Championships were the second edition of the European Championships (multi-sport event), European Championships. It was a multi-sport event which took place in Munich, Germany from 11 to 21 August 2022. The event started three d ...

Tel Aviv, Israel Tel Aviv-Yafo ( or , ; ), sometimes rendered as Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and usually referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the Gush Dan metropolitan area of Israel. Located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline and with a popula ...

. She won a silver medal in the team competition together with

and the Italian group. In August, she performed at the 2022 World Challenge Cup Cluj-Napoca and won a bronze medal in the ball final. From 14 to 18 September, Baldassarri represented Italy at the

World Championships A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game ...

Sofia, Bulgaria Sofia is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Bulgaria, largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain, in the western part of the country. The city is built west of the Is ...

, where she won a bronze medal in the ball final and a gold medal in the team competition.

2023

On March 18, Baldassarri competed at the 2023 World Cup Athens and took 13th place in the all-around. Two weeks later, she competed at the next World Cup in

Sofia Sofia is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Bulgaria, largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain, in the western part of the country. The city is built west of the Is ...

, where she finished 12th all-around. She qualified for two apparatus finals and finished 8th in ribbon and 7th in ball. On April 22, Baldassarri competed at her third World Cup of the season in

, where she took 30th place in the all-around. Milena Baldassarri 2024 Sofia World Cup Clubs QF 2

From May 18–21, she competed at the 2023 European Championships in

Baku, Azerbaijan Baku (, ; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Azerbaijan, largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the Caucasus region. Baku is below sea level, which makes it the List of capital ci ...

with one apparatus, ribbon. She qualified for the ribbon final and finished in 5th place. On 9–11 June Baldassarri competed at the 2023 Italian National Championships. There she won the silver medal in the all-around competition. In the apparatus finals, she won three more silver medals and a bronze medal. On July 14–16, Baldassarri competed at the 2023 World Challenge Cup Cluj-Napoca and won the silver medal in the ball final. In August, she was selected for the

Valencia Valencia ( , ), formally València (), is the capital of the Province of Valencia, province and Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Valencian Community, the same name in Spain. It is located on the banks of the Turia (r ...

. In the qualification round, both she and fellow Italian

placed high enough to each win a berth at the

for Italy. Baldassarri said they hoped to compete together at the Olympics. In the all-around final, she placed 13th.

2024

Baldassarri began her season by competing at the 2024 World Cup Athens, where she finished 23rd all-around. She qualified in the clubs final and took 8th place. On 12–14 April, she competed at the 2024 World Cup Sofia and placed 18th in the all-around. From May 23–26, Baldassarri competed at the 2024 European Championships in

Budapest, Hungary Budapest is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns of Hungary, most populous city of Hungary. It is the List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, tenth-largest city in the European Union by popul ...

, where she was selected to represent Italy with three apparatuses in the qualifying round: ball, clubs and ribbon. In the all-around final, she placed 6th, and she qualified for the clubs final and finished 5th. She won a silver medal in the team competition together with

and the Italian group. On 8–9 June Baldassarri competed at the 2024 Italian National Championships. She won the silver medal in the all-around competition and went on to also win three bronze medals and another silver medal in the apparatus finals. At the Milano World Cup, she finished in 16th place in the all-around. In August, Baldassarri competed at the

, where she qualified for the final in ninth place. She ultimately finished eighth in the final without making any major mistakes in her routines. In November, she announced her retirement by giving a farewell exhibition at the Euskalgym gala in Spain.

Achievements

* First Italian individual

to win a silver medal at the

. * First Italian individual

to place 6th in the all-around final at the Olympics.

Detailed Olympic results

Competitive highlights

''(Team competitions in seniors are held only at the World Championships, Europeans and other Continental Games.)''

Routine music information

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Baldassarri, Milena Italian rhythmic gymnasts 2001 births Living people Sportspeople from Ravenna Mediterranean Games bronze medalists for Italy Mediterranean Games medalists in gymnastics Gymnasts at the 2018 Mediterranean Games Gymnasts at the 2020 Summer Olympics Olympic gymnasts for Italy Competitors at the 2022 World Games Gymnasts at the 2024 Summer Olympics 21st-century Italian sportswomen