"VAN" (Sports Desk - 23.09.2026) :: In a sport where the gymnasts display stunning combinations of balance, agility and dynamic somersaults working with their partners, Acrobatics is one of the most spectacular of the gymnastics disciplines.
There are three sets of medals up for grabs in five categories: Men’s Pair, Women’s Pair, Mixed Pair, Women’s Group (three gymnasts) and Men’s Group (four gymnasts). Each partnership will perform Balance, Dynamic and Combined routines to music. With a team title awarded after qualifications, there are a total of 16 medal opportunities available.
A city with a rich gymnastics tradition
Pesaro is no stranger to gymnastics, having hosted many Acrobatics, Aerobics and Rhythmic events in the past. The Acrobatics World Championships, held every two years, represent the pinnacle of this sport, so outstanding performances can be expected in Pesaro.
“It is with great joy that the gymnastics community comes together again in Pesaro for the Acrobatics World Championships,” says World Gymnastics President Morinari Watanabe. “This coastal Italian city has played host to many gymnastics events over the years, most recently the 2024 Aerobics World Championships, so we can expect a warm atmosphere of friendship and cooperation. We look forward to witnessing the skills and teamwork of these amazing athletes as they compete at the highest level of their sport, and we wish them every success.”
“We are now just days away from the Senior World Championships,” remarks President of the Italian Gymnastics Federation Andrea Facci. “It will be an opportunity to welcome the international elite of Acrobatics, which continues to enjoy steady growth in Italy. I am confident that these World Championships will provide further momentum for the entire movement. We cannot wait to welcome all the participants from around the world in Pesaro - the city of sea and music and the birthplace of composer Gioachino Rossini - for what promises to be a truly Rossinian crescendo of sport and emotion!”
Standout names to follow include the American brothers Vsevolod and Yaroslav Ossolodkov, the Men’s Pair who have not lost a single competition this year. However, they face strong challenges from Ukraine and Belarus, along with the only defending world champions competing in Pesaro - Daniel Abbasov and Murad Rafiyev (AZE), who won the Combined and Balance titles in 2024.
The Men’s Group competition is a must-see, with incredible balances in pyramid formation, and thrilling dynamic elements as the smaller “top” gymnast is flung around and caught after executing multiple somersaults.
Of the 12 Men’s groups registered to compete, Great Britain, the Russian Federation and Ukraine are each fielding two groups. Of these, Russians Sergei Kondrachuk, Nikolai Krestnikov, Artem Kuznetsov and Stepan Kulbakin won all three World Cup events they entered this year and will be among the leading contenders for the medals in Pesaro.
With 30 entrants, the Women’s Group category is the largest in Pesaro. Watch out for World Cup series winners Nazrin Zeyniyeva, Anahita Bashiri and Zahra Rashidova (AZE) along with groups from Belarus, Great Britain and Russia.
In the Women’s Pair competition, this year’s World Cup series champions Rony Cohen and Shiraz Sokolovsy (ISR) are the top names, with Willow Noble and Sydney Padios (USA) and Svetlana Filipeva and Vasilisa Gavrilina (RUS) their nearest contenders.
Finally, the Mixed Pairs event features 2025 World Games champions Yevfrosyniia Kryvytska and Ivan Labunets (UKR), along with couples from Belarus and Russia, who have traditionally excelled in this category.
The Acrobatics World Championships begin 24 September in Pesaro (ITA).
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