Sofia Raffaeli Claims World Bronze at Frankfurt All-Around and Secures Italy’s First Ticket to Los Angeles 2028
At the 2026 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Frankfurt, Italian star Sofia Raffaeli secured a vital bronze medal in the individual all-around with a score of 117.550, earning her nation the first quota spot for the upcoming Olympic Games. According to reporting from La Gazzetta dello Sport, this achievement makes the 22-year-old athlete the first representative of the entire CONI mission to officially qualify Italy for the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Games, doing so nearly two years in advance.
Competing at the Festhalle, Raffaeli faced a rigorous field. Germany’s Darja Varfolomeev captured the gold medal with a total of 119.500, while Bulgaria’s Stiliana Nikolova claimed silver with 117.600. Raffaeli finished just fifty-thousandths of a point behind Nikolova, rounding out a podium that cements her ongoing place in the elite of international gymnastics.
A Challenging Start and a Relentless Comeback on the Frankfurt Floor
Raffaeli’s path to the podium was anything but straightforward. According to coverage by Oggi Sport Notizie, the Italian gymnast opened her competition in the Group A rotation. An initial routine with the ball scored 28.250, leaving her eleventh after the first rotation due to tension.
Refusing to let the early deficit dictate her outcome, Raffaeli adjusted her focus for the remaining apparatuses. She delivered a fierce, clean routine with the clubs that earned 30.250 points, propelling her back into contention. Following a solid performance with the ribbon, she closed out her competition with the hoop. Building on her strong preliminary scores, she posted a superb 30.400 on the hoop to seal her comeback and secure the bronze.
“Non me l’aspettavo. Abbiamo lavorato tanto, ho cambiato allenatrice e non è stato facile. Non tutti ci credevano, sono contenta perché abbiamo dimostrato di potercela fare,” Raffaeli shared with La Gazzetta dello Sport, reflecting on a transition period that saw her begin training under new coach Amina Zaripova.
Continuing a Medal Legacy for Italian Rhythmic Gymnastics
This latest podium finish marks the sixteenth world championship medal of Raffaeli’s career and extends a streak of international success. Since 2022, she has medaled at five consecutive major global competitions, including her gold at the 2022 World Championships in Sofia, silver in Valencia in 2023, bronze in Rio de Janeiro in 2025, and a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
By securing a top-three finish in the Frankfurt all-around, Raffaeli earned one of the three individual quota places for her country at the 2028 Games, per Federginnastica. While the quota belongs to the country rather than the individual athlete, Raffaeli’s performance ensures Italy will maintain its presence in Olympic rhythmic competition when Los Angeles hosts the Games.
Looking Ahead to Apparatus Finals and Future Quotas
With the all-around medals decided, the competition in Germany continues. Raffaeli is set to return to the carpet for the individual apparatus finals in both the hoop and the ball. Meanwhile, teammate Tara Dragas finished sixteenth in the all-around with 110.750 points, gaining experience ahead of the 2027 World Championships in Baku, where Italy will have opportunities to secure additional Olympic qualifying spots.
As the Italian delegation prepares for the upcoming team qualifications with athletes like Serena Ottaviani, Chiara Badii, Sofia Sicignano, Bianca Vignozzi, Sasha Mukina, and Gaia Pozzi, Raffaeli’s early qualification sets an ambitious tone for the national program.
