Sofia Raffaeli, world all-around bronze medalist: "I'm proud of this podium."

Sofia Raffaeli confirms her status as a champion of rhythmic gymnastics. The Italian athlete won the bronze medal in the all-around at the World Championships in Rio de Janeiro. Raffaeli scored 117.950 points: 30.550 with the hoop, 29.100 with the ball, 29.000 with the clubs, and 29.300 with the ribbon. Gold went to Germany's Darja Varfolomeev (121.900), an 18-year-old Russian native who retained her title as world champion. Silver went to Bulgaria's Stiliana Nikolova (119.300).

Raffaeli always present between World Cups and Olympics

The athlete from the Marche region, runner-up World Champion at Valencia 2023 and Olympic bronze medalist at Paris 2024, opened the competition with the highest overall score on the hoop, a testament to a technical mastery that remains her trademark. Some uncertainty in the subsequent routines—ball, clubs, and ribbon—didn't allow her to fully challenge the top two. Her consistency over the last four years—World Championship gold in Sofia, Bulgaria, World Championship silver in Spain, Olympic bronze in Paris, and now World Championship bronze in Brazil—has cemented her place in the firmament of international rhythmic gymnastics.

Raffaeli: “Proud of this bronze”

"I'm very satisfied with this final," she said. "I won the bronze medal and I'm very proud of it. None of this would have been possible without all the people who have supported me from the Olympics until now. There are so many who have supported me and helped me on this journey. I dedicate this medal above all to my family, to Ginnastica Fabriano, who have always supported me, and to my home, to the federation, which has helped me so much during this period and given me the opportunity to compete for Italy at this incredible World Championships, and also to the Fiamme Oro, who always support me."

Raffaeli left behind Tallinn's European champion, Taisiia Onofriichuk, four years her junior, who finished fourth with a total of 117.400. While Raffaeli confirmed Italy's solidity, the other Italian competitor, Tara Dragas, wrote a whole new chapter in her career. In her first world final, the eighteen-year-old from San Daniele del Friuli finished thirteenth with 109.850 points (hoop 27.900; ball 28.250; clubs 25.700; ribbon 28.000).