Ming Gherardi van Eijken (born 3 April 2008)[1] is a French artistic gymnast. She is the 2023 Junior World Championships bronze medalist on vault and the 2022 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships junior silver medalist on vault.

Ming Gherardi van Eijken
van Eijken at the 2022 European Championships
Personal information
Full nameMing Gherardi van Eijken
Nickname(s)Mingou
Country represented France
Born (2008-04-03) 3 April 2008 (age 16)
Hong Kong
HometownLyon, France
ResidenceSaint-Etienne
DisciplineWomen's artistic gymnastics
LevelSenior International Elite
Years on national team2021–present (FRA)
ClubGym'Dans' Francheville
GymPole France Saint-Etienne
Head coach(es)Monique Hagard & Eric Hagard
Former coach(es)Marie Angélique Colson
ChoreographerMonique Hagard
Medal record
Representing  France
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Rimini Team
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Rimini Vault
Junior World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Antalya Vault

Personal life edit

Van Eijken was born in 2008 in Hong Kong. She began gymnastics when she was three years old in France.[2] She is member of the France women's national artistic gymnastics team since 2022 (as a junior) and a vault specialist.

Junior gymnastics career edit

2022 edit

Van Eijken competed at the 2022 City of Jesolo Trophy where she helped France finish sixth as a team.[3] In August she competed at the European Championships where she helped France finish fifth as a team.[4] During event finals van Eijken won silver on vault behind Sabrina Voinea.[5]

2023 edit

In March van Eijken competed at the DTB Pokal Team Challenge where she helped France place fourth as a team. Individually she won gold on vault and placed fifth on floor exercise.[6] Van Eijken was selected to compete at the 2023 Junior World Championships in Antalya, Turkey alongside Lana Pondart and Lilou Viallat; the team finished in eleventh place.[7] Individually van Eijken qualified for the vault final. During the final van Eijken performed two clean vaults and won the bronze medal behind Mia Mainardi and July Marano, earning France its first ever Junior World Championship medal.[8]

Senior gymnastics career edit

2024 edit

Van Eijken was selected to make her senior international debut at the 2024 Trophy of Jesolo where she won gold on vault. In May she competed at the European Championships alongside Marine Boyer, Lorette Charpy, Coline Devillard, and Morgane Osyssek.[9] She won bronze in the vault final behind teammate Coline Devillard and bulgarian Valentina Georgieva.

Competitive history edit

Year Event Team AA VT UB BB FX
Junior
2021 French Championships  
Swiss Cup Juniors   13
Elite Gym Massilia 4 5
French National Team Review 4
2022 French Test Meet 4
City of Jesolo Trophy 6 28
Haguenau Friendly   11
French Championships 6  
European Championships 5  
2023 DTB Pokal Team Challenge 4   5
Junior World Championships 11  
French Championships 10   4
Épernay Friendly   13  
Tournoi International     4
Senior
2024 City of Jesolo Trophy 5  
European Championships     8

References edit

  1. ^ "2nd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships Antalya (TUR), 29 March - 2 April 2023 Women Entry List by NOC" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 2 April 2023. p. 9.
  2. ^ "Ming van Eijken FIG Profile". International Gymnastics Federation.
  3. ^ "U.S. gymnasts sweep junior and senior team titles, all-around gold at 2022 City of Jesolo Trophy competition". USA Gymnastics. April 9, 2022.
  4. ^ "The 2022 junior European all-around and team Champions … Helen Kevric (GER) and Italy!". European Gymnastics. August 12, 2022.
  5. ^ "Sabrina Voinea, Martina Pieratti, Anna Laschevska and Amalia Puflea crowned junior European Champions!". European Gymnastics. August 14, 2022.
  6. ^ "GAM-GAF - 5 Médailles Lors De La DTB Pokal" [MAG/WAG - 5 medals at the DTB]. French Gymnastics Federation (in French). March 20, 2023.
  7. ^ "2nd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships Antalya (TUR), 29 March - 2 April 2023 Women's Team Final Ranking" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 30 March 2023.
  8. ^ "GAM/GAF - CMJ - Du Bronze Historique Pour Ming Gherardi van Eijken" [MAG/WAG - JWC - Historic Bronze for Ming Gherardi van Eijen]. French Gymnastics Federation (in French). April 3, 2023.
  9. ^ "GAF - CE 2024 - L'équipe de France Féminine Dévoilée" [WAG - EC 2024 - The French Women's Team Revealed]. French Gymnastics Federation (in French). April 4, 2024.