Helen Kevric completes comeback with uneven bars and balance beam titles at Hannover Finals
Helen Kevric fought back from a serious knee injury to win German national titles on the uneven bars and balance beam at the Finals in Hannover, underlining her return to elite form. The 18-year-old Stuttgart gymnast, who missed large parts of last season with a torn extensor apparatus in her knee, said she aims to regain her best form after the victories.
Kevric secures national titles on uneven bars and beam
Helen Kevric captured two gold medals at the national Finals, first claiming the uneven bars with a world-class routine and then taking top honours on the balance beam. The wins marked a dramatic turn after a lengthy rehabilitation period, and Kevric acknowledged on national television that while she was “very happy,” she still expects more from herself. Her double victory provided a clear statement that she remains among Germany’s leading apparatus specialists.
Injury and rehabilitation that nearly ended a season
Kevric’s comeback follows a severe knee injury sustained during the 2025 European Championships in Leipzig, when a landing on vault tore the extensor apparatus of her knee. She spent months in recovery that included relearning basic movement and building strength, a process she described as one of the hardest phases of her life. Ahead of Hannover she told the Deutscher Turner-Bund podcast “Von Staub zu Gold” that her primary objective was to return to her previous level of performance.
Finals in Hannover used as a performance litmus test
The multi-sport Finals in Hannover served as a national benchmark, awarding 143 German titles across 24 disciplines and offering athletes a chance to assess form ahead of an intense late summer and autumn calendar. Gymnastics featured prominently among the festival’s highlights, with the competition providing selection and confidence data for coaches and national team staff. For Kevric, the two apparatus titles represent measurable progress in a season that aims to rebuild momentum.
Pauline Schäfer-Betz posts strong results in comeback
Veteran Pauline Schäfer-Betz, the 2017 world champion on balance beam, used the same Finals meet to announce a renewed presence on the national stage after missing a full season through injury. Schäfer-Betz tied with Kevric for second on the beam and finished third in the all-around, signaling competitive depth for Germany on that apparatus. At 29, she said she is now plotting a path that could include a fourth Olympic appearance in Los Angeles in 2028.
All-around and apparatus winners highlight depth across German gymnastics
The all-around title at Hannover went to 18-year-old Silja Stöhr, while European champion Karina Schönmaier topped both vault and floor in individual apparatus finals. Those results underscore a young cohort capable of challenging internationally and provide selectors with multiple options across events. Coaches will be watching consistency and difficulty upgrades as the squad prepares for continental and world assignments.
Standout performances in other sports at Finals
Beyond gymnastics, the Finals showcased elite performances from Germany’s top athletes across disciplines. Rhythmic gymnastics Olympic champion Darja Varfolomeev claimed the national all-around title and reinforced her status as a favorite for the World Championships in Frankfurt later this summer. Swimming champion Lukas Märtens added national victories in freestyle events and confirmed a targeted programme for the upcoming European Championships in Paris.
Calendar focus: European Championships in August and World Championships in October
With national titles decided, attention now turns to the international schedule that follows: gymnastics teams face European Championships from 13 to 16 August, while the World Championships are scheduled for October in Rotterdam. Many athletes who competed in Hannover — including Kevric and Schäfer-Betz — will use the continental meet to test routines and make technical adjustments ahead of the global stage. The outcomes in Hannover will inform selection choices and final preparations in the weeks that remain.
Kevric’s double victory in Hannover represents both a personal milestone and a boost for German gymnastics depth as the season moves toward major international competitions. Her progress from injury to two national titles offers a measured optimism while leaving room for further improvement; she and her coaches now have a short window to refine difficulty and consistency before the European and world events that will define the season.
