Ming van Eijken explained

Ming Gherardi van Eijken
Full Name:Ming Gherardi van Eijken
Nickname:Mingou
Birth Date:3 April 2008
Birth Place:Hong Kong
Hometown:Lyon, France
Residence:Saint-Etienne
Discipline:WAG
Level:Senior International Elite
Natlteam:2021–present (FRA)
Club:Gym'Dans' Francheville
Gym:Pole France Saint-Etienne
Headcoach:Monique Hagard & Eric Hagard
Formercoach:Marie Angélique Colson
Choreographer:Monique Hagard
Show-Medals:yes

Ming Gherardi van Eijken (born 3 April 2008)[1] is a French artistic gymnast. She is the 2023 Junior World Championships and 2024 European bronze medalist on vault. She represented France at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Personal life

Van Eijken was born in 2008 in Hong Kong. She began gymnastics when she was three years old in France.[2] She was born to a Dutch father, French mother, and has an Italian grandfather.[3]

Junior gymnastics career

2022

Van Eijken competed at the 2022 City of Jesolo Trophy where she helped France finish sixth as a team.[4] In August she competed at the European Championships where she helped France finish fifth as a team.[5] During event finals van Eijken won silver on vault behind Sabrina Voinea.[6]

2023

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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]

Senior gymnastics career

2024

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.[10] During event finals she won bronze on vault behind teammate Devillard and Valentina Georgieva of Bulgaria. During the team final van Eijken helped France win the bronze medal behind Italy and Great Britain.

In July van Eijken was officially selected to represent France at the 2024 Summer Olympics alongside Boyer, Mélanie de Jesus dos Santos, Devillard, and Osyssek.[11]

Competitive history

align=center Yearalign=center EventTeamAAVTUBBBFX
Junior
2021 align=left French Championships
align=left Swiss Cup Juniors 13
align=left Elite Gym Massilia 4 5
align=left French National Team Review 4
2022 align=left French Test Meet 4
align=left 6 28
align=left Haguenau Friendly 11
align=left French Championships 6
align=left 5
2023 align=left 4 5
align=left 11
align=left French Championships 10 4
align=left Épernay Friendly 13
align=left Tournoi International 4
Senior
2024 align=left 5
align=left 8
align=left Olympic Games 11

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2nd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships Antalya (TUR), 29 March - 2 April 2023 Women Entry List by NOC . USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 9. 2 April 2023.
  2. Web site: Ming van Eijken FIG Profile. International Gymnastics Federation.
  3. Web site: Ming Gherardi : "Je ne pensais pas avoir les capacités pour faire du haut-niveau mais il est venu à moi" .
  4. Web site: U.S. gymnasts sweep junior and senior team titles, all-around gold at 2022 City of Jesolo Trophy competition. April 9, 2022. USA Gymnastics.
  5. Web site: The 2022 junior European all-around and team Champions … Helen Kevric (GER) and Italy!. European Gymnastics. August 12, 2022.
  6. Web site: Sabrina Voinea, Martina Pieratti, Anna Laschevska and Amalia Puflea crowned junior European Champions!. August 14, 2022. European Gymnastics.
  7. Web site: GAM-GAF - 5 Médailles Lors De La DTB Pokal. MAG/WAG - 5 medals at the DTB. fr. French Gymnastics Federation. March 20, 2023.
  8. Web site: 2nd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships Antalya (TUR), 29 March - 2 April 2023 Women's Team Final Ranking . . International Gymnastics Federation. 30 March 2023.
  9. Web site: GAM/GAF - CMJ - Du Bronze Historique Pour Ming Gherardi van Eijken. MAG/WAG - JWC - Historic Bronze for Ming Gherardi van Eijen. fr. April 3, 2023. French Gymnastics Federation.
  10. Web site: GAF - CE 2024 - L'équipe de France Féminine Dévoilée. WAG - EC 2024 - The French Women's Team Revealed. fr. French Gymnastics Federation. April 4, 2024.
  11. Web site: GAF - JO 2024 - La Composition De L'équipe De France Féminine Est Désormais Connue. fr. French Gymnastics Federation. WAG - OG 2024 - The Composition Of The French Women's Team Is Now Known. July 7, 2024.