BERN,Switzerland — Competing against the world's best male gymnast, California gymnast Yordan Aleksandrov led his Bulgarian national team this past Thursday in Bern, Switzerland at the 2016 European Championship.

Aleksandrov, who was born in Bulgaria before moving to Northern California at age seven, finished the 2016 European Championship qualifications with an all-around score of 78.565, which placed him in the top-20. As a team Bulgaria finished in 28th place with a team score of 222.294. Aleksandrov was the only gymnast on his team to compete in the all-around.

“My experience here has been amazing,” Aleksandrov said. “ Training in the same gym as Olympic and world champions is something that is almost indescribable.”

Unlike last year's European Championship, which Aleksandrov also competed in, with the upcoming summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil many European countries sent its top competitors to this year's European Championship. Aleksandrov, a rising junior at Cal, joined a short list of Golden Bear gymnast who has competed in the European Championship. Cal graduate and volunteer assistant coach Dave Eaton (2001-04) competed internationally at the European Championship for the UK. Eaton has also helped recent 2016 Cal graduate Ryan Patterson reach this year's Olympics.

Aleksandrov's score of 14.133 on the parallel bars was one of this year's highest scores in the event. He also scored a 14.100 on vault, 13.733 on high-bar, 13.533 in floor exercise, 13.466 on rings and a 9.600 on the pommel horse.

“The gymnast that I used to watch on YouTube I am now competing with them on the international stage,” Aleksandrov said. “ It's an amazing feeling.”