29th European Championships in women’s artistic gymnastics 2010

Organising Committee
British Gymnastics Association
Ford Hall, Lilleshall National Sports Centre
Nr Newport, Shropshire TF10 9NB
Great Britain
Tel: +44 1952 822330
Fax: +44 1952 820326

www.europeangymnastics2010.org

Two titles for Beth Tweddle!

The 5000 spectators came most of all for those moments and they were not disappointed. Their « queen » Elizabeth Tweddle, was crowned on bars and floor. Elena Kurbatova RUS wins gold on vault and the Romanian Elena Racea gold on beam.

Russia placed a maximum of finalists (8), ahead of Romania (6), Great Britain (5), France, Italy and Ukraine (3), Germany, Hungary, Netherlands and Switzerland (1).

Title holders 2009: vault: Ariella Kaeslin SUI; bars: Beth Tweddle GBR ; beam: Yana Demyanchuk UKR ; floor :Tweddle GBR (ahead of Ferrari ITA and Semenova RUS, all qualified).

We learn just before the competition that Romania has withdrawn Ana Porgras due to her ankle injury from her dismount off the beam yesterday. Two times finalist, she will be replaced by Elena Racea  ROU on beam and by Vanessa Ferrari ITA at the bars. Furthermore, the Russian Semenova is replaced by Anna Myzdrikova on floor.   

Vault:
Kaeslin, title holder, presents a first vault – the Chusovitina (difficulty score 6.30, the most difficult routine), not enough tense and with a big sideward step at the landing: 14.425. Nice second vault: Yurtchenko (5.30) with a 1 ½ twist only and a small lateral step at the landing: 13.975. Average of the two vaults: 13.975. This will without doubt not be enough to keep the title, not even for an eventual medal. In 2009 she won with a score of 14.625 points.

Two almost perfectly mastered vaults, of an almost equal value, from the Russian Elena Kurbatova, 18 years old, who has won several Wold Cup finals in her speciality. The first – a Yurtchenko with a double twist: 14.475 and a roundoff half turn on with a front flip half twist off (Podkopayeva). Nice amplitude. 14.100, average 14.287. She takes the lead.

Excellent as well the two routines of Youna Dufournet FRA,17 years old, second of the qualifications. Yurtchenko with a 1 ½ twist and a nice landing. For the second one she does the same as Kurbatova for which she obtains 14.350 points. Her average of 14.287 places her on the second rank, 12 thousandths away from the Russian. Youna stays second and wins a (first) silver medal.  

Everyone awaits Tatiana Nabieva, the first of the qualifications. Yurchenko with a double twist and with a step backwards - 14.425. 2^nd vault as Kurbatova and Dufournet. As Kaeslin, she does not totally control the two landings and with 14.150 she obtains the third place.

Uneven bars:
Fantastic competition at the uneven bars. What an atmosphere and what an admiration and emotion at the passage of Beth Tweddle. An incredible exercise, filled with difficulties, that she executes with such an assurance! Dismount with a stuck Tsukahara: 15.875 (diff. 6.8, execution 9.075) and another ovation of the spectators.

Second in the qualifications, Aliya Mustafina RUS as well starts with a very high score (6.70) and ends with her new dismount including a double backwards somersault with a 1 ½ twist.

However she cannot match with the control that Tweddle had. She obtains 15.050, 0.825 points behind the first.

Bad luck for Youna Dufournet FRA. Nice combination with a Deff (Gienger with a full twist). However she gets a penalty of 0.5 points because her coach touches her during the phase of assistance. Receiving 14.450 points, she certainly loses with the penalty a second medal. Luck for the Ukrainian Nataliya Kononenko (14.750), already third in the qualifications, who thus wins the bronze medal. 

Beam
As Kaeslin on vault, Yana Demyanchuk UKR loses her title due to a fall (12.900). Holenkova UKR and Preziosa ITA face the same fate. Ana Porgras had to withdraw, and is replaced by her mate Elena Racea, who is in the lead of the competition with 14.400 until the passage of the last competitor. Thus, it is as substitute that she made the European title hers. However with a tiny advance of 0.025 over the Russian Aliya Mustafina (14.750), second already during the qualifications.  

Floor:
Anna Myzdrikova RUS, 18 years old, is the first to compete. She actually replaces Semenova. Her music: a passage from the symphony no. 6 from Beethoven. Score 14.325. Aliya Mustafina RUS, 16 years old, second of the qualifications, performs on « Hijo de la Luna ».  She cannot avoid a small slide and must please herself with a, for her modest, 13.225. Beth Tweddle, with her 25 years the «lady» of the competitors on floor, will try to get a second title with a very difficult composition on a music that was composed for her - 14.825. The best British gymnast of all times, born in Johannesburg, wins, as in 2009 in Milan, her second title of the day. Last to pass, Diana Chelaru, on a Hungarian Rhapsody, very catching music that she interprets wonderfully. With a deduction of 0.1 points for stepping over the line, the judges give her 14.125 points which places her 3rd. Nice final of this competition!

Vault

1 KURBATOVA Ekaterina RUS 14.475 14.100 14.287

2 DUFOURNET Youna FRA 14.200 14.350 14.275

3 NABIEVA Tatiana RUS 14.425 13.875 14.150

4 CHELARU Diana Maria ROU 14.375 13.750 14.062

5 KAESLIN Ariella SUI 14.425 13.525 13.975

6 TOTH Renata HUN 13.475 13.925 13.700

7 RACEA Elena Amelia ROU 14.075 13.250 13.662

8 HIBBERT Nicole GBR 13.500 12.550 13.025

Uneven bars:

1 TWEDDLE Elizabeth GBR 15.875

2 MUSTAFINA Aliya RUS 15.050

3 KONONENKO Nataliya UKR 14.750

4 NABIEVA Tatiana RUS 14.675

5 DOWNIE Rebecca GBR 14.625

6 DUFOURNET Youna FRA 14.450

7 FERRARI Vanessa ITA 14.150

8 SEITZ Elisabeth GER 14.000

Beam:

1 RACEA Elena Amelia ROU 14.400

2 MUSTAFINA Aliya RUS 14.375

3 HAIDU Raluca Oana ROU 13.950

4 VAN GERNER Celine NED 13.850

5 MYZDRIKOVA Anna RUS 13.150

6 PREZIOSA Elisabetta ITA 13.075

7 DEMYANCHUK Yana UKR 12.900

8 HOLENKOVA Valentyna UKR 12.525   

Floor

1. TWEDDLE Elizabeth GBR 14.825

2. MYZDRIKOVA Anna RUS 14.325

3. CHELARU Diana Maria ROU 14.125

4. FERRARI Vanessa ITA 13.850

5. RACEA Elena Amelia ROU 13.700

6. RIPPIN Niamh GBR 13.400

6. BREVET Marine FRA 13.400

8. MUSTAFINA Aliya RUS 13.225

D. Duchoud/UEG

Juniors ECh WAG in Birmingham: three titles for Russia

Victoria Komova wins gold on vault and beam, Anastasia Grishina the titles on bars and floor. Two medals for the Russians on vault and bars, which makes out of Russia the most crowned nation in junior’s category.

Romania collects three medals, thanks to the silver medals of Larisa Iordache on beam and floor and the bronze on bars for Diana Bulimar. Erika Fasana ITA (vault) and Tess Mooen  (beam) with each a bronze medal as well as the Russian Anastasia Sidorova (floor) complete this medal table 2010.

Last morning for the juniors after four days of competition. The apparatus finals have attracted many people – the hall is basically sold out! Russia who obtained eight places in the finals followed by Romania ( 7). Italy and France (5), Germany and Netherland (2), Spain, Sweden and Great Britain (1). The gymnasts are between 13 and 15 years old.

The competitions start with vault. The girls present two vaults and the average gives the final score. Two medals for Russia with the victory of Victoria Komova (14.950) ahead of Maria Faseka (14.275). Bronze medal for the Italian Erika Fasana (13.912), 5^th of the qualifications, who managed to beat the Romanian Larisa Iordache by 0.050 points.

 At the bars - is it tiredness? There are several falls at the beam – but not for the Russians Grishina and Komova.  Russia, this time with Anastasia Grishina author of a magnificent exercise (15.250), continues its harvest of medals with gold on the uneven bars and the silver medal going to Komova. The bronze medal goes to the Romanian Diana Bulimar. Third of the qualifications, the French Natalia Zolotaryov has bent twice her legs, and thus had an important deduction.

On beam, Anastasia Sidorova RUS, top position after the qualifications, could not avoid to fall (13.375). Revenge for Larisa Iordache, 6^th of the qualifications, who this time presents an error free routine and wins her first medal.  Victoria Komova, with a slightly less difficult exercise but a perfect execution of her movements obtains 14.900. Already third in the preliminaries, Tess Moonen confirms a very stable routine awarded with 13.975. Her bronze medal is the second for Netherlands after the one of Verona Van de Leur obtained in 2000 at the bars.  

Floor:  a competition full of suspense as from the first routine on the bests are shoulder on shoulders. Beautiful exercise of Anastasia Grishina, even if she lost a bit the balance for a moment. A choreography is rarely so perfectly matching the music. The medals will be a matter between the Russians and the Romanians, as Larisa Iordache and Anastasia Grishina share the title, whereas Anastasia SIdorova wins the bronze medal.  

D. Duchoud/UEG

Russia is crowned European Champion

Russia won its last European title in Patras in 2002, when there was not yet a final (competition IV). Today, a young Russian team is the crowned European Champion (169.700) ahead of Great Britain (168.275) and Romania (164.975).

The surroundings and the vast corridors of the NIA are very busy; there is finally a nearly full competition hall and a fantastic atmosphere. People are lined up in front of the shops selling souvenir articles of these Championships.

Start of this team final with FRA/GBR on vault, SUI/UKR on bars, ROU/ITA on beam and NED/RUS on floor.

Ranking after one exercise:  1. RUS 42.600; 2. FRA 41.750 (vault);  3. GBR 41.675 (vault) 4. ROU 41.000; 5. ITA 40.900; 6 NED 39.250; 7. SUI 39.100; 8. UKR 36.550

2^nd rotation:  worth to be pointed out in this rotation is the very nice floor exercise of Diana Maria Chelaru, on a Hungarian melody perfectly harmonised with her movements. The young Romanian is rewarded with loud cheers of the spectators but also with the score received by the judges: 14.200.

English Festival at the bars with an excellent global performance (44.200) crowned by the routine of Beth Tweddle (15.950!).

Provisional ranking : 1. RUS 85.875 ; 2. GBR 85.450 ; 3. ROU 82.175 ; 4. FRA 81.875 ; 5. ITA 81.250 ; 6. NED 79.775 ; 7. SUI 77.350 ; 8. UKR 73.435

3^rd rotation – big interruption at the bars, an element had to be replaced after the fall of the Dutch Moshage. Long waiting for the Russians. After an excellent performance of Mustafina (14.900 with a difficulty value of 6.50), the last Russian to pass, Tatiana Nabieva remains stuck on her bar, loses her momentum and has to interrupt. Despite of this incident, Russia keeps the lead. The English obtain a good score on the beam, in particular with the great exercise and the precise landing of Becki Downie 14.100. The three first teams will not be caught up anymore.

Provisional ranking : 1. RUS 127.825 ; 2. GBR 125.575 ; 3. ROU 124.150 ; 4. FRA 122.750 ; 5. ITA 122.200 ; 6. NED 117.025 ; 7. SUI 114.925 ; 8. UKR 113.775

End of competition with Tweddle on floor – all eyes in the hall are focussed on her, judges and other gymnasts included. Ovations, hugs and kisses with her coaches and mates before the score is displayed: 14.925 and the silver medal goes to the English team.  168.275. Smiles and tears of joys as well in the Russian team that snatches away the title. It is only half a surprise, as two years ago, in Clermont-Ferrand, Nabieva and Mustafina had won several medals in junior category, whereas Ksenia Semenova is European All-round Champion.

The French team obtains a good 4th rank, 1.4 points away of the podium 163.575. Italy follows 5th 161.675, Switzerland 6th 156.175, Netherlands 7th 156.00, Ukraine 8th 155.375.

The best per discipline: Vault: Russia 43.275. Bars: Great Britain 41.875. Beam: Russia 41.875. Floor: Great Britain 42.700.

The medals of the team competition 2010:

1. Gold: Russia. Ekaterina Kurbatova, Aliya Mustafina, Anna Myzdikova, Tatianan Nabieva, Ksenia Semenova. Coach : Alexander  Alexandrov (back in Russia after a long stay in the States)
2. Silver. Great Britain: Rebecca Downie, Nicole Hibbert, Jocelyn Hunt, Niamh Rippin, Elizabeth Tweddle. Coach: Vince Walduck
3. Bonze. Roumanie. Diasna Maria Chelaru, Raluca  Oana Haidu, Stefania Ceresela Patrasxcu, Ana Porgras, Elena Amelia Racea. Coach: Nicolae Forminte 

D. Duchoud/UEG

Victoria Komova RUS Junior European Champion 2010

As expected, the Russians Victoria Komova, junior champion 2010, Anastasia Grishina and the Romanian Larisa Iordache were the medalists of the all-round juniors final. 14 national federation have participated in this final.

The seniors will compete their individual all-round final only next year in Berlin, whereas the juniors’ programme includes this competition every second year during the team Championships. The 24 best ones, with a maximum of two per country, measure themselves on all four disciplines – vault, uneven bars, beam and floor.

14 nations, 11 with two gymnasts, are represented. The Russians Anastasia Grishina and Victoria Komova, as well as the Romanians Larisa Iordache and Diana Laura Bulimar had ended in first position during the qualifications.

1^st rotation: the four « favourites » all perform at a different apparatus, which does not facilitate the follow up of the competition... Injured, Sara Catanzaro SUI is replaced by Nadia Baeriswyl. Many falls at the beam, with the exception of Victoria Komova 14.100. With Anastasia Grishina RUS 15.225 at the bars and Larisa Iordache  ROU, 14.200 on floor, they both confirm their claim for the final victory.

2^nd rotation: during the second rotation, Viktoria as presented a remarkable floor performance, on a very interesting musical composition, receiving 14.425 points. On her part, Grishina makes a nice exercise on beam, which allows her to still keep the provisional lead of the competition.

Provisional ranking: 1. Anastasia Grishina RUS 28.625; 2. Victoria Komova RUS 28.535; 3. Larisa Iordache 27.850. Bulimar definitively seems to miss a medal.  Erika Fasana, ITA, 27.375 has a chance for a medal.

3^rd rotation: At vault and despite a borderline landing, Komova obtains 14.525. At floor, Grishina enchants with what looks a lot like a classical dance. D. Bulimar is brilliant at beam, which allows her to climb back to the 5^th rank. Nice performance as well for Erika Fasana ITA, who remains very close to the podium.

Provisional ranking: 1. Komova 43.050; 2. Grishina 43.00; 3. Iordache 41.000; 4 Fasana 40.675.

4^th and last rotation:  thrilling end of competition with Grishina at vault, Komova at bars, Iordache and Fasana at beam. Victoria Komova  ends her round with a 15.325 at the uneven bars, the best score of the competition – and truly deserves the title of European Junior Champion 2010. Anastasia Grishina cannot fight for gold anymore after receiving a 13.950 for vault.

Larisa Iordache shows no weak point at the beam, 14.675, and thus ensures the bronze medal. As others before her, Erika Fasana falls at the beam and drops back to the 5^th rank. Her team mate Carlotta Ferlito ends on rank 8. Whereas Diana Bulimar brilliantly ends with floor, 13.450, and reaches again the foot of the podium. Magnificent round as well for the French Anne Kuhm (6^th) and Natalia Zolotaryov (10^th). With Lisa Top (7^th) and Tess Moonen (9^th), Netherland places its two gymnasts among the top ten.

Final ranking:

1. Victoria Komovca RUS 58.375
2. Anastasia Grishina RUS 56.950
3. Larisa Iordache ROU 55.6575
4. Diana Bulimar ROU 54.175
5. Erika Fasana ITA 52.925
6. Anne Kuhm FRA 52.775
7. Lisa Top NED 52.525
8. Carlotta Ferlito ITA 52.200
9. Tess Moonen NED 52.150
10. Natalia Zolotaryov FRA 52.100

D.Duchoud/UEG

ECh 2010 MAG/WAG in Birmingham: the gymnasts are already in shape

The tournament of the World Cup FIG (cat. B) in Cottbus GER, was held last weekend. Even if not all favourites were present, the competing gymnasts proved to be in good shape, especially as we are still early in the season.

In Cottbus, the men’s competitions were of an excellent level with relatively few mistakes.

Floor finals: The German Marcel Nguyen, who presented the most difficult exercise (6.5./15.275), went home with his first victory in a FIG World Cup. Behind him followed the Greek Stavros Kekelos (6.0/14.825) and the Dutch Jeffrey Wammes (6.2/14.575).

Pommel Horse final: victory for the Slovenian Saso Bertoncelj (6.4/15.475), ahead of the Japanese Koki Sakamoto (6.1/15.050) and the Russian Matvey Petrov (6.2/15.000). Filip Ude (CRO) arrives 8^th and last after having failed his exercise.

Ring final: nice gold medal for the French Samir Ait Said (6.8/15.250) who arrives ahead of Attila Racz HUN, who presented a very meticulous exercise (5.9/15.000), and Anton Fokin UZB (6.3/14.875).

Vault final: second German victory with Matthias Fahrig (7.0/6.6 = 16.112) followed by Alin Jivan Sandu ROU (6.6/6.6 = 15.787) and Jeffrey Wammes NED (6.6/6.2 = 15.437).

Parallel bars final: very tight results for the leading trio composed by the Japanese Yosuke Hoshi (6.2/15.425), the Dutch Epke Zonderland (6.1/15.300) and the Swiss Claudio Capelli (6.2/15.250).

High bar final: With the most difficult and very well mastered exercise, Epke Zonderland wins gold (6.9/15.825). Two Japanese follow: Yosuke Hoshi (6.6/15.600) and Takuya Nijima (6.6/15.400).

Among the Europeans, Jeffrey Wammes NED, Marcel Nguyen and Matthias Fahrig GER, all qualified for three finals. Epke Zonderland NED and Samir Ait Sad FRA for two finals.

Women’s competitions:

The tournament in Cottbus marked the come-back of Oksana Chusovitina GER to competition following her injury. She gets an encouraging victory on vault, but in the absence of Ariella Kaeslin SUI, continental title holder, in competition in the USA. Other renowned gymnasts were also absent. In these finals we have seen several new faces.

Vault final: 1. Oksana Chusovitina GER (5.9/5.5 = 13.875) ; 2. Kristina Vaculik CAN (5.0/4.8 = 13,787) ; 3. Renata Toth HUN (5.0/5.0 = 13.625).

Uneven bars final: after silver on vault, gold medal for the young Canadian Kristina Vaculik, 17 years old (5.6/14.050) who returned to compete after one year of break, following to her non-qualification for the OG 2008. Behind her follow her compatriot Anysia Unick, 16 years old, (5.5/13.775) and the German Marie Sophie Hindermann (5.6/13.750).

Beam final: clear victory for the very young Russian Tatiana Solovyeva (5.9/14.775) second silver medal for the Canadien Vaculik (5.2/14.250) and bronze medal for the Greek Vasiliki Millousi (5.7/14.425).

Floor final: forth medal (2^nd gold one) for Vaculik (5.3/13.950, equality of points with the Marta Pihan-Kulesza / POL (5.4/13.950). First international medal (bronze) for the young Suisse Jessica Diacci (5.1/13.175).

Complete results: www.fig-gymnastics.com or www.turnier-der-meister.de

Next tournaments before the ECh in Birmingham:
22-24.03.2010 FIG World Cup, cat. A Doha (Qatar)
10-11.04.2010 FIG World Cup, cat. A Paris-Bery FRA

D.Duchoud UEG

28th ECh Women’s Artistic Gymnastics in Birmingham: drawing of lots

147 senior gymnasts from 33 National Federations (NF) and 131 juniors from 32 NF will participate in the 28th EC in WAG from April 28th to May 2nd 2010. The drawing of lots of the starting order has been carried out.

Compared to the 2008 ECh in Clermont Ferrand (FRA), the definitive entries are slightly higher with regard to the senior gymnasts (134 from 34 NF). In the junior category, there is a slight decrease (142 and 34 NF). The nominative entries have to be submitted by April 7^th, 2010.

Qualifications for the YOG
As in all Olympic disciplines, the European Championships are qualifying for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) to be held in Singapore. Only junior gymnasts born in 1995 can participate in the qualifications for the YOG 2010, except those having already competed in senior events (FIG, UEG, WCp, etc.).

Media accreditation: www.ueg-gymnastics.com.

Last deadline: April 9th, 2010.

Further information : www.europeangymnastics2010.org

D. Duchoud/UEG

Provisional registrations

The European Team Championships for junior and senior teams in women’s artistic gymnastics will also take place in Birmingham/GBR from April 28th to Mai 2nd 2010. They also will include the qualifications of the juniors for the YOG.

35 national federations (NF) will participate in the ECh 2010 in Birmingham with 167 senior gymnasts and 161 junior gymnasts. In the senior’s category, there will be no individual all around competition (as every even year). However, this competition is reintroduced in the junior’s category.

As well as the men’s competitions one week before, the women’s competitions will take place at the National Indoor Arena (NIA).

The programme will include for the Juniors (14 and 15 years) : a decisive competition I for the team result, the qualification for the CII (individual all around competition) and for the CIII (apparatus finals) as well as for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG). Only the juniors born in 1995 can qualify for the YOG, except those who have already participated in senior’s competitions (FIG, UEG, WC etc.)

For the Seniors, (16 years min.): the qualifying competition I for the team final and C IV and for the apparatus finals C III.

Upcoming deadlines:

Definitive registrations: 28 January 2010
Nominative registrations: 7 April 2010

Media accreditation: (via the UEG website only): April 9th, 2010

Informations: Website of the LOC

D.Duchoud/UEG