FINALS

A Sizzling Show!

Hall packed to bursting! Electric atmosphere! Aerobics had its young audience wrapped around its finger. Rodez took on and won this challenge by offering gymnastics a superb stage for the event and a fantastic public, generous with its applause for a show of rare quality.

A canvas for true artists, these were the finalists of the 3rd World Series Final in Aerobic Gymnastics. On the start list, 13 nations, 4 continents and 68 gymnasts. The best from the FIG World Ranking List. The top 8 ranking of all 5 categories (Men's and Women's Individuals, Mixed Pairs, Trios and Groups). Left without a Final in 2005, these gymnasts were raring to go!

With deep emotion, Grégory Alcan (FRA) gravely pronounced the athlete's oath. This athlete literally incarnates the noble concept of fair-play. And what a sensation when the public took up the strain of the Marseillaise a capella!

At the DJ's signal, the hall went wild as the public gave a standing ovation to the athletes come to offer up thanks for their presence; a standing tradition in Aerobics.

Hailing the gladiators, if you will!

And now, our feature presentation: the Final.

Men's Individuals

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Bogdan Popa (ROU) carried on his shoulders the weight of the Romanian school's success. A faultless routine; lovely show of strength. 21.000 points. Ranked 6th in the final. Leonardo Lins (BRA) is powerful, precise, and technically comfortable with the difficulties in his programme. But not enough according to the jury: 19.150 at the Final, 3.250 in Difficulty as compared to 4.2 from Popa. Although Luis Alberto Jimenez (MEX) performed marvellously, he could improve in both Execution and Difficulty. But he isn't through yet. 18.500.

AO Jinping (CHN)! World champion! A title he earned last year at home, in Nanjing! He doesn't hesitate to remind us of his talent, and he was aiming to add a new trophy to his collection. A perfect, flowing, high-level exercise: 22.200. D: 4.150; E: 8.85; A: 9.20! Winner, hands down!

For Ivan Parejo (ESP), it would be difficult to surpass the Chinaman, but this Spaniard gave it all he had with no hang-up. He's got some work ahead of him, though, if he wants to pull up alongside AO Jinping. 21.800. D: 4.1; E: 8.8; A: 8.9. Silver medal, 4 tenths behind the Chinaman! Iaia Vito (ITA) is the Gold medal holder from the 2005 World Games in Duisburg (GER). A serious candidate for the Cup. He looked tense and a bit disappointed about his performance at the Kiss & Cry scoring. He wasn't off by much. 21.100 and 5th place.

An ovation for Frenchman Adrien Galo, and a beautiful performance. Sure of himself, he gave a brilliant demonstration of his talent. And he's got a lot of it. Adrien is athletic, elegant, powerful and precise. Nice work. He missed the podium by 1 tenth of a point. 21.700! Tough break! Mircea Zamfir (ROU) charmed the audience with the artistic content of his exercise. A few inaccuracies could have cost him a pretty penny. 21.800. Barely ahead of Adrien with better Execution. 4.450 to 3.950.

The Podium: 1. Ao Jinping (CHN) 22.200; 2. Ivan Parejo (ESP) 21.800; 3. Mirceau Zamfir (ROU) 21.800.

Mixed Pairs

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With Juliana Antero and Marcisnei Oliveira, Brazil was fabulous with original choreography and a perfect final. 20.000 pts and a line fault! Romanian Cristina Antonescu and Mircea Brinzea are coach Claudiu Varlam's new "protégés" in good old Romanian tradition. With its consistent and talented gymnasts, Giovanna Lecis and Wilkie Satti Sanchez, Italy boasts impeccable synchronisation and cutting edge technique. 21.350, 9.250 Artistic. The Gold at the final and our congratulations to Giovanna!

Chile is always present at the discipline's finals, and never disappoints its public. Once again the case for Carolina Chacon Molinez and J.-Paul Olivares Arancibia. They've stayed at the top since 2003, when they took the Gold at the Final in St. Petersburg (RUS) in Trios. 19.600 and 7th place. China, with He Shijan and Huang Jinxuan, brilliantly confirmed its incredible potential. Precise and efficient, we'll be seeing these two gymnasts on many a podium in the future. 20.850 and the Bronze!

Bulgaria (Margarita Stoyanova and Radoslov Zhivkov) is just barely behind the others; with 20.600, it's only 25 hundredths of a point behind China. A lack of difficulties might have had an influence on the final score. Mexico (Rene Ramirez and Aida Valdes Castillo) is just where it belongs with 18.600.

Yet another ovation for French Mixed Pair Aurélie Joly and Julien Chaninet! They gave a quality performance, very expressive, scored 21.200 and took home the Silver medal. Great!

The Podium: 1. Italy 21.350; 2. France 21.200; 3. China 20.850.

Trios

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Brazil (Marcela and Marina Lopez, Cibele Rosito Oliani) set the bar high, taking the public right along with it through very acrobatic sequences, especially in the final. 20.705 points. Romanian Trio 2 had to do better than Romania's world title holders, who were still to come. Cristina Marin, Constantina Cioveie and Cristina Nedelcu gave a lovely and graceful performance: 20.750. The Chinese Trio was clear about its intentions, with good vitality. Yu Wei, Qin Yong and Zhang Peng seduced the audience with originality and precision: 21.400, 9 of which for Artistic. Silver medal!

Romanian world champions, Mircea Brinzea, Valentin Mavrodineanu and Mircea Zamfir, stole the show. Excellent work recognised for what it was by a connoisseur public. 21.700, and 4.35 for Difficulty. The Gold medal and the Cup! France 1 with Adrien Galo, Nicolas Garavel and Vivien Peralta literally erased the Romanians' performance, as far as the public was concerned! What an atmosphere! Good work and satisfaction on the faces of these talented gymnasts. 21.000.

Vito Aiai, Ylenia Giugno and Emanuele Peralta represented Italy and might have wanted to add a trophy to the one taken by their Mixed Pair just a few minutes before. Just missed it with 20.850.

A pleasant surprise from Thailand. Its Trio participated for the first time at this level of competition. Its presence was proof of the great strides the discipline is taking in South East Asia. An encouragement to be sure. Notable mention for Kittipong Tawinun, Phairach Thotkhamchai and Chanchalak Yiammit, who we're excited about seeing at the top of the hierarchy. 20.150.

Finally, France's last Trio entered the scene. Julien Chaninet, Grégory Alcan and Xavier Julien. Creatures of habit. Multiple champions in full mastery of their art. A veritable tornado! Precise, powerful, expressive. In the final, 21.250 and the Bronze medal.

The Podium: 1. Romania 2, 21.700; 2. China 21.400; 3. France 2, 21.250.

Women's Individuals

Of the two Italians, it was strangely Giovanna Lecis who lacked in difficulties. 20.400. A good thing for her team-mate and friend, Adrianna Ciucci, who played her game well. 21.050 and a magnificent Silver medal. Aurélie Joly (FRA) lit the Amphitheatre on fire in Rodez. Her performance touched the public. A straightforward exercise hailed with an excellent score. 20.930 and third place on the podium!

From Brazil, Juliana Antero followed in the footsteps of her world champion friend, Marcela Lopez. Slightly inferior, however, in terms of difficulty. There's potential there and we'll see Juliana climb to the top. 19.700. Then Marcela walked in! And with her, pure talent, precision, dynamic movement. Such height! 20.800!

For Spain, Elmira Dassaeva. Tall, athletic, she emanates an impressive spirit. The public loves her. So does the jury! 21.250 and the Gold medal. Olé! Of a totally different build, Chinese Jinxuan Huang shows a good amount of talent. She placed second to Marcela Lopez at the 2006 worlds in Nanjing, and proved it with an excellent score. 20.850.

Representing New Zealand (don't forget the three Aitken sisters), Angela McMillan is used to placing at the top in international tournaments (Mexico, Sofia in 2005) and possesses vast experience on the international scene. Very consistent, she is confident no matter who she's competing against. 20.750.

The Podium: 1. Elmira Dassaeva (ESP) 21.250; 2. Arianna Ciucci (ITA) 21.050; 3. Aurélie Joly (FRA) 20.930.

Groups

This is the public's favourite category. And they're vocal and passionate about it, too! A lot of commotion as the competition began with the Chinese Group. World champion title holders, they flaunted it in a dazzling, smooth-running, aerial exercise. Aerobics just like we like 'em. 21.400. Germany is back after placing 6th at the 2005 World Games in Duisburg (GER) and is looking to leave its mark on this level of competition. 19.350.

6th in Nanjing last year, Italy is progressing but not enough to worry those at the top. 20.200. France gave a fantastic performance, boosted by a standing public. The Group did excellent work, and the jury confirmed it: 21.100. Hungary inched its way into this star category. This is the first time the country has participated at this level of competition. 18.850.

Final Group and last exercise of this 3rd FIG World Series Final, Romania. At the 2006 worlds in Nanjing, they were left at the foot of the podium in 4th place and didn't want a repeat performance in Rodez. They got what they wanted. 21.200 and the Silver medal.

The Podium: 1. China 21.400; 2. Romania 21.200; 3. France 21.100.