22nd FIG Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships
Wroclaw (POL), July 16 – 18, 2010
LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, July 6, 2010: With ten days to go before the 22nd FIG Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships gets going in Wroclaw (POL), July 16 – 18, 2010, fans are gearing up for the Acro season’s ultimate event!
Once registration had been tallied, 191 gymnasts representing 25 different countries from five continents had signed on: 14 Men’s Pairs; 10 Women’s Pairs; 22 Mixed Pairs; 17 Women’s Groups and 12 Men’s Groups.
Nominative entries have been made, and here’s what we can expect in Wroclaw:
Men’s Pairs
Among the fourteen registered Men’s Pairs, a number of duos stand out with strong results from recent competitions. In the absence of reigning World and World Games Champions Mikola Cherbak / Sergei Popov of the Ukraine, the hot favourite in this category is probably Russian Pair Konstantin Pilipchuk and Alexey Dudenko. The two placed second at both championships. Will they grab the title this time around?
Their toughest competition hails from Great Britain’s Edward Upcott and Douglas Fordyce, who won the Bronze at the 2008 World Championships and the 2009 World Games. More recently, they stunned British TV viewers alongside their group Spelbound, winning 2010 Britain’s Got Talent.
Also in the running are Yauheni Kalachou and Ruslan Fedchanka. The two young gymnasts from Belarus medalled at the 2008 World Age Group Competitions and placed second at the International Tournament “Stars above the Boug River” in February this year. Let’s see how they do at their first worlds!
Dmitry and Maxim Ivanov, another young Pair, hails from Russia. The newcomers topped the rankings at the Boug River tournament in Vinnitsa (UKR).
Chinese Yang Hengyi and Chen Hongen just barely missed out on a medal rank at the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung. They are certainly looking to fix that this year!
Women’s Pairs
2008 World Champions Alina Yushko and Katsiaryna Murashko of Belarus once again count among the title aspirants for 2010, but competition is tough even though both 2009 World Games Champions De Vos / Henrist (BEL) and Kaoshiung Bronze medallists Grehan / Thorne (GBR) have retired and won’t be competing in Wroclaw!
Azerbaijanis Ayla Ahmadova and Dilara Sultanova, runners-up in Glasgow and Kaoshiung, are waiting for an opportunity to take their place among Acro’s finest! With only the Belgians ahead in Vinnitsa and the Volkov Cup in May this year, one might say that the way has been cleared for their victory.
Russia and Ukraine are lining up with young Pairs in the Women’s category. Anastasia Vashchenko and Elena Gladneva (RUS) won the Bronze at the 2008 WAGC and Kateryna Sytnikova medalled together with her partner Anastasiya Melnychenko (UKR) at the 2010 Boug River tournament. A step in the right direction if they’re aiming to secure a top spot in the Seniors category!
Mixed Pairs
Mixed Pairs, the largest category at these world championships in terms of participation, features 22 entries, and we can expect to see high level performances!
The line-up is headed by 2009 World Games Champions from the USA Kristin Allen and Michael Rodrigues, who are able to capture the public’s enthusiasm with great style and expression. The Americans are challenged by Julie van Gelder and Menno Vanderghote of Belgium, World Games runners-up and 2008 World Bronze medallists, who travel to Wroclaw with a victory from the 2010 Boug River tournament under their belts.
With the reigning World Champions and runners-up Gorbatyak / Barleben and Sviridova / Babarykin, missing from this competition, Russia entered Tatiana Okulova and Revaz Gurgenidze, who placed 4th in Kaohsiung. We can look forward to their show!
Men’s Groups
The spectacular Men’s Group competition presents the big three from Russia, China and Great Britain, promising an exciting and close run for the title!
Chervatov / Chulkov / Danchenko / Gurgenidze (RUS) are defending their World title against 2009 World Games Champions and 2008 World runners-up Xue / Fang / Zhao / Han (CHN). Recently on stage with Spelbound for British TV, the boys from Great Britain Buckingham / Mcassey / Uttley / Stranks are back in the saddle, and as World Games runners-up and Glasgow Bronze medallists they’re setting their sights high!
Also lining up in this category are captivating young Groups from Ukraine, Belarus and Poland, who placed among the top four at the last World Age Group Competitions. Keep an eye on them!
Women’s Groups
The reigning World Champions from Russia will not defend their title in Wroclaw, but the country lines up Trio Shaykhudinova / Stroynova / Loginova, who placed second in Glasgow and holds the 2009 World Games title in Women’s Group. Moreover, they have collected a number of Gold medals at this year’s international Acro meets. A serious candidate for the top of a Wroclaw podium!
Just having missed out on a medal in Kaohsiung but making a solid impression this year, the Belgian Group featuring Vam Hombeeck / Croket / Vanstaen can also hope for an upper rank, as can young Ukrainian contenders Kalyta / Vinnyk / Odintsova, World Games Bronze medallists and runners-up of the 2010 Boug River tournament.
Great Britain has not entered its runners-up from Kaohsiung, but with Blacklock / Thompson / Birch they are presenting their new national Champions. Something to look forward to!
The FIG opened its 2010 Wroclaw Acrobatic Gymnastics microsite at http://www.wroclaw2010.sportcentric.com/, where all event-related information is published and where fans can get immediate results, news and back stage photo galleries, updated regularly throughout the event.
Results of the World Age Group Competitions will also be included on this website.
Photos of the competitions will be uploaded in a timely manner after each event at www.fig-photos.com.
We look forward to seeing you soon in Wroclaw!
