4th FIG Aerobic Gymnastics World Age Group Competitions
Rodez (FRA), June 15 - 17, 2010
11th FIG Aerobic Gymnastics World Championships
Rodez (FRA), June 18 - 20, 2010
LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, May 28, 2010: While gymnasts hit the road to Conversano (ITA) to compete at the ultimate World Series event prior to the season’s highlight match, nominative registration for the 11th FIG Aerobic Gymnastics World Championships in Rodez (FRA) closed last week on May 19.
Once registration had been tallied up, 231 gymnasts representing 33 different countries from five continents had signed on: 41 Individual Men; 53 Individual Women; 28 Mixed Pairs; 29 Trios and 19 Groups of 6 gymnasts each.
Now we know what to expect:
Men’s Individual
In Men’s Individual, all eyes will be on Spaniard Ivan Parejo, 2008 title holder, 2009 World Games Champion and current leader of the FIG World Ranking. Will the 23 year old be able to handle the pressure? Will he give another fabulous performance in Rodez?
One thing’s for sure, Parejo’s top contenders, French Morgan Jacquemin, 2008 Worlds and 2009 World Games runner-up, Russia’s Alexander Kondratichev, Bronze medallist in Kaohsiung and Australian Kieran Gorman, who is currently listed third in the World Ranking, will not let him win that easily.
Also in the running for a medal are Zsolt Roik (HUN), Emanuele Pagliuca (ITA) and Mircea Zamfir (ROU). In the absence of 2006 World Champion Ao Jinping, China will be represented by Zhou Xiaofeng, whom we saw back in 2008 in Ulm, and newcomer Shou Minchao, 20 years old.
The competition will be spiced up by gymnasts hailing from Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Iran, Japan, Korea, Lithuania, Mexico, Portugal, South Africa, Thailand, Venezuela and Vietnam.
Women’s Individual
In Women’s, Marcela Matos Lopez is certainly this event’s top favourite. The 27 year old Brazilian won the 2006 and 2008 World titles, as well as the World Games last year in Kaohsiung.
Lopez will be challenged by Angela McMillan (NZL), 2009 World Games runner-up and 2008 Bronze medallist, Huang Jinxuan (CHN), third in Kaohsiung, and Romania’s Cristina Simona Nedelcu, 2008 runner-up, who has set her cap for the podium yet again, after a near win at the World Games (rank 4).
We can also look forward to meeting 20 year old Sara Moreno, Spain’s new promising Aerobic gymnast who has impressed with good results throughout this World Cup season; she’s been rewarded with the leading position.
Italy’s Giulia Bianchi, 2008 finalist in Ulm and 2009 in Kaohsiung, will travel with memories of Gold from her recent triumph at the World Series event in Conversano to Rodez. Moreover, she is listed second in the World Ranking; she has everything to gain by hitting that podium!
France entered experienced Aurelie Joly and newcomer Charlotte Rappy, who, thanks to a second place in Ponta Delgada, is listed two in the World Ranking.
Mixed Pair
The Mixed Pair competition will see a tête-à-tête between title holders and World Games Champions Aurelie Joly / Julien Chaninet from host France and Kaohsiung runners-up Sara Moreno / Vicente Lli (ESP), who currently top the World Ranking.
Also in the race for the coveted medal ranks are Romania’s Cristina Simona Nedelcu / Tudorel Valentin Mavrodineanu, 2008 Bronze medallists, Hungary’s Zsolt Roik / Dora Lendvay as well as Italians Giulia Bianchi / Emanuele Pagliuca.
China will introduce us to two new Pairs this year; let’s keep an eye on what they’re up to!
Argentina, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Portugal, South Africa, Russia, Thailand, Venezuela and Vietnam are also part of the show!
Trio
Romania’s winning Trio of Kaohsiung, Ulm and Nanjing replaced Mircea Brinzea with Petru Porime Tolan, while Mircea Zamfir and Tudorel Valentin Mavrodineanu line up once again to defend their title. Will they prevail over their challengers from China, Brazil, France and Italy?
Don’t miss the Trio from Vietnam, finalists in Kaohsiung and Ulm!
Group
The Chinese Group has collected all World and World Games titles in the recent past. And while they’ve come to Rodez as a new Group, they are serious aspirants for the 2010 title! 4th in Ulm and Silver medallists in Kaohsiung, Romania’s Group is clearly up-and-coming. Can we expect them to beat the Chinese in Rodez?
With rank three and four respectively at the 2009 World Games, as well as Bronze and Silver 2008 in Ulm, Russia and France are also in the race.
The question is … what can we expect from Italy this year? As 2008 and 2009 finalist and leader of the 2010 World Ranking, count them in!
A third place at the World Series event in Tokyo called our attention to Korea, and Kaohsiung finalist Hungary lines up with pride.
All told, Rodez will be the highlight of the Aerobic season, gathering the discipline’s elite and rising stars from established as well as new participating countries.
The FIG opened its 2010 Rodez Aerobic Gymnastics microsite yesterday at http://www.rodez2010.sportcentric.com/, where all event related information is published and where fans can get immediate results, news and photo galleries that are updated regularly throughout the event.
Results of the World Age Group Competitions will also be included on this website.
We look forward to seeing you soon in Rodez!
