22nd Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships
Wroclaw (POL), July 16 - 18, 2010
Qualifications Day 1
WROCLAW (POL), FIG Office, July 16, 2010: The 22nd Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships got underway this morning in Wroclaw, Poland, where delegation members and spectators gave fantastic support to gymnasts performing in all categories. Wroclaw’s Orbita Hall, equipped with acrobatic floors from Spieth Gymnastic, staged this first day of Qualifications.
Mixed Pairs
Dynamic
A very aerial competition in Mixed Pairs today, with the much-anticipated Belgian Pair Vanderghote/Van Gelder, who handled the pressure with ease. They gave a fabulous, comprehensive exercise in terms of artistry, and took the cake in this first heat. China’s Huang/Zhang presented a routine steeped in tradition and extraordinary flight elements. They placed second, just 0.144 points shy of first and barely ahead of Belgium’s De Roech/Van Wijk and Americans Allen/Rodrigues. Russian Pair Okulova/Gurgenidze were forced to finish their exercise without musical accompaniment, a real disappointment for spectators since Revaz Gurgenidze is known to be the best “dancer” in international competitions at this time. They finished fifth in the provisional ranking and will be looking for revenge in the static exercise.
Balance
The second series of qualifying rounds got off to a good start with an outstanding exercise by China’s Huang/Zhang, who are so utterly graceful in their static holds that we forget to watch for difficulty. A slight mistake on an individual element and insufficient choreographic content cost them a few points in the overall ranking (5th). Russia’s Okulova/Gurgenidze, who were finally able to dazzle fans with their artistic talent and incredible energy, slid in front of the Chinese, but a lack of technical difficulties (D Score: 9.90) and unwieldy technical execution kept them from taking the lead. They finished 4th, just behind both Belgian Pairs and the United States, who performed superbly romantic choreography. We look forward to seeing the Americans tomorrow.
Belgian Vanderghote/Van Gelder gave a phenomenal technical and artistic performance: light but dynamic choreography, precise though fluid technique, they won the hearts of both public and judges alike. Their compatriots De Roech/Van Wijk were not far behind (0.247); stability and artistic expression characterized a magnificent performance. With both Belgian Pairs in the lead, two looming questions emerge: which of the two Belgian Pairs will move on to the Final, since only one per nation will make it, and who will follow in their wake? Waiting in the wings are the surprising young Portuguese: Sarnebto/Gradim and the charming Bulgarian Pair Ivanova/Kirov.
Qualifications in Mixed Pairs continue with the Combined exercises tomorrow morning, with the Final taking place the same day at 6 pm.
Women’s Groups
Balance
These young women provided us with a beautiful competition. Of the 17 Trios hoping to qualify, the level of the competition is such that nine of them have a realistic shot at accessing the top ranks. The bar was set high from the get-go with a 27.950 score for Belgium’s Van Hombeek/Croket/Vanstaen, the first to perform. Russia’s Shaykhudinova/Stroyonova/Loginova, who harbour pretty realistic hopes for the world title, gave an impressive technical demonstration of stability, which placed them in the lead temporarily ahead of British Miller/Walters/Smith, the only Trio with a top to perform Mexican positions with wide arms. France (Le Corre/Dupire-Betoule/Eouzan) and the Ukraine (Kalyta/Vinnik/Odintsova) placed 4th and 5th respectively in the provisional ranking.
Dynamic
Britain’s Miller/Walters/Smith were the first of the potential finalists to take to the floor. Laden with difficulties and weighty choreography, their exercise was worth a solid 27.853. Russia’s Shaykhudinova/Stroyonova/Loginova broke out into a rousing Brazilian samba that enabled the tiny Aygul Shaykhudinova to fly through the air in so many positions; they took the lead with a near 1.3 point margin over Britain.
The Belgians stepped up and conquered third place. A fall following a salto caught to platform relegated French Le Corre/Dupire-Betoule/Eouzan to 8th place despite an impressive double salto with split legs performed at the outset by top Maxine Eouzan, proving that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree; it was her father who invented the element in the first place. They lost their provisional place in the ranking to their compatriots Chameroy/Purdy/Van Echelpoel, who placed 7th. Tomorrow’s Combined exercise competition looks feisty with the Ukraine and Poland in the running for a place in the Final, while Russia’s Kondrateva/Gorbacheva/Levkina and Britain’s Blacklock/Birch/Thompson seek to outdo their compatriots.
Qualifications in Women’s Groups continue with the Combined exercises tomorrow morning, with the Final taking place the same day at 7 pm.
Men’s Groups
Dynamic
The ten Men’s Groups started off the competition with spectacular, dynamic exercises and we saw a high number of triple saltos today.
Disappointed by a fall by their top, the first Group entering the floor, Belarus 1, took a beating with a poor 24.350, and ultimately last place.
As expected, the Chinese Groups soon soared to the top of the ranking. Both Groups impressed once again with powerful, spectacular elements set to traditional Chinese music. The enthusiastic public rewarded them with loud support from the grandstands. China 1 with Xue, Fang, Zhao and Han scored a solid 28.350.
The Quattro from Russia, compatriots of the current World Champions in this category who are not competing this year, also had a fall and missed a chance at the top.
The Polish four was next to enter. They pleased their fans with original choreography that featured a split into two pairs; they placed behind the Chinese (27.403) and got away with an ultimate sixth rank.
Then the two strong Groups from Great Britain stepped up to the plate. Buckingham / Mcassey / Uttley / Stranks took the top ahead of China with a total score of 28.536, .2 pts higher in Execution than their contenders. Their team-mates made it to rank three (27.754) leaving China 2 in fourth place (27.598).
Qualifications for the six Final spots available in Men’s Groups continue with Balance and Combined exercises over the next two days, with the Final on Sunday at 5:50 pm.
Women’s Pairs
Balance
Title aspirants from Belarus, Alina Yushko and Katsiaryrina Murashko, were the first of ten Women’s Pairs to enter the floor in this category. Setting the bar high for the ones to come, they performed magnificent, clean-cut choreography (28.550).
Unfortunately, both Chinese Pairs experienced falls from their top partners and the resulting deductions placed them at the end of the table. Germany’s Janina Hiller and Sophia Mueller made their delegation proud, presenting a solid performance (28.151) that placed them fifth between the two Pairs from Russia.
Fulfilling high expectations, well-known Ayla Ahmadova and Dilara Sultanova of Azerbaijan offered up a beautiful and nearly perfect routine technically, taking the top of the ranking (28.661).
Kateryna Sytnikova and Anastasiya Melnychenko, the young and rising Pair from the Ukraine, showed a clean exercise that put them in third today (28.528), breathing down the necks of the Azerbaijanis and Belarusians.
Qualifications in Women’s Pairs continues with Dynamic and Combined exercises over the next two days, with the Final on Sunday at 5:00 pm.
Men’s Pairs
Dynamic
After the withdrawal of Poland’s entry due to injury, thirteen Men’s Pairs were left to line up here in Wroclaw, all aiming for one of the eight spots available in the Finals.
Here’s what we witnessed:
Russia’s second entry, the young Ivanov brothers, gave a solid performance at their world debut. A 27.800 placed them sixth in this first heat. Yang Hengyi and Chen Hongen of China, who took fourth place in 2009 in Kaohsiung, ranked a mere .015 ahead of the Russians, but they were soon outperformed by the upcoming stars from Belarus. Yauheni Kalachou and Ruslan Fedchanka were given slightly higher scores in Artistic and Execution, placing them fourth.
The Ukraine, home to the reigning World Champions, presented their new Senior Men’s Pair Iaroslav Pulin and Dmytro Tarasenko, who impressed with a very solid routine today; they soared to the top of the ranking … temporarily! Big names were still to come.
Top favourites in this event, Konstantin Pilipchuk and Alexey Dudchenko of Russia, followed on their heels, and they did not disappoint! Convincingly clear and more solid than the Ukrainians, they scored the highest Execution mark in this category (9.300), placing first (28.502).
The competition was exciting until the end featuring Great Britain’s Edward Upcott and Douglas Fordyce last up. The 2009 World Games Bronze medallists flawlessly went through a strong routine, and a meagre .1 difference in Execution placed them second behind the Russians.
Qualifications in Men’s Pairs continues with Balance and Combined exercises over the next two days, and the Final on Sunday at 4:00 pm.
Check the results and rankings after today’s events and take a look at tomorrow’s start lists!
Qualifications continue tomorrow for Combined exercises in Mixed Pairs and Women’s Groups, Men’s Groups Balance exercises and Women’s Groups Dynamic exercises. From 6 pm, we will see the first Finals of these championships in Mixed Pairs and Women’s Groups.
