|
|||||
 American Jordyn Wieber won the all-around title Thursday at the world gymnastics championships in Japan, just edging Russian star Viktoria Komova. Wieber topped Komova, 59.382-59.349. China's Yao Jinnan won the bronze with 58.598. Wieber had the high score of the day on vault in the first rotation (15.716), but struggled on uneven bars (13.600). She came back strong on balance beam (15.266) and floor exercise (14.800). Komova, the top qualifier, hit four events, but had small mistakes throughout the day. Her final score of 14.333 on floor exercise wasn't enough to put her past Wieber, leaving her in second by .033. Wieber, who led the U.S. to the gold in Tuesday's team final, is the sixth American to win the world all-around title. "I feel amazing," Wieber said. "I was so surprised. I wasn't expecting to come out on top but I am really happy and glad that I did enough on that floor routine to make it. To come in here and achieve one of my goals that I have had since I was a little kid is so exciting. I am very happy to have this gold medal around my neck." Russian coach Andrei Rodionenko called the judging a fiasco, but Komova said she was unhappy with her performance. Komova, who had ankle surgery in May, was unable to show her full difficulty on vault. "My vault was not as fully ready as it should have been," she said. "On beam I had mistakes and my bars were not very well done. My floor routine was mediocre. Today, on a beam I did not make some connections, therefore, that's why the lower score. So [this ranking is] deserved. But the Olympics are ahead." Yao had a chance to become China's first world all-around champion, but dropped off balance beam in the third rotation (13.933). "Wieber and Komova are both stronger than me," Yao said. "They have more difficulty and good attitudes so I won't think about that gold." Competition continues Friday with the men's all-around final. Japan's Kohei Uchimura is favored to win his third consecutive title. Follow IG Publisher Paul Ziert's live commentary from Yoyogi Stadium, broadcast simultaneously on IG's official Facebook Page and Twitter account. Look for complete coverage of the world championships in the December issue of International Gymnast. 2011 World Gymnastics Championships
Comments (40)
Anon
said:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Subscribe to this comment's feed
 |
Komova deserved second Komova is not the true champion. Did you see her quote above? Even she recognizes that her routines were watered-tdown and contained small errors. She is a beautiful gymnast, but it simply is not her time yet. And under the current code, "more difficulty" beats "artistic" every time. Blame Bruno Grandi, but that's just the way it is. |
Reilley C
said:
 |
... Even with small mistakes Komova deserved first. The bars judging in particular was a joke. How can Raisman, with a fall, be 1.6 behind Komova? Raisman should lose .6 on her first two skills. Komova is graceful even in defeat - the true champion. |
Anon
said:
|
... It cracks me up how anyone with a Russian flag on their leo is automatically "deserving" of first.....lol. If Komova had had more difficulty in her routines, she would have won, even with her small mistakes. That's how gymnastics works these days. |
Reilley C
said:
|
... I didn't say she deserved to win because she's Russian. If that's all you can see is the flag on the leotard than that's your problem. |
Lora
said:
 |
... Anon, that is NOT how gymnastics works these days. You don't automatically win because you have more difficulty. Execution is supposed to count for something. Look at the pic of Wieber doing her layout on beam. Gross. And don't get me started on the bars scoring. Komova will win next year. |
Anon
said:
|
... I had to laugh at the person who criticized Raisman. Why not be angry at the Chinese girl who won a medal despite falling off beam? Because the only gymnasts that get criticized here are the American ones. No matter what they do, or how they perform, there is always "bias" or "unfair" judging involved. Come on. |
J
said:
 |
... Okay. Even Komova knew she had small mistakes throughout and felt she did not deserve first. So did Wieber, but her higher difficulty overcame that. Why not just let the results speak for themselves and give all the girls credit for doing their best under pressure? Are you an internationally ranked judge? Do you actually KNOW what you are talking about? As for calling Jordyn's layout on beam, "gross", that is just rude and uncalled for. Be respectful of the athletes. Anon is right, if it was any other country no one would say a word. Because it is a U.S. gymnast, people feel they can lay on the criticism. Oh, and someone PLEASE tell the UNIVERSAL Sports announcers that their constant cheerleading for certain gymnasts over others is unprofessional. I thought it was UNIVERSAL sports, not BRITISH sports. |
JJ
said:
 |
... "Komova is the true champion" ... but they're gonna keep the gold medal at Jordyn's house. Vive America!!! |
..., Low-rated comment [Show]
..., Low-rated comment [Show]
Anon
said:
|
... LoveVika just proved my point. The girl could fall on her head on every event and people would still claim she was "robbed." No, she should not be able to fall five times and still win a medal. Sorry, but it doesn't work that way. |
starr
said:
 |
... i'm not making excuses...but sometime I wonder, when people criticize form/body positions, I wonder if they take into account a gymnasts natural physique. Certain positions are more easy to achieve for some and not for others. Furthermore, the build of gymnast is an physical anatomical feature that can prevent them from achieving "perfect form." I'm sure all elite gymnasts work to get to that point (especially those who are at worlds), but it's easier for some. Where do you draw the line? Is it fair to criticize form when part of it is natural ability and beyond the gymnast's control? Under the current system, the judges look for difficulty and execution rather than artistic merit alone...that gives gymnasts with a disadvantage in the "artistic" department some room if they can got more difficulty. That's not to say difficulty should be used to replace artistry, but this way the scoring system doesn't favor certain gymnasts over others Just some food for thought for the next time you critique a gymnast and call their form or certain positions "gross" and feel like certain gymnasts should get higher scores just because of their "look." |
drags
said:
 |
... Am I the only one who doesn't get Wieber's FX score? It looked to me like she landed out of bounds with one foot, not just stepped out after landing. I don't think that Komova was underscored on any event, but I do think that Wieber was overscored on floor (even if she landed in bounds, 14.8 is just too high for that routine, and you don't have to be international judge to be able to see that), and slightly on beam as well. Komova is the true champion and hopefully she'll get what she deserves next year in London, and that is a GOLD all around medal! Only thing that makes this AA competition good is Porgras - she really had a good meet (except a HUGE error on UB, that extremely late turn), but she finally redeemed herself after whole year of terrible results. |
Singaporean
said:
 |
Unfair judging? Can someone care to explain how did Wieber get 9.216 for her vault's execution score with that huge step forward? (Yao only got 9.166 for her execution score for her near perfect vault.) It's as if the judges already decided that Wieber should be the winner right from the start!!! Sickening. |
Anon
said:
 |
... Komova, Wieber... Boy, out of a Worlds due to injury, and Mustafina's completely written off! |
Anon
said:
|
... J...Universal Sports provided clips of the competition with the commentary feed from British Eurosport on their website. Only the actual broadcast on television will feature the commentary by Tim Daggett and Elfie Schlegal.. |
nik
said:
 |
... Not sure why some people are saying Komova deserves second. the difference is only .033 they're both are champions imo. I was surprised at the outcome tho |
J
said:
|
Well then Since Lora is convinced that Kumova will win next year, lets tell all of the other girls to stay home....seriously? A LOT can happen in a year and to make a prediction is ridiculous. Fnr one thing, Mustafina will be coming back and the Chinese will more seasoned. Bross will return...Mitchell could be healthy...There are SO MANY girls out there who have the ability to win. |
JG
said:
 |
... I believe the judges are fearful of the incredibly hateful blog attacks launched by American gym fans. Thus they test the waters in prelims & just keep raising the scores for them & freezing out others. I think they should just send them the agreed medals so that they need not come. Then the rest of us could enjoy the scramble for a few minor medals. Much more pleasant , scores would be fairer & everyone happy. What is not to like? |
grrr
said:
 |
... Like someone said earlier...why cant we just honor the results and be respectful?? you can argue ANY point...you can argue about superbowl wins, NBA titles...you can criticize all ya want -- its a COMPETITION...the best gymnast may or may not win on that given day. The winner of the competition, the title of "whatever it is" goes to the person who can put it together THAT DAY. It also is up to the panel of judges on THAT DAY. We all have our favorites but just lets all be respectful at realize that its NOT THE END (or beginning) of the world!! 2nd or 3rd or 10th place winners should be commended for competing under such pressure (or any other adversity they have)Please start posting POSITIVE things for these girls to read NOT all the negativity!!! and ...I think Komova was very humble, as was the chinese girl. I respect that MUCH MORE than the adults who have said the judging was a "fiasco". Viktoria was a great athlete! I will cheer much harder for those who are humble and kind to their competitors even if they didnt win. |
franchesca
said:
 |
mi oponion personalmente la tecnica americana de gimnasia no me gusta es pobre en la parte artistica, han convertido a este hermoso deporte en algo grotezco, aun y con toda su dificultad. sin embargo la gimnasia europea conserva la verdadera esencia y aun cuando no ganen prefiero mil veces disfrutar de sus rutinas. |
Jessie
said:
 |
... Form and line are part of good coaching, almost always. Saying "that's just their body type" is a poor excuse typically used by the Americans to excuse ugly gymnasts like Raisman, Wieber and Memmel. There's plenty of powerful gymnasts with similar body types like Sacramone and Anna Li (Americans too!) with beautiful form. |
Rachel T
said:
 |
Why all the hate? Wieber won the gold and that is that. I absolutely hate sore losers. Accept the decision and move on and stop being sour grapes. As for the comments she at least won't win the Olympics is nothing but a hateful and ignorant statement. Whoever made that statement needs to grow up and act with dignity. Even Komova accepted the silver with grace and a good attitude and much better than her coach. For all you haters out there, just grow up and stop acting so immature. |
..., Low-rated comment [Show]
Anon
said:
|
... Thank you Rachel T. Very well-said. I feel sorry for the people in this forum who are so blinded by their devotion to Komova that they will bad-mouth and ridicule a sixteen-year-old girl. Sad. |
Anon
said:
|
Corrupt? As far as corrupt judging goes - it seems that people only think it is corrupt when THEIR gymnast loses. When they win, the system is perfect. Come on people. The CODE rewards difficulty over artistry. It's really not that hard to understand. ALL of the major players had errors and the bronze medalist had a FALL. Yet people only want to make rude and insensitive comments about Wieber. |
I don't care who deserved to win the AA, Low-rated comment [Show]
Alison Clements
said:
 |
Wieber's floor Even though she stepped out, I absolutely loved Wieber's floor in the AA (and I don't think I can say that about another USA floor routine since Dominique Dawes). It was so carefully choreographed - every beat (even silent beats) used, clear tempo changes and, for once, a routine where I didn't feel like the music was just background noise. Jordyn was smiling like a cheshire cat (c.f. most of the other gymnasts) and clearly the choreographer had given great thought to ensuring that the music and gymnastics would work together rather than just be happening contemporaneously. Even the back flips were in time! It will be going on to my DVD of floor routines with the 'it' factor and it is a rare routine that meets my criteria for that. One of the small number of good things about the current code is that gymnasts are generously rewarded for interpreting their music and I would suspect that is why Jordyn scored so high for her FX despite the step out. Any floor exercise that the viewer just wants to keep on going forever has to be a highlight of any AA competition. Unfortunately the versions on Youtube at the moment seem to be slightly out of synch between the beat and the gymnastics (maybe the streaming is slow?) pshsindian's version is the best up so far. If anyone else wants to see what I'm saying, the BBC version is spot on the beat at 1h42m00s here http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b0164c50/ |
jollybarb
said:
 |
... Komova has dark circles around her eyes and looks really pale. She was supposed to be living in the northern hemisphere summer not long before the competition in Tokyo?? She looks like she hasn't seen the sun in years! I love Komova's gymnastics but I don't think she deserved to win this one. I hope the judges do not give her gold in London over Wieber and Mustafina unless she deserves it. She needs to improve her vault and despite being a HUGE fan of graceful floor routines, she can't catch Wieber's 'PERFORMANCE' on floor; not yet anyway. Congratulations Jordan. May the best woman win next year! |
jollybarb
said:
|
... Elena Shushunova won the allaround gold over Daniela Silivas in 1988. Can anyone honestly tell me the Russian was more graceful than the Romanian? I’m half expecting that Komova does a repeat of Silivas’s medal haul and wins individual apparatus medals, or rather, fights them out with the Chinese on beam and Tweddle and the Chinese..and maybe even Liukin and Bross on Bars...with Wieber and Mustafina fighting it out for the AA gold in London. What’s okay for the goose must also be okay for the gander. I seem to recall a lot of people thought Silivas should win the AA gold over Shushunova in 1988. Maybe this time the shoe will be on the other foot. |
JG
said:
|
... Jollybarb - Silivas was underage therefore Shushanova's win was absolutely the right one. Yes I remember Elena well & was lucky enough to see the whole 87 USSR lineup plus extra team members on tour. There was not one inelegant gymnast male or female. Besides almost very 80s top performer was more elegant than Wieber & of course Raisman. I attended 05 & preferred Memmel to liukin . We all have preferences but I did think Memmel was the better on beam & bars also but she did not win those titles. Her dad did not frak out either unlke Valeri in 08. Just accept that though many are just anti American generally -there are dislikes about USAstyle. |
Jessie
said:
|
... Silivas was NOT underage in 1988. I wish people would get over the fact that Wieber is American. That has nothing to do with this discussion. If it was just anti-Americanism then where is the outrage over the USA golds in the team and vault? It's over the scoring based on the routines performed. And "Difficulty beats artistry" is not a valid argument, considering Komova and Wieber are basically equally matched. Not on vault this time, but overall they were even. Wieber is an inferior athlete and she was hardly perfect that day. Also, I would like the "rah-rah USA is #1!" fans to explain Raisman's E score on bars in the all-around final. This is an impossibility. |
JG
said:
|
... Ok Jessie she was underage 85 86 but Romania still should have been banned in 88 for giving a 16 year old that haircut. Considering Marta still sports this haircut herself I live in fear the entire USA team will wear one in London.  |
jollybarb
said:
|
... I was just pointing out that I think Shushunova was LESS elegant than Silivas...Not suggesting that she lacked artistry overall. Great that JG has a sense of humour...I think we all need a good laugh. |
jollybarb
said:
|
... Melbourne is my home city and I was lucky enough to watch the 2005 Worlds. Yes, I agree that Memmel should've won the AA final...But not the UB and BB titles?? Liukin was by far my favourite gymnast in Beijing...FYI I thought she should've won the Olympic GOLD medal on Floor exercise. She should definitely have placed ahead of Johnson. Gymnastics is so subjective...we will never reach a consensus. Lol. |
JG
said:
|
... Jellybarb - These days I just peek in at Gym. I keep the stress levels down by following comps on Ig Facebook & seeing the vids later . That way I only need to watch routines I am interested in. I certainly recognise Komova's classic gymnastic poses. Such open hips & shoulders! Interestingly I was particularly impressed by her mother -even amongst those fab 80s Soviets. If I were terminal I would just want to have another 2 years to see her a 18 then hang on till 20 . She is so great. But maybe she is a little bit weak physically now just as Liukin was compared to Chellsie in 05. For elegance & technique I wait for the annual Russian Imperial Ballet to visit which I just saw in St Kilda1 I am in heaven . Afanseyeva for floor gold! Just when I was never expecting to see gance rewarded in gymnastics. Cheers & thanKs Ig . You provide a good mix of opinion & information. |
J
said:
|
... Jessie, I think people are just generally offended by your rude and nasty statements regarding Jordyn and other American gymnasts being inferior and having ugly lines. If you don't like their gymnastics, fine, but you can say that without coming off as a nasty, biased poster. What do YOUR body lines look like? Maybe we should take a look at you? Oops, get off the couch and dump the chips first. |
Write comment
