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Written by Dwight Normile Sunday, October 18, 2009

China Takes 3 More Golds as Worlds Conclude

(11 votes, average 4.55 out of 5)

IG Editor Dwight Normile is blogging from the 2009 World Gymnastics Championships at the O2 Arena in London.

Men's Vault

Isaac Botella (ESP): High Kasamatsu-1.5 (6.6) with some form issues and big crossover step; handspring-double-twisting front (6.6), stepped to the side and over the boundary line. 15.650 two-vault average.

Anton Golotsutskov (RUS): Dragulescu, super high, legs apart, hop back (7.0); Tsukahara-double pike (7.0), fairly clean, slightly short, hop forward. 16.287 average.

Thomas Bouhail (FRA): Tsukahara-double pike, off axis, landed and spun around and put a hand down. He's lucky he didn't hurt himself since he landed at such a sideward angle. High Dragulescu, small hop. He looked pleased, despite the first vault fault. 15.775 average.

Matthias Fahrig (GER): Sort of trotted at first before gaining full speed for a Dragulescu, which landed low, in a deep squat and a step to the side over the boundary. Clean Kasamatsu-1.5 that landed a little short. 15.850 average.

Marian Dragulescu (ROM): High, far Dragulescu. He stood up straight quickly to try to stick, but took a step back. Li Xiaopeng (roundoff, half-on, layout randi, 7.2), landed well with just a step. Huge applause and Dragulesu returne the applause in appreciation. Should be tough to beat. 16.575.

Jeffrey Wammes (NED): Yurchenko-2.5 twist (6.6); handspring-double-twisting front, never had enough height and sat down. 15.425 average.

Flavius Koczi (ROM): Lopez (Kasamatsu-double twist, 7.0), one step; Handspring-randi (2.5 twists, 7.0), landed short of the twist, but just needed a hop. 16.337.

Vault finals require different entry and post-flight, and these two vaults abuse that rule on both sides of the table. Meanwhile, you cannot do a Yurchenko-double pike and Yurchenko-2.5 twist, which are completely different. Sometimes you just have to shake your head at the decisions the Men's Technical Committee makes--or in this case, chooses not to make.

Ri Se Gwang (PRK): Piked Dragulescu (7.2), landed on all fours; Tsukahara-double pike stepped to the side. 15.650.

1. Dragulescu; 2. Koczi; 3. Golotsutskov. After Ri finished, Dragulescu and Koczi stood atop the vault table draped in a Romanian flag. Gymnastics' version of an end zone celebration?

Balance Beam

Yang Yilin (CHN) began well but wobbled after an Onodi and slipped sideways after a Rulfova. No connection between front and side aerials, then her foot missed on a switch-ring leap, and she fell. Clean roundoff, 2.5 twist dismount (13.225).

Elisabetta Preziosa (ITA) did an interesting side aerial that landed on one leg while she raised the other leg high in front. Used her flexibility to good effect and ended with a roundoff, double tuck, slightly under (14.20, 5.8).

Ana Porgras (ROM) began confidently with excellent form and flexibility, but fell on her first tumbling combination of front aerial, flip-flop, layout, then later had to grab the beam to prevent another fall (13.425, 6.4).

Deng Linlin (CHN) was aggressive but slightly off balance on nearly every landing. Trick, trick, trick (15.000, 6.4).

Koko Tsurumi (JPN) had a near fall after a layout but she turned halfway and put her hand down on the beam with her leg up in a needle. Stuck a roundoff, 2.5 twist right as the final warning buzzer sounded (14.10, 5.7).

Kim Un Hyang (PRK) landed well on her roundoff, layout-full, slip wobble on a front tuck and two leaps, roundoff, double pike dismount (14.450, 6.0).

Ivana Hong (USA) looked fairly smooth but had to pause between her Onodi and sheep jump, and she had a few other balance checks. Two flip-flops to double pike, slightly short on rotation (14.550, 6.0). A medal secured, Hong received a hug from coach Valeri Liukin.

Lauren Mitchell (AUS) mounted with a chest spin on the end to swing down. Double turn in side lunge, interesting front aerial, standing front tuck, bit step back on her double pike, but overall a solid routine in comparison with the others (14.875, 6.3).

1. Deng; 2. Mitchell; 3. Hong.

Parallel Bars

Yann Cucherat (FRA) tore a ligament in his middle finger during the pre-meet warm-up in the 02 Arena (there are no one-touch warm-ups in the event finals), and was replaced by Pham Phuoc Hung (VIE).

Wang Guanyin (CHN) Excellent set with front uprise-Diamidov, Dmitrienko, piked Morisue, piked Belle, struggled slightly on a swing hand, stuck his double pike. This routine could win, but being first up might hurt him (15.975, 7.0).

Yoo Won Chul (KOR) matched Wang, skill for skill, and stuck his double pike too. Pumped his fists in relief. Now that you can only do one type of each release, the top guys are doing piked Morisues and piked Belles and a Dmitrienko (front uprise immediate double back). 15.300, 6.7.

Adam Kierzkowski (POL) His low peach-half will hurt him, clean front-1.25 to support, reverse cut to handstand, but later sat down a double pike in his first world final. 4.325, 6.3.

Feng Zhe (CHN) took steps on his peach-half and later did a peach full, great, stretched Healym had to jump sideward after his double pike. 15.775, 6.9.

Epke Zonderland (NED) did a really cool Diamidov-1.25 with an extra full pirouette to a glid on the side, and he stuck his double pike. He's been paying his dues on high bar in recent years, and now he showed up well in the p-bars final. 15.125, 6.1, received loud boos and whistles.

Pham Phuoc Hung (VIE) struggled on a peach and broke form in a few places. Very short routine. 14.475, 5.9.

Vasileios Tsolakidis (GRE) has great front-uprise skills (Diamidov, Makuts) and a super high front piked-1.75 to upper arms. He stuck his double pike. I think he should have medaled on p-bars at the 2006 worlds. We'll see if he does here. 15.35, 6.3.

Kazuhito Tanaka (JPN) mounted with peach-half, peach-full, muscled one swing handstand and stuck his double pike perhaps the best of all the finals. 15.50, 6.4.

1.Wang; 2. Feng; 3. Tanaka.

Women's Floor Exercise

Beth Tweddle (GBR) drew a huge reception as first up and it got really loud when she landed her opening pass (from just a hurdle, roundoff, flip-flop, 1.5 twist through to Arabian double front), again on her second, piked Arabian double front, the whole crowd began clapping in rhythm during the middle of the routine. Tweddle uses only three tumbling passes and she stuck the final pass (2.5 twist, front-full) and sent the crowd into a frenzy. As she walked off she applauded the home crowd. 14.65, 6.1.

Jessica Gil (COL): In a matter of seconds, the crowd went from its loudest to its quietest when Gil landed on her head on her second pass, handspring-double front. She was obviously disoriented, sitting in a slouch, hand on head. Trainers came up right away and, after several minutes, positioned her on a stretcher and carried off. A stunning turn of events. Only low whispers could be heard in the massive arena. She was moving her arms while they were tending to her on the stretcher. The crowd applauded as they wheeled her out of the arena. Gil was taken to the hospital and the initial prognosis is that it is not too serious, according the meet announcer.

Rebecca Bross (USA) stuck her opening handspring, front layout, double front as well as her 1.5 twist to double-twisting front. (The women are no longer allowed to take a step backward after a tumbling landing.) She made the dismount that backfired during all-around (2.5 twist to barani). 14.125, 5.7.

Sui Lu (CHN) wore white socks and mounted with a whip-triple twist but had some slight hops on three of her tumbling pass landings, but she stuck her double pike dismount. 14.30, 5.7.

Ana Porgras (ROM) hopped on her tucked full-in, which had form issues, and appeared to step out on her second pass, but no flag went up. Her dance and expression are exemplary at a time when that phase of the sport has suffered. She ended with a double tuck, but none of her passes were stuck. Long pause before the score: provisional score of 14.325 lowered to 14.125, 5.5.

Anna Myzdrikova (RUS) stuck her whip-Arabian double front, then did a triple twist, punch back tuck, small step, then stumbled forward on 2.5 twist, punch barani. Ended with a clean double pike. A pity originality doesn't get you anything in this Code of Points. 14.275, 5.9.

Lauren Mitchell (AUS) mounted with an Arabian double tuck to stag jump, then hopped slightly forward after a piked full-in. Third pass of 2.5 twist, front layout, and a double pike finish with small hop. 14.55, 5.8.

Deng Linlin (CHN) stuck her Arabian double front but landed low on her tucked full-in. Completely stopped dancing to step back into the corner for her third pass. Slightly low on her double pike. 13.875, 5.4. The crowd gave Tweddle a standing ovation.

1. Tweddle; 2. Mitchell; 3. Sui.

Horizontal Bar

Igor Cassina (ITA) barely caught his Cassina and Kolman. Poor foot form in this routine but very dynamic style. Ended with a full-twisting double layout with a hop forward. 15.625, 6.7.

Alexander Tsarevich (BLR) showed great form and beautiful Kolman with knees together, pointed toes and an opening. He went the wrong way on one element and landed his triple flyaway with a slight stagger. 14.375, 6.0.

Danell Leyva (USA) was really aggressive and caught his layout Kovacs, tucked Kovacs and had to bend his arms a bit on his jam, dislocate hop to undergrips. When he stuck his layout double-double, his coach really put on show. The crowd loved it. 15.60, 7.0.

Zou Kai (CHN) did a hop-full to Winkler, lots of pirouettes, half Takemoto to layout Tkatchev. A marathon routine from the Olympic champion. He took a hop on his layout double-double. 16.150, 7.5.

Kohei Uchimura (JPN) did his usual gorgeous Kovacs saltos and a clean Kolman, but his difficult might keep him out of the medals. 15.175, 6.4 (brought boos and whistles).

Epke Zonderland (NED) mounted with a Cassina and then did a Kolman, half Takemoto to Gaylord 2. Wild routine with several form breaks. We'll see how the judges handle this. 15.825, 7.3.

Jonathan Horton (USA) mounted with a Takemoto-full to Yamawaki, caught a Cassina, a layout Kovacs, but missed the Kolman. He went for his triple-twisting double but landing well short. He got up and waved to the crowd. 13.25, 6.7.

Aljaz Pegan (SLO) did his Pegan and connected to a Rybalko and and did a Tkatchev to cross grip catch. Bounced forward after his triple flyaway. 15.50, 7.0.

1. Zou; 2. Zonderland; 3. Cassina.

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Written by Dwight Normile Saturday, October 17, 2009

China Grabs 3 of 5 Golds on First Day of Finals

(11 votes, average 3.73 out of 5)

IG Editor Dwight Normile is blogging from the 2009 World Gymnastics Championships at the O2 Arena in London.

Men's Floor Exercise

For the first time all week, the gymnasts are given no one-touch warm Olympic champion Zou Kai (CHN) competed first and had plenty of difficulty but several small landing errors (15.675, 6.8).

Steven Legendre (USA) achieved his goal of making the world floor final, and he mounted with a double front to barani instead of the double-twisting front. He looks a bit tight on his landings, instead of absorbing. He dismounted with an tucked Arabian double (14.95, 6.2). Legendre ended up repeating a skill, which really cost him.

Marian Dragulescu (ROM) performed a really clean, difficult set, covering any landing problems with steps and turns. His second pass was an interesting front layout to tucked full-twisting front-1.75. His biggest landing error was on his tucked double-double (15.70, 6.6).

Alexander Shatilov (ISR) mounted with handspring-double-twisting front to front-1.75 that was effortless. He's a tall guy and looks great on floor, but with today's longer routines, he can get a little loose in the air (15.575, 6.6).

Tomas Gonzalez (CHI) mounted with an open-piked (layout) Arabian double and avoided any major problems in his other passes, most of which were twisting elements. He ended with triple twist with a step, then pumped his fists in joy. Sorry I missed this gymnast in prelims, as six event were going on all day (15.225, 6.6).

Kohei Uchimura (JPN) stepped on his first pass and later was short on another landing. Earlier this week I mistakenly said he did seven passes, but I was wrong (one was just a transition). He only does six. (I never thought I'd say that about men's floor, but that's what it's come to.) Uchimura finished strong and stuck his triple twist (15.475, 6.5).

Makoto Okiguchi (JPN) drew applause for his interesting mount of Lou Yun (side somi-in, layout-.75 twist-out), punch front-1.75. He had some landing issues but overall a good routine in a high-level final (15.425, 6.6).

Matthias Fahrig (GER) mounted with a handspring-double-twisting front, punch double front that appeared to land O.B., but I didn't see the flag raised. He's an extremely tumbler, and apparently an extrovert, as he did a little dance for the audience as he left the podium (15.40, 6.6).

1. Dragulescu; 2. Zou; 3. Shatilov.

Note: The FIG announced earlier in the year that a Kiss and Cry area would be used for gymnastics, but it's not being used here.

Women's Vault

Anna Myzdrikova (RUS): a clean layout Podkopayeva (roundoff half-on, layout front-half, 5.6 difficulty). Low double-twisting Yurchenko second vault (5.8). 14.225 two-vault average.

Ariella Käslin (SUI): Handspring-layout rudi (6.3). Yurchenko-1.25 that she tucked right before the landing (5.3). 14.525 average.

Hong Un Jong (PRK): Sat down her Amanar (6.5), and her Cheng Fei (roundoff half-on, rudi, 6.5) was even worse. She didn't finish the twist or flip and landed in a heap 14.262 average.

Kayla Williams (USA): Handspring-rudi, tiny hop on the landing but solid (6.3). Double-twisting Yurchenko stuck cold. She leaped up then ran over to embrace her coach, Bozhidar Russev. From Level 10 to world champion? Why not? 15.087 average.

Elsa Garcia (MEX): Yurchenko-1.5 twist (5.3), one step back. She was well short on her roundoff half-on to piked Cuervo (5.2) and landed on her feet, knees and hands. 13.287 average.

Brittany Rogers (CAN): Fairly clean double-twisting Yurchenko, and the British announcer in the arena called it a "tidy landing." I'll have to agree. Podkopayeva second (roundoff half-on, piked barani, 5.6). A bit crooked and a step. 14.20 average.

Yekaterina Kurbatova (RUS): High double-twisting Yurchenko, with slightly sloppy feet, but a solid landing. Podkopayeva second vault, and she landed low but saved it. 14.337 average.

Youna Dufournet (FRA): Very clean Yurchenko-1.5 twist, just a step. Clean layout Podkopayeva with just a tiny hop on the landing. 14.45 average.

1. Williams; 2. Käslin; 3. Dufournet.

Note: I'm not sure a double-twisting Yurchenko should be worth .50 more than a Yurchenko-1.5 twist. Maybe a .30 difference would be more accurate. Also, if I'm a coach, I'm teaching my gymnasts a handspring-layout rudi if at all possible. It's worth 6.3, .50 more than a double-twisting Yurchenko. These are HUGE differences between three vaults that probably should be smaller, especially when the execution scores are so severe.

Pommel Horse

After hearing a deafening cheer from the home crowd as he was announced, Louis Smith (GBR) struggled right from the start, never got into a rhythmi and fell. With the chance of medal gone, he ripped through the rest of the set like it was nothing. He dismounted, then clapped toward the audience in appreciation for their support (14.45).

Robert Seligman (CRO) swung with his hips so high in the front that he's actually slightly arched at that point in his circles. It looks great but may hamper him in places. He had several form issues throughout, and his Russians-on-the-end dismount look a bit anticlimactic (sort of like when a song just fades out instead of ending on definite beat), when most gymnasts finish with some sort of handstand combination (14.75, 6.1).

Krisztian Berki (HUN) was the first to hit a clean set, start to finish, and his single-leg work really sets him apart. Qualifying in second place, he scored (16.075, 6.9).

Tim McNeill (USA) had some form glitches but otherwise swung through his difficult set without any rhythm problems. At this level of competition, his body position looks a tad below the top pommel horse guys in the world (15.150, 6.4).

Flavius Koczi (ROM) swung an aggressive set with a smooth scissor to handstand. His hips are a bit close to his hands when he swings, and it looked like his flair handstand pirouette dismount finished on the wrong side of the horse (14.975, 6.6).

Zhang Hongtao (CHN) did an immaculate set in every way, shape and form...except for one. When he landed his dismount in a squat, he celebrated with a double fist pump before standing up and presenting himself to the judges. That flaw aside, his routine was absolutely breathtaking (16.20, 6.6, difficulty, 9.6 execution).

Prashanth Sellathurai (AUS) performed most of his elements on the leather, Russians between the pommels, travels around the pommels, you name it. But to go right after Zhang showed the difference between the overall polish between the two. Still, the Aussie is talented (15.400, 6.6).

Cyril Tommasone (FRA) mounted with consecutive scissor handstands and hit everything else, although he swings a bit hunched (15.225, 6.5).

1. Zhang; 2. Berki; 3. Sellathurai.

Uneven Bars

He Kexin (CHN) was a bit crooked when she caught the second element of her Jaeger to cross-grip to Jaeger, and she might have missed a handstand but otherwise it looked great, and she stuck her tucked full-out (16.000, 8.9-E, 7.1-D).

Cha Yang Hwa (PRK) caught her hop-full to Hristakieva (full-twisting Gienger) but got off on the next element and had to improvise. Not a good day for the North Korean finalists (14.65, 6.3).

Koko Tsurumi (JPN) looked clean but not as sharp as in prelims. She really has a smooth style and should be a major player throughout this quadrennium (14.875, 6.2).

Serena Licchetta (ITA) swings a lot like Vanessa Ferrari but missed going over the top twice on elgrip giants and eventually fell on a Comaneci, which is rather late in the routine considering how difficult it is (11.95, 5.1).

Larrissa Miller (AUS) put forth an excellent routine with lots of inside-Stalder work and tight leg form. She stuck her high tucked full-twisting double (14.575, 5.9).

Bridget Sloan (USA) had no problems throughout with only a step on her full-twisting double layout. Lots of sole-circle work and a high toe-on piked Tkatchev (14.60, 5.9).

Ana Porgras (ROM) did a 1.5 pirouette to a Jaeger and dismounted with a double layout. Her inside-Stalder position was excellent but she had several small leg separations (14.675, 6.3).

Rebecca Bross (USA) showed great amplitude on her releases and looked like she had to bend her legs after catching her Jaeger to avoid hitting the low bar. She said later she was just trying not to peel off (14.675, 6.2).

1. He; 2. Tsurumi; 3(t). Bross, Porgras.

Rings

Matteo Morandi (ITA) Azarian Maltese mount, shaking in some of his later strength skills and bounced forward with a big step on his full-twisting double layout, which he had to pike to get around (15.30, 6.7).

Danny Pinheiro-Rodrigues (FRA) did "his" inverted Maltese twice, but it still never looks horizontal and level with the rings. He must have been gassed, because he did a forward roll after his piked barani-out dismount (14.75, 7.1).

Arthur Nabarrete (BRA) mounted with a roll to back lever, press to Maltese, but struggled on his swing to handstand skills. Stuck his full-twisting double layout cold (15.325, 6.5).

Yan Mingyong (CHN) rolled to a Maltese press planche, lowered below a Maltese and press up to a Maltese. Very deliberate in all of his skills, but his full-twisting double layout landed low and he took a mini broad jump to save it (15.675, 6.8).

Jordan Jovtchev (BUL), 36, may have showed the most emotion ever (for him) at the end of finals routine. He stuck his dismount, stood up straight and pumped both fists. He showed his usual level strength elements and piked and tucked Yamawakis to L-cross, press Maltese near the end of the set (15.575, 6.7). His second-place score drew whistles.

George Stanescu (ROM) was not in the same league as most of the finalists in that his inverted crosses were much too high to challenge a field like this.

Alexander Vorobiov (UKR) was precise and did not always use a false grip in his strength elements. He did a slow Yamawaki to a Maltese late in the set and made a good landing on his piked double front, but not stuck (15.55, 6.8).

Samir Ait Said (FRA) was piked in his first Maltese and high in his planches. Hop on his full-twisting double layout (15.25, 6.7).

1. Yan; 2. Jovtchev; 3. Vorobiov.

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Written by Dwight Normile Friday, October 16, 2009

Sloan Wins Worlds in Dramatic Finish

(14 votes, average 3.21 out of 5)

IG Editor Dwight Normile is blogging from the 2009 World Gymnastics Championships at the O2 Arena in London.

Americans Bridget Sloan and Rebecca Bross grabbed gold and silver, respectively, in the women's all-around final before a near sell-out crowd at the O2 Arena. Bross fixed the problem on her beam dismount from prelims and built a huge lead going into floor, only to see it evaporate on her last skill of the night. She lost by .05, with Japan's Koko Tsurumi winning the bronze over Australia's Lauren Mitchell by .025.

Rotation 1

Lauren Mitchell (AUS) opened the meet for the top-seeded group with a double-twisting Yurchenko, slightly scissored ankles and a hop (14.40). Ana Porgras (ROM) was next with a clean full-twisting, with a step back (13.675). Rebecca Bross (USA) did a double-twisting Yurchenko, but better than she had in prelims (14.525, small step). Yekaterina Kurbatova (RUS) did that vault too with a lack of control on the landing, but high (14.625). Bridget Sloan (USA) threw a powerful double-twisting Yurchenko, with one step back (14.825). Deng Linlin's (CHN) double-twisting Yurchenko was short on the twist and rotation (14.225).

From other groups: Beckie Downie (GBR) got a huge cheer as she mounted floor podium. This is the biggest crowd all week, and it absolutely went wild when she stuck her double pike dismount. Yang Yilin (CHN) threw a marathon on bars but crashed her tucked full-in to her face. Ana Tamarjan (ROM) was clean on beam except for a hip bend after a turn and an over-rotated double pike dismount (14.125). Koko Tsurumi (JPN) nailed bars and stuck her double layout (15.05). Ksenia Semyonova (RUS) was looking good on bars until she ripped off on a Pak salto (13.25). So Yang and Semyonova, 3rd and 4th at the 2008 Olympics, are most likely out of it. First round leaders: 1. Tsurumi, 2. Sloan, 3. Kurbatova.

Rotation 2

Porgras hit her bars, although she had numerous separations of the feet on casts (14.675). Bross hit bars well and stuck her full-out. Releases and dismount well above the high bar (15.075). Kurbatova did an intricate set with lots of immediate combinations. Loose at times but it should score well (14.70). Sloan is next, and she had a good one-touch warm-up. She hit a great set and almost stuck her full-twisting double layout (14.80). Deng also dismounted with a full-twisting double layout but lunged forward, and her Pak was fairly low. Mitchell hit bars, taking a hop forward after her double front.

From other groups: Elsa Garcia (MEX) hit a clean floor and Yang stayed on the beam. Downie hit a double-twisting Yurchenko. Rebecca Wing (GBR) landed a clean Yurchenko-1.5 twist. Tamarjan began floor with piked and tucked full-ins and ended with a double pike. Solid routine (13.60). Tsurumi was precise on beam with one minor wobble (14.80). Semyonova bounced back with a strong beam set (14.225). Tsurumi still leads with 29.850, Sloan is second with 29.625, and Bross third with 29.60. Kurbatova is next with 29.325. followed by Dufournet and Porgras.

Rotation 3

Bross nailed her standing Arabian and continued to connect elements. With no wobbbles prior to her dismount, she landed her Arabian double front well, with just a step (15.30). Kurbatova fell on a layout early in her routine, and, after she finished, walked off with a shattered look on her face (12.85). Bross walked up the steps to the podium, and judging by body language, it's hard to tell who is more nervous: her or her coach, Marvin Sharp. Sloan hit her front somi this time, but wobble after the flip-flop layout and again a few of more times (14.00). She took a tiny step on her double pike, but the writing is on the wall. Bross is one solid floor routine away from becoming world champion. Deng was next and had to save a front pike by grabbing the beam, and later fell off on a relatively simple jump. The announcer, for some reason, continues to rattle off trivial facts about various gymnasts while others are competing. Odd. Mitchell had to save her first pass on beam but finished strong (great front aerial, standing front tuck, 15.100). Porgras showed off her flexibility to start beam, but later dropped off the side on a layout to two feet.

From other groups: Having just heard her name announced as the leader, Tsurumi was first up on floor. She stuck her second pass (2.5 twist, front layout) and was clean throughout. Her biggest error was one large step after he double pike (13.725). That won't keep her in the lead. Dufournet mounted with a piked full-in and followed with an Arabian double. Downie worked bars but fell on toe-on piked Tkatchev. The crowd, which is near the 23,000 capacity, let out a collective gasp but still cheered loudly after her dismount. Rankings: 1. Bross 44.900; 2. Sloan 43.625; 3. Tsurumi 43.575; 4. Mitchell 43.125.

Rotation 4

Sloan tumbling four strong passes, sticking her double pike dismount to put some pressure on Bross, who has looked unflappable up to this point (14.200). Mitchell went on floor before Tsurumi vaulted and opened with a double Arabian to double stag jump. Her piked full-in to follow stepped out of bounds. Would that cost her a medal? She had no further issues and could only wait and watch (14.025). Tsurumi vaulted a simple Yurchenko-full with a hop (13.600). The step cost Mitchell the bronze. Porgras entertained the crowd with an expressive floor routine with light dance and good carriage. Downie finished her night on beam, where she lost control on a full turn and fell. Then she fell again on a side somi. The pressure on her must be immense. Bross began with front layout to double front and was looking good until she completely crashed her dismount (2.5 twist to a barani). Is it enough? Bross paced and turned her back on the cameras that were following her on the sidelines. She could have dismounted with a simpler element, but the fall cost her the gold. Sloan, the new world champion, walked over to hug her teammate, and then over to embrace Sharp. Bross won silver, Tsurumi the bronze.

Note: Prior to the medal ceremony, Mexico's Elsa Garcia and Great Britain's Daniel Keatings were awarded the Longines Prize for Elegance.

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Written by Dwight Normile Friday, October 16, 2009

Stretching Out: Is 9.0 the new 10.0 for women?

(4 votes, average 4.00 out of 5)

IG Editor Dwight Normile is blogging from the 2009 World Gymnastics Championships at the O2 Arena in London.

While scanning the hundreds of scores from the women's qualifications here in London, I realized something odd. The results sheets included zero scores above 9.0 for the E-score (execution). And how many scores of 9.0 appeared? Two: one each for American Kayla Williams and North Korean Hong Un Jong on vault.

What shocks me most is that I saw some very good routines that would have scored 9.5 and above under the old 10.0 system. I've always promoted clean execution over difficulty, but aren't these execution scores a bit severe? At the least, they have to be discouraging to the gymnasts, especially after they absolutely rock a routine.

Before the open-ended Code of Points was unveiled in 2006, the quickest path to a high score was supposed to be through clean execution. But now that the deductions have been ramped up, the D-scores (difficulty) have even more clout. Uneven bars leader He Kexin, for example, had a 7.10 D-score and 8.875 E-score. Some gymnasts actually had higher D-scores than E-scores.

The men's scores were more realistic, with numerous gymnasts cracking the 9.0 barrier, and well into the mid-9.0s.

It's a pity that men's and women's gymnastics is judged so differently right now. This new Code was supposed to restore artistry by emphasizing execution over difficulty. The best way to do that is to lower the value of the D-score as severely as the E-score is being evaluated.

Your thoughts?

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Written by Dwight Normile Thursday, October 15, 2009

Uchimura Dominates World All-Around Final

(9 votes, average 5.00 out of 5)

IG Editor Dwight Normile is blogging from the 2009 World Gymnastics Championships at the O2 Arena in London, where Japan's Kohei Uchimura won the men's all-around title Thursday.

2009 world champion Kohei Uchimura (Japan)

The men's all-around final proved a battle for silver and bronze, as Japan's Kohei Uchimura steamrolled the field to win the gold. He is the first Japanese gymnast to win since Hiroyuki Tomita won in 2005. Daniel Keatings became the first British gymnast to win a world all-around medal (silver), and Russia's Yuri Ryazanov won the bronze.

Rotation 1

The 24 men's all-around finalists are in four groups (FX, PH, SR, VT), and the top six seeds began on floor. Jonathan Horton (USA) drew the short straw and was first up on floor. He promptly sat down the double front at the end of his mount, which had to take the air out of his sails. He finished without any major errors, but his hill to the medals podium just got a lot steeper. Crowd favorite Daniel Keatings (GBR) went O.B. twice but avoided the big mistake to keep his medal hopes intact. Tim McNeill (USA) was steady for the most part and allowed himself a small clap as he walked off the podium. Maxim Devyatovsky (RUS) followed and opened with a clean layout full-out and stayed clean throughout, ending with a tucked full-in (15.00). Top all-around seed Kohei Uchimura (JPN) was next and looked like a sticking machine. His set included a tucked double-double, a tucked Thomas and he actually opens up his arms at the end of his triple twist dismount (15.625). Nikolai Kuksenkov, the Ukrainian champion, finished the rotation with a relatively clean set.

From the other groups: Benoit Caranobe (FRA) landed his piked double Tsukahara, Russia's Yuri Ryazanov hit pommels, while Japan's Kazuhito Tanaka came off pommels. The top two after one event came from vault (Caranobe, 16.025; Spain's Sergio Munoz, Kasamatsu-1.5, 15.95), not surprising, because that event scores significantly higher than the others. Uchimura is third.

Rotation 2

What Keatings lacked on floor, he made up for on pommels with an immaculate set, mounting with a scissor-handstand, swinging Russians between the pommels, a spindle on the end and smooth rhythm throughout (15.50). McNeill, no slouch on pommels himself, followed with a fine routine with plenty of variety (full kehre, Russian on one pommel, back travels, 15.00). Devyatovsky began smoothly and then got in trouble on his Russians on the end, breaking form but staying on. It must have sapped him because he never really got his swing back and got stuck halfway to his flair handstand (13.425). Will he throw in the towel mentally, as he's done in the past? Uchimura followed and rocked another excellent set, swinging slowly (for a short guy) with perfect form throughout (14.90). Kuksenkov hit a stock routine well, with Horton last up. Thought the compact American had fallen from pommels in prelims, he told IG he was still confident on the event, but that he has the bad habit of tightening up when he gets in trouble. This time he fell early during a single-pommel element. After remounting, he swung more aggressively until the end, when his arms buckled on the flair handstand dismount (11.10). At this point, he has little to lose or gain, except more valuable experience. After two events, Uchimura has the lead.

From the other groups: Caranobe came off PB on a giant element, and Germany's Marcel Nguyen missed a Healy and jumped off.

Rotation 3

McNeill worked a steady rings set until he had to save a front giant. He dismounted with a tucked double-double with a tiny hop (14.325), then received a high five from Horton. Devyatovsky mounted with an Azarian roll to Maltese, but it sagged below the rings, and his planche later on was above horizontal. Not his best event (15.075, seems high). Uchimura followed with better strength positions than Devyatovsky and nearly stuck his tucked double-double (15.225). Kuksenkov, the tallest gymnast of his group, swung well but struggled with his strength elements. He dismounted with a clean piked double front (one step). Horton finally hit a routine he could be proud of (solid Maltese, press to planche), but his body language spoke volumes about the disappointment he was feeling. After he walked off the podium, McNeill gave him a handshake, and then a pat on the back that seemed to say "Hang in there." Horton received a 14.90, which is ridiculous when Devyatovksy, who can't even do a Maltese, scored higher. Keatings closed the event with a solid set, but you can tell he still needs to gain strength, which should come as he gets a bit older (14.20). Uchimura has a commanding lead, which should grow after vault if he stays on his feet.

From the other groups: Caranobe nailed an intricate high bar set (stuck layout double-double), and Ryazanov hit a high Yurchenko-2.5 twist.

Rotation 4

Devatovsky probably ended his chances of a medal when he sat down his handspring-double front vault. It was extremely high, but he seemed to tweak one of his ankles when he landed (14.875). Uchimura nearly stuck a very clean Yurchenko-2.5 twist, which should give him some breathing room with two events left (16.05). Kuksenkov fell to one knee on a Kasamatsu-full, and Horton, who has been in last place since pommels, nearly stuck his double front (15.75, landed on the penalty line). Keatings did a Kasamatsu-full with a small hop, which is relatively low in difficulty, but his 15.45 put him a distant second behind the Japanese. McNeill kept his mojo going on vault with a double-twisting Yurchenko (hop). He applauded himself, and his 15.30 put him in third, .10 ahead of Ryazanov, who hit p-bars. Uchimura has a 2.4 lead.

Rotation 5

Uchimura finally made a mistake, an intermediate swing after a Belle, front uprise. He made everything else in his p-bars set (peach-half, Dmitrienko, Morisue, Belle with half turn to upper arms, front-1.25 to upper arms (14.65). Kuksenkov had some form issues but nothing too terrible, and Horton hit an excellent set with a stuck double pike (15.125). Keatings came through big on p-bars, a great event for him, with smooth technique and hit handstands (15.05, front-1.25 to support catch-L, perfect Healy, Tippelt). McNeill looked tight on p-bars, as his peach-half was low and he had to save a pirouette. He gave away valuable tenths on an event in which he usually shines (14.20, ouch). Meanwhile, Ryazanov was looking great on high bar until he slung his double-double too far from the bar and put his hands down (14.50). Tanaka, who earlier hit a clean high bar set, climbed to third behind Keatings, with Ryazanov fourth and McNeill fifth.

Rotation 6

Kuksenkov started high bar with a fall, and Horton ended his day as he began, with a fall (Kolman). After he dismounted, Horton gave a wave to the appreciative crowd. With the bronze, and possibly silver, up for grabs, Tanaka needed a solid floor set. He mounted with clean tucked double-double, then raced through his next two combination passes. After a layout Arabian-1.75 and front-1.75, he made a triple twist dismount (14.65). Keatings followed on high bar with a deliberate routine (elgrip Endo) and various pirouettes. When he stuck his layout full-out, the crowd erupted in what would surely be the first world all-around medal for a British gymnast (14.475). McNeill was next on high bar and needed the routine of his life to get into the medals. He hit his set and was left to wait for both Ryazanov and Uchimura to determine his final standing. Ryazanov rifled off four quick passes before some transition work on the mat, then finished with a 2.5 twist. Just a few landing shuffles marred the set (14.825, bumped Tanaka by .10). Uchimura then mounted high and showed why he's the indisputable best gymnast in the world. His three releases (piked Kovacs, Kovacs, Kolman) were breathtaking and he finished with a layout double-double. Only then did he allow himself a wave to the crowd (14.975). Finals standings: Gold, Uchimura 91.50; Silver, Keatings 88.925; Bronze, Ryazanov 88.40.

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