- October 31, 2001 -

World Championships, 2001:
Women's Team Final
Romania won its fifth consecutive world team title, with their blend of difficulty and stability that has served them so well. In an error-filled team final, Romania was the only team without a single fall. Russia, competing without injured double Olympic champion Elena Zamolodchikova, once again fails, repeating their silver in Tianjin, while the USA stressed stability above all. Spain looked much better in the finals and move up one place from their Olympic ranking. Ukraine and Australia remain sixth and seventh. The young Dutch team is without doubt the sensation of these championships. The Germans were delighted to make this final and certainly have a lot to be proud of.

Rotation 4
- Spain -
Elena Gomez showed that Spain was not going down without a fight by putting in a fantastic floor effort for 9.500. Sara Moro stepped out of bounds but was great otherwise for a 9.200. Result: 27.625

- Russia -
Natalia Ziganshina kept her feet on the beam and impressed with a standing Arabian (9.175). Svetlana Khorkina might have done her best not to throw everything away for Russia on beam but a wobbly set for 8.862 (9.4 SV) wasn't much help. Lyudmila Ezhova rocked her ultra difficult beam set – Onodi-front walkover-side somi; stuck 2.5 twist dismount - with confidence (9.450 out of 9.800 start value). Result: 27.487

- Australia -
Allison Johnston finished the competition for the Aussies on vault. Result: 27.104

- Netherlands -
Gabrielle Wammes has two major breaks in her bars routine (7.762). This might be enough to keep the team out of the medals. Renske Endel put up a great fight with a routine that had intricate work, but her 9.8 SV kept her score at 9.1. Verona van de Leur gave an impressive demonstration of her beautiful stalder work, but took a large step forward on her dismount. Result: 26.249

- USA -
Rachel Tidd vaulted a full and a double twisting Yurchenko to kick off the final phase of the competition. Ashley Miles followed her with two good vaults. The USA's final competitor Mohini Bhardwaj added a Yurchenko with 1 1/2 twists and put in another half twist for her second vault before running off to celebrate with her team mates. Result: 27.729

- Ukraine -
Tatiana Yarosh started off well enough on bars. Then Natalia Sirobaba continued her disastrous competition at these championships by falling again. Irina Yarodaskaya finished with a smooth if not brilliant routine. Result: 26.262

- Romania -
Sabina Cojocar set the stage for another Romanian victory with great tumbling and some flair on floor for 9.175. Andreea Ulmeanu gave another impressive tumbling display on floor – double layout mount - though her landings were pretty low. Cheers errupted even before Andreea Raducan took to the floor and when she landed her final tumble of double pike, no score was needed to determine the new and reigning world champion. But for the record, Raducan earned a 9.562 with Romania only needing a 8.376 for the win. Results: 27.812

- Germany -
Katja Abel survived beam well to get the final stage of competition underway. Lisa Brüggemann was going very well in her difficult beam set only to out her hands down on her double tuck dismount. Birgit Schweigert had a small crisis after her mount on a full-twisting tuck jump but was very solid otherwise to bring her competition to a good end. Result: 25.437

Rotation 3
- Spain -
Esther Moya got Spain into trouble with a 7.725 on beam. Elena Gomez solid routine helped the team. Sara Moro's precise style and high difficulty gave Spain (RO-layout mount; Rulfova) a boost (9.262). Result: 26.049

- Russia -
Despite the mistakes, Russia was actually in the lead after two rotations (thanks to weak bars from Romania). But they fell back to second after this rotation despite some good scores. Natalia Ziganshina could only score 8.200 after missing her foot on the low bar and then falling to her hands on her split legged double layout dismount. Lyudmila Ezhova came back with a great routine until she took a step back on her dismount for 9.225. Bars queen Svetlana Khorkina did what she nearly always does on bars - a beautiful and original routine for 9.700. Result: 27.325

- Australia -
Kylie Tanner scored a 8.575 in floor. Alexandra Croak and Allana Slater (9.400) competed well. Result: 27.049

- Netherlands -
Monique Nuijten landed her vaults well. Gabrielle Wammes takes a step back on her handspring-pike front 1/2 but gave little away on her RO-1/2 on- front pike off. Verona van de Leur adds more when she hit her double twisting Yurchenko. Result: 27.286

- Ukraine -
Tatiana Yarosh vaulted a very tucked 1 1/2 twisting Yurchenko and a handspring piked 1/2. Natalia Sirobaba made up for her floor debacle with two decent vaults despite a low landing on her second. Alyona Kvasha was fine on her Phelps but fell on her second. Result: 26.817

- USA -
Ashley Miles powered through her floor routine with an Arabian double front and a double layout (out of bounds) with no big breaks. Tabitha Yim added another stable routine to the team total, opening with a 2 1/2 punch front full. Tasha Schwikert capped of a strong US effort on floor to loud cheers. Result:27.749

- Germany -
Conny Schütz got through her bars set well for an 8.325. Lisa Brüggemann nailed her dismount and improved the team's standing. Birgit Schweigert took an uncharacterstic fall on her Jaeger but stood up her double front dismount well. Result: 25.074

- Romania -
They bounced back on beam with three consecutive hit routines. Carmen Ionescu started off beam with a solid set for her team. Silvia Stroescu followed that up with an even better routine, setting the stage for Andreea Raducan. She left little to be desired with her super solid exercise – full-twisting back; absolutely nailed double pike dismount - for 9.675. Result: 28.462

Rotation 2
- Russia -
Russia came unglued on vault. Maria Zasypkina takes a step on her second vault. Natalia Ziganshina sat down her first vault 1 1/2 twisting Yurchenko but lands her second one. Svetlana Khorkina crashed on both her vaults and Russia is in trouble! Result: 27.024

- Spain -
Elena Gomez falls off bars off a Jaeger (8.200). Alba Planas takes a few steps forward on her 1/2 double front dismount. Sara Moro shows some excellent work on bars (10 SV). Result: 25.787

- Netherlands -
Rikst Valentijn sparkles on floor with an Arabian double front opening and good interpretation of the music. Gabrielle Wammes sets the crowd alight with another great display on floor with a well spotted 2 1/2 twist to finish. Verona van de Leur steps out of bounds on a piked full-in to open but does well nonetheless. Result: 27.286

- Australia -
Alexandra Croak gets through her tame beam routine. Jacqui Dunn improves but lands her dismount low and takes an extra step. Allana Slater falls off beam (7.525). Not a good night for the Aussies. Result: 24.524

- Ukraine -
Tatiana Yarosh lunges out of the floor area on her Arabian double front opener but conquers her other tumbles. Alyona Kvasha does well with strong tumbling on floor (piked full-in, handspring-double front). But Natalia Sirobaba sits down her front layout-punch double front and also falls on an Arabian double front (7.750). Result: 25.262

- USA -
Rachel Tidd falls from beam on her Arabian. Tasha Schwikert wobbles slightly on a ff-layout and seems a little hesitant overall but still scores well. Tabitha Yim has some breaks in her routine. Result: 26.324

- Germany -
Birgit Schweigert does well on her first vault handspring-piked front 1/2 but is very low on the landing of her handspring pike front. Lisa Brüggemann staggers back on her first vault but lands her second one well. Gabi Weller vaults a crisp handspring – piked 1/2 for her first attempt, but staggers forward on her second vault. Result: 26.825

- Romania -
Sabina Cojocar labours through her routine on bars, Stroescu is a little better with a well landed double front dismount. Andreea Raducan suffers a near disaster when she overarches a handstand on low bars but covers very well. Result: 25.874

Rotation 1
- Russia -
Lyudmila Ezhova begins very well on floor with three twisting tumbles (triple, 2 twisting front and 2 1/2) and a clean double pike. Natalia Ziganshina has trouble on her second tumble when the planned 2 1/2 twist punch front full turns into a half but is very clean else where. Svetlana Khorkina gets through her routine well (full-in; whip- triple twist; double pike). Result: 27.187

- Spain -
Esther Moya struggles on her first vault but nails her second one well for an average of 9.031. Marta Cusido also vaults well. Sara Moro sits down her first vault of 1 1/2 twisting Yurchenko. She stand up her a double twisting Yurchenko. Result: 27.117

- Netherlands -
Rikst Valentijn gets off to a shaky start on beam when she misses one foot on a tuck front salto on beam. Gabrielle Wammes picks up some slack with a routine that finishes with a lovely 2 1/2 twist dismount (only 9.5 SV). Verona van de Leur is nervous on beam with a few wobbles and missed connections. Result:25.674

- Australia -
Jessica Zarnay stays clean on bars. Allana Slater adds a good effort on bars with a Jaeger to Pak salto and a nailed dismount. Jacqui Dunn drops off bars on a half turn, receiving only a 6.475. This means touble for the Aussies. Result: 24.200

- Ukraine -
Alyona Kvasha wobbles on her full turn and staggers on a front tuck but stays on the beam. Natalia Sirobaba is solid on beam with a beautiful handsoring-tuck front combination. Irina Yarodskaya falls on her front pike mount (8.250). Result: 25.975

- USA -
Ashley Miles swings bars well with a Tkatchev and takes a few steps on her double front dismount. Katie Heenan has clean lines and difficulty. Tasha Schwikert works bars well with a nailed double layout dismount to huge cheers from the audience. Result: 26.712

- Romania -
Andreea Ulmeanu opens the night with a double twisting Yurchenko and nails her second vault (piked front 1/2) too. Sabina Cojocar followed with a 1 1/2 twisting Yurchenko and a stuck Yurchenko double-full. Andreea Raducan anchored with a Podkopayeva and layout Podkopayeva, the latter stuck for 9.500. Result: 28.061

- Germany -
Gritt Hofmann is solid on floor with a full-in beginning. Birgit Schweigert staggers back on her double pike and has some small problems. Lisa Brüggemann steps out of bounds on her first two tumbles but sticks her piked full-in and double pike very well. Result: 25.512

Results
1. Romania 110.209 (VT: 28.061 UB:25.874 BB: 28.462 FX:27.812)
2. Russia 109.023 (VT: 27.024 UB: 27.325 BB: 27.487 FX: 27.187)
3. USA 108.514 (VT: 27.729 UB: 26.712 BB: 26.324 FX: 27.749)
4. Spain 106.578 (VT: 27.117 UB 25.787 BB: 26.049 FX: 27.625)
5. Netherlands 106.495 (VT: 27.286 UB: 26.249 BB: 25.674 FX: 27.286)
6. Ukraine 104.316 (VT: 26.817 UB: 26.262 BB: 25.975 FX: 25.262)
7. Australia 102.877 (VT: 27.104 UB: 24.200 BB: 24.524 FX: 27.049)
8. Germany 102.848 (VT: 26.825 UB: 25.074 BB: 25.437 FX: 25.512)

My Take On... Women's Final
Cripes! Romania won! I'm inconsolable though I guess they deserved their win since they basically hit everything except their bars routines, and their team total was also more than a point ahead of Russia. Sad for Russia, they didn't perform their best but I still believe they could have won if they were more consistent. At least they improved to second from their fourth after the qualifications. Well, Romania continued their winning trend in the team competitions. I'll just have to wait longer to see the Romanian team dethroned from their top spot. Oh man... I just realised that if Ziganshina gets the usual 9.4 she scores on bars, the team gold would be Russia's... Oh, why did I have to torture myself by counting all these alternatives??

Men's Team Final
Results
1. Belerus 169.622
2. USA 166.845
3. Ukraine 165.483
4. France 165.283
5. China 165.260
6. Romania 162.920
7. Russia 160.921
8. Korea 153.922

Women's Start List - Apparatus Finals
Vault
1. Svetlana Khorkina RUS 9.562
2. Oksana Chusovitina UZB 9.425
3. Verona van de Leur NED 9.387
4. Mohini Bhardwaj USA 9.375
5. Sabina Cojocar ROM 9.312
6. Andreea Raducan ROM 9.312
7. Ashley Miles ROM 9.300
8. Jana Komrskova CZE 9.287

Uneven Bars
1. Svetlana Khorkina RUS 9.662
2. Verona van de Leur NED 9.337
3. Jacqui Dunn AUS 9.312
4. Lyudmila Ezhova RUS 9.300
5. Renske Endel NED 9.300
6. Tatiana Zharhanova BLR 9.200
7. Sara Moro ESP 9.200
8. Katie Heenan USA 9.162

Beam
1. Lyudmila Ezhova RUS 9.612
2. Andreea Raducan ROM 9.537
3. Sabina Cojocar ROM 9.437
4. Tasha Schwikert USA 9.275
5. Rachel Tidd USA 9.212
6. Sun Xiaojiao CHN 9.212
7. Elena Gomez ESP 9.100
8. Esther Moya ESP 9.025

Floor
1. Andreea Raducan ROM 9.425
2. Svetlana Khorkina RUS 9.400
3. Daniele Hypolito BRA 9.387
4. Allana Slater AUS 9.350
5. Tasha Schwikert USA 9.350
6. Andreea Ulmeanu ROM 9.325
7. Tabitha Yim USA 9.312
8. Daiane Santos BRA 9.287

Note
There's a Svetlana Khorkina interview held after the Subdivision 6 qualification yesterday that is now posted on the Quotes section of this site.

- October 29/30, 2001 -

World Championships 2001:
Worlds Over For Injured Zamolodchikova
There will be no more competition in Ghent for injured Russian Elena Zamolodchikova, said the 2000 Olympic Games double gold medallist on Tuesday evening.

A severe foot injury led to a pained performance from Zamolodchikova in the team qualification Tuesday. Ekaterina Privalova was already sidelined with injury, leaving Russia with only five gymnasts. With four scores counting per event, Russia needed Zamolodchikova to help qualify to team finals in case of a disaster befalling another one of their gymnasts.

Speaking after her pained performance, a limping Zamolodchikova told IG that she would not be in Wednesday's team finals, where only three gymnasts will be used per event. Her weak scores left her with no chance of qualifying to the all-around, where she is the 1999 bronze medallist, or the event finals in vault or floor (where she is the reigning Olympic champion).

Despite the absence of Zamoldochikova, teammate Svetlana Khorkina told IG she has high hopes for Russia in the finals, and dismissed her team's errors tonight. "The competition is ahead," said Khorkina, who is in first place individually after six of the eight subdivisions. "This is qualifications only. In finals we shall fight."

(Source: International Gymnast)

Uh oh... Now Zamolodchikova's taken herself out of reckoning for the team final, it's only down to four gymnasts. Luckily it's 6-3-3 or Russia would really have to dig deep. I expect Khorkina and Ziganshina to do all-around and Zasipkina and Ezhova to split the other spot. We'll see how Russia performs tomorrow. Maybe Privalova will feel able to perform. Who knows? Having Zamolodchikova not compete is a setback for Russia but I do believe they can still pull through.

Gymnast Disqualified
The female gymnast Alexandra Korotkova (KGZ), who competed in the Subdivision 2 has been disqualified (DSQ) for non respect of the age limit. According to the Technical Regulations (Regn 5.3), a gymnast must be age 16 in the year of the competition. Born on January 30, 1986, Alexandra doesn’t fulfill the age limit rule. Her results will be removed from the list.

Women's Qualifying
My Take On... Women's Qualifying
A well deserved top position for Romania with their high difficulty and consistancy despite their poor bars scores (as usual), and obviously a disappointing fourth position for Russia compared to their past performances on the big stage. But I haven't given up hope for the team final =). The fact that Khorkina is still on top of individual standings just makes me able to go for my exam with a smile on my face. And it's funny how she's ahead of Raducan, just like in Sydney. I just hope that history doesn't repeat itself. And as for the team final later today, I hope Russia can still pull through for a win despite their poor performance in the qualifications. Darn, it's 9.00 a.m. I got to be off soon. I'll write more later.

- Subdivision 8 -
A good performance from Australia in the last session of the women's preliminaries qualified them to Wednesday's team finals.

Led by 2000 Olympian Allana Slater, Australia averaged 8.840 to finish sixth. Slater scored 9.350 for an elegant floor exercise with a whip to triple twist (a little short), 2 ½ twist to layout front and a double pike, and 9.162 on uneven bars (Jaeger to Pak salto, hop full to Gienger, giant-full to stuck full-twisting double).

The Australians continued well on vault with Slater once again being their top scorer with a 9.150 for a 1 1/2 twisting Yurchenko. Anchored by Allison Johnston, the Aussies scored a total of 36,024 on vault.

Australia began poorly on bars with falls from Johnston on a Jaeger and Jessica Zarnay. Their third comeptitor Alexandra Croak then dismounted with a simple layout. Allana Slater injected some confidence into the team with a nice routine that included a hop full to Gienger for a 9.162, enough for the final. Jacqui Dunn went one better by qualifying to the bars final in third place with a clean effort packed with difficulty (Ono turn to Jeager, beautiful Pak salto, full out dismount).

The Australians had to swallow falls from Tanner and Croak on beam. Neither Dunn nor Slater could upset the ranking on beam but their efforts lifted Australia into the team final in sixth place, almost a point ahead of Ukraine.

Sun Xiaojiao China's only female competitor in Ghent, managed to squeak into balance beam finals with a 9.212 (10.00 start value). Sun, the 2001 Goodwill Games beam gold medallist, had large wobbles after both a full-twisting wolf jump and a switch ring leap, and stumbled backwards on her double tuck dismount. Her work elsewhere – high layout to two feet and beautiful combination of front walkover-Rulfova – was exquisite and she was able to maintain her 10 SV. She had vaulted a Hristakieva to open her worlds outing and was fair on bars, though not as brilliant as one is used to from the Chinese bars workers.

- Subdivision 7 -
Even a poor showing on bars couldn't stop defending team champions Romania from overtaking the Americans, who have surprisingly held the lead since the very first session yesterday.

Romania began strong on vault, with a Yurchenko double full from Andreea Ulmeanu (9.287), and a pair of one and a half twisting Yurchenkos from Sabina Cojocar (9.312) and Silvia Stroescu (9.075). Andreea Raducan scored 9.312 for a Podkopayeva.

Bars have long been a Romanian weakness and the gymnasts did little to correct this impression, scoring a low 34.574. Lead off gymnast Carmen Ionescu fell off twice when she couldn't get her pirouette around (6.862). Poor technique on hit routines cost Cojocar (8.625) and Stroescu (8.675). Raducan fell over on a handstand on the lower bar (8.662) and Loredana Boboc could only bring in 8.612.

Romania lived up to its reputation on beam with excellent routines and opened with a leadoff 9.362 from Ionescu (flip flop full twist, side somi, triple full dismount). Cojocar scored 9.437 for a great routine (two flip flops to full twist). Stroescu (flip flop Onodi) scored 9.35 and Raducan stuck her double pike dismount cold as well as her ff-full-twisting back tuck combination and piked front mount for 9.537. Cojocar and Ionescu also threw full-twisting back tucks. The last gymnast up, Loredana Boboc couldn’t match her team mates and wobbled through her routine.

Difficult tumbling with Romania's typical stuck landings cemented the preliminary victory for Octavian Belu's girls. Most of the gymnasts opted for similar tumbles, either opening with a double layout or a full-in. Stroescu and Ulmeanu both tumbled double layouts and scored 9.325, and reigning world floor champion Raducan hit routine scored 9.425 (with the same piece of music as Russia's Natalia Ziganshina). Huge cheers and chants of "Romania, Romania" erupted after Raducan's and Cojocar's routines as the team’s new choreography was well received by the crowd.

France got the crowd going with inspired choreography and great tumbling on floor. European champion Ludivine Furnon might not have the difficulty she used to – opening with only a double pike instead of her old double layout punch front – but has lost nothing of her unique style. Clelia Cotzac tumbled a piked full-in and a double pike within seconds. France couldn’t gain any scoring momentum on bars with weak routines.

- Subdivision 6 -
The sixth group started with a shocker when Brenda Magana crashed on bars and lay motionless for a while. At first, no doctor or paramedics appeared, much to the annoyance of FIG medical expert Michel Leglise. Magana was eventually able to walk off the podium without help. Magna had hit her face on the bar on her Def, bloodying her nose and forcing her to stop her routine.

A near-perfect performance from Russian star Svetlana Khorkina led her to the top of the rankings in the all-around and on three of the four events, but an injured Elena Zamolodchikova and mistakes from others left the Russian team in third place. Ekaterina Privalova's recent ankle injury required Russia to use all its gymnasts on all events as they did not bring a reserve gymnast.

In the first rotation, Russia stumbled on floor with falls from its first two competitors, Maria Zasypkina started with a fall on her 2 1/2 twist to punch front full and followed it up with a fall on an Arabian double front. Lyudmila Ezhova put her hands down on a double pike. Natalia Ziganshina hit a tucked full-in and 2 1/2 twist punch front-full, but stumbled backward out of bounds on a whip triple twist for 8.700. Svetlana Khorkina turned on the charm using her Olympic floor routine and took 9.400 with good landings on a tucked full-in, whip triple full, and double pike (9.800 start value).

With her left ankle heavily bandaged, injured Olympic floor champion Zamolodchikova limped to an 8.200, going out of bounds on every tumbling pass. Opening with a tucked full-in, she nearly fell on a whip 2 1/2 twist, and continued with a double twist and double pike.

So unexpectedly, the leader after first rotation was Poland. Led by the ever-present Joanna Skowronska, competing in these championships with her twin sister Malgorzata, the team quietly went about their business nailing their vaults.

After a 9.250 for Ziganshina's double-twisting Yurchenko vault, Khorkina rocked her round off 1/2 on tucked Rudi with 1 1/2 twists, jumping for joy afterwards as she was awarded a 9.562. Anchor Zamolodchikova could only manage a single-twisting layout Yurchenko due to her injured foot, but stuck it for 9.000 (9.400 SV).

Poland lost ground on bars with lack of difficulty and poor execution. The Czech Republic climbed into second place with a better showing on floor than previously on beam.

The Russian team got going on bars - all scores over 9.000 - with Zasypkina (piked Jaeger, stalder-full-pirouette to Tkatchev to Pak salto for 9.125) and Zamolodchikova (stick her full-twisting double back for 9.012) setting the stage for brilliant routines from Ziganshina (full-twisting giant into Shushunova, split legged double layout) and Ezhova (piked Jaeger, hop full Gienger, layout barani from high to low, double front 1/2). Ezhova's intricate and difficult set got a thumbs up from coach Leonid Arkayev and her 9.300 drew whistles from the audience. Mutliple bars champion Khorkina finished the rotation with her usual flair and style – beautiful stalder into Tkatchev and stalder full on the low bar. Khorkina's hit set took the highest score of the women's competition, 9.662.

Zuzana Obonova vaulted a zero, landing her layout Yurchenko on her back but Jana Kormskova nailed her Podkopayeva, keeping the Czech Republic in a secure second place.

Disaster hit the Russian team on beam. Nerves got the better of the inexperienced. Zasypkina stuck a standing Arabian on beam but fell twice (front aerial and flip flop whip) for 8.012. Things only got worse when Zamolodchikova took to the beam. She fell off after a full-twisting back handspring back handspring combination, and then, clearly in pain, only dismounted with a round off back tuck (7.600). Khorkina nailed everything in her beam routine but had to fight to stay on after a huge wobble on her flip flip to full-twisting flip flop combination. She stuck her cartwheel gainer layout to two feet and cartwheel gainer 2.5 dismount at the end for an 8.600 (9.200). Ziganshina had to grab the beam with her hand after her piked front mount (8.875), but Lyudmila Ezhova's elegant and thrilling routine (Onodi, front aerial, side somi) prevented a complete embarassment for the team and gave her a 9.612 and a bear hug from Khorkina.

My Take...
My gosh... What an enthralling performance by Khorkina though there were ups and downs for the Russian team, just like the men's competition! Anyway, Khorkina is qualified first on all-around and Ziganshina seventh, making her the third highest scoring Russian and able to enter the all-around final. (Only the top three gymnasts per country are eligible for the all-around.) My two favourite Russians in the all-around. I must be in heaven. Man... I really can't believe Khorkina... She gets older but better as well. A 37.224 in the new COP. It's like totally 'Wow'... I really can't stop gushing about her at the moment so please excuse me =)...hee hee...

Anyway, as for the rest of the Russian women, it's unbelievable that they are behind USA and Netherlands in the team qualification, but I expect that it's because they are suffering from injuries, like their male compatriots. With Zamolodchikova in top form (never thought Zamolodchikova would score so low on vault and floor but I guess her ankle did not fully heal) and maybe Privalova competing, they would have scored better. With luck, I hope they recover by tomorrow for the team final. I expect Zasipkina and Ziganshina might be suffering jitters at their first major competition and hope they will perform better tomorrow. Let's pray for a Russian victory!

Finally! The results are in. I was only waiting for Russia's scores. Now I can finally go to bed. I just couldn't sleep without knowing how Russia fared. And now knowing Khorkina's score makes my wait worth it =). I know... My obsession is getting worse...*sigh*... It's 1:00 a.m. where 1 a.m. and I have an exam at 9:45 a.m. tomorrow. For those kind souls out there, pray for me =).

- Subdivision 5 -
An arena packed with Dutch supporters saw a strong team from the Netherlands place second and team leader Verona van de Leur take the lead in the individual standings.

The Netherlands began on uneven bars, where they scored the highest event total so far on that event (36.436). They showed an impressive display of the highest difficulty, with their best result coming from Verona van de Leur who was awarded a lenient 9.337 for her routine with a noticeable break on an attempted shoot to high bar and a big lunge on her double double dismount. The best routine was performed by Renske Endel (9.300). Both routines had a 10 SV.

On beam, a fall from Monique Nuijten on her standing Arabian and large wobble from van de Leur kept their event total low though Renske Endel and Gabrielle Wammes put in good performances with excellent form but lacked in start value.

They came back strong on floor exercise with an excellent routine from van de Leur brought 9.225 (piked full-in, 2.5 punch front full, double-twisting layout front, and nailed triple twist). Renske Endel had a few problems in her floor routine with a fall on her second trumble. But her team mates Nuijten, Wammes, Valentijn put on quite a floor show for the second highest floor total so far.

The Netherlands ended on vault, where they continued to impress judges and spectators alike. Van de Leur's double-twisting Yurchenko brought a roar from the crowd and a 9.387 from the judges. Van de Leur's teammate Gabrielle Wammes' 36.262 total matched previous individual leader Tasha Schwikert (USA).

A sluggish Ukrainian team struggled from event to event, but hit routines failed to impress the judges. Tatiana Yarosh and Natalia Sirenko fell on their tumbling, but good routines from Alyona Kvasha (whip to piked full in, double front, 2.5 twist punch front, double pike) and Natalia Sirobaba (layout front to double front, Arabian double front, 2.5 twist punch front, double pike) brought just 8.837 and 8.937, respectively.

Weak vaulting earned scores ranging from Sirobaba's 8.475 to Kvasha's 9.037. Sirobaba fell while Kvasha landed her McIntosh in a very low squat. On uneven bars, Olga Roschupkina's difficult routine earned a low 8.700 out of 9.600 start value, and Irina Yarodskaya (stalder hecht to high, piked Jaeger, beautiful stalder and Endo work, stuck double front) scored just 9.062 out of 9.800. Ukraine erred on beam with falls from Sirobaba and Roschupkina, with Yarodskaya's 8.800 the high score.

Germany was confident on vault, anchored by a great handspring front pike with a 1/2 twist. Lisa Brueggemann vaulted a Podkopayeva and their 36.287 was the second highest total on vault so far. Germany was consistent on bars with strong showings from veteran Gabi Weller (Shushunova; Tkachev; full-in dismount) and team leader Schweigert. Their start values of 9.500 and 9.400 respectively kept their scores in the eights. Mixed emotions for the Germans on beam with falls from Gritt Hofmann (tuck jump-front tuck; side somi) and one on her mount of round off-layout. Lisa Brueggemann and Brigit Schweigert competed well – nice front pike mount from Birgit. Germanay finished well on floor with another strong and confident showing to put them in fifth place, a rank very few would have expected after the disastrous 1999 World Championships. Even Lisa Brueggemann’s 8.175 after a fall couldn’t stop the team. Birgit Schweigert was best here with a 8.837 in a routine including a high Arabian double front.

- Subdivision 4 -
Russian Olympian Yevgenia Kuznetsova made her World debut for Bulgaria, but neither she nor Canada's Kate Richardson were able to make an impact on beam, an event where they both had the potential to reach the final.

Kuznetsova was watched intently by Russian head coach Leonid Arkayev, who has been sitting at the VIP table with FIG and EUG officials. Arkayev offered words of encouragement to his former team member, calling "Go Zhenya!" to her. Kuznetsova appeared in great shape, but suffered from low start values.

Kuznetsova, the 1998 European beam champion, could only manage a 9.600 start value on beam when she failed to connect her switch leap, wolf jump 1/2, tuck jump combination. Mounted with a press handstand to full pirouette lower to straddle planche, she later hit her Kochetkova, flip flop, layout step out and front aerial, jump full, Rulfova combo. A stumble on her double pike dismount left her with a low 8.950 (9.600 start value). But while some of her connections were a little slow, the style was there.

Kuznetsova matched her beam score with a 8.950 on floor exercise, with a stuck piked full-in, 2 1/2 twist punch layout front, triple full, and double pike. On bars, where she was a finalist at the 1997 Worlds, she hit her feet on the mat after a pirouette on the low bar but showed a giant full, hop full, Gienger, a Jaeger and double layout dismount (8.762).

Competing with only four gymnasts means all scores count for the Bulgarian gymnasts, so breaks on beam from Radostina Todorova and Antonia Ivanova cost them dearly.

Low start values, combined with plentiful mistakes, resulted in a disappointing team total for Canada, who finished behind Great Britain in fourth. Canada started well on vault, with a 9.137 from Richardson (piked barani). On uneven bars, Canada only tallied a 33.373 average. Crystal Gilmore started the second rotation badly by putting her hands down on her double layout and Jennifer Simbhudas had some form problems throughout her routine. Richardson fell on a layout Jaeger and anchor Amelie Plante, who competed a Def, lost points on an overarched handstand on the low bar.

Canada’s woes continued on beam where Ashley Peckett fell on her front tuck mount and Crystal Gilmore couldn’t stay on after a ff-full twisting back tuck. Kate Richardson looked to be on track for a big score on beam after hitting her split handstand step down to two layouts on beam when she wobbled on her Popa.

On floor, Crystal Gilmore had wonderfully unique choreography but fell out of bounds on her mount of whip triple full. Richardson, showing her own renowned choreography, also stumbled here, stepping out of bounds on her new mount of two whips to Arabian double front.

- Subdivision 3 -
Led by national champion Elizabeth Tweddle, Great Britain moved into third place ahead of Brazil. The British girls started the day’s competition with some strong tumbling on floor, with Nicola Willis (9.050), who mounted with a great double layout, taking the top score.

Great Britain vaulted well, with handspring-front pikes and piked baranis. All the gymnasts landed their vaults well.

Britain ran into its first problems on bars with Melissa Wilcox hitting her feet on the mat after a Pak salto and Emma Williams also unable to score above eight. Holly Murdock then put in a good performance followed by Beth Tweddle who wowed the crowd with a Bi, a Markelov and a nailed dismount for a 9,037 (9,9 SV), surprisingly only the fifth highest score on bars so far.

Melissa Wilcox showed a nice Rulfova and double stag ring leap to Chen, but fell on a side aerial cartwheel-ff-layout series. Nicola Willis also fell on her full-twisting tuck jump. Holly Murdock hit a very clean balance beam set (front tuck to Chen, flip flop layout stepout, sheep jump to 3/4 twisting Shushunova, double tuck).

Italy sent three gymnasts only. Monica Bergamelli scored 9.225 on vault for a double-twisting Yurchenko, but landed her first floor pass (whip full-in) on all fours and going out of bounds on her dismount of double pike. Italy’s three individual gymnasts also had problems on beam and bars.

Hungary sent a full but weak team, finishing in seventh place so far with an especially poor showing on beam (top score of 7.900),where they had lots of breaks and falls from Beata Murai and Irisz Pap. Hungary continued its shaky outing with hardly a gymnast being able to land her vaults well and failing to impress on floor.

- Subdivision 2 -
After an error-filled performance, a jittery Spanish team could only manage to move into second place in the final subdivision on day one of two of women's preliminaries.

Spain began on beam with a shaky effort, with falls from Marta Cusido (overrated double tuck dismount) and anchor Sara Moro (front aerial to side somi), and wobbles from Alba Planas and Esther Moya (nice layout to two feet).

On floor exercise they showed beautiful dance but trouble with their tumbling. The best choreography came from Moro and little Elena Gomez; both opened with strong full-ins, but each crashed a later tumbling pass (2 1/2 twist layout front and 2 1/2 twist punch front full, respectively). In general, they seemed to be lacking some of the technical finesse that had been their trademark in the last years.

Spain rebounded with a good effort on vaulting, with a stuck Khorkina from Olympic vaulting finalist Esther Moya and a double-twisting Yurchenko from Moro. All the Spanish girls vaulted Yurchenkos, mostly 1 1/2 or two twists. While they landed them well enough, none of then was as explosive as they have been from the Spanish team in the past.

They scored the highest uneven bar total so far, with good lines and difficulty. Alba Planas scored a 9.050 for a routine that inlcuded a nice Tkachev-Gienger combination, Jaeger and Fontaine, and Moro had some form breaks on her dismount but was fantastic in the rest of her routine to earn a 9.200 for a routine (Tkatchev to Pak) with the first 10.00 start value on that event.

Inconsistent Belarus suffered many falls and errors. Their top gymnast, Tatiana Zharganova, bars finalist at the 2000 Olympics, scored a low 9.200 (out of 9.900 start value) for a difficult routine (cast-full to giant 1 1/2 to Jaeger, bail to low straddle hecht to high, and Fontaine dismount. On floor exeercise, Zharganova nailed her opening tumbling pass of double front. Newcomer Yulia Tarasenko showed a difficult balance beam routine, mounting with a round off layout step out on to immediate flip flip layout step out (nailed) and dismounting with a double front, but she fell on a flip flop to full twist. Though weak as a team, Belarus still possesses beautiful artistry, as revealed in their precise beam choreography and clean jumps.

Oksana Chusovitina, co-World champion on floor exercise a decade ago, hit her floor routine (double layout, nailed 1/2 in 1/2 out, double pike) in front of an enthusiastic audience who whistled her score of 9.037 (9.600). On vault, her full-twisting Yamashita took a top score of 9.425. In the third rotation, the usually consistent Chusovitina crashed her layout/pike uneven bars dismount when her hand slipped off on a hop-full. (Her planned dismount was giant-full, hop-full, full-twisting double layout).

Dimitra Kastritsi, Greece's only female entrant, danced beautifully to traditional Greek music on floor exercise (opening with a nice double layout).

- Subdivision 1 -
The USA took the first subdivision lead, despite a few nervous moments. Looking less confident than they had during podium training, the Americans suffered two mistakes - beam and bars.

The USA started well on vault with all gymnasts competing confidently and landing their vaults well. Heenan got off to a good start with a Hristakieva, followed by a pair of 1 1/2 twisting Yurchenkos from Tabitha Yim and Ashley Miles. 2000 Olympian Tasha Schwikert had no trouble on her Podkopayeva. Mohini Bhardwaj's double-twisting Yurchenko brought the highest score of 9.375.

On uneven bars, that had to be adjusted for tall Ashley Miles, Miles stumbled forward on her double front dismount and Schwikert caught her Hindorff too close, killing her swing and having to stop and rekip (8.475). Then the rotation was delayed again when the bars had to re-adjusted for the not so tall Mohini Bhardwaj. After a hit routine from Bhardwaj (two layouts, side somi, running front, stuck full-twisting double layout dismount) that scored 8.762 (9.400 start value), Katie Heenan sat down her double tuck dismount.

Bhardwaj started off with a good routine but low a start value kept her well below 9.0. Heenan was rock solid until she fell on her dismount. Beam anchor Yim fell on an Onodi for 8.600 but hit the rest of her elegant routine, dismounting with a beautiful 2 1/2 twist. Rachel Tidd's routine (flip flop tucked Arabian; sheep jump, Chen) was the only 10.00 start value so far on any event (9.212).

The USA ended strong on floor with difficult tumbling (double layout, punch front from Bhardwaj and double layout and Arabian double front from Miles). Ashley Miles dynamic floor routine was well received by the crowd who loved her incredibly high and clean tumbling. Then, Bhardwaj picked up where Miles had left off with a double layiout to punch front and second tumbling pass of full-in, but still, her routine only started from a 9,5. Yim's beautiful routine earned 9.212, and final competitor Schwikert (full-in opening) scored a 9.350.

Brazil, coached by former Ukrainian head coach Oleg Ostapenko, showed remarkable improvement, but appeared unable to handle the difficulty load of their routines. However, the Ukrainian influence is apparent in their top physical fitness level and artistry. They began nervously on beam with multiple falls (two from Daiane Santos).

Over on floor, Brazil was tumbling up a storm with Hypolito and Dos Santos both opening with double layouts, followed by Arabian double fronts in their second pass. Dynamo Daniele Hypolito, the smallest competitor of the world championships at only 1.36m, took the top score on floor exercise with nailed tumbling (double layout, Arabian double front, 2 1/2 punch layout, triple twist) for a 9.387 out of a 9.9 start value.

Brazil went for security rather than risk on vault with a row of piked baranis. Hypolito balked at her first attempt but had no problems the second time around.

Team Standings
1. Romania 146.646
2. USA 145.147
3. Netherlands 144.159
4. Russia 144.134
5. Spain 142.797
6. Australia 141.483
7. Ukraine 140.559
8. Germany 138.747

Individual Standings
1. Svetlana Khorkina RUS 37.224
2. Andreea Raducan ROM 36.936
3. Verona van de Leur NED 36.799
4. Sabina Cojocar ROM 36.624
5. Silvia Stroescu ROM 36.425
6. Allana Slater AUS 36.349
7. Tasha Schwikert USA 36.262
8. Gabrille Wammes NED 36.262
9. Tabitha Yim USA 36.037
10. Lyudmila Ezhova RUS 36.011
11. Natalia Ziganshina RUS 35.962
12. Mohini Bhardwaj USA 35.924
13. Sun Xiaojiao CHN 35.824
14. Daniele Hypolito BRA 35.786
15. Sara Moro ESP 35.661
16. Yevgenia Kunetsova BUL 35.587
17. Oksana Chusovitina UZB 35.524
*18. Loredana Boboc ROM 35.449
19. Birgit Schweigert GER 35.449
20. Marta Cusido ESP 35.361
*21. Katie Heenan USA 35.286
22. Kate Richardson CAN 35.161
23. Eliazbeth Tweddle GBR 35.061
24. Elena Gomez ESP 35.050
25. Holly Murdock GBR 35.049
26. Jacqui Dunn AUS 35.036
27. Alyona Kvasha UKR 34.911
28. Rikst Valentijn NED 34.911
*29. Renske Endel NED 34.899
30. Olga Roschupkina UKR 34.849
31. Janercky de la Pena CUB 34.824
32. Tatiana Yarosh UKR 34.787
33. Tatiana Zharhanova BLR 34.724
34. Ashley Peckett CAN 34.723
35. Delphine Regease FRA 34.674
*Not in All-Around final due to 3 gymnasts per country contraint.

Khorkina Composed Again After Ugly Crash
Svetlana Khorkina, who took a nasty fall on floor during Saturday's training, is ready to compete tomorrow, her coach Boris Pilkin told IG today.

This past weekend, Khorkina, the 1997 World Champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist, bloodied herself when she landed heavily on her face on a tumbling pass. "Her nose is sore," said Pilkin, "but she has gotten her composure back."

As to why she took the fall, Pilkin simply pointed out the strenuous demands of the sport and its rules. "Gymnastics today is complicated," explained Pilkin. "The new Code of Points is hard, and the level of difficulty is going up, so there are lots of falls."

Khorkina's teammate Elena Zamolodchikova, whose podium training was hindered by an injury, trained all her tumbling on Saturday and is also ready to compete.

"Everything is normal for her," said Viktor Gavrichenkov, coach of Zamoldochikova's teammate Natalia Ziganshina.

The Russian team will begin competition Tuesday, competing in the seventh subdivison of the women's team and individual qualifications.

(Source: International Gymnast)