 By Caroline Paulian.
The day later was the final events day. The romanians won 3 events on
four, giving up the bars to the russian Evguenia Kuznetsova.
Vault:
On vault (this final required the mastery of 2 different vaults) the gold
went to Raducan who stuck a rondoff half on layout cuervo. Simona Amanar began with a super high Yurchenko double twist, but her second
vault a Phelps, gave her only the second place. It's a pity because Simona do
add dimensions of height and distance to her vaults.
Gabriella Wammes (third!) did 2 good vaults- Phelps and Hristakieva - with steady landings
although neither really stuck cold.
Yarosh finished last with 2 falls. Aurelie
Hedouin, 4th ,was the french finalist but showed modest vault: hristakieva and layout Yurchenko.
Uneven Bars:
Elegant Kuznetsova won the bars final with very complex and original
routine. She received a well deserved
gold medal.
Olaru showed clean exercice but didn't stick her dismount. She had the
silver medal.
My favorite movment was the one of Kolesnikova who obtained the bronze for her
effort: She hit her georgeous Yaeger, Pak salto, stadler work, tucked full
in dismount).
Tirik caught 3 releases (Gienger, Yaeger, Pak salto) but it wasn't enough
to be on the podium, she was fourth. The chinese Fang Fang worked usual
chinese routine: invert, hop full pirouette back to invert, Katchev, invert direct double front (big step).
Balance Beam:
On beam, 3 finalist fell (Raducan, Fang Fang and the french Melodie
Vaudable). Olaru hit cold her set and took the head of the final. It was
really a perfect exercice!
But I preferred the routine of the tiny chinese Zhang
Nan, (a crowd favorite) only 14 years old but a programm which is one of
the most impressive ones I've ever seen: rondade layout salto mount - flip
flip layout -wolf leap to rulfova - popa 3/4 turn - switch ring leap - double
back. Her teamate Fang Fang, even last during this final, was not bad too: front somi mount - Chen - 1/1 wolf jump (fall). The french Melodie
Vaudable succeeded her rondade layout but fall later on a simpler leap.
Kuznetsova and her gazelle like movements took the bronze.
Floor:
All the floor finalists were superb and really could have won but Amanar,
first on floor, showed that at 21 years old she's still one of the best
tumblers (same tumbling as at Sydney excepted the double layout mount,
replaced by an easy full in). Her teamate Raducan opted for her old
spanish music which is a pleasure to shoot. As for me I'd have placed her
first or tied with Amanar.
The bronze was for Privalova (great tumbling and jazzy music - the same as
Olga Mostepanova if I remember well.)
And Yarosh? The little ukrainian 's floor was outstanding for its high
tumbling and beautiful dance. Privalova did a great floor with her
charisma and technical elegance.
I really like Verona Van de Leur too, she combines grace (excellent celtic
music) and power. Look at her 4 passes!
Piked full in - 2,5 twist to layout punch front. double twist front punch
front - triple twist!!
I'm sure this gymnast is going to catch several podiums soon! Don't forget her name!
The official site of the Massilia Gym cup: http://www.mgymc.com.
(I'm a free lance-writer for the French Federation. I've made an interview of
Verona which has been published in the French magazine " Le Gymnaste".
Look soon at Kostiskal site for a translation of this interview!!)
If you need some informations about this wonderful competition, please e
mail me.
Write to Caroline for any comment or info request.
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