Saint-Imier (SUI) / London (GBR) October 16th, 2009: Longines, official timekeeper and data handler at the 41st Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 2009 in London, is pleased to announce that the Longines Prize for Elegance has been given to the female gymnast Elsa Garcia Rodriguez Blanca from Mexico and the male gymnast Daniel Keatings from Great Britain. This award decorates the athletes having demonstrated the most remarkable elegance in the course of an international competition at world level. Longines was also proud to present its new Ambassador of Elegance Ariella Kaeslin (SUI), the European vault Champion as well as all-around bronze medallist. Furthermore, the press has been provided for the first time with competition data in real time handled by Longines.

In gymnastics, the challenge of movement not only demands flawless execution but also grace, beauty and harmony known as “elegance”. At the 41st Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, all participants in the individual all-around finals held in the O2 on Thursday October 15th and on Friday October 16th, 2009 were nominated for the Longines Prize for Elegance.

The athletes under consideration for the prize have been evaluated according to a number of complementary criteria. In addition to technical considerations, each athlete’s performance has been judged with respect to emotional appeal, beauty, charm, charisma as well as grace and harmony of movement. Clearly, each juror has interpreted these criteria individually, yet the result is often unanimous, as it was again on this occasion.

The jury of the Longines Prize for Elegance brought together Dr. Bruno Grandi, President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), Annika Reeder, former Olympic gymnast and former British Champion, Katrina Jones, Longines UK Brand Director, and Walter von Känel, President of Longines.

Elsa Garcia Rodriguez Blanca, born in 1990 is coached by Antonio Martinez in the City of Monterrey where she's living. In the Regio Club Gimnastico she's training every day together with assistant coach Teresa Lopez and choreographer Alejandra Rodriguez. The Floor is her best apparatus, on which she performed on music entitled Mano a Mano. Her best achievements were the first ranks in Cottbus (GER) on Uneven Bars and Floor.

Daniel Keatings turned into the star of the 2008 Junior European Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland (4 Gold medals, including the victory in the All-around), and took the 20th place in the Senior All-around event in Beijing 2008. Born in 1990, Daniel took up gymnastics at 5 years old. He is coaching by Paul Hall at the Huntingdon Gym Club. Pommel Horse is his best apparatus.

The Longines Prize for Elegance is presented in the form of a trophy created especially for Longines by the Swiss artist Jean-Pierre Gerber. In addition, Elsa Garcia Rodriguez Blanca and Daniel Keatings each received a cheque for US$ 5,000 and the official watch of the 41st Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, a Conquest model of the Longines Sport Collection.

Longines also took the opportunity to give a Conquest watch to its new Ambassador of Elegance, the Swiss gymnast Ariella Kaeslin, the European vault Champion as well as all-around bronze medallist.

Press accredited for the 41st Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in London have been provided with competition data in real time by the watchmaker Longines, official timekeeper of the FIG. This technological achievement allows the media to consult online with a live link to the scores as well as final rankings of athletes during the competition. Launched in gymnastics at the Stuttgart (Germany) worlds in 1989, the service is known in media circles as CIS (Commentator Information System).

About Longines
Based in St. Imier in Switzerland since 1832, the watchmaker Longines can look back on more than 175 years of non-stop craftsmanship, as well as a solid heritage as timekeeper for world championships in various sports and collaborator with different international sports federations. Known for the elegance of its timepieces, Longines is a member of the Swatch Group Ltd, the World’s leading manufacturer of horological products. With the winged hourglass as its emblem, the brand has outlets in over 130 countries.

About the FIG
The International Gymnastics Federation is the governing body for gymnastics worldwide. It is the oldest established international sports federation and has participated in the Olympic Games since their revival in 1896. The FIG governs 7 disciplines: Gymnastics for All, Men’s Artistic, Women’s Artistic, Rhythmic, Trampoline, Aerobic and Acrobatic. It counts 127 national affiliated federations and boasts a 20-person staff at its international seat in Lausanne (SUI), host city of the International Olympic Committee.