FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup A
Osijek (CRO), November 6 - 8, 2009
LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, November 9, 2009: An enthusiastic crowd saw 14 London World Championship finalists, five medallists and two newly crowned champions performing at the second to last Artistic Gymnastics World Cup of the 2009 season in Osijek (CRO) last weekend.
With four Gold medals and one Bronze, China topped the rankings in Osijek, followed by Romania with two Gold and the Czech Republic with one Gold and two Silver medals. Host Croatia collected a total of five medals (two Silver and three Bronze). A total of twelve nations divvied up the medals ranks.
Men
Pommel Horse
World Champion Zhang Hongtao from China confirmed his excellence and prevailed on Pommel Horse (16.075), placing first ahead of Slovenia’s Saso Beroncelj (15.350) and Russia’s Andrej Perevožnikov (15.325). The host country’s Robert Seligman and Romanian Flavius Koczi, both of whom qualified for the Apparatus Final in London, ranked 4th and 6th respectively. Even though he improved on the 14.350 that qualified him in second place, Hungarian Zoltan Kallai had to reconcile himself to a final 5h rank.
Gold - Zhang Hongtao (CHN) 16.075
Silver - Sašo Bertoncelj (SLO) 15.350
Bronze - Andrej Perevožnikov (RUS) 15.325
4. Robert Seligman (CRO) 15.225
5. Zoltan Kallai (HUN) 14.500
6. Flavius Koczi (ROU) 13.950
7. Peter Marjan (HUN) 13.475
8. Marko Brez (CRO) 11.775
Rings
As expected, 2008 Olympic Champion and top qualifier Chen Yibing made the race thrilling on Rings (15.775). He relegated Russia’s Konstantin Pluznikov (15.650) and 2009 World Bronze medallist from Ukraine Olexander Vorobiev (15.250) to ranks two and three respectively. With 15.200 points Brasil’s Arthur Zanetti only just missed the podium, giving in to yet another 4th place after the Final in London. Jordanian Ali Al Asi was unable to repeat his qualifying score of 15.075, finishing 5th.
Gold - Chen Yibing (CHN) 15.775
Silver - Konstantin Pluznikov (RUS) 15.650
Bronze - Olexander Vorobiev (UKR) 15.250
4. Arthur Zanetti (BRA) 15.200
5. Ali Al Asi (JOR) 14.825
6. Georgallas Irodotos (CYP) 14.700
7. Gustavo Simoes (POR) 14.575
8. Victor Camargo (BRA) 12.700
Floor
It was good to see Diego Hypolito (BRA), 2007 World Champion on Floor, back on track after having missed the Final in London. The Brazilian outclassed his contenders in Osijek and prevailed in both the Qualification (15.675) and the Final (15.550). Pushed to an excellent performance by his home crowd, Croatian Tomislav Markovic garnered the Silver with 15.225 points and Alexander Shatilov’s (ISR) 14.925 was good enough to win him the Bronze.
Gold - Diego Hypolito (BRA) 15.550
Silver - Tomislav Markovic (CRO) 15.225
Bronze - Alexander Shatilov (ISR) 14.925
4. Jeffrey Wammes (NED) 14.725
5. Mans Stenberg (SWE) 14.525
6. Victor Rosa (BRA) 14.325
7. Olexander Suprun (UKR) 13.950
8. Peter Marjan (HUN) 13.600
Vault
As expected, London World Championship runner-up Flavius Koczi from Romania dominated the Men’s Vault competition (16.025). The top qualifier defeated Ukraine’s Olexander Yakukovsky (15.750) and Portuguese Luis Araujo (15.475).
Gold - Flavius Koczi (ROU) 16.025
Silver - Olexander Yakukovsky (UKR) 15.750
Bronze - Luis Araujo (POR) 15.475
4. Ali Al Asi (JOR) 15.325
5. Evgeny Sapronenko (LAT) 15.238
6. Marek Lyszczarz (POL) 15.175
7. Jad Mazahreh (JOR) 15.125
8. Shek Wai-Hung (HKG) 15.088
Parallel Bars
After qualifying in fifth position, Marius Berbecar made his home country proud by winning the Parallel Bars competition in Osijek with a surprising 15.350 points. The Romanian outdid the very consistent Polish Adam Kierzkowski (15.100) and World Champion Wang Guanyin from China (14.975).
Gold - Marius Berbecar (ROU) 15.350
Silver - Adam Kierzkowski (POL) 15.100
Bronze - Wang Guanyin (CHN) 14.975
4. Epke Zonderland (NED) 14.925
5. Roman Kulesza (POL) 14.875
6. Samuel Piasecky (SLO) 14.650
7. Dmitry Gogotov (RUS) 14.450
6. Hamilton Sabot (FRA) 14.400
Horizontal Bar
Taking off with the Gold on Horizontal Bar, veteran Aljaz Pegan proved once again that Slovenia can still count on him (15.675)! The 2007 world runner-up prevailed over newly crowned Silver medallist from the Netherlands Epke Zonderland (15.550) and the host country’s Marijo Moznik (14.850), who qualified a mere second to last.
Gold - Aljaž Pegan (SLO) 15.675
Silver - Epke Zonderland (NED) 15.550
Bronze - Marijo Moznik (CRO) 14.850
4. Marco Baldauf (AUT) 14.775
5. Martin Konecny (CZE) 14.675
6. Anatoly Vasilyev (RUS) 14.600
6. Jeffrey Wammes (NED) 14.600
8. Samuel Piasecky (SLO) 14.500
Women
Vault
Winner of the Women’s Vault competition Jana Komrskova from the Czech Republic was delighted by her performance (14.338). She outplayed the host country’s Tijana Tkalcec, whose 13.713 won her the Silver, the first World Cup medal of her career. Representing the Netherlands, world All-around finalist Mayra Kroonen placed third with a score of 13.625. Hungarian Laura Gombas took up the vault only to miss a medal by a hair’s breadth (13.600).
Gold - Jana Komrskova (CZE) 14.338
Silver - Tijana Tkalcec (CRO) 13.713
Bronze - Mayra Kroonen (NED) 13.625
4. Laura Gombas (HUN) 13.600
5. Valeria Maksiuta (ISR) 13.575
6. Annika Urvikko (FIN) 13.350
7. Dorina Boczogo (HUN) 12.925
8. Cynthia Lemieux-Guillemette (CAN) 12.550
Uneven Bars
Qualified in first place, Mayra Kroonen topped her Bronze winning performance on Vault with a Gold on Uneven Bars (13.525). Jana Sikulova (CZE) improved her qualifying score to 13.400, the score that won her the Silver, while Israel’s Valeria Maksiuta won a surprising Bronze after having qualified in a weak 7th place. Canadian Laurie-Eve Pepin-Gagne placed a disappointing last, after having qualified in second (13.275).
Gold - Mayra Kroonen (NED) 13.525
Silver - Jana Sikulova (CZE) 13.400
Bronze - Valeria Maksiuta (ISR) 13.000
4. Cynthia Lemieux-Guillemette (CAN) 12.800
5. Dorina Boczogo (HUN) 12.525
6. Ethiene Franco (BRA) 12.400
7. Bruna Leal (BRA) 12.225
8. Laurie-Eve Pepin-Gagne (CAN) 12.175
Beam
China’s Sui Lu left her contenders in the dust when she carried off the Gold on Beam with a score of 13.750. Czech Jana Komrskova collected another medal after winning the Vault competition, settling for Silver this time around (12.925). Qualified in fourth place, Croatia’s own Tina Erceg stepped up to the podium with a Bronze winning 12.675. Second in the preliminaries, Brasil’s Priscila Cobello came last in the Finals scoring 11.900.
Gold - Lu Sui (CHN) 13.750
Silver - Jana Komrskova (CZE) 12.925
Bronze - Tina Erceg (CRO) 12.675
4. Laure-Eve Pepin-Gagne (CAN) 12.450
5. Katarzyna Jurkowska (POL) 12.350
6. Hu Yuhong (CHN) 12.000
7. Laura Gombas (HUN) 11.900
8. Priscila Cobello (BRA) 11.900
Floor
World Bronze medallist on Floor Sui Lu (CHN) added another Gold medal to her collection after winning the Beam competition earlier in the day; she prevailed on her favourite apparatus with 13.825 points. Portugal’s Zoi Lima came second (13.325) and Tina Erceg pleased the home crowd when she seized yet another Bronze (13.200).
Gold - Lu Sui (CHN) 13.825
Silver - Zoi Lima (POR) 13.325
Bronze - Tina Erceg (CRO) 13.200
4. Bruna Leal (BRA) 13.175
5. Mayra Kroonen (NED) 13.075
6. Dorina Boczogo (HUN) 12.875
7. Saša Golob (SLO) 12.700
8. Annika Urvikko (FIN) 12.550
Quotes
Zhang Hongtao (CHN) – Gold on Pommel Horse
I didn't perform all my elements. My performance was not as good as in London, but I like Osijek and the people here.
Sašo Bertoncelj (SLO) – Silver on Pommel Horse
I am happy to have won a Silver medal at this great tournament. The competition on Pommel Horse was tough, especially with excellent gymnasts like Zhang Hongtao and the two Croatians in the Final.
Diego Hypolito (BRA) – Gold on Floor
I am satisfied with my performance. This was my fifth World Cup victory this year and after missing the Final at the World Championships in London it was important to me to be back with a good result here in Osijek.
Tomislav Marković (CRO) – Silver on Floor
That was one of the best performances of my life. I am very happy about winning this Silver medal in my home town.
Alexander Shatilov (ISR) – Bronze on Floor
I was very tired after London, so third place is a success for me.
Jana Komrskova (CZE) – Gold on Vault
Winning in this excellent atmosphere is a fantastic feeling. I am very satisfied with these two days in Osijek.
Tijana Tkalčec (CRO) – Silver on Vault
This is my first World Cup medal. I had some problems with the apparatus, things I wasn’t able to get used to. But I am very satisfied with my vaults.
Aljaž Pegan (SLO) – Gold on Horizontal Bar
The competition was fantastic! I am very happy with my victory over the phenomenal Zonderland. I think Osijek was one of the best World Cups. Everything was great.
Epke Zonderland (NED) – Silver on Horizontal Bar
It is very hard for me to concentrate after the World Championship, so I am satisfied with my performance despite the fact that some of my elements were not very clear-cut. I was impressed by the great organisation, especially because this was the first World Cup in Osijek.
Marijo Možnik (CRO) – Bronze on Horizontal Bar
The support of the spectators was excellent here in Osijek, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.
