29th FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships
Mie (JPN), September 7 – 13, 2009
Review Individual All-around Final
MIE (JPN), FIG Office, September 11, 2009: In a gripping competition the 24 All-around Finalists of the 29th World Championships wowed the crowd tonight in Mie with the best of Rhythmic Gymnastics! While performing their routines gymnasts demonstrated collective elegance, grace and dynamic charm along with astonishing virtuosic artistry. Spectators visibly enjoyed the show, and weren't afraid to show it!
After a spotless performance in the Apparatus Finals and a Gold medal with the Russian Team, Olympic Champion Evgenia Kanaeva (RUS) wrote history tonight, winning her 6th Gold at these championships; never before seen in Rhythmic Gymnastics! A total score of 113.850 not only crowned Kanaeva All-around Champion, it coined her the most successful rhythmic gymnast of all times. An outstanding achievement!
With 113.250 points, a mere 0.6 behind her compatriot Kanaeva, 18 year old Daria Kondakova secured the Silver for Russia. Kondakova repeated her performance of the last four days in this All-around competition and set the bar for future competitions!
Rhythmic clapping accompanied Anna Bessonova’s hair-raising Ribbon routine that brought down the house with a standing ovation! The audience’s darling and 2007 All-around World Champion improved all her scores from the Apparatus Finals save for Rope, where she earned a final score of 110.375 and the Bronze. Her overall presentation was honoured with the prestigious Longines Prize of Elegance.
Belarusian Melitina Staniouta worked her way through this competition fabulously, proving her mental strength and coming back strong on Ribbon after a failed routine last night. More exciting performances are sure to come from this exceptionally talented young gymnast, who made such an impressive debut in her first senior circuit season. With 109.050 points Staniouta ranked 4th today in her first World Championships.
Qualified in 24th position, Japan’s Mai Hidaka thrilled fans and impressed judges today in the Sun Arena. With the exception of her routine on Rope, she upped her scores from the preliminaries straight across the board. Tonight she is her country’s pride and joy with a phenomenal 15th ranking and an overall score of 100.075.
Results Individual All-around Final
Gold: KANAEVA Evgenia (RUS) – Total: 113.850
Silver: KONDAKOVA Daria (RUS) – Total: 113.250
Bronze: BESSONOVA Anna (UKR) – Total: 110.375
4. STANIOUTA Melitina (BLR) – Total: 109.050
5. MITEVA Silviya (BUL) – Total: 107.850
6. RISENSON Irina (ISR) – Total: 106.300
7. CHARKASHYNA Liubou (BLR) – Total: 106.200
8. GARAYEVA Aliya (AZE) – Total: 105.675
Detailed results
The All-around Final concluded the Individual competition of these 29th World Championships. The event continues tomorrow with the Group All-around, followed by the Apparatus Finals on 5 Hoops and 3 Ribbons / 2 Ropes for Groups on Sunday, September 13.
