By Vera Atkinson FIG Editor.
No big surprises in the end of the opening day of the Gymnastics tournament in Beijing!
The 2000 Olympic Champion and 8-times World Champions, China, took the first place in the Men’s Qualifications with a Team total of 374.675 - 5.125pts ahead of the 2004 Olympic Champions Japan (369.550), and 8.450 pts ahead of the 1996 Olympic Champions Russia, in third position, 366.225.
The remaining five spots for the Team Final on Monday, 11 Aug., 2008 are as follows:
Korea, in fourth, 365.675, after a tiebreak with Germany, in fifth; USA (in sixth, 365.200), France, seventh (361.200), and Romania in eight, 359.359.
The remaining four positions are final, with no further chance for improvement:
9. Canada, 358.975
10. Belarus, 357.950
11. Spain, 357.925
12. Italy, 355. 500
Chronology of the day:
SUBDIVISION 1: USA take the lead
The USA were clear victors by 7.275 points over Spain, and 9.700 over Italy in the opening Subdivision 1.
The Americans started the competition on Rings, and thanks to Raj Bhavsar, Jonathan Horton and most of all, to Kai Wen Tan (15.725), took the lead in the group, never took a step back.
The Team was most impressive on P.Bars (62.300) with excellent performance from Justin Spring, 15.800 and on High Bar (61.275), where Hagerty, Horton and Spring all scored above 15 points.
Alexander Artemiev (one of the two reserve gymnasts of the USA who stepped in to replace Morgan Ham just a day ago), put the finishing touch of his team’s and his personal success earning a much applauded 15.250 on Pommel Horse - the second best score in the event until that moment of time, after Louis Smith's (GBR) 15. 325 (Artemiev is the 2006 World Bronze medallist on Pommels).
There was a very strong battle between Italy and Spain for the second position in the group.
Spain experienced problems on their opening event, the Pommel Horse, but from there on moved into the second position until the end. They were the best in the Subdivision on Vault (63.950) and on Floor (61.000). The explosive performance of Gervasio Deferr on Floor earned the twice Olympic Champion on Vault (2000 and 2004) the highest note in the round, 15.825.
Even after their stunning demonstration of skill and mastery on Rings (61.875), the Italians were not able to change the status quo in the group.
Some exceptional performances were seen in this Subdivision:
Floor - Gervasio Deferr (ESP), 15.825; Alexander Shatilov (ISR), 15.600; Jonathan Horton (USA), 15.350.
Pommels - Louis Smith (GBR), 15.325; Alexander Artemiev (USA), 15.250; Alberto Busnari (ITA), 15.125.
Rings - Italy outstanding! Morandi - the star- 16.025.
Vault - Leszek Blanik - (1.Tsukahara double somersault pike and 2. Handspirng front pike - 16.700. Exceptional, but six gymnasts in Subdivision scored more that 16 points and there were still two more Subdivisions to go...
P. Bars - Anton Fokin (UZB), 16.150; Justin Spring (USA), 15.800
High Bar- Epke Zonderland (NED), 15.750; Igor Cassina (ITA), 16.000.
The top three athletes in the current All-around ranking after Subdivision 1 were: Jonathan Horton (USA), 91.650; Raphael Martinez (ESP), 90.800 and Alexander Artemev (USA), 89.725.
The 'unluckiest gymnast' in this Subdivision (and arguably in the Qualification round) was the former World Champion on High Bar, Vlasios Maras (GRE), who, due to fall from the bars lost any chance to reach the Final.
SUBDIVISION 2: China takes over
In this round the old adversaries Japan and Russia, who for 30 years battled for the Olympic title, were joined by 'the new boys', China. France and Canada were the other two teams who contributed to a very exiting competition.
The huge home - crowd support for China obviously helped the team of the World Champions. They clearly dominated on four apparatus, Pommel Horse (61.200), Rings (62.850), Vault (65.325) and P. Bars (63.300).
Japan was best on High Bar (61.475), but disappointed on Rings (60.500) and Vault (64.125).
Russia showed real progress, improved stability and line. Nikolay Kryukov was, one again, a crucial contributor for the team (16.125 P.Bars; 16.200 Vault).
One apparatus to go, Russia were in second position, 0.175 ahead of Japan, but finishing on Rings did not turned into their best advantage (60.625) vs. the Japanese 64.125 on Vault.
By the end of the second Subdivision the figures on the scoreboard were quite revealing:
There has been 0 scores above 16 points on Floor exercise. Diego Hypolito (BRA) close on 15.950.
Pommel Horse- one score of 16.000, Xiao Qin (CHIN)
Only two scores above 16 points on Rings (Cheng Yibing 16.525 and Yang Wei 16.225).
20 scores above 16 on Vault; the leader with 16.775 Li Xiaopeng.
Only six scores above 16 on P.Bars (again Li Xiaopeng), 16.425
and one score of 16.000- Igor Cassina (ITA).
Would anybody ever beat the twice World Champion YANG Wei (CHN), who topped the Individual All-around ranking again (93.875).
Closest to him - the Japanese 'Trio' of the two youngsters Ushima Kohei (19 years old), in second place, 92.050 and Sakamato Koki (21), in third- 91.950.
The 2005 World Champions Hiroyuki Tomina was in fourth position, 91.900.
SUBDIVISION 3: Korea, Germany and Romania introduce changes
A very exciting last Subdivision, which saw Korea and Germany, tie for the fifth place and safely qualify for the Team Final although both teams displayed nervous moments.
The 2004 Bronze medallists, Romania, after disasters on High Bar and Pommel Horse came through on Vault and P. Bars to take the eight place in the Final.
Nine gymnasts form this group qualified for the Individual All-around Final, but nobody could catch Yang Wei of China who showed his mastery at the end of the day with a clear lead of 1.5 marks in qualifying for Competition 2, ahead of World Silver medallist Fabian Hambuechen of Germany and the 2004 Silver medallists from Athens Kim Dae Eun (KOR). 5.2 marks cover competition 2 qualification. First place 93. 875 and 24th place 88.550.
In top positions for the Apparatus Finals:
Diego Hypolito BRA- Floor- 15.950
XIAO Qin CHN- Pommels- 16.000
CHEN Yibing CHN- 16.525
Marian Dragulescu (ROM)- after long lasting injury- best score on Vault - 16.762
LI Xiaopeng CHN- 16.425
Fabian Hambuechen GER- 16.200
Some of the great Apparatus Masters justified the expectation of making the Olympic Finals in this last Subdivision; but some surprises also happened:
Yordan Jovchev (BUL), Rings, second score of 16.275, who could win medal in his fifth Olympic Games!
Gervasio Deferr (ESP) - third best score on Floor, 15.825.
Mitija Petkovsek (SLO) - 2007 World Champion on P. Bars, also reached the Final- 16.125 (in fifth).
Jose Louis Fuentes Bustamante, second best score on who could win medal in France has qualified two gymnasts for the Vault Final (Bouail and Garanobe) and Thomas Bouail has split Dragulescu and the 2007 World Champion from Poland Leszek Blanik.
Filip Ude (CRO) - third result on Pommel Horse- 15.475.
Less than 0.5 separated the P.Bars finalists: First LI Xiaopeng (CHN), 2000 Olympic Champion, 16.425 and eight- Fabian Hambuechen (GER), 16.050.
