6,000 spectators at the Akita Sky Dome, in the capital city of the Akita Prefecture in Northern Japan, gave a heartfelt standing ovation to two gymnasts, exceptional trampoline champions Anna Dogonadze (GER) and Irina Karavaeva (RUS). What prompted the ovation ? An exceptional show of sportsmanship on the part of a charming Russian gymnast.

A little background
It was the 2001 world championships in Odense (DEN). Irina Karavaeva took the supreme title in Individuals, only points ahead of Anna Dogonadze. A 4th world title ! As procedure would have it, the FIG spent the next few days reviewing all scores distributed by judges during the competition. Shocked to find that the Russian athlete's score was inaccurate, it quickly became clear that the German gymnast was in fact the world champion! The regulations are explicit: ranking may not be modified once the competition has been closed.

This is true for gymnastics and other sports alike.

Once the news had reached the ears of Irina Karavaeva, the gymnast contacted her federation, who corroborated the information. Of her own accord, Irina returned her Gold medal that it might be given to its rightful owner, Ana Dogonadze, who in turn was declared world champion once her results were confirmed.

The FIG and the international gymnastics community could not help but hail Irina for her sense of fair play, sending messages of congratulations, respect and admiration.

Irina's act made headlines across the globe. Mail arrived in profusion. The International Olympic Committee was the first to react, bestowing on her the Medal of Fair Play. The award came directly from the hands of President Jacques Rogge at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in her native city of Ghent, Belgium. Next, the International Fair Play Committee awarded a Fair Play Diploma. A ceremony was held in January 2003 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The highest dignitaries of international sport were present for the event, one that Irina had never expected. She was honoured for her sportsmanlike conduct, her modesty, her humility.

In 2000, Irina became the first female Olympic trampoline champion in the history of the Olympic Games. The Games of the XXIX Olympiad are her third, and still she remains the Nr 1 favourite.

Imagine ! She's the title-holding world champion with a 7th Gold medal, obtained in Quebec (CAN) in October 2007 !