World Games 2009 Test Events, Kaohsiung (TPE)

KAOHSIUNG (TPE) FIG Office, November 7, 2008: With finals in all Aerobic Gymnastics categories, the World Games 2009 Gymnastics Test Events closed on Wednesday in the Kaohsiung Arena. Thousands of spectators came out to watch the performances of world-class gymnasts, and supported them enthusiastically!

A total of six countries took part in the Aerobic Gymnastics competitions that spanned four events. With three Gold medals (Men's Individual, Mixed Pair, and Trio), one Silver (Women’s Individual) and one Bronze (Men’s Individual), France was the most successful nation in this competition. Italy followed with one Gold and one Silver, while Vietnam took a Silver and Bronze. Hungary walked away with a Silver medal while South Africa came away with a Bronze. Two Taiwanese teams made it to the final round of the competition, but only one of them placed, winning a Bronze medal in the Mixed Pair event.

Italian gymnast Giulia Bianchi scored 20.700 to win the Gold medal in the Women's Individual competition, Aurélie Joly of France won the Silver medal with a score of 20.430, and South Africa's Dominque Mann took the Bronze with a score of 16.500.

Results Women’s Individual Final

French gymnasts Aurélie Joly and Julien Chaninet took home a Gold medal in the Mixed Pairs finals with a 21.050 points score. Vietnamese Tran Thi Thu Ha and his compatriot Vu Ba Dong won the Silver with 19.800, while Chou Yu-hsuan and Chiu Shih-hui from Chinese Taipei took the Bronze with 15.000 points.

Results Mixed Pairs Final

France's Morgan Jacquemin won the Gold medal in the final round of the Men's Individual competition. Jacquemin finished with the top score of 21.750 points, followed by Hungarian Zsolt Roik and his Silver-winning 21.030, while Julien Chaninet (FRA) picked up the Bronze with 20.650 points. Italy's Vito Iaia finished in fourth place with 20.150 points, and South Africa's Matthew Levy ranked fifth with 17.400 points.

Results Men’s Individual Final

The French Trio Xavier Julien, Julien Chaninet and Gregory Alcan secured a Gold medal in the Trio finals, scoring 21.5.00 The Italian team featuring Antonio Gaforio, Emanuele Pagliuca and Vito Iaia scored 20.600, collecting a coveted Silver medal, while Vietnam's Tran Thi Thu Ha, Vu Ba Dong and Nguyen Tien Phuong won the Bronze with 19.950 points. The Hungarian Trio Ramon Tyeklar, Richard Tyeklar and Ferenc Szebeiy scored 19.200 to place fourth, followed by Taiwan's Xu Shu-miao, Yen Hui-fang and Peng Chia-yu with 16.300 points.

Results Trio Final

These Test Events proved to be a great success for organisers, and were a fantastic opportunity to introduce international gymnastics to local spectators for the first time ever. The gymnasts simply loved these Games. We’re excited about the real thing next year!

See you at the World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung!