By Vera Atkinson FIG Editor.

FIFTH GOLD FOR CHINA

Rings
Gold: Chen Yibing (CHN) 16.600 - Silver: Yang Wei (CHN) 16.425 - Bronze: Oleksandre Vorobev (UKR) 16.325.

An excellent ring final with a very good ranking of those 'super' strong men of the gymnastics world.  Chen Yibin CHN, the world champion from Aarhus 2006 and Stuttgart 2007, was almost flawless as his 9.30 B score showed and the execution of in his dismount demonstrated complete control of the rotation.

Yang Wei CHN had the highest Difficulty score, 7.500, but too many form faults cost him the gold medal; his double twisting double straight dismount is one of the outstanding elements of the competition.

Vorobev UKR was very clean and his strength elements brought applause from the perceptive audience - Ukraine's first medal in Beijing - 16.325. Key challenger Jordan Jovchev BUL missed a long swing, which cost him at least 1.00 and certainly lost him a medal.

Women's A. Bars
Tie-Break brings Gold to He Kexin.
Gold: He Kexin (CHN) 16.725 - Silver: Nastia Liukin (USA) 16.725 - Bronze: YANG Yang (CHN) 16.650.

A very exciting Final, which included a tiebreak for the Gold!

He Kexin CHN, the mistress of combinations of saltos and turns, versus the incredible line and element virtuosity of Nastia Liukin USA. The tie rules broke the score in He's favour!

Yang Yilin CHN by virtue of her B score took the bronze medal from Beth Tweddle GBR who had the highest A score of the competition 7.800.

Koval UKR showed beautiful line and form but lacked difficulty and took the fifth place.

This Final was particularly interesting for the number of original combinations shown by the gymnasts.

Men's Vault
And another one brings Blanik to Olympic glory.

 

Gold: Leszek Blanik (POL) Current World and European Champion 16.537 - Handspring double front pike - 16.600 Double Tsukahara pike- 16.475. Silver: Thomas Bouhail (FRA) 16.537 Double Tsukahara - 16.575 'Dragulescu' - 16.500. Bronze: Anton Golotsutskov (RUS) 16.475 2007 European Champion; 2006 World Cup Final Silver medallist - Double Tsukahara- 15.500 'Dragulescu' - 16.450.

The favourite in this Final, Marian Dragulescu ROU, World Champion in 2005 and 2006, performed his trade mark Vault  (Handspring double front with ½ turn) perfectly - 16.800, but unfortunately landed his second Vault (Round off half turn salto forward with 2 ½ twists), on his elbows and knees 4th place - 16.225.

FIRST FOR CHINA

Gold: HE Wenna (CHN) 37.80 - Silver: Karen Cockburn (CAN) 37.00 - Bronze: Ekaterina Khilko (UZB) 36.90.

Jubilant is the only word to describe the emotions of all concerned with the sport of Trampoline Gymnastics in China. An outstanding success for HE Wenna who produced the highest, most stylish, and a very difficult routine to win the final. Performing last she did not leave any doubts as to her class and psychological strength.

2000 Olympic Champion Irina Karavaeva RUS lost the final at the end of her very difficult routine - 14.7- by bouncing into the frame pad; her famous coach Vitaly Dubko left the podium in despair.

Karen Cockburn became the first and only competitor who has medalled in all the three Olympic tournaments in Trampoline Bronze in Sydney 2000 and two Silver medals, from Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.

Fourth in Sydney 2000 and disappointed in Athens where she did not reached the Final; Elena Khilko UZB finally celebrated her Olympic Bronze.

All the three medallists used triple somersault fwd with ½ turn; HE and Cockburn twice, and multiple twisting double somersaults in tucked, piked and straight positions.

Anna Dogonadze GER did not finish her routine and Maclennan CAN showed a high degree of travel.

Another exiting final in this new Gymnastics discipline!