By Vera Atkinson FIG Editor.

JUST ONE LETTER CHANGES: KANAEVA REPLACES KABAEVA!

Beijing (CHN) BTG FIG Office, August 23, 2008: As expected, 18-year-old Russian Evgenia Kanaeva won the seventh Individual Olympic title in Rhythmic Gymnastics in Beijing, thus succeeding her famous predecessor Alina Kababeva, the champion in Athens 2004.

From there on, a few unexpected things happened in the 7,500 capacity jam- packed Beijing University of Technology on Saturday evening, 23 August, like Inna Zhukova BLR winning the Silver medal and the audience helping Anna Bessonova, the current world champion to win the Bronze.

The last major competition supervised by the President of the FIG's Rhythmic Gymnastics Technical Committee Egle Abruzzini (who is, unfortunately leaving her position soon), was anything but calm.  She had to check and review judges scores on several occasions, Bessonova's for Clubs, being the lengthiest one.

That Kanaeva is the new gymnast on a mega-scale was clear from the beginning. She slid through this competition without visible effort and without letting the tension get to her, as happened with compatriot Kapranova (a wobble and a drop of apparatus and destroyed fluency of the whole routine with clubs).

Mid-way through until the end Bessonova was fourth behind Kanaeva, Kapranova and Jukova.

This is where the audience started voicing their support and as a result of an enquiry 0.1 points raised her score for Difficulty.  The last apparatus, Ribbon was a proof of maturity and class. The 23-year old Ukrainian 'pulled out' the Bronze without any  hesitation.

There must be some reason why the audience always loves so much Bessonova an idea to reflect about.

Almudena Cid Tostado's final message of love to the sport was with a beautiful 'Nessun Dorma'' ribbon.  Eighth place in her fourth Olympic Games- this charming Spaniard will certainly remain in the history of the sport as an excellent example of longevity and grace.

The new Olympic Champion Kanaeva's advantage is not only the highest Difficulty in all her routines, but also her impeccable, 'Tchachina-standard' body movement line, complimented with serinity and a warm personality on the competition floor (and beyond!).

Kanaeva comes form Omsk, the Siberian native place also for Galima Shugirova, one of the greatest gymnasts in the 70s and also Irina Tchachina. Very much respected coach Vera Shtanbaum, who led Tchachina to her 'Princess' status in Athens (silver medal), has now created a Queen!