FIG Olympic Microsite : Full Story

Unforgettable moments

Beijing (CHN) BTG FIG Office, August 28, 2008: The gymnastic events of the Beijing Olympic Games were marked by the crushing supremacy of China, which took away 18 medals, 11 of which were titles (9 in Artistic and 2 in Trampoline). Yet a wealth of unforgettable moments will remain in the hearts of millions for years to come. To name a few:

The incredible lead of Yang Wei. Despite an error during his last pass at the High Bar, Chinese twice world champion (2006 and 2007) took the Olympic champion title in the All-Around competition with more than a two points lead (2.6) over his adversary, Japanese Kohei Uchimura.

The longevity of Oksana Chusovitina. Olympic champion in 1992 with the CIS Team, Uzbek Oksana Chusovitina, a naturalised German, took her first Olympic medal in Individual events (Silver in Vault) at the age of 33, a full 17 years after her first victory at a world championships (2nd in Vault in 1991 in Indianapolis).

The smile of Shaw Johnson. Though her compatriot Nastia Liukin lit up the women’s competitions with class and style, 2007 American World Champion Shaw Johnson without a doubt offered the most amazing smile of the entire competition. The most striking example was at the last women’s event on Tuesday, August 19, when she took her very first Olympic title at the Beam.

The falls of Marian Dragulescu. A favourite in his two Floor and Vault Finals, the Romanian Multiple World Champion fell at his signature apparatus, losing his chance to add a first Olympic title to his Silver (Floor) and Bronze (Vault) from the Athens Olympic Games.

The bewilderment of Anna Pavlova. The Russian isn’t quite ready to forget her blunder. After taking off on her running start before the green light, Anna Pavlova got a zero point score, which placed her last in the Vault Final before she even understood what was happening.

The joyful tears of Benoit Caranobe. After an incredible competition, the French gymnast mounted the podium’s third platform of the All-Around Final to the surprise of one and all. He became the first Frenchman to take an Olympic medal at all six apparatus, 88 years after Olympic Vice Champion Marc Torrès took the Silver in Anvers in a five-apparatus All-Around competition.

The ribbon of Almudena Cid. This Spanish gymnast decorated her ribbon with the names of the cities of the Olympic Games in which she’s participated since 1996: Atlanta, Sydney, Athens and Beijing. A unique idea that she didn’t hesitate to show off to the television camera.

The mental strength of Nastia Liukin. Despite her parents’ oppressive heritage as champions of the former USSR, the Russian born American gymnast didn’t break under pressure. She surpassed her father Valeri’s record of four Olympic medals, leaving the Beijing Games with not only the All-Around title, but with four other medals (Silver Team, Beam, Bars and Bronze Floor).

The disappointment of Diego Hypolito. The Brazilian left the National Indoor Stadium on the verge of tears, terribly disappointed after having fallen at the end of his last diagonal pass on Floor. He missed his chance to become the first Brazilian gymnast to earn an Olympic medal after successfully taking two World Champion Floor titles (2005 and 2007).

Evgenia Kanaeva, a new star is born. The Russian gymnast magnificently succeeded Alina Kabaeva, Olympic Champion in Athens, in Beijing. Evgenia’s coach, Vera Shtelbaum, who failed in her efforts to bring former student Irina Tchachina to an Olympic Gold, clearly excelled this time around.