2008 GYMNASTICS PREEVENT FOR THE WORLD GAMES 2009

GLASGOW 2008 World Age Group & World Championships

PUURS 2007 WORLD CUP FINALS

A show worthy of its name!

Puurs (BEL), April 9, 2007: The Puurs Final drew to a splendid close with an impressive line-up of acrobats, offering spectators a colourful performance peppered with fantastic stunts. Belgian fans were aplenty for a truly acrobatic Easter Sunday. The tone was set. This was the heart of the event and the conditions were just right for a spectacular Acro show.
Pairs in Colour!
Enter Byelorussia and Ukraine for Women's Pairs. Group presentations are combined (dynamic and balance exercises) with a duration of 2'30'. Title-holding world champions Katsiaryna Murashko and Alina Yushko masterfully strung together elements with impeccable handstands. But their fellow countrywomen Natalia Kakhntuk and Kristina Maraziuk got the competition going with a really high-level exercise that earned them the competition and a 0.060 point lead: 28.360 points.

Acro in all its splendour
The vice-world champions, Russia's Mixed Pair, opened the competition in its category and set the standard high. The Byelorussians were tense! The Americans took a temporary second place, waiting for the favourites and title-holding world champions to arrive. Revaz Gurgenidze and Tatiana Okulova lit the hall on fire. 21 years old, Revaz personifies Acro. The two gymnasts plunged into a string of original and spectacular combinations, with impressive risk taking that kept the public on the edge of its seat. Triple salto to open, followed by double saltos; they were light as a feather in every move.
 
With a new partner who knew how to keep up with the champion, the pair took the final and confirmed its position as an indomitable leader in its category with 29.052 points. Following close behind were the Russians and the Americans, claiming an honourable third place.

Three times a win!
Like in all sports, when athletes are on their home turf, everything goes better. The public gave its undying support, lifting its team up to victory. This was the case for the Belgian trio. But a poor and violent landing by one of their acrobats concerned the public, who applauded nonetheless. Mistakes come dear: 27.010 and 4th place. Byelorussians Maria Girut, Tatiana Motuz and Alina Starevich were perfection itself. The world champion title-holders could easily see that revenge had been had for the Russian trio, who ranked 2nd.

With men, it's a whole different ballgame!
The men presented exercises that accentuated their power and strength, although they did it through gesture, expression and artistic flare. The four Pairs were fantastic, and the Portuguese finally succeeded in gaining a coveted 3rd place, just on the heels of the two Russian Pairs, who shared the podium. Stanilav Kotelnikov may love to party, but he gets down to business at every important event. Alongside his partner, Vasilev Spririn, he took a comfortable second place. Alexei Dudchenko and Konstantin Pilipchuk won the final with a sizeable lead: 28.661 points.