Women's Qualification
London
The World Gymnastics Championships at the O2 Arena is the first international sporting event to be held at a 2012 Olympic venue, with the eyes of the World on the management of the event as well as the gymnastics.
After men’s qualification yesterday, today the ladies took to the floor for the first time at the O2 arena, with 16 year old Rebecca Bross of the United States of America topping the list of qualifiers for the Women’s All around Final. Her score of 57.4 was enough to fend off the challenge from one of the impressive newcomers, 16 year old Ana Porgras (Romania, 57.3) and a composed Lauren Mitchell (Australia, 56.675). Deng Linlin (56.35), a member of China’s gold medal winning team from the 2008 Beijing Olympics qualifies fourth ahead of American Olympian Bridget Sloan.
The top 24 gymnasts will proceed to Friday’s all around final, with only two gymnasts permitted from each country. Qualification was also up for grabs on each piece of apparatus with the top 8 making the weekends finals.
A lively crowd in the 02 had plenty to cheer about with performances from the British gymnasts. Rebecca Wing got the British action underway in sub-division 2 putting in a solid set of scores totalling 53.875 and qualifying for the all around finals in 19th spot. Crowd favourite Beth Tweddle, a double European Champion had an error strewn day. Starting on floor she saved herself from sitting down out of her opening tumble on floor to score 14.075 and rank fourth, whilst on bars she fell on her complex release move to leave her out of the final on her best event. Competing in the last sub-division, British Champion Rebecca Downie makes Friday’s final (20th, 53.775) but had a lucky escape on her beam dismount when she fell and rolled backwards off the podium.
Qualifying first on vault was 16 year old Kayla Williams (United States of America, 14.812), who only became an elite gymnast this year. She topped Olympic Champion on this apparatus, Un Jong Hong from People’s Republic of Korea (14.787) and Anna Myzdrikova of Russia (14.45).
17 year old Olympic champion on bars He Kexin (CHN) was magnificent on this piece with enormous height in her release moves and complex turns to score 15.975 putting her ahead of Rebecca Bross (USA) who scored 15.05, and surprise package, Yong Hwa Cha (People’s Republic of Korea, 15.025).
High tempo beam work from the Romanians saw Porgras (14.85) top the list of qualifiers, with Un Hyang Kim (PRK) finishing second (14.775) to complete a satisfying and somewhat surprising day of results for her country. Third spot went to Deng Linlin (CHN) with 14.45.
There were several entertaining floor routines on show with several gymnasts finding the right balance between difficult tumbling and artistic dance work. Notably Anna Myzdrikova (RUS, 14.5) who qualified first, followed by Liu Su (CHN, 14.275) and Ana Porgras (14.175). The Russian showed unique tumbling (triple twist to tuck back) and classic dance work.
It seems we will have an exciting and open competition in store on Friday when the all around final takes place
