FIG
Teams and gymnasts earn berths to the finals based on their performances in these preliminaries. The top eight teams will advance to the Team Final; the top 24 All-around gymnasts (maximum two per national federation) will advance to the All-around final; and the top eight gymnasts on each apparatus (maximum two per national federation) will advance to the respective Apparatus Finals. Scores will not be carried over to the finals.
The defending World Team champions of the USA include in their line-up in Nanning reigning World All-around champion Simone Biles, Kyla Ross - 2013 World All-around silver medallist and a member of the 2012 Olympic gold medal winning team - as well as four World Championships novices - Mykayla Skinner, Madison Kocian, Alyssa Baumann and Ashton Locklear. The team scored a whopping 235.038 total to defeat Russia (228.135) and the Netherlands (214.662), who rank second and third respectively at midway point of qualifications.
17 year old Biles, who is the favourite to win the All-around title in Nanning, scored a total of 59.599 points to defeat Aliya Mustafina (RUS - 58.874), the 2010 World champion and 2012 London Olympic bronze medallist in the All-around. Ross (57.941) outscored teammate Skinner (57.799) by less than .2 points to finish as the second US American gymnast and third overall.
At the end of the day, Biles did not only lead the All-around, but also the individual apparatus rankings on Vault (15.800 - Vault 1 and 15.450 average), Balance Beam (15.133) and Floor Exercise (15.366). Her teammate, 16 year old Ashton Locklear, topped the field on Uneven Bars with 15.233 points.
Women's qualifications in Nanning continue with Subdivisions 7 - 12 on Monday, where medal contenders including Romania, China and Great Britain will enter the competition.
Continue reading for a detailed review of Subdivisions 1 - 6 by session and click here for the detailed results:
Subdivision 1
Despiite a jittery performance on Balance Beam in the last rotation, Russia easily led the team standings in Subdivision 1. Veteran Aliya MUSTAFINA (RUS) steadied Russia throughout the subdivision, and helped offset some nervous mistakes made by her teammates. On Balance Beam, Maria KHARENKOVA (RUS) performed shakily and fell forward on her dismount, and Daria SPIRIDONOVA (RUS) fell on an aerial skill. Russia scored a team total of 228.135 points.
MUSTAFINA's All-around total score of 58.874 points led a Russian sweep of the top three All-around scores of the subdivision. Alla SOSNITSKAYA (RUS) was second with 56.740 points, and Ekaterina KRAMARENKO (RUS) was third with 55.864 points.
Aleeza YU (CAN) appeared to injure her right knee on her dismount from Balance Beam in the first rotation, and was assisted from the podium. She did not compete on the remainder of the apparatus.
Subdivision 2
Clean performances on Uneven Bars and Balance Beam helped the Netherlands earn the top team ranking in Subdivision 2. 2012 Olympian Celine VAN GERNER (NED) led the Dutch, whose team total score of 214.662 points moved them into second place overall behind Russia thus far in qualifications.
Spain challenged the Netherlands throughout the subdivision, but ultimately yielded to the Dutch gymnasts with 211.727 points.
In All-around rankings, Roxana POPA NEDELCU (ESP) produced four strong routines to place first in the subdivision with 56.398 points. VAN GERNER followed her with 53.466 points, and Maartje RUIKES (NED) was third with 52.899 points.
Subdivision 3
Daniele MATIAS HYPOLITO, 30, performed with ageless confidence to lead Brazil to the top of the team standings in Subdivision 3. MATIAS HYPOLITO, a four-time Olympian and sister of Nanning male competitor Diego MATIAS HYPOLITO (BRA), registered the third-highest All-around score of the subdivision and helped Brazil register a team total of 211.621 points.
Poland (210.369), Switzerland (208.037) and Azerbaijan (182.762) followed Brazil in team standings in the subdivision.
Of the teams that have competed thus far, Brazil is in sixth place. Russia holds the lead.
Marta PIHAN-KULESZA (POL), whose husband, Roman KULESZA (POL), is also competing in Nanning, topped the All-around standings in the session with 55.665 points.
Despite landing problems on two of her tumbling passes on Floor Exercise, Giulia STEINGRUBER (SUI) placed second All-around in the subdivision with 54.966 points. MATIAS HYPOLITO was third with 53.399 points.
Subdivision 4
Precise and sophisticated, Elsa GARCIA RODRIGUEZ BLANCAS (MEX) topped the All-around standings and led Mexico to first place in team standings in Subdivision 4. Mexico tallied 212.795 points to outscore Colombia (203.002), Argentina (201.187) and Ireland (187.445).
In All-around rankings in the subdivision, GARCIA RODRIGUEZ BLANCAS placed first with 54.833 points. Alexa Citlali MORENO MEDINA (MEX), whose powerful vaults placed her second on that apparatus thus far in qualifications, was second with 52.998 points. Third was Catalina Elena ESCOBAR GOMEZ (COL) with 51.224 points.
Among teams that have competed thus far in qualifications, Mexico ranks fifth. Russia holds the lead.
Subdivision 5
Although reigning World All-around champion Simone BILES (USA) suffered an uncharacteristic major error, she still led the All-around standings and guided USA as they stormed to the overall lead and handily placed first in Subdivision 5.
On Uneven Bars in the last rotation, BILES swung awkwardly out of a handstand, resulting in a break of form and rhythm that dropped her score to a mediocre 13.300 points. That was BILES' only score below 15.133.
Among all gymnasts that have competed thus far in qualifications, BILES ranks first on Vault, first on Balance Beam, first on Floor Exercise and first All-around. Ashton LOCKLEAR (USA) ranks first on Uneven Bars.
With a total team score 235.038 points, USA took first place in the subdivision with ease. Trailing them were Sweden (207.111), Peru (193.828) and India (166.878).
Following BILES in All-around standings in the subdivision were three of her teammates: defending World All-around silver medallist Kyla ROSS (USA) with 57.941 points, Mykayla SKINNER (USA) with 57.799 points, and Madison KOCIAN (USA) with 55.966 points.
Subdivision 6
Hungary literally vaulted ahead over Ukraine in the last rotation to place first in Subdivision 6. Hungary earned their highest team score of the subdivision on Vault, their last apparatus, to overtake Ukraine and pull into 11th place overall among teams that have competed thus far in qualifications. Hungary's team score was 207.278 points.
Ukraine had landing problems on Floor Exercise, their last apparatus, and placed second with 202.663 points. Uzbekistan were third with 196.069 points.
In All-around standings, Noemi MAKRA (HUN) led the subdivision with 53.115 points. Following her were Ana Sofia GOMEZ PORRAS (GUA) with 52.898 points, and Dorina BOCZOGO (HUN) with 51.799 points.
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