EVENT REVIEW

9th World Cup Final in Trampoline Gymnastics
Togliatti (RUS), September 19 - 20, 2008

Finals Day 1 of 2
The best won!

Togliatti (RUS) FIG Office, September 19, 2008: The first and next to last day of finals for the flying men on Trampoline’s World Cup Circuit. This last act is being played out to the delight of a huge number of fans packed in the bleachers of the famous Olymp, the stronghold of Handball Club LADA, the Russian Champion. The event is being covered by NTV Plus cameras, host broadcaster and partner of the FIG.

This is also the discipline’s last Cup Final; starting 2009, the discipline will benefit from an annual world championship, barring Olympic years.

For a few weeks now, the FIG Technical Committee and Trampoline Department have struggled to maintain an exceptional line-up.
They were successful, despite a few withdrawals of certain big names in Trampoline. Certain gymnasts would agree that we’ve come to the end of a long and difficult season, and as a result not everyone is in top shape.

Despite all that, a great time was had alongside a colourful, dazzling final.

Here’s a look:

Women’s Tumbling

The hierarchy was respected in this category. Anna Korobeynikova (RUS), title-holding World Champion (Quebec 2007), garnered full support with nearly flawless execution. She gracefully performed a series of saltis in the style of a true champion. She’s simply the best and she proved it (34.20 + 34.30 = 68.50 pts).

The Silver went to another Russian, Anastasia Isupova (31.20 + 29.90 = 61.10 pts). Third at the 2007 Worlds, she seized her position a mere 4 tenths of a point ahead of Emily Smith (CAN) and Alina Yarullova (RUS), who tied and ranked 4th as stipulated in the current rules. Fans are excited about seeing Emily Smith (CAN) on the podium. Her work has paid off.

Individual Trampoline

2008 Olympic Champion, Chinese Lu Chunlong withdrew from the competition, and was just as soon forgotten by his compatriot Dong Dong, who fared beautifully in the final (40.90 pts). Bronze medallist in Beijing, he was able to maintain his excellent level. He passed up 2004 Olympic Champion in Athens, the ever elegant Yuri Nikitin (39.80 pts) from Ukraine. Dong placed ahead with cleaner execution. Japanese Yasuhiro Ueyama and Tetsuya Sotomura (JPN) (39.60 pts) tied, but Osaka’s Ueyama won the tiebreaker in the end.

Disaster befell Dimitri Ushakov (RUS), who made a mess of his 8th rebound when he collided with the edge of the bed (27.90 pts). Heinrik Stehlik (GER) was looking for revenge after a disappointing Beijing! He succeeded with class, mastering his exercise piece by piece (39.50 pts). Nice work and his highest difficulty score ever: 16.00 pts!

At 35 years of age, German Knytchev (RUS) is the doyen of the circuit, and he had every reason to flash a smile of satisfaction when he placed 6th (38.10 pts). Same for Nikolai Kazak (BLR), 7th in a fantastic final.

Women’s Trampoline Synchro

A magnificent victory for Belarus (Ekaterina Mironova / Tatiana Petrenia) (46.30 pts), when it passed up Russia 1 (Natalia Chernova / Irina Karavaeva) (45.90 pts). The Russians encountered some difficulties with synchronisation. Both the Gold and the Silver came dear this time around. China (Gu Qingwen / Jiang Yiqi) (45.50 pts) gave a superb performance, mastering every difficulty in its routine.

Ukraine (Yulia Domchevska / Olena Movchan) was in full retreat, with a lack of difficulties. (42.40 pts).

To be continued tomorrow, the last day of this Final.