Artistic Gymnastics

Friendship Classic in Pottsville

21. März 2004  
Pottsville, PA / USA  
Artistic Gymnastics

Friendship Classic in Pottsville

Olga Scherbatykh (UKR)

Winners of the 'FRIENDSHIP CLASSIC 2004', held this weekend in Pottsville, PA./USA were Gymnasts from Russia and Ukraine in the the junior and senior all-around and event titles.
Ukraine's Olga Scherbatykh won the senior all-around over Russian Polina Miller, who fell off balance beam. Sherbatykh won beam and floor exercise, Miller the other two events. Third was American Grace Taylor of Aiken, South Carolina.
Svetlana Klyukina (RUS) won the junior all-around over teammate Anna Grudko. Canadian Leslie Mak finished third in all-around and was the second on floor exercise...

Happy Girls: Front: Svetlana Klyukina (RUS); Olga Shcherbatykh (UKR); Grace Taylor (USA);
Back:Leslie Mak (CAN); Polina Miller (RUS); Anna Grudko (RUS)



'WELCOME next Year again!'

FRIENDSHIP CLASSIC
- March 20, Pottsvile, Pa./USA -

ELITE, All-Around
1. Olga Scherbatykh UKR 37.125
2. Polina Miller RUS 36.225
3. Grace Taylor USA 35.700
4. Kayla Hoffman USA 35.050
5. Brittnee Habbib CAN 32.925
6. Zuzana Sekerova SVK 32.425

ELITE, Vault
1. Miller 9.200
2. Scherbatykh 9.150
3. Hoffman 9.000

ELITE, Uneven Bars
1. Miller 9.625
2. Scherbatykh 9.500
3. Sekerova 8.900

ELITE, Balance Beam
1. Scherbatykh 9.175
2. Taylor 9.100
3. Hoffman 8.475

ELITE, Floor Exercise
1. Scherbatykh 9.300
2. Miller 9.150
3. Taylor 9.000

2004 Junior All Around:
Leslie Mak (CAN); Svetlana Klyukina (RUS); Anna Grudko (RUS)

Juniors All-Around
1. Svetlana Klyukina RUS 35.750
2. Anna Grudko RUS 34.675
3. Leslie Mak CAN 33.975
4. Marina Kostyuchenko UKR 33.925
5. Nicole Heikkila CAN 33.525
6. Nansy Damianova CAN 33.425

Junior Vault
1. Klyukina 9.325
2. Grudko 9.050
3. Damianova 8.800

Junior Uneven Bars
1. Kostyuchenko 9.225
2. Klyukina 8.725
3. Lyons 8.350

Junior Balance Beam
1. Grudko 9.150
2. Heikkila 9.050
3. Klyukina 8.800

Junior Floor Exercise
1. Klyukina 8.900
2. Mak 8.825
3. Grudko 8.750
>> The Friendship Classic is held in Pennsylvania, USA and is hosted by the Pottsville Gymnastic Training Center.
The Friendship Classic- under the direction of Sandy Kost-Sterner and Barbara Kost-Lonergan - has gained international exposure due to the amount of countries and the caliber of gymnasts.
Twenty different countries have already participated in the Friendship Classic. The competition has a unique feature as age group gymnasts have an opportunity to participate in a competition with some of the world's best gymnasts.
As many as 16 countries at one time have participated in the past making the Friendship Classic perhaps the largest 'international' competition in the USA.
source: friendship classic

... more information 2004: >> PREVIEW, 15-Mar-2004

Thanks for using GYMmedia EVENT SERVICE!
>>www.friedshipclassic.org

British Men’s European Team for Lubliana

22. März 2004  
British Gymnastics Federation  
Artistic Gymnastics

British Men’s European Team for Lubliana

British Gymnastics are delighted to announce the Team selected to take part in the 26th European Championships in Lubliana, Slovenia, from 15th to 18th April 2004.
In view of the above results and the injuries to Kanukai Jackson, James Evans and Mark Freeman British Gymnastics have taken the decision not to enter a full Senior team in Lubliana....

Ross Brewer (GBR)

SENIORS:

1. Ross Brewer - Sutton Gymnastics, coached Simon Moore scored 54.00pts at the London Open competition on 20th March 2004

2. Darren Gerrard - Manchester, coached by Colin Leigh score an average of 9.5 on the Vault in the second European Trial on 28th February 2004 at Lilleshall NSC.

3. David Massam from South Essex, coached by Jeff Davis scored 9.6pts on the Rings at the London Open.

Martin Reddin and Jeff Davis will lead the Senior gymnasts.
* * *
Judges will be Ron Smith, Andy Tombs and Colin Leigh.

Adam Cox, hopeful British Talent!

JUNIORS:

1. Adam Cox - Alloa, Scotland, Coached by Jia- En Tan

2. Martin Gordon - Central Manchester, coached by Colin Leigh
3. Louis Smith - Huntingdon, Coached by Paul Hall

4. Nathan Dunstan - Nottingham, Coached by Barry Winch
5. Steven Jehu - Exeter, Coached by Martsen Simo
>>Junior Coaches at the event in Slovenia will be George Predescu and Jia-En Tan.
Non travelling reserve: Peter James from South Essex, coached by Jeff Davis.
The delegation will leave for Slovenia on the 2nd of April to attend the training camp with the Slovenians and a number of other European countries, prior to the Championships.

Targets for the Juniors are top 8 in the Team ranking, one All-around Final and two apparatus Finals,
while the Seniors must achieve one All-around Final and one Apparatus Final.
source: baga

Van de Leur Not at Europeans and Olympics

23. März 2004  
Nijmegen / Netherlands  
Artistic Gymnastics

Van de Leur Not at Europeans and Olympics

Verona van de Leur (NED)

Cetate Online Service pronounced, that Verona van de Leur (NED) will not be going to the Olympic Games in Athens (GRE) this summer.
Van de Leur (18), who has been dealing with an ankle injury for over a year now, does not feel fit enough to take part in the competition against Spain this weekend. Participation in this event is necessary to qualify for the European Championships in Amsterdam (NED). The European Championships are, in turn, a qualification for the Olympic Games....
Van de Leur is not thinking about quitting.
She said in a Dutch TV program: 'I want to reach my [old] level again. I think that the World Championships in 2005 in Australia will be okay'.
source: cetate

PRE OLYMPICS: Team competition women s artistic gymnastics

18. März 2004  
Athens / Greece  
Artistic Gymnastics

PRE OLYMPICS: Team competition women s artistic gymnastics

The winning team: Russia

OLYMPIC YEAR 2004

Russia wins the team event

Compared to their performance in the qualification Russia had improved today and this brought them the victory (111.970) in front of China (110.460) and Spain (109.322).

Results Team Final

The results in yesterday's qualification were different:
A strong Chinese team won this qualification (148.258) in front of Russia (145.058) and Spain (144.295).

March 18th, team finale:
Russia competed with the most homogeneous team performance
Like yesterday Russia started already on the 1st position after the first rotation where they performed on vault (27.961). On the following ranks Ukraine, Spain and China.
In the second rotation China then performed technically brilliant on uneven bars, however with one fall from the apparatus of Kang, Xin on her Gienger (total team score 55.124). This confirmed the lead for Russia also after this second rotation (55.410). Ukraine managed to overtake China (55.285). Although Spain had a good rotation on floor with Elena Gomez they did not manage to get ahead of China and remained on the fourth position.

Natalia Ziganshina


3rd rotation China improved on balance beam: With difficult and well presented routines, only slight mistakes here and there, they catched up and received the total team score of 83.161 in this rotation. Ukraine started with a fall from Irina Krasninska, this also could not be compensated by a perfect routine from Irina Yarotska (9.312; SV 9,7). China, although not as sovereing like the day before, at this moment nonetheless 1.6 points in front of Ukraine!
Spain without mistakes in this rotation, almost managed to overtake Ukraine. Russia’s Ziganshina and Pavlova with very good beam routines, only Ludmila Jezhova had some problems. Russia remained on the first position (84.134) in front of China (83.161) and Ukraine (81.559).

Elena Gomez



The decision fell on floor: Ukraine were the first ones to finish their competition: 108,971. Spain with a great 9.500 from Patricia Moreno on floor, former World Champion Elena Gomez slightly stepped out of bounds once. In this last rotation Spain managed to overtake Ukraine! Russia with nice acrobatics and expressive routines managed to reach the final score of 111.970.

Li, Ya (CHN)



China had a few mistakes in this rotation and stayed behind Russia.

Only four gymnasts competed a full all-around today:
1. Anna Pavlowa (RUS) 37,473
2. Natalia Ziganshina (RUS) 37,361
3. Elena Gomez (ESP) 36,649
4. Aljona Kvasha (UKR) 36,149

The team set up today:

(1) China: Kang, Xin; Li, Ya; Wang, Tiantian, Fan, Ye
(2) Russia: Natalia Ziganshina, Anna Pawlowa; Leisira Dabdrachmanowa; Maria Kriutschkowa; Ludmilla Jeshowa;
(3) Spain: Tania Gener; Patricia Moreno; Elena Gomez; Monica Mesalles; Laura Campos; Sara Moro;
(4) Ukraine: Mirabella Achunu; Alina Kositsch; Aliona Kwascha; Irina Krasninska; Irina Jarotska; Walerina Maksjuta;
(5) Canada: Melanie Banville; Heather Burnell; Kylie Stone; Jydia Williams; Amelie Plante;
(6) Brazil: Camila Comin; Lais Souza; Daiane dos Santos; Daniele Hypolito; Anna Paula Rodriguez; Caroline Molinari;
(7) Greece (Wild card) Soultana; Victoria Tsakalidou; Stefani Bismpikou; Maria Apostolidi; Evgenia Zafeiraki;
(8) Great Britain: Nicola Willis; Katy Lennon; Vanessa Hobbs; Helen Galashan;



Anna Pavlova (RUS)

Women’s Team Qualification:
A surprisingly strong Chinese team…!

In three rotations 7 of the best teams from last year's World Championships in Anaheim started in this Pre-Olympic team qualification.
However, as well World Champion USA, Vice World Champion Romania as also the bronze medallists Australia only participated with individual gymnasts.
Russia, Canda and Brazil started in the first rotation, Ukraine, China and Spain in the second, and Great Britain, the host Greece (who has received a wild card for this team event) and further individual gymnasts from Italy, Mexico, France and Germany in the third one.
Despite of the Greek team starting in the last rotation, there hardly has been any audience today, not more than 50 spectators could be found in the venue.

Daiane dos Santos (BRA)

1st ROTATION: (- with BRA - CAN – RUS)
Brazil took the lead with floor World Champion Daiane dos Santos in front of Russia (3 falls on uneven bars) and Canada.
However, on beam the Russians then overtook the Brazilians in the as the Brazilian team also made mistakes on uneven bars. Also 3 falls on beam followed for the Brazilians and so Candada managed to overtake them with the score of 36,174 on uneven bars.
1. RUS 145,048; 2. CAN 141,659; 3. BRA 141,333

Monette Russo (AUS)

Mixed group:
Australia's coach Peggy Liddick only brought one gymnast Monette Russo but she managed to take the lead in the first rotation just until shortly before the end (37.524) when Courtney McCool (USA) overtook her on floor (37.549).
The two US-girls Courtney McCool and Samantha Sheeham presented their routines dynamicely and technically perfect - however, with slight mistakes today. Good performances today also from the Russian Junior-European Champion from Patras Anna Pavlowa, (37.199) and Romania's Alexandra Eremia (37.274) who competed in the 2nd rotation.

Fan, Ye (CHN)

2nd ROTATION: (with CHN – ESP – UKR)
China's gymnasts presented themselves in a good mood in Athens, their team included three gymnasts from the Anaheim-team, including beam World Champion Fan, Ye.
With sensational 38.124 points they started without any mistakes on uneven bars and took the lead in front of Ukraine (36.887 - vault) and Spain (36.523 -floor).
Another great rotation for China followed on beam - with a 9.675 for Fan, Ye and an even better team result, 38.136!!
- on the second place Ukraine ( 35,974 on bars). In the end the power was a bit missing in the floor routines of China's gymnasts. They made a few mistakes in their routines which partly included four (!!) acrobatic series. Nonetheless, they clearly kept the lead after the 3rd apparatus with the total score of 111.656 in front of Spain (108.671) and Ukraine (108.435). On their last apparatus floor Ukraine fell back but China still remained on the first position:
1. China 148,258; 2. RUS 145,058; 3. ESP 144,295; 4. UKR 144,209; 5. CAN 141,659; 6. BRA 141,333
3rd ROTATION: (with GBR, GRE and three French gymnasts)
The top ranks in the team result did not change after this 3rd rotation which ended at 10.15 pm local time in Athens. The hosts Greece reached the 7th place and Great Britain ended up on rank 8.

1. China 148,258;
2. RUS 145,058;
3. ESP 144,295;
4. UKR 144,209;
5. CAN 141,659;
6. BRA 141,333
7. GRE 138,433
8. GBR 137,735

PRE OLYMPICS: Artistic gymnastics, men s all-around final

18. März 2004  
Athens/ Greece  
Artistic Gymnastics

PRE OLYMPICS: Artistic gymnastics, men s all-around final

OLYMPIC YEAR 2004

Japanese victory in the men’s all-around final

Japan’s Kensuke Murata presented the most stable performance today at the Pre-Olympic test events in the Olympic Hall in Athens. He won the all-around with the score of 54.499 in front of Maxim Deviatovski (56.011) and Yang, Tae Young from Korea (55.698)…

<<<< Kensuke Murata (JPN)

FINAL RESULTS you will find on the header...

March 18th 2004: Men’s all-around final
In a nicely set up venue which has been equiped with technical know-how and which already presented quite a bit of Olympic flair the organisers and suppliers can be happy with the course of this event. From a sportive perspective the competition probably only is a secondarily rated one in this Olympic year. Also, hardly any audience came to watch this all-around final.
From 30 gymnasts which had travelled to Athens only 21 took part in this all-around final, 24 gymnasts would have been qualified for it.
Also the third-ranked from the qualification Alexei Bondarenko couldn’t compete today. A couple of days ago he injured his hand while training a straddled salto on bars. He hardly managed to start in the qualification but then couldn’t compete anymore today.
In general for most participating nations this competition was of importance in order to test the conditions and not in order to achieve the best sportive results.

The venue for artistic gymnastics

Maxim Deviatovski



The best all-arounder today was Kensuke Murata from Japan who hardly made any mistakes. His strongest apparatus were vault (Kasamatsu 1/1 turn: 9.662) and bars (9.700): 54.499.
Maxim Deviatovski, 6th-ranked at the recent Russian Championships, also presented a good competition today. He started off with only a fair routine on rings but the following routines went better for him – especially bars with 9.587 - and he managed to reach the second place in the end: 56.011.

Yang, Tae Young

Korea’s Yang, Tae Young – the best competitor in the qualification – took the lead on rings (9.575) and presented an even better routine on bars (9.587) but then fell from the high bar on his stalder – Tkatchev combinaton. In the end his performance brought him to rank 3 with the score of 55.698.
It went similar for Rafael Martinez from Spain. He was on the 1st position after the fourth rotation but then made mistakes on bars and finally ended up on rank 4: 55.661.
The highest score of the day was reached by Vlasios Maras from the host nation Greece. For his perfect high bar routine he received the score of 9.812. In the all-around however he didn’t manage to reach a place within the TOP 12.
On Saturday & Sunday the artistic gymnastics competitions will end with the finals for men and women.
Conclusion:
An all-around with only a medium level of sportive performances. Top scores however can be given to the organisers in the Olympic city who presented a well-organised competition. It has been a good test for the Olympic events which certainly then will take place in front of sold-out audience ranks.

all-around winner Kensuke Murata (JPN)

Results:

1. Kensuke Murata JPN 56,499
2. Maxim Deviatowski RUS 56,011
3. Yang., Tae Young KOR 55,698
4. Rafael Martinez ESP 55,661
5. Florent Maree FRA 55,485
6. Alexander Artemew USA 55,447
7. Dorin Selariu (ROM) 55,073; 8. Sven Kwiatkowski GER 54,736; 9. Enrice Pozzo ITA 54,698; 10. David Kikuchi CAN 54,661; 11. Alexander Svetlichni UKR 54,624; 12. Thomas Andergassen GER 54,523.

World Champion Maras (GRE)

March 17th 2004: qualification men's all-around
30 gymnasts from 18 nations took part in this Pre-Olympic test in order to test the apparatus and the overall conditions. A bit of Olympic flair could already be noticed.

Results Qualification

From a sportive perspective today's competition has looked more like a training event: Many instabilities and it was obvious that the presure to present perfect performances has not been there for the athletes today. Only 22 participants competed a full all-around.
This however made the event to a great test event for the organisers. The score boards- system worked very well and in the second half of the competition also the provision of the press tribune (with only a few journalists however) was well organised. Communication extensions were not there and also in the press center only analog phone lines could be found. Digital/ISDN and internet connections are supposed to be there at the Olympics then.

Romania's Daniel Popescu started the competition very well with 9.537 on pommel horse. On this apparatus only Xiao, Qin from China could overtake him later with the highest score of the day 9.825. Qin started only on pommel horse. His team mate Feng, Jing is in Athens and was on the start list for parallel bars but in the end didn't compete.

Alexei Bondarenko (RUS)

The new Russian all-around champion also was one of the favorites but didn't have one of his best days today: On rings only a moderate 9.212 and then a mistake on vault where he fell on the landing of his handspring -double salto fw. tucked (9.012). In the course of the competition he nonetheless could be found on rank 3 after his high bar routine (3 flight elements in a row and a stuck landing, 9.687). However, mistakes in his floor routine (8.987) brought him back to rank 4.

Alexander Artemev (USA)

Alexander Artemev – the young American gymnast with Russian parents - showed today that he could be a strong all-around gymnast in future: Being on the third rank already after the second rotation (9.550 on high bar) he even managed to overtake Bondarenko on pommel horse (9.350) and in the end stayed on rank 3 with the score of 55.549. Only rings still are a bit his weak event (missing sovereignty and difficulty in the strength elements) and due to this he couldn't reach an even higher all-around position.

Yang, Tae Young (KOR)

Popescu who had such a good start on pommel horse couldn't hold the level of performance on vault, bars and high-bar where he had several mistakes and falls. His team mate Dorin Selariu (ROM) made only one mistake on bars where he fell from the apparatus on the very difficult element straddled salto landed on the upper arms (8.725). Through this mistake he lost the lead in the end but nonetheless he had been one of the best performers today (with e.g. a 9.575 on vault). Only one gymnast managed to overtake him: Yang, Tae Young from Korea, the only gymnast today without any major mistakes, had been second best on vault (9.450) and also presented a good high-bar routine (where he only once almost fell during a giant 1/1 turn) with layout Tkachev and a double- Tsukahara dismount (9.325).

Dorin Selariu (ROM)

His first place in the end of this qualification with the score of 56.225 in front of Romania's Selariu (56.036) and Artemev (55.549) was clear.
However, the final results in tomorrow's all-around final could look differently if less mistakes will be done by the other gymnasts.

OLYMPIC TRIPARTITE WILD CARDS FOR ATHENS 2004

17. März 2004  
Moutier / SUI  
Artistic Gymnastics

OLYMPIC TRIPARTITE WILD CARDS FOR ATHENS 2004

Moutier/FIG. The Olympic Movement Tripartite Commission has allocated its invitation for the Olympic Games Athens 2004.
Men's Artistic Gymnastics : TAMPAKOS Dimosthenis (GRE)
Women's Artistic Gymnastics : DE LA FUENTE PARADA Maria Jose (BOL)
Rhythmic Gymnastics : VICENTE MONTEIRO Vania (CPV)
The Trampoline invitation has been returned to the International Gymnastics Federation and was assigned following the FIG Technical Regulations to the next reserved countries as per the qualifications during the last World Championships in Hannover 2003.
Men's Trampoline : Great Britain (1 gymnast), Women's Trampoline : Japan (1 gymnast).
The International Gymnastics Federation is acknowledging the above.
source: FIG press release

Olympic Test Events finished: Rhythmic Gymnastics - 2nd final day

24. März 2004  
Athens / Greece  
Artistic Gymnastics

Olympic Test Events finished: Rhythmic Gymnastics - 2nd final day

Olympic Test Competition
RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS

The “Pre-Olympic competitions” took place in the Olympic city Athens from March 17th – 24th. Today, the last competition was the individuall all around final in Rhythmic Gymnastics.
Irina Tchachina (RUS/107.925) was the best of Pre-Olympics in front of Alina Kabaeva (RUS/106.450) and Anna Bessonova (UKR/104.650).
Yesterday Russia had won the pre-olympic group competition. Belarus became 2nd, Italy was on 3rd place.
>… read more on the special GYMmedia-Website
'OLYMPIC YEAR 2004'
.... Review und overview about all disziplines...

Olympic Indoor Hall, Athens (Photo by ATHOC)

'OLYMPIC YEAR 2004'
- powered by J&F.

>> March 22 - 24: Rhythmic Gymnastics Competitions

>> March 17- 21: Artistic Gymnastics Competitions
On Sunday the 2nd final day finished:
Winner on men's vault was the Romanian Dorin Selariu, Kensuke Murata won on bars andVlasios Maras on high bar.
...best on beam was the world champion FAN, Ye (CHN) and on floor Elena Gomez from Spain....
>> Quick results:>> Sunday's Finals Women; >> Sunday's Finals Men
...all & more on the special website 'OLYMPIC YEAR 2004', powered by J&F.

>> 19th March:Trampoline women: Not the favourits...
>> ...but Huang, Shan Shan (39,600) from China won the women's competition in Athens in front of Anna Dogonadze (GER / 39,600) and Olympic Champion Irina Karavaeva (RUS / 39,000).
Trampoline men: Not the favourits...
>> ... but Alexander Rusakov (RUS / 40,600) was the best in front of Alan Villafuerte (NED / 40,500) and Peter Jensen (DEN / 40,100). Olympic Champion Alexander Moskalenko (RUS) had to break his exercise.
>> Reports and Results of Trampoline competitions men & women

>> 16th March: Podium training for the Pre-Olympics
With great efforts the Greek organizers tried inside the venue “to make forget” the building site atmosphere which still can be found outside now exactly 5 months before the opening of the Olympic Games 2004: During the last 2 weeks they prepared a beautiful venue inside and the Olympic supplier Janssen&Fritsen arrived with 15 containers. With more than 70 female and 35 male gymnasts the training on the blue podium started today..
USA, Russia, Italy and Korea have been the first teams which trained already on Monday while others had some problems travelling from the World Cup in Lyon to Athens due to the weather conditions.
The US-girls Courtney McCool and Samantha Sheeham presented themselves perfectly and dynamic on uneven bars. With only short breaks in between they showed a several full routines without any mistakes.
A lot of work also for Leonid Arkaev as a member of the UEG-Executive Committee, president of the Russian federation and head coach of the Russian team. Unexpectedly, Russia now has arrived in Athens with a full team, as well as China, Spain and Ukraine. Vice- World Champion Romania – like also World Champion USA - will ony compete with two indiviudal gymnasts: Alexandra Eremia und Andrea Muntianu.

<< Coach Leonid Arkaev (RUS)

new springboards from Janssen&Fritsen

Innovations
Janssen&Fritsen is presenting a completely new system for the floor (“Apollo”) which shows improvements especially in the diagonales. During training all nations were positively impressed by it!
Also two new variations of springboards will be used (hard/ soft). Nonetheless, the FIG also still allowes the old boards to be used in this transitional period.

The competition venue

For the first time in gymnastics history J&F has set up even in the warming up gym one podium for men and women each. This gives the gymnasts to warm up with absolutely the same conditions like in the actual competition venue. China’s head coach Liu, Guicheng: “This is unique – we never had such kind of conditions before!“ The podium itself will make a short tour to the European Championsips in Amsterdam – and will then come back to Athens for the Olympic Games.

Advertising at the airport

Olympics: In five months
The hosts are doing their best to create the Olympic atmosphere already now. However, looking through the city of Athens, one still seems to be quite far away from the Games…
For the guests it is a “mediteranean secret” how the large building sites around the competition venue – which is ready – will be finished in only 5 months now. Especially in the Olympic stadium still a lot of work will have to be done.
Nonetheless, “inside“ of course the Pre-Olympics can start with the best conditions due to the technical equipment and the friendly hosts who are doing their best.

Olympic Hall, outside: Five months to go until the Olympics will start ...!?

One of the favourites: Feng, Jing (CHN)
.. but he didn't compete

Detailled reports at GYMmedia

Starting with on-site reporting from the “Pre- Olympics” and then followed by reports from the European Championships in the Olympic disciplines and highlights on the way to the Olympic Games, GYMmedia INTERNATIONAL presents this detailled reporting together with their main partner Janssen&Fritsen, 'Official Supplier of the Olympic Gymnastics Competitions' -. The reports can be found on www.gymmedia.com.

To the first time:
Warming up area on a podium!

The program of the test events (with the top gymnasts) for Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Trampoline is the following :

Olympic Test Events
17.03.2004, MAG + WAG: Qualifications
18.03.2004, MAG: All Around Final; WAG: Team Final

19.03.2004, TRA: Qualifications + Finals (men and women individual)
20.03.2004, MAG + WAG: Apparatus Finals Day 1
21.03.2004, MAG + WAG: Apparatus Finals Day 2

22.03.2004, RG: Individual Qualifications Day 1, Groups Qualifications
23.03.2004, RG: Individual Qualifications Day 2, Groups All Around Final
24.03.2004, RG: Individual All Around Final
(source: fig-info)

The Olympic Sports Complex in Athens

Olympic Complex
During the Olympic Games the artistic gymnastics and trampoline competitions will take place in the Olympic Indoor Hall. It can be found on the area of the Athens Olympic Sports Complex and has room for about 15,000 spectators.

The Galatsi Olympic Hall (Rhythmic Gymnastics) has 6,000 seats.

PREVIEW: FRIENDSHIP CLASSIC 2004

15. März 2004  
Pottsville, PA / USA  
Artistic Gymnastics

PREVIEW: FRIENDSHIP CLASSIC 2004

The field is set for the sixth annual Friendship Classic to be held March 19-21 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania.
Hosted by the Pottsville Gymnastic Training Center- under the direction of Sandy Kost-Sterner and Barbara Kost-Lonergan, this club-run competition, has showcased over 20 different countries in the past and has quickly grown to perhaps the largest international invitational in the United States....
Headlining the FIG elite competition - to be held Saturday evening- is Russian standout Polina Miller who last week captured the bars title at the Russian Cup 2004.......
Also from Russia are Svetlana Klyukina (6th All Around at nationals) and Anna Grudko.

Grace Taylor (Courtesy Friendship Classic )

Ukraine is sending two members of their European Youth Olympic Days gold medal team- Maryna Kostyuchenko and Olga Shcherbatykh while Canada has four national team members participating - Leslie Mak, Nicole Heikkila, Nansy Damionova and Brittnee Habbib.
2000 Olympian Zuzana Sekerova - currently living in Georgia- will represent Slovakia.
<< Making a return trip is Grace Taylor (Photo) of Aiken Gymnastics in South Carolina. Taylor placed second all around in the junior division at last year’s Friendship Classic.
In addition to the elite competition, approximately 900 gymnasts representing 37 clubs will take part in the age group competition.

>>2004 Competition REport & Results

... more information: >> Preview I : 28-Jan-2004

Review: ...last event: >> Frienship Classic 2003

>> www.friendshipclassic.org

Final Day of World Cup in Lyon

14. März 2004  
Lyon / France  
Artistic Gymnastics

Final Day of World Cup in Lyon

On floor: Janis Savenkov (BLR)

The annual French International began Saturday in Lyon, with the qualifying competition for Sunday's event finals.
The ten winners of the Sunday's finals in the 'Palais des Sports' in Lyon came from ten different countries:
- So Janis Savenkov from Belarus won his first world cup event on floor;
- After mistakes one week before in Cottbus now Olympic champion Marius Urcica got the highest score this weekend (9,825) on pommel horse...
- and best of all women was the Brasilian world champion on floor Daiane dos Santos again (9,650) ...

Janis Savenkov (BLR) and Oksana Chusovitina (UZB)
- two world Cup winners in Lyon / France


W OR L D C U P 2003/2004
'13es Internationaux de France de Gymnastique'
 Lyon - Gerland (FRA), March 13 - 14 -

It was the second world cup in the Olympic year 2004, after the World cup in Cottbus / Germany.
In the venue 'Palais des Sports de Gerland' of Lyon it was the 11th of all together 20 world cups of the circuit 2003/2004, which will finish at the World Cup Final at the beginning of December 2004 in Birmingham, Great Britain.

Winner again: Marius Urzica (ROM)

R E S U L T S, FINALS

MEN's Finals:
>> FLOOR EXERCISES;

>> POMMEL HORSE;

>> STILL RINGS;

>> VAULT;

>> PARALLEL BARS;

>> HIGH BAR

Daiane dos Santos (BRA)

WOMEN's FINALS
The winners of the women's finals:
>> Vault: Oksana Chusovitina (UZB)
>> Uneven Bars: Elisabeth Tweddle (GBR)
>> Balance Beam: Ludmilla Eshova (RUS)
>> Floor Exercises: Dainae dos Santos (BRA)

... detailed results:
>> VAULT;

>> UNEVEN BARS;

>> BALANCE BEAM;

>> FLOOR EXERCISES

PALAIS DES SPORTS, Lyon / France

Q u a l i f i kca t i o n:
 Athlets from 39 countries - 91 men, 45 women participated at the preliminaries.

>> Saturday, March 13: QUALIFICATION
Men:
>> Men's Qualification: Floor Exercises
>> Men's Qualification:Pommel horse
>> Men's Qualification: Still Rings
>> Men's Qualification: Vault
>> Men's Qualification: Parallel Bars
>> Men's Qualification: High Bar
Women:
>> Women's Qualification: Vault
>> Women's Qualification: Uneven Bars
>> Women's Qualification: Balance Beam
>> Women's Qualification: Floor Exercises
Remembering: First World cup of the Olympic Year 2004:
>> World Cup Cottbus 2004, March 5 - 7


PRE OLYMPICS Athens 2004 - Women s Artistic Gymnastics

17. März 2003  
Athens / Greece  
Artistic Gymnastics

PRE OLYMPICS Athens 2004 - Women s Artistic Gymnastics

Women's Team Competition

The female gymnasts are testing the Team-event...!
A few months before the actual highlight will take place traditionally the 'Pre- Olympic Competitions' are starting the countdown to the Olympic Games.
As well for the athletes as also for the organisers and the official equipment suppliers they are an important test for the individual kinds of sports. The female gymnasts are testing their team event...

Allana Slater (AUS)
- Bronze Team of Anaheim 2003

Wednesday, March 17th, Women's artistic gymnastics team competition (qualification)
Results:
1. China 148,258; 2. RUS 145,058; 3. ESP 144,295; 4. UKR 144,209; 5. CAN 141,659; 6. BRA 141,333 7. GRE 138,433 8. GBR 137,735

Except for Team- World Champion USA and Vice- World Champion Romania (who probably don't want to put their cards on the table now) the best 9 teams from Anaheim are in Athens at the moment. Also North-Corea, 12th at last years World Championships, is not taking part in this team competition. However, the hosts Greece (17th in Anaheim) are getting their chance to compete.
The USA and Romania are sending two individual starters each. Germany, Mexico and the Netherlands are participating with one gymnast each. Altogether 70 gymnasts from 16 nations are taking part in this test event (- please see also participants).
Supported by the 'Official Olympic Supplier Athens 2004' the Dutch producers of PEGASES 'Janssen&Fritsen'
GYMmedia will report directly from the competitions in Athens from Wednesday, March 15th onwards.

>> 5.00 - 10.00 pm: Women's team, competition.

'APOLLO Diagonal',
an absolutely new System!!

Completely new apparatus which is being used for the fist time

A completely new floor will be used for the fist time in Athens. This inovation from J&F is named 'APOLLO* Diagonal' and it offers a tremendous improvement for jumping- and landing qualities, especially in the diagonals which means in the areas which are mainly used for acrobatic series.

)* Remark:
Apollo(n) is said to have been a very handsome god, athletic and self-confident, god of wisdom and the art of cure... also, he always wanted to be the winner.
According to new FIG regulations only 2 kind of springboards will be allowed to be used, one hard and one soft kind of board:

So Janssen&Fritsen is introducing the blue 'softer' sprinboard 'IRIS' (soft)

and the red 'harder' springboard 'KREON' (hard) to be chosed by the athletes. Both boards have major improvements in the sense of modern gymnastics development.

Depending on the weight and athletic conditions or the choice of vault group (e.g rondat- or handspring vault) the athletes now have a better individual choice according to their sportive demands..
.. please read more on the link 'Apparatuses'

IRIS, Goddess of the Rainbow

)* Remarks:
The names 'IRIS' and 'Kreon' also come from Greek Mythology
>> 'IRIS' is known as the godness of the rainbow which can be seen as the way about which the gods pass on their messages to the people.

>>... and 'KREON' is seen as the 'hard' ruler of Theben, who among other things is said to have mured the still alive fiancée of his son Haimon...!

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