Newcomers Mana and Kokufugata ensured Japan’s monopoly on gold medalists.
Japan and Italy swept the women’s titles, and six countries won one gold each in the men’s events, at the World Cup of Cottbus, Germany that took place February 23-26.
Over the course of the weekend, ten gymnasts representing seven nations walked away with titles, while gymnasts from 15 different countries saw their nation’s flag rise over the Lausitz Arena during victory ceremonies.
Men’s competition: Champions and challengers
Saturday’s competition began with the men’s floor exercise final where despite an out of bounds on his opening layout double-double tumbling pass, Dolgopyat’s 14.466 was six-tenths of a point ahead Kaya Kazuma of Japan and German Milan Hossseini, who shared the silver medal at 13.866.
Uzbekistan’s Abdulla Azimov took the pommel horse title with a 14.866, just ahead of Armenia’s Gagik Khachikyan, who posted a 14.833. Nariman Kurbanov of Kazakhstan scored 14.800 to complete a narrowly separated podium.
Mahdi Ahmad Kohani (IRI), a personal trainer from Tehran, came within striking distance of Petrounias’s 14.966 score. Silver ties Kohani’s best ever World Cup result, matching his finish in Melbourne (AUS) three years ago. Artur Avetisyan (ARM) finished third.
Oakami Shohei (JPN), received his first award at Horizontal Bar. Carlos Yolo (PHI) received bronze with 15.166 points.
Women’s competition: Champions and challengers
newcomers Okamura Mana (JPN) and Kokufugata made sure Japan monopolised the golds on day two of finals.while Esposito and Alice D’Amato (ITA) brought Italy two golds during the first day.
Remarkably light on her feet, Okamura displayed spritelike grace and tenacious landings on Balance Beam for 14.133, just ahead of 2021 World champion Ashikawa Urara (JPN), who presented a sharp exercise of her own for 14.066. A smooth set buoyed Filipa Martins (POR) to bronze with 13.133 points.
Kokufugata continued Japan’s winning ways on women’s Floor Exercise with an expressive routine to music from “Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift” that also featured tidy tumbling lines including a triple twist. The routine earned her 13.633 points, after a score correction, and the title ahead of Esposito and Evans.
47-year-old Oksana Chusovitina of Uzbekistan, who is an eight-time Olympian, continued her legendary career, picking up bronze on vault.
