7 October, 2017
Shirai wins ‘Longines Prize for Elegance’
Montreal (Canada): Japan’s Kenzo Shirai was awarded with Longines Prize for Elegance by the Swiss watchmaker Longines at the 47th FIG World Artistic Gymnastics Championships here on Friday.
Canada’s Brooklyn Moors earned this year’s award in the female category from Longines, a long-time partner of the international gymnastics federation.
Besides the watch, each was also presented with a cheque and a trophy representing a gymnast in motion created especially for Longines by Swiss artist Jean-Pierre Gerber.
Both the gymnasts were selected by a special jury comprised of FIG President Morinari Watanabe, Olympic legend Nadia Comaneci and Longines Canada Brand Manager Ian Charbonneau.
The winners’ performances conveyed emotional appeal extending beyond technical considerations, sparkling with beauty, grace, harmony of movement, and above all, elegance.
In addition to their excellent expression on the floor, the duo also demonstrated impeccable sportsmanship off of it as well.
Shirai, the men’s all-around bronze medal winner, and Moors, who finished 15th all-around at her first Worlds, follow two-time Olympic champion Max Whitlock of Great Britain and Swiss standout Giulia Steingruber, the 2015 recipients.