YOG 2010 (SIN) 3 gold medals for Asia in the second day of apparatus finals
SINGAPORE (SIN): August 23, 2010: Gymnastics fans in Singapore had a last chance to witness the Youth Olympic Artistic Gymnastics events at Bishan Sports Hall during the second day of Apparatus Finals. Just like they did every day so far, fans gave a rousing welcome to the gymnasts, and the atmosphere heated up quickly in a packed venue as the athletes put on a fabulous show.
While the boys battled it out on Vault, Parallel Bars and Horizontal Bar, the girls performed on Beam and Floor.
Boys’ Vault
The boys’ line-up for the Vault Final is an excellent example of universality and of what the Youth Olympic Games stand for. With gymnasts from Mongolia, Turkey, Thailand and Mexico qualified, countries with a weaker gymnastics tradition were represented, which is fantastic news for the development of the sport in these regions.
Erdenebold Ganbat (MGL) is no longer the “unknown Mongolian” he was previously referred to in the press. The young gymnast made his home country proud by winning the Gold medal on Vault at these Games! Erdenebold performed two excellent vaults and was able to better his qualifying score to a fantastic 15.662. As he revelled in the tremendously satisfying moment, the 17 year old said he had launched ‘a new era for gymnastics in Mongolia.”
Mr. A-Rahman Al-Shathri AGU President congratulate Mongolian Gymnastics Federation and said “it was really pleasant news and we feel proud of this achievement which reflected the efforts of Mongolian Gymnastics Federation to develop Gymnastics its really nice image of strong intention for success”.
Turkey’s Ferhat Arican followed in second place with a score of 15.650 and dedicated his Silver medal to a friend back home who was seriously injured in a gymnastics accident. ‘I want to give this as a gift to my family, my friends and my coach. My friend is injured in the hospital. I want to give this medal to him,’ Ferhat said.
Top qualifier Nestor Abad (ESP) added yet another Bronze to his record after finishing third on Rings Saturday. The 17 year old Spaniard said he was thrilled that his score of 15.450 had allowed him to finish among the top three. ‘I felt the pride of being Spanish run through my veins,’ Nestor said. ‘I was lucky because the other competitors didn’t do so well. They could have done better than me but I think they lacked concentration today.’
Beam
China’s Tan Sixin was first up on Beam and she was hungry for Gold, having
stood in the wake of Viktoria Komova (RUS) all throughout this competition. A top qualifier and Asian Junior Champion on Beam, Tan seemed calm, confident and focused as she performed a clean routine with high Difficulty that set the benchmark for this Final: 15.550.
Viktoria was unfortunate last night. She fell off the Beam and seemed to have completely lost her sense of rhythm and concentration after that. Clearly upset, she experienced more balance troubles and dropped off again. Her 12.000 points ranked her seventh in the end.
Viktoria’s drop back made room for others on the podium and Italy’s Carlotta Ferlito was once again a serious contender. Ranked third in Qualification, Carlotta, who had already bagged Bronze in the All-around competition and on Vault, performed with no major mistakes and her 14.825 earned her second place behind Tan.
Guatemala’s Ana Sofia Gomez Porras, who had impressed us with her performances earlier this week and who was within reach of a medal on Vault, scored 14.100. She had to accept fourth place.
The Bronze medal was picked up by Angela Donald (AUS). The young Australian appeared at ease on her favourite apparatus, scoring 14.450. ‘I think I did the best I could. I added in my new dismount which helped a lot,’ Angela said.
Tan had secured her first Youth Olympic Gold and Carlotta added a Silver to her record.
Parallel Bars
Oleg Stepko of the Ukraine collected his fourth medal at the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games, with a Gold on Parallel Bars. Oleg, who had garnered Gold on the Pommel Horse and Silver in both the All-around and on Floor, won the title on Parallel Bars with a score of 14.400. ‘It’s a great feeling. Two Gold medals, two Silver – it’s a great performance for me. I’m very pleased,’ he said.
European Junior Champion Andrei Muntean (ROU) was second with 14.150, narrowly defeating Bronze medallist Ludovico Edalli of Italy (14.100). Ludovico, who qualified last, was thrilled by his own performance and he couldn’t believe he had made it to the podium. ‘I’m so happy, I didn’t expect to win a medal because the level is so high,’ he said. ‘Before the competition I thought ‘I’ll do my best’, and I did. You can always give more, but I’m very satisfied.’
Great Britain’s Sam Oldham had some trouble with his execution, not getting his feet straight up and hesitating on his handstand. His 14.000 placed him came fourth and out of the medal ranks.
All-around Champion Yuya Kamoto (JPN) seemed a little tired and possibly felt no small amount of psychological pressure after having won the title on Wednesday. A lack of Difficulty in his routine yielded 13.750 points, which meant rank six for him.
Girls’ Floor Exercise
The battle for Gold between Tan and Viktoria continued on in the girls’ last apparatus, Floor. Viktoria qualified first, with Tan and Diana Bulimar (ROU) tying in second and third place.
Tan’s final performance on Floor was close to perfection and a pure pleasure to watch. The dedicated and hard working young gymnast had a big smile on her face when she left the mat, knowing that she had set the bar high for her competitors: 14.525.
Tired looking Viktoria stumbled backward and almost sat down during her opening pass. She was able to recover, however, and nailed her final landing, finishing her routine with style. Her 14.175 won her the Bronze in the end. The 15 year old admitted that she may have relaxed after winning the Vault Final and Uneven Bars Final on Saturday. ‘Frankly speaking, I was very tired as it’s the last day that I’m competing,’ she said. ‘Usually I’m nervous. But since I won all Golds yesterday, today I was quite calm.’
With a fresh and entertaining style, which shows just how much she loves Floor Exercises, Diana completely won the hearts of the spectators. Her well choreographed routine perfectly matched the music and she was visibly enjoying herself on the floor. As the last performer, and knowing that she had done well, Diana walked off resplendent only to sink into the arms of her coach. Her score of 14.325 points brought her the Silver, a unique present for her 15th birthday along with applause from an enthusiastic crowd singing “Happy Birthday” in Diana’s honour.
Carlotta, who had qualified in fourth position and who presented the Floor Exercise of her life on Thursday that secured her the All-around Bronze, was given a .3 deduction for stepping out of bounds. Disappointed, she realized that she had just fallen out of the medal ranks.
Ana Sofia Gomez Porras (GUA) performed well, showing some complex tumbling passes and nice landings; very graceful and well choreographed. A lack of Difficulty slid her into fourth again (13.700) and left her without medal at these Games. But we will certainly see this talented young gymnast from Guatemala again in future Senior events!
Tan secured her second Gold! ‘The fact that I didn’t win the Gold at the Uneven Bars yesterday was a motivation. I’m happy, and it was unexpected,’ said the gymnast.
Horizontal Bar
The great showdown of the evening happened on Horizontal Bar! All eyes were on Sam Oldham (GBR), European Junior Champion and top qualifier, who had great expectations for this competition. The pressure increased when he fell off his favourite apparatus in the All-around Final. Sam competed first, exhibiting nerves of steel and nailing his electrifying routine this time around! 14.375 points and Gold! ‘There are so many emotions going through me; relief; to know you have achieved what you were trying to achieve,’ he said after his victory.
Nestor Abad (ESP), who won Bronze earlier in the evening on Vault, finished second with a score of 14.125. ‘It was incredible, I was not expecting it because I only had one month to prepare. Before that, I had an injury and I was on vacation,’ Nestor said.
China’s Zhu Xiaodong won Bronze with a score of 14.100. ‘By my standards, my routines today were nearly perfect, but Sam’s performance was more beautiful, much smoother,’ Zhu said.
Yuya bettered his qualifying mark, outscored by Zhu by a narrow margin. He finished fourth (14.075).
