17. December 2006  
Sao Paulo / Brazil  
Artistic Gymnastics

13th World Cup Final finished a very hard year of competitions!

To the first time an artistic gymnastics World Cup Final takes place on the American continent:
At the first day of decisions at the "Ginasio do Ibirapuera" of the 20-millions Brazilian metropolis Sao Paulo the host jubilates about the successfully defence of titleholder Diego HYPOLITO on floor exercises.
Reigning world champion on pommelhorse, XIAO, Qin from China and to the first time an athlet fom Venezuela, Regulo CARMONA, on still rings were the winners of men's part on.
On women's side the both world champions from Aarhus, CHENG, Fei (CHN) on vault and Beth TWEDDLE (GBR) on uneven bars suceeded at Saturday.
Final part two on Sunday was the day of favorites: DRAGULESCU (vault), LI, Xaopeng (parallel bars) and MARAS (high bar) and also LI, Ya (beam) and DOS SANTOS (floor) were the winners...

Jubilation at the #Ginasio do Ibirapuera' about the first Brazilian victory!
- from Brazil for GYMmedia: Volker MINKUS (Photos)

HYPOLITO (middle): World champion (2005) and titleholder (2004)
beats Olympic champion Shewfelt (2004, left),
Canadian O'Neill on third

STILL RINGS

1 CARMONA Regulo VEN 16.300
2 VOROBYOV Olexander UKR 16.250
3 ANGIOLETTI Matteo ITA 16.000
4 MORANDI Matteo ITA 15.975
5 COPPOLINO Andrea ITA 15.900
6 TOMITA Hiroyuki JPN 15.825
7 TORKKEL Olli FIN 14.825

PARALLEL BARS
1 LI Xiaopeng CHN 16.450
2 HUANG Xu CHN 16.350
3 GONCHAROV Valeriy UKR 16.125
4 CUCHERAT Yann FRA 16.100
5 TOMITA Hiroyuki JPN 15.000
6 YERIMBETOV Yernar KAZ 14.625
7 CARBALLO Manuel ESP 14.600

HIGH BAR
1 MARAS Vlasios GRE 16.050
2 RIZZO Philippe AUS 15.875
3 PEGAN Aljaz SLO 15.775
4 SCHAERER Christoph SUI 15.575
5 HAMBUECHEN Fabian GER 15.225
5 YERIMBETOV Yernar KAZ 15.225
7 CASSINA Igor ITA 14.775
8 CUCHERAT Yann FRA 14.500


<< Photo, left:
High bar winner Vlasios MARAS (GRE),
after the very last competition
with Brazilian fans in Christmas mood, already!
UNEVEN BARS
1 TWEDDLE Elizabeth GBR 16.300
2 LI Ya CHN 16.225
3 ZGOBA Dariya UKR 15.150

4 SIKULOVA Jana CZE 15.025
5 KRASNIANSKA Iryna UKR 14.600
6 HYPOLITO Daniele BRA 14.525
7 DOS SANTOS Daiane BRA 13.900
8 EZHOVA Liudmila RUS 9.950

Lais SOUZA bronze, left) and gold medallist
Daiane DOS SANTOS with a Christmas cowl,
members of the most successful country

"...A simple look at the stands and the list of the TV Broadcasters prove that the formula is highly appreciated, this is a fact. One important factor must be remembered. Gymnastics increased its audience in Sao Paulo. Thirty medals have been distributed to... 14 different countries. This plural gymnastics seduces and is a good sign of the expansion of talents throughout the world...."

These facts cannot be the only one criterions to judge the topical situation:
So GYMmedia will analyze the world cup circuit 2005/06, character and profile of the international competition scene of artistic gymnastics in a few days.