18. September 2011
Montpellier, France
Rhythmic Gymnastics
... the day before the opening - last day of podium training
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Today finished the podium training of the 31st World Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics in the Park&Suits Arena of Montpellier.
The tribunes still being empty, the atmosphere seems a building site, but during the next days 7500 spectators are expected to fill the arena. At the two podium-training days individual gymnasts from 55 countries tried their programmes under the same conditions as in the competition.
It´s the last possibility for the coaches to check all the details of their gymnasts´ exercises and also the last check-up for the organizers, technical installations, communication systems and for the TV stations...
The tribunes still being empty, the atmosphere seems a building site, but during the next days 7500 spectators are expected to fill the arena. At the two podium-training days individual gymnasts from 55 countries tried their programmes under the same conditions as in the competition.
It´s the last possibility for the coaches to check all the details of their gymnasts´ exercises and also the last check-up for the organizers, technical installations, communication systems and for the TV stations...
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** Reporting from the WCh for GYMmedia: Esther Teijeira (ESP), Dirk Zimmermann (GER)
Chief editor: Eckhard Herholz
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Park&Suit-Arena Montpellier: Still calm before tomorrow.... |
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Atmosphere during poidum trainings in the Park&Suit-Arena Montpellier |
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Austria´s number 1 Caroline Weber (15th at world´s 2010 and 17th in Beijing 2008) has a lot of work already signing autographs for her young fans:
“Surely my aim is to place between the 15th best of the world and qualify directly for the Games, but I know that this will be very difficult. All gymnasts perform on high level and everybody will be nervous. The most important thing is to show stable exercises."
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The gymnasts ranked 16 to 24 get the chance to compete at the “Pre-Olympics” in the mid of January 2012 in London and fight for the last four quota starting-spots for the Games. If everything works out perfect it might be also the chance for the second Austrian gymnast Nicol Ruprecht: “The qualification in the second chance is my dream, but for that I have to perform absolutely clean. But I´d be happy with the 30th rank and the same team-rank as last year as well.”
“Surely my aim is to place between the 15th best of the world and qualify directly for the Games, but I know that this will be very difficult. All gymnasts perform on high level and everybody will be nervous. The most important thing is to show stable exercises."
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The gymnasts ranked 16 to 24 get the chance to compete at the “Pre-Olympics” in the mid of January 2012 in London and fight for the last four quota starting-spots for the Games. If everything works out perfect it might be also the chance for the second Austrian gymnast Nicol Ruprecht: “The qualification in the second chance is my dream, but for that I have to perform absolutely clean. But I´d be happy with the 30th rank and the same team-rank as last year as well.”
The Austrian team progressed each year in the (not-Olympic) team event, placeing 14th in 2009 and 10th in 2010. This year they try to repeat the ranking with the same team Caro Weber, Nicol Ruprecht and Selina Pöstinger, who had to overcome several injuries.
Sportdirector at the ÖFT Gabriela Welkow-Jusek (in the FIG-Jury at this world championships): “It´ll be difficult, but we also placed 6th at this year´s European´s. We face the competition with self-confidence.”
Sportdirector at the ÖFT Gabriela Welkow-Jusek (in the FIG-Jury at this world championships): “It´ll be difficult, but we also placed 6th at this year´s European´s. We face the competition with self-confidence.”
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After the podium training under the event´s conditions the gymnasts get valuable hints from their coaches, like the best Belorussian gymnasts last year, Melitina Staniouta, from her coach Irina Leparskaya (picture on the right).
Staniuota fought her way back to the top after her injury at the beginning of the year, but is still not in the same shape as last year in Moscow...
** On Monday starts the qualifying with hoop and ball…
Staniuota fought her way back to the top after her injury at the beginning of the year, but is still not in the same shape as last year in Moscow...
** On Monday starts the qualifying with hoop and ball…