23. September 2007
Patras / GREECE
Rhythmic Gymnastics
On the Final Day: Russia also wins both group finals
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The Russian group performing |
On today's eigth and last day of the 28th World Championships of Rhythmic Gymnastics in Patras (Greece) both titles in the finals of the group competitions went to the all-round champions from Russia.
Scoring 17.650 points the group using 5 ropes easily won the final ahead of Italy (17.300) and Bulgaria (17.075). Co-favourite Belorussia only came fourth due to a number of mistakes (16.875).
Scoring 17.650 points the group using 5 ropes easily won the final ahead of Italy (17.300) and Bulgaria (17.075). Co-favourite Belorussia only came fourth due to a number of mistakes (16.875).
In the second final also - the exercise with hoops and clubs - the Russian group won scoring 17.525, ahead of the favourites, Italy (17.350) and Bulgaria (16.975)....
On the last day of the WCh there were another two gold medals for Russia -
the happy winners presenting their medals
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From Patras for GYMmedia INTERNATIONAL:
Sonja SCHMEISSER (Reports); Photos: Dirk ZIMMERMANN
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A highlight at the Gala too: |
>> There was a high class day of finals to conclude the world championships in Patras - the hall was filled nearly to capacity, and the audience was rewarded with a total of 16 superb exercises.
However especially in the group competition the enduring impression is that the visual - and oftern very emotional - impact of the performances on the audience is not mirrored by the scores.
This is at least partly because charisma cannot always be measured in points and because the athletic and artistic demands of an exercise are rated more highly than its aesthetic, mature interpretation.
Finals Exercise with 5 ropes
The group from France begins this last day of the competition in the hall which is slowly filling up. It is nice that after yesterday's desaster with hoops/clubs they have the opportunity of performing in the ropes final. A sporting exercise, performed with lots of drive - 15.525 points. Belorussia - their strength is really absolute synchronicity and technical perfection - however today they struggled with a number of smaller errors, although their performance overall is superb - 16.875 points.
Bulgaria - a demanding and lively exercise and probably the most creative use of the ropes, despite various small correcting steps and movements an excellent performance which is celebrating accordingly by the audience - 17.075 points.
Japan - the concluding pose of this exercise is one of the most original - one gymnasts is turned by the others on her feet and then surrounded with a closed circle of bodies - and it is typical for this group, which banks on speed, synchronicity and coherence - 15.875 points.
The group from France begins this last day of the competition in the hall which is slowly filling up. It is nice that after yesterday's desaster with hoops/clubs they have the opportunity of performing in the ropes final. A sporting exercise, performed with lots of drive - 15.525 points. Belorussia - their strength is really absolute synchronicity and technical perfection - however today they struggled with a number of smaller errors, although their performance overall is superb - 16.875 points.
Bulgaria - a demanding and lively exercise and probably the most creative use of the ropes, despite various small correcting steps and movements an excellent performance which is celebrating accordingly by the audience - 17.075 points.
Japan - the concluding pose of this exercise is one of the most original - one gymnasts is turned by the others on her feet and then surrounded with a closed circle of bodies - and it is typical for this group, which banks on speed, synchronicity and coherence - 15.875 points.
Israel shows a number of original combinations, moves with speed, but there are very noticeable faults in the execution - 16.050 points.
Russia - no more kids' stuff, the five seem to say - a coherent, mature and rhythmical composition, very feminine in execution, presented with routine - 17.650 points.
Italy - an exercise that becomes ever faster and more demanding, the variety of which is hard to grasp, synchronous, lively and executed with much drive - 17.300 points.
Spain - very harmonious choreography, demanding, with a varied use of ropes but - one more serious fault and a number of safety catches prevent a higher score - 16.025 points.
>> Results exercise with 5 ropes
Russia - no more kids' stuff, the five seem to say - a coherent, mature and rhythmical composition, very feminine in execution, presented with routine - 17.650 points.
Italy - an exercise that becomes ever faster and more demanding, the variety of which is hard to grasp, synchronous, lively and executed with much drive - 17.300 points.
Spain - very harmonious choreography, demanding, with a varied use of ropes but - one more serious fault and a number of safety catches prevent a higher score - 16.025 points.
>> Results exercise with 5 ropes
Final Hoops/Clubs
Japan - here the five girls who appear to be very young struggle with some mistakes and asynchronicity and would be better placed in the juniors' category - 15.050 points.
Russia - the fireworks come towards the end - several throws with three hoops and the hoop that bounces off the calf during the splits leap. However there were several movements made to save throws...! 17.525 points.
Italy - this composition is the nadir of the whole group competition! It gives you goose bumps and is an amazing proof of what is possible in the way of originality, technical skill and virtuosity! However they receive a score of only 17.350 points, which does not go down well with the audience.
Israel - lots of drive, lots of application and probably also the necessary degree of difficulty, however the composition as a whole is unmemorable - 15.800 points.
Japan - here the five girls who appear to be very young struggle with some mistakes and asynchronicity and would be better placed in the juniors' category - 15.050 points.
Russia - the fireworks come towards the end - several throws with three hoops and the hoop that bounces off the calf during the splits leap. However there were several movements made to save throws...! 17.525 points.
Italy - this composition is the nadir of the whole group competition! It gives you goose bumps and is an amazing proof of what is possible in the way of originality, technical skill and virtuosity! However they receive a score of only 17.350 points, which does not go down well with the audience.
Israel - lots of drive, lots of application and probably also the necessary degree of difficulty, however the composition as a whole is unmemorable - 15.800 points.
Ukraine - all in white and silver, elegant, perfect in execution and with a spectacular, imaginative concluding sequence, barely a mistake - but this does not appear to suffice - 16.075 points.
Spain - a coherent choreography radiating femininity and elegance, but unfortunately marred by some errors and the loss of an apparatus - 15.925 points.
Belorussia - to the tune of a very modern adaptation of Cachaturyan's "Sabre Dance" this was a exercise which increased in speed, synchronous, however with some visible mistakes - 4th place for the second time, that's hard to swallow... - 16.95 points.
Bulgaria - the five girls display nerves: after the loss of a club there are several more small mistakes, however the exercise still gets much applase and is presented with lots of charisma, and therefore sufficient to earn them 3rd place - 16.975 points.
>> Results exercise with hoops and clubs
Spain - a coherent choreography radiating femininity and elegance, but unfortunately marred by some errors and the loss of an apparatus - 15.925 points.
Belorussia - to the tune of a very modern adaptation of Cachaturyan's "Sabre Dance" this was a exercise which increased in speed, synchronous, however with some visible mistakes - 4th place for the second time, that's hard to swallow... - 16.95 points.
Bulgaria - the five girls display nerves: after the loss of a club there are several more small mistakes, however the exercise still gets much applase and is presented with lots of charisma, and therefore sufficient to earn them 3rd place - 16.975 points.
>> Results exercise with hoops and clubs