Third day of the team competition

Inna Shukova (BLR) leads her
team in the direction of
WCh silver

At the 28th World Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics in Patras the third round of the team competition, featuring the hand apparatus clubs and ribbon, was scheduled for today.

The Russian team (162.875) once more extended its lead over Belorussia (149.800) and Azerbaijan (145.125), thanks in part to the fourth Russian gymnasts, Eugenia Kanayeva. All three ribbon exercises performed by the Russian gymnasts won scores of more than 18.000!

Natalia Godunko, who was forced to take a break yesterday due to an injury performed for the Ukrainian team again today.

The German team still ranks 16th after today's ribbon exercises.

Natalja Godunko (UKR)

Impressions of the third round of the team competition

The Belorussians, who at present rank second and are lead by Inna Shukova, who won bronze in the rope finals yesterday, gave a stable performance with clubs this morning (50.100). In the individual ranking (qualification) Shukova ranks second at the moment - but because Olga Kapranova, the title holder from Russia, did not compete today as planned, a clear picture of the favourites for the all-round final will not emerge till after the end of the team competition tomorrow.

Surprise: Godunko is back!
After not competing yesterday, she reappeared today to perform with the clubs: Natalia Godunko from the Ukraine, despite her leg injury. The question is whether the Ukrainian team and Godunko herself have done themselves a favour by this? The performance of the normally so sparky world class gymnast was less than convincing, she left the floor in tears and scored 14.075 points!

Alina Kabaeva (RUS)

Subsequently, Anna Bessonova also appeared to be extremely nervous at the beginning of her routine, however regained her equilibrium thanks to her great experience (16.900).
The Ukraine as a team is in 20th place ...!

The Russians are out of reach
The Russian team can probably only be prevented from winning the WCh title by an act of god. Today the present world champion Olga Kapranova took a day out, instead the 18-year old ribbon European champion Eugenia Kanaeva presented her favourite exercise. Though the performance was not quite faultless, it was nevertheless impressive. Which was of no use, because the other two - Vera Sessina and Alina Kabaeva - were even better and will take their places in tomorrow evening's ribbon final.

Katia Oliviera (CPV)

The variety has increased

Gymnasts from 50 countries are participating in these World Championships, and most of them, such as Katia Oliviera from the Capeverdes have no chance of reaching a final.
Despite this, the atmosphere of world championships is created by the variety of performances, particularly as the performances of the lower ranking gymnasts is of no mean quality.
This means that the sport is attractive; it also means that all athletes who take part in a world championship deserve our attention.

Lisa Ingildeeva

German team remains in 16th place
Lisa Ingildeeva was the best German gymnast today, and the 14.800 points which she scored did not quite do her harmonious ribbon exercise justice. Daria Stolbin also showed a good ribbon exercise, but was not quite in time with the music at the end: 13.950 points.
Johanna Gabor for the first time lost her apparatus and thus had to settle for 14.675 points. Though this means she drops back to 23rd place in the individual ranking, only three of the four exercises will count toward the qualification score for the all-round final. This means that if she presents her clubs exercise without fault tomorrow, she can get a place in the fianl of the best 24 individual gymnasts.

* Interim result team competition after three rounds
> TEAM results > Individual (Qualification)