19. September 2007  
Patras / GREECE  
Rhythmic Gymnastics

Russia defends Team Ttitle / Kapranova and Sessina win gold once more in finals

Russia is the old and new team world champion!
At the 28th World Championships of Rhythmic Gymnastics in Patras the team from Russia defended its title scoring 183.050 points, in other words with a clear lead.

The team composed of Olga Kapranova, (Individual WCh title holder), Vera Sessina (European champion), Olympic champion Alina Kabayeva and ribbon European champion Eugenia Kanayeva came first in front of Belorussia (168.775) and Azerbaijan (163.750).
Places four to six went to Bulgaria (158.175), Israel (155.325) and Kazakhstan (154.775).

In the evening Olga Kapranova won the clubs final (18.650) ahead of Anna Bessonova (UKR/18.400) and her team mate Vera Sessina (18.350) won the ribbon final, scoring 18.650 ahead of Anna Bessonowa (18.350) and Alina Kabayeva (17.225) ...
Clear success for the titleholders
Even if they had mademany faults with the clubs, the Russian gymnasts would still not have lost thier first place today. However Vera Sessina was as perfect as she has been all week, Olga Kapranova was very good and the fact that Alina Kabayeva fell during one turn made no difference for the team result. It did however for the all-round and clubs finals, because the 24 year old Olympic champion will not take part in these. Her only chance to win an individual WCh medal was this evening in the ribbon competition, and she made use of it: once more this gymnasts who has influenced the sport significantly for the last decade won a bronze medal.
All-round final without the Olympic champion
It is however sad that she can't take part in the all-round final as the fourth in the individual ranking! But it is as true as ever that the Russian girl's greatest rivals are their compatriots. And both Sessina and Kapranova are in fantastic shape and perfectly prepared.

Anna Bessonova today won silver with the clubs and the ribbon

What a shame that these two excellent gymnasts weren't able to defend their position of the last three world championships due to Godunko's injury!

Neta Rivkin (ISR) - in 5th place with her team!

Thousands of Greek children ...
... brought the noise levels in the gymnasium up sharply this morning. This made for a lively atmophere which reached its peak when the three Greek gymnasts performed in the last round of the team competition with the ribbon. Bu after Eleni Andriola, Evmorfia Dona and Evangelia Gkountroumpi had performed, by the way with the chance of landing a place in the top ten, most of the children left and quiet returned - which was a shame, really...

Johanna Gabor