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Mustafina, Uchimura emerge as favorites for London Games
Source: Agencies |
October 26, 2010, Tuesday
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WITH two years to spare, all-around champions Aliya Mustafina of Russia and Kohei Uchimura of Japan established themselves as the favorites for the 2012 London Games after winning their last medals at the world championships in the Netherlands on Sunday.
In her first year of eligibility for major competitions, the 16-year-old Mustafina won two gold and three silvers in six events, a stunning arrival on the international scene which highlighted Russia's return as a top power after several lean years.
Despite an inflamed shoulder which hurt ever more through the nine-day competition, Uchimura successfully defended his all-around title from London last year and added team and two event medals for four total.
At 21, he was among the youngest of the male top gymnasts.
And the international gymnastics federation is moving towards bigger rewards for elegance, which should help both considering the airy grace they brought to the toughest exercises at the Ahoy Arena.
Overall, China had the strength in depth again to lead the medals table with nine, including four gold, with Zhang Chenglong winning the concluding high bar event ahead of local favorite Epke Zonderland. Russia was second with Mustafina winning five of its six medals. The United States came in third, also with six medals, but only had Alicia Sacramone's gold against Mustafina's double.
It long looked like Mustafina would become the first woman since Romania's Daniela Silivas at the 1988 Olympics to get six medals from six events, but the wear and tear of nine days of competition finally caught up with her on the beam on Sunday.
On a rare fumble, she wavered and then fell off the beam when it seemed she could have recovered.
"I didn't have enough strength. I just lost balance," Mustafina said.
It left the way open for Romania's Ana Porgras to take gold ahead of American Rebecca Bross, the all-around bronze medalist. Bross won four medals overall, two silver and two bronze. At 17, she looks like a major contender for 2012 as well.
"I hope it keeps going strong in the years to come," she said.
Main challenger
Combined with the anticipated return of Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin, Bross could help set up the US team as a main challenger.
Showing her resilience, Mustafina came back from the beam for a last show, on the floor.
Fatigue also showed in the concluding event, where she took an uncharacteristic sidestep.
But her jumps and leaps with unmatched elegance were enough for one last medal before going home to study.
"I was well prepared but I was tired," she said.
It long stood up for gold together with Romania's Diana Chelaru - until Australia's Lauren Mitchell came up with the performance of a lifetime in the last routine of the event.
"I need to think of another word for amazing," Mitchell said. "My leaps and jumps I could not have done any better."
Mustafina leaves with the same medal total Russian great Svetlana Khorkina won at the 2001 world championships.
In her first year of eligibility for major competitions, the 16-year-old Mustafina won two gold and three silvers in six events, a stunning arrival on the international scene which highlighted Russia's return as a top power after several lean years.
Despite an inflamed shoulder which hurt ever more through the nine-day competition, Uchimura successfully defended his all-around title from London last year and added team and two event medals for four total.
At 21, he was among the youngest of the male top gymnasts.
And the international gymnastics federation is moving towards bigger rewards for elegance, which should help both considering the airy grace they brought to the toughest exercises at the Ahoy Arena.
Overall, China had the strength in depth again to lead the medals table with nine, including four gold, with Zhang Chenglong winning the concluding high bar event ahead of local favorite Epke Zonderland. Russia was second with Mustafina winning five of its six medals. The United States came in third, also with six medals, but only had Alicia Sacramone's gold against Mustafina's double.
It long looked like Mustafina would become the first woman since Romania's Daniela Silivas at the 1988 Olympics to get six medals from six events, but the wear and tear of nine days of competition finally caught up with her on the beam on Sunday.
On a rare fumble, she wavered and then fell off the beam when it seemed she could have recovered.
"I didn't have enough strength. I just lost balance," Mustafina said.
It left the way open for Romania's Ana Porgras to take gold ahead of American Rebecca Bross, the all-around bronze medalist. Bross won four medals overall, two silver and two bronze. At 17, she looks like a major contender for 2012 as well.
"I hope it keeps going strong in the years to come," she said.
Main challenger
Combined with the anticipated return of Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin, Bross could help set up the US team as a main challenger.
Showing her resilience, Mustafina came back from the beam for a last show, on the floor.
Fatigue also showed in the concluding event, where she took an uncharacteristic sidestep.
But her jumps and leaps with unmatched elegance were enough for one last medal before going home to study.
"I was well prepared but I was tired," she said.
It long stood up for gold together with Romania's Diana Chelaru - until Australia's Lauren Mitchell came up with the performance of a lifetime in the last routine of the event.
"I need to think of another word for amazing," Mitchell said. "My leaps and jumps I could not have done any better."
Mustafina leaves with the same medal total Russian great Svetlana Khorkina won at the 2001 world championships.
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