Ross and Louis test the floor in Melbourne
The Men’s Podium training at the Rod Laver Arena on
Sat, 19 Nov, mirrored the Qualification day of the World Championships
on Tue, 22 Nov.
 Divided
by the draw into three Subdivisions, the gymnasts and their
coaches had to test the apparatus and its reaction to the
podium, the lighting and their reaction to the space and the
atmosphere of this enormous arena.
Three times British Champion Ross Brewer who will be competing
on all six apparatus, performed in Subdivision 1.
He started on one of his best apparatus, the Pommel Horse,
(performing immediately after Kim Dae Eun (KOR, the 2004 Olympic
Silver medallist in the All-around), and finished with his
Floor routine.
The second British competitor, Louis Smith, 2004 European
Junior Champion on Pommels was seeded by the draw in the last,
third Subdivision.
The 16-year debutant in World Championships will obviously
need strong nerves and good self-confidence in the Qualifications,
since he is competing in the company of the two “Greatest
of the Greats” on this apparatus- 2000 Olympic Champion
and multiple World and European Champion Marius Urzica (ROM)
and the 2004 World Cup Final Champion Xiao Qin (CHN).
Subdivision 1
In general, it does not contain the strongest specialists,
but there was clear evidence of good all-around competitors
in this Group, in particular Liang Fuliang (CHN), Todd Thornton
(USA) and Sergei Khorokhordin (RUS).
Todd Thornton, a newcomer in this company showed exceptional
work on P. Bars, High Bar and Rings, and will definitely feature
the all-around final.
Specialists who may not make it to the Rings Final, but whose
work deserves special attention are Said Eldariny Walid (EGY)
and Irodotos Georgallas (CYP), 2002 CWG gold medallist in
a tie with the Scot Steve Frew.
The French gymnast Raphael Wignanitz impressed with mastery
on Floor.
A concern was the injury to Alexander Markov (BUL) on High
Bar; hopefully he recovers by the Qualifications on Thursday,
22 Nov.
It was quite surprising to see that the Korean Yang Tae Young
who lost the Gold Olympic medal to Paul Hamm in Athens and
was expected to seek a compensation in Melbourne, will not
compete in the all-around.
Other gymnasts from Subdivision 1, to keep an eye on during
the Qualifications are Kim Dae Eun (KOR), 2004 Olympic Silver
medallist, Rafael Martinez (ESP), 2005 European Champion,
Hisashi Mizutori (JPN) and Dimitri Savitski (BLR).
Subdivision 2
The outstanding performances in this Subdivision were from
Yuri Van Gelder (NED) on Rings, Louis Rivera (PUR) on Floor
and Pommels, Brandon O’Neil (CAN) on Floor and Vault,
Leszek Blanik (POL), also on Vault, and Filip Yanev (BUL),
on Floor and Vault.
Consistency personified was Evgeni Sapronenko (LAT) who landed
perfectly four Handspring double fronts. Denis Savenkov (BLR)
looks a strong contender for the All-around.
The 19-year old gymnast from Botswana Mothibi Kutlwano, who
is making his first appearance at this level gave a very fair
impression. He is training in Cape Town, South Africa, under
a Russian coach, because his native Gaborone does not have
a specialised gymnastics facility as yet.
Subdivision 3
On every apparatus, on every rotation a leading contender
appears.
In rotation 1- Mitja Petkovsek (SLO) and Ivan Ivankov (BLR)
fight on P. Bars.
In rotation 2 - Igor Cassina (ITA) and Ajaz Pegan (SLO)- on
High Bar.
In rotation 3 - Marius Urzica (ROM) and Xiao Qin (CHN)- on
Pommel Horse.
In rotation 4 - Jeffrey Wammes (NED) and Hiroyuki Tomita (JPN)
on Floor.
In rotation 5 - Jordan Jovchev (BUL) and Mateo Morandi (ITA)
on Rings and Li Xiaopeng (CHN) and Marian Dragulescu (ROM)
on Vault.
Rotation 6- Marius Urzika and Li Xiopeng (CHN) on P.Bars.
Throughout this Subdivision there will be many other great
gymnasts potential medallists and finalists Gervasio Deferr
(ESP) and Yernar Yerimbetov (KAZ), but it is the head to head
competitions listed above which will give an added attraction
to the event.
Hardy Fink (CAN), FIG Director of Education and Academy Programmes
summarised his impressions from the day as follows:
“I have seen some pretty extraordinary performances
today. I think the level of preparation is higher than expected.
It is good news that we have witnessed some excellent performances
from many countries without a long history and tradition in
gymnastics (Cyprus, Egypt, Puerto Rico and others).
For me it was wonderful to see Botswana participating at
its first World Championships and Espen Jansen (37) from Norway
at his record-breaking 11th!”
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