Junior Women's All Around Final results
1st May 2010
Gold Viktoria Komova (RUS)
Silver Anatastasia Grishina (RUS)
Bronze Larisa Iordache (ROM)
Report courtesy of British Gymnastics.
Given the domination of the qualification round of this competition by two young ladies from Russia, the biggest question to be answered in this all around final was probably which one would win, and which Romanian would take bronze. Let the fact that the results were probably as expected must take nothing at all away from the spectacle that the girls put in today. However, it was certainly true to say that the top four gymnasts were in a league of their own and the Russians some way clear at the top of that league.
Victoria Komova was absolutely stunning throughout – tiny wobbles only on beam for 14.1, beautiful choreography in a floor routine that included a near perfect triple twist for 14.425, an Amanar two and a half twisting Yurchenko vault, the achievement of which is made all the more amazing given that Victoria is a diminutive figure. She staggered back on landing but the difficulty of the vault still made for a fantastic score of 14.525. Going into the final rotation Victoria was 0.05 ahead of her team mate but going to one of her strongest pieces the asymmetric bars. Victory was by no means assured though, with Victoria having to negotiate a very difficult routine for the gold. She did so with ease and confidence – her innovative inside stalder entry to Shaposnikova with half turn bar transition, straight Jaeger and full in dismount for 15.325 and a large winning margin.
Anastasia Grishina had qualified in first place for this final but knew she would have a tough task holding off her team mate today. She had an early lead on bars with 15.225 but came to grief on beam with a fall on her hugely difficult round off full twisting tuck back combination and at that point probably knew that she had surrendered the gold. However, she fought on bravely through the remaining pieces with her floor earning the highest score of the day here, 14.375. Grishina seemed a little disappointed with her silver but was still some way ahead of the rest of the field.
Larissa Iordache held off her compatriot Diana Bulimar (4th) to take the bronze medal. Both Romanians were strong on beam and floor – Iordache was best here with 14.675 and Bulimar perhaps the strongest tumbler on floor for 14.325, but will need to increase their difficulty and execution scores on vault and bars to compete with the Russians.
Billie Mackenzie and Laura Mitchell were Great Britain’s representatives in the final and both will have been disappointed to fall from beam but had their bright spots. Both vaulted high, clean full twisting Yurchenkos for good scores in the mid 13s, and Laura scored well on bars and floor too. Finishing positions of fourteenth for Laura and seventeenth for Mackenzie, they will have gained massive experience from their biggest event to date and will hope to improve next time around.
After several years of falling behind the American and Chinese superstars, there are plenty of signs in this European junior competition, that Romania and, in particular, Russia may be starting to fight back with the birth of several new stars here in Birmingham and, in Victoria Komova, a possible future great of the sport.
Grishina on her fall from beam:
"It is important after a fall to concentrate and not allow yourself to get upset or to focus on the fall and continue with your competition."
On whether she was disappointed with silver today:
"It was understandable; I finished in first in qualifications because I didn’t have any falls, today I fell so I did not win."
Viktoria Komova quotes:
"The decision was made today to go for the 2 ½ twisting yurochenko, I decided to go for it. I do not think as far ahead as 2012 yet but of course it is a dream to go to the Olympics."
On her mother’s influence (Vera Kolesnikova):
"The first advice she gave me was to train hard. She gives me tips on performing at competitions, to stay focused, she calms me down when I am upset if things don’t go so well and she supports me
All results are provided by Longines and are available by clicking here.
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