World Gymnastics Championships Tokyo 2011

World Championships Event Finals, Day 2 PREVIEW

World Championships Event Finals, Day 2 PREVIEW

World Championships Event Finals, Day 2 PREVIEW

Oct 15, 2011 by Anne Phillips
World Championships Event Finals, Day 2 PREVIEW
This time tomorrow we will have new World Champions on Vault, Balance Beam, Parallel Bars, women's Floor, and High Bar. Here's a preview of what we'll see in Tokyo on day 2 of Individual Event Finals. 

Men's Vault (scores shown are from the qualifying round)
1. Thomas Bouhail (FRA) 16.620 - defending Champion
2. Makoto Okiguchi (JPN) 16.349
4. Wai Hung Shek (HKG) 16.237
5. Anton Golotsutskov (RUS) 16.233
6. Hak Seon Yang (KOR) 16.216
7. Dimitry Kaspiarovich (BLR)
8. Jeffrey Wammes (NED) 16.166
9. Denis Albyazin (RUS) 16.145
R1: Ha Thanh Nguyen (VIE) 16.133
 
Former World Vault Champion Marian Dragulescu qualified to vault finals in the 3rd position but scratched due to injury, allowing the opportunity for Denis Albyazin of Russia to to contend for a medal. Thomas Bouhail of France stuck his Dragulescu vault in the preliminary round, and if he does that again he should defend his title. Anton Golotsutskov of Russia placed 2nd last year and also competes two very strong 7.0 start value vaults. 

Check out Bouhail's stuck vault from qualifications:

Watch more video of World Gymnastics Championships Tokyo 2011 on gymnastike.org

 
 
Balance Beam:
1. Viktoria Komova (RUS) - 15.40 (6.20)
2. Sui Lu (CHN) - 15.40 (6.40)        
3. Jordyn Wieber (USA) - 15.233 (6.20)
4. Yao Jinnan (CHN) - 15.066  (6.40)
5. Catalina Ponor (ROU) - 15.00  (6.30)        
6. Alexandra Raisman (USA) - 14.933  (6.30)          
7. Amealia Racea (ROU) - 14.733  (6.10)       
8. Yulia Ishina (RUS) - 14.566  (5.90)
R1 Vasiliki Millousi (GRE) 14.45 
R2 Hannah Whelan (GBR) - 14.40
R3 Asuka Teramoto (JPN) - 14.366

The routine I think I am most excited about in this final is 2004 Olympic beam Champion Catalina Ponor who is back and looking about as good as she did in Athens. However, she has drawn to compete first. 

Watch more video of World Gymnastics Championships Tokyo 2011 on gymnastike.org

 
Parallel Bars
1. Feng Zhe (CHN) 15.508 (6.8) - defending Champion
2. Yann Cucherat (FRA) 15.433 (6.4)
3. Chenglong Zhang (CHN) 15.400 (6.5)
4. Kohei Uchimura (JPN) 15.391 (6.4)
5. Marius Berbecar (ROU) 15.366 (6.4)
6. Danell Leyva (USA) 15.366 (6.4)
7. Kauhito Tanaka (JPN) 15.366 (6.8)
8. Vasilis Tsokalidis (GRE) 15.300 (6.5)
R1: Philipp Boy (GER) 15.233 (6.3)
R2: Anton Fokin (UZB) 15.166 (6.5)

Feng Zhe has looked fantastic on parallel bars in Tokyo, and with his massive 6.8 difficulty score he will be tough to beat. American Danell Leyva has been rock solid on parallel bars this year with an upgraded routine and clean form. He is extra motivated after a disappointing performance in the all around finals, and could very well win an individual medal here. 

Watch more video of World Gymnastics Championships Tokyo 2011 on gymnastike.org


 
Women's Floor 
1. Alexandra Raisman (USA) - 14.833          
2. Sui Lu (CHN) - 14.60          
3. Jordyn Wieber (USA) - 14.566          
4. Yao Jinnan (CHN) - 14.533          
5. Viktoria Komova (RUS) - 14.491          
6. Vanessa Ferrari (ITA) - 14.466          
7. Elizabeth Tweddle (GBR) 14.433          
8. Lauren Mitchell (AUS) - 14.391 
R2 Ksenia Afanaseva (RUS) - 14.325 
R3 Diana Chelaru (ROU) - 14.233 

Diana Bulimar of Romania scratched, giving first reserve gymnast Lauren Mitchell the opportunity to defend her World Floor title here in Tokyo. Mitchell competed very clean on floor during the all around finals, showing she has potential to win repeat medals on the apparatus. However, this may be the year for Alexandra Raisman. She's hugely upgraded her tumbling after landing just short of a medal last year. 

Check out this routine of Raisman's in training, including the piked double arabian+split jump second pass: 

Watch more video of World Gymnastics Championships Tokyo 2011 on gymnastike.org

 
 
High Bar
1. Yusuke Tanaka (JPN) 15.600 (7.0)
2. Kohei Uchimura (JPN) 15.533 (6.7)
3. Fabian Hambuchen (GER) 15.500 (7.4)
4. John Orozco (USA) 15.266 (6.4)
5. Philipp Boy (GER) 15.266 (7.4)
7. Zou Kai (CHN) 15.166 (7.3)
7. Epke Zonderland (NED) 15.133 (7.0)
8. Zhang Chenglong (CHN) 15.133 (7.1) - defending Champion
R1: Jonathan Horton (USA) 15.066 (6.8)
R2: Marijo Moznik (CRO) 14.933 (6.8)

Many people thought Epke Zonderland, the flying Dutchman, should have won high bar last year, but in the end he was edged by Zhang Chenglong of China. Zhang has his work cut out for him in a final packed with difficulty. Philipp Boy of Germany nailed his high bar routine in the all around finals to score an amazing 16.066. Also watch out for his German teammate Fabian Hambuchen who is competing an exciting upgraded routine. The video of his performance in qualifications is below. 
 

Watch more video of World Gymnastics Championships Tokyo 2011 on gymnastike.org


The final day of event finals competition in Tokyo will take place Sunday, October 16th at 2pm Tokyo time which is 1am EST in the USA. Follow it live on our LIVE UPDATES Page