BRUSSELS – Romania dominated apparatus finals yesterday at the European Championships.

After winning the team gold medal over favorite Russia, the Romanian women kept their success going with their strongest showing in years.

Sandra Izbasa took home the gold on vault, defending her title from last year, and took a risk by performing a round off, half on, layout full to raise her start difficulty total by five tenths. Izbasa beat out favorite Oksana Chusovitina of Germany who took silver and Giulia Steingruber of Switzerland who took bronze.

Uneven bars was the only apparatus Romania did not qualify to. Russia took the top two spots with Viktoria Komova taking gold and Anastasia Grishina the silver.  Natalia Kononenko of Ukraine was the surprise bronze medalist, having qualified to in seventh.

Balance beam has always been Romania’s best apparatus and in finals they continued their legacy. Romania placed in the top two with Catalina Ponor taking gold and Larisa Iordache taking silver. Komova, who qualified in third, made major mistakes that opened the door for Hannah Whelan of Great Britain to be the surprise bronze medalist.

Floor exercise once again solidified Romania’s comeback.  Iordache took gold and Ponor the silver, showing the world the Romania is ready for London. Whelan once again became the surprise bronze medalist.

For more information about the event, please visit the official website here:

 

http://www.gymnastike.org/coverage/249318-2012-European-Championships

 

For more information about the event, please visit the official website here:

http://www.brusselsgymnastics2012.com/EN.aspx