SUBDIVISION
5
/ GRUPPE 5 |
BLR |
BRA |
USA |
AUS |
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Ukraine - a definite for
team finals... |
Beresch
on Pegases
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Four teams on the
podium in this rotation.
Ukraine is without doubt the strongest
team despite having to do without Alexander Svetlichni and
Valeri Pereshkura, both injured.
Additionally, Alexander Beresh,
third AA at the Sydney Olympics, can only compete on four pieces
of apparatus because of shoulder problems.
Roman Zozulia has had
good results this year. Coach Igor Korobchinski has integrated
four young gymnasts into the team: Andrei Mikhailichenko, Ruslan
Mezentsev, Andrei Lipski and Sergei Vyaltsev.
The Italians are
considered rings specialists.
The Finns have two strong gymnasts
on high bar in Jani Tanskanen and Jari Monkkonen. Slovakia is
considered a weaker nation. |
Rotation 1:
Ruslan Mezentsev (UKR) opened on vault with a 9,4.
Mikhailichenko scores a 9,412. Beresh receives the exact same
score for his handspring-double with a step forwards. Zozulya
seems to be the fittest of the Ukrainian gymnasts and nails the
same vault for a 9,5.
Olli Torkkel earns 9, 25 for a good routine on rings. The
Slovaks take such nasty tumbles off high bar that the audience
fears for their health. Enrico Pozzo is noticeable for the
Italians on floor and can harbour dreams of the final. Matteo Angioletti (ITA)
suffers a total disaster in his difficult routine.
Ukraine takes the lead after their showing on vault ahead of
Latvia.
Rotation 2
Roman Zozulya (UKR) starts on bars with an extremely difficult
routine inclduing two double salti for 9,262. Vyaltsev has many
breaks. But his mistakes were corrected with strong routines
from Mikhailichenko (9,175) and Andrei Lipski (9,075) The entire
arena is waiting for Ruslan Mzentsev but he doesn't show. Is he
injured? There can hardly be another reason that the Ukrainians
don't try to drop Vyaltsev's low score. They drop to second
place. The other nations are tame and unspectacular. In Finnland
they obviously just train Kasamatsus. Italy manages two scores
in the low 9s on pommel horse. The Slovaks only break 9 once on
floor.
Rotation 3
While the audience is concentrating on the Ukrainians on high
bar, the Italians are doing well on rings. They seem to have
three potential successors to Yuri Chechi. Matteo Angelotti with
a 9,45, Matteo Morandi 9.487 and Andrea Coppolino with a score
of 9,587. All of a sudden the Italians are in fifth place!
Ukraine has a few blunders on high bar. Zozulya gets stuck on an
ellgrip Endo after two excellent Kovacs and jumps off. At least
Lipski and reigning European champion Alexander Beresh do well.
Beresh's full-twisting Kovacs is loudly applauded.
Rotation 4
Zozulya loses it completely. A medal favourite for the AA, he
doesn't finish his second tumbling run, stopping after a 1 1/2
twisting. His disappointing 8,487 are dropped. His team mates
nonetheless are solid, highlighted by Lipski's 1 1/2 twisting
salto with a full twist. Beresh is the highest scorer 9,475 for
a double front in the first tumbling run and a double double
dismount. Enough for Ukraine to surpass Russia and place second.
Meanwhile, the
Italians have pulled themselves up to fourth place. Matteo
Morandi scores a 9,387 for a handspring-double front. Finnland
has a massive improvement on high bar with their two specialists
Jani Tanskanen and Jari Monkkonen scoring 9,587 and 9,462
respectively. Finnland is sixth, closely behind Latvia.
Rotation 5
The Scandinavians cannot keep this place on floor with their
relatively easy routines. The same applies to the Italians on
bars where they show nice, but simple routines. Ukraine hangs on
to second thanks to a fantastic display on pommel horse by
Alexander Beresh. The ever calm sports student must have nerves
of steel to come up with such a brilliant routine after Zoyulya
had yet again failed.
Rotation 6
The Ukrainians' problems on rings were to be expected.
MIkhailichenko and Mezentsev demonstrated this with routines
that scored in the low 8s. Zozulya has finally found his rhythm
and at least stays of clear of big breaks (9,262).Vyaltsev earns
the highest score for his team: 9,4.
Korobchinski only put up four gymnasts on rings. The Italians
finish well on high bar. Alberto Busnari scores 9,362 for his
original routine. Igor Cassina earns the highest mark with a
spectacular routine: Two full-twisting Kovacs (one layout and
one piked), two one-armed giants, Gienger and a nailed double
double.
Conclusion:
Ukraine places between Russia and Korea with some difficulty.
Zozulya was a big disappointment. Italy and Finnland have too
few all-arounders on the team to contend for top places. They
can, however, contend for individual medals with their
specialists.
Team
Standings after 4 groups: |
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1.
KOR 220,857 |
2.
RUS 217,384 |
3.
LAT 215,030 |
4.
GBR 208,085 |
5.
CZE 201,096 |
6.
ARG 199,922 |
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