19. November 2005  
Melbourne / Australia  
Artistic Gymnastics

Men s PODIUM TRAINING

Phillippe Rizzo (AUS)
- local hero

On Saturday, November 19 (men) and on Sunday, November 20 (women) will held the important sessions of PODIUM TRAINING.
All participants can use the original apparatuses under the same conditions like at the following competition days;
it's also a very important logistically check for all processes for the organizers.
May be to study the first interest thinks into the exercises of the athletes....

... also the international judges are making their 'Warming Up'!

Ross Brewer (GBR)

Our British colleague Vera Atkinson observed the women's and men's podium rotations:

Ross Brewer and Louis Smith 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.

Louis Smith (GBR)

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).
Specialists who may not make it to the Rings Final, but whose work deserves special attention are Said Eldariny Walid (EGY) and 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. 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)

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!”
From Melbourne: Vera Atkinson / Baga