Reigning World Champs at Cottbus World Cup

Double Gold in Anaheim:
Takehiro Kashima (JPN)

Double gold medal winner of the last
World Championships in Anaheim 2003, the Japanese Takehiro Kashima (pommel horse, highbar), rings champion Dimosthenis Tambakos (GRE), the powerful Brazilian floor champion Diane dos Santos, the vault queen Oksana Tschusowitina fram Uzbekistan, but also a lot of other champions and medal winners of international highlights will be guests of the first world cup this year, the 28. TURNIER DER MEISTER in Cottbus, Germany (March 5 - 7).
So in Cottbus will experience some very interest revenges five month before the Olympic Games in Athens....

Kylie Shewfeldt (CAN)

SUPER STARS IN COTTBUS
On top will come to Cottbus all the three medal winners of the high bar decision of Anaheim:
The Japanese Takehiro Kashima, the vice world champion Igor Cassina from Italy and also the Australian bronze medallist Philippe Rizzo.

Also thrilling could be the 'rehabilitation duel' between the reigning world champion on pommel horse Kashima and 'Mister Pommel', the Olympic champion of Sydney 2000 Marius Urzica ,who ranked on fifth place only last year in Anaheim, but also his teammate Ioan Suciu is a favourite, because he had beat him once in Stuttgart....

A very interest constellation will also be the decision on floor between the bronze medallist of Anaheim Kylie Shewfeldt (CAN), and the Olympic Champion of Sydney Igors Vichrovs (LAT), the former world champion (Ghent 2001) and floor finalist 2003 (4.) Marian Dragulescu, the Brazilian floor finalist (4.) Rodriguez and Robert Gal (7.) from Hungary....

Diane dos Santos (BRA)

In the women's category just now the Brazilian floor world champion of Anaheim is on top of the Cottbus' favourits list, Diane dos Santos, because the notification of the US girls will follow after a national test competition (February 25).
.. but the top duel on floor could be: dos Santos versus vice world champion Catalinia Ponor from Romania.

A high level will also be at the vault decision on 'Ergojet' (SPIETH model):
World champion Oksana Chusovitina versus vice world champion Kang, Yun Mi. Athletes of the Peoples Republic of Korea (North Korea) will take part again after a very long time in the 30 yeras old history of this most traditional tournament in Europe.

Certainly the top favourite on uneven bars will be Elisabeth Tweddle (GBR), winner of the bronze medal in Anaheim last year. Her strongest oppenent could be the fourth placed North Korean Pyon, Kwan Sun.

PARTICIPANTS ALL...
>> The complete list of all participating athletes (107 men (!!) and 66 women), coming from 49 Nations (... a new Cottbus' record!!) you will find on the new tournament website on
>> www.turnier-der-meister.de