18. März 2004  
Athens / Greece  
Artistic Gymnastics

PRE OLYMPICS: Team competition women s artistic gymnastics

The winning team: Russia

OLYMPIC YEAR 2004

Russia wins the team event

Compared to their performance in the qualification Russia had improved today and this brought them the victory (111.970) in front of China (110.460) and Spain (109.322).

Results Team Final

The results in yesterday's qualification were different:
A strong Chinese team won this qualification (148.258) in front of Russia (145.058) and Spain (144.295).

March 18th, team finale:
Russia competed with the most homogeneous team performance
Like yesterday Russia started already on the 1st position after the first rotation where they performed on vault (27.961). On the following ranks Ukraine, Spain and China.
In the second rotation China then performed technically brilliant on uneven bars, however with one fall from the apparatus of Kang, Xin on her Gienger (total team score 55.124). This confirmed the lead for Russia also after this second rotation (55.410). Ukraine managed to overtake China (55.285). Although Spain had a good rotation on floor with Elena Gomez they did not manage to get ahead of China and remained on the fourth position.

Natalia Ziganshina


3rd rotation China improved on balance beam: With difficult and well presented routines, only slight mistakes here and there, they catched up and received the total team score of 83.161 in this rotation. Ukraine started with a fall from Irina Krasninska, this also could not be compensated by a perfect routine from Irina Yarotska (9.312; SV 9,7). China, although not as sovereing like the day before, at this moment nonetheless 1.6 points in front of Ukraine!
Spain without mistakes in this rotation, almost managed to overtake Ukraine. Russia’s Ziganshina and Pavlova with very good beam routines, only Ludmila Jezhova had some problems. Russia remained on the first position (84.134) in front of China (83.161) and Ukraine (81.559).

Elena Gomez



The decision fell on floor: Ukraine were the first ones to finish their competition: 108,971. Spain with a great 9.500 from Patricia Moreno on floor, former World Champion Elena Gomez slightly stepped out of bounds once. In this last rotation Spain managed to overtake Ukraine! Russia with nice acrobatics and expressive routines managed to reach the final score of 111.970.

Li, Ya (CHN)



China had a few mistakes in this rotation and stayed behind Russia.

Only four gymnasts competed a full all-around today:
1. Anna Pavlowa (RUS) 37,473
2. Natalia Ziganshina (RUS) 37,361
3. Elena Gomez (ESP) 36,649
4. Aljona Kvasha (UKR) 36,149

The team set up today:

(1) China: Kang, Xin; Li, Ya; Wang, Tiantian, Fan, Ye
(2) Russia: Natalia Ziganshina, Anna Pawlowa; Leisira Dabdrachmanowa; Maria Kriutschkowa; Ludmilla Jeshowa;
(3) Spain: Tania Gener; Patricia Moreno; Elena Gomez; Monica Mesalles; Laura Campos; Sara Moro;
(4) Ukraine: Mirabella Achunu; Alina Kositsch; Aliona Kwascha; Irina Krasninska; Irina Jarotska; Walerina Maksjuta;
(5) Canada: Melanie Banville; Heather Burnell; Kylie Stone; Jydia Williams; Amelie Plante;
(6) Brazil: Camila Comin; Lais Souza; Daiane dos Santos; Daniele Hypolito; Anna Paula Rodriguez; Caroline Molinari;
(7) Greece (Wild card) Soultana; Victoria Tsakalidou; Stefani Bismpikou; Maria Apostolidi; Evgenia Zafeiraki;
(8) Great Britain: Nicola Willis; Katy Lennon; Vanessa Hobbs; Helen Galashan;



Anna Pavlova (RUS)

Women’s Team Qualification:
A surprisingly strong Chinese team…!

In three rotations 7 of the best teams from last year's World Championships in Anaheim started in this Pre-Olympic team qualification.
However, as well World Champion USA, Vice World Champion Romania as also the bronze medallists Australia only participated with individual gymnasts.
Russia, Canda and Brazil started in the first rotation, Ukraine, China and Spain in the second, and Great Britain, the host Greece (who has received a wild card for this team event) and further individual gymnasts from Italy, Mexico, France and Germany in the third one.
Despite of the Greek team starting in the last rotation, there hardly has been any audience today, not more than 50 spectators could be found in the venue.

Daiane dos Santos (BRA)

1st ROTATION: (- with BRA - CAN – RUS)
Brazil took the lead with floor World Champion Daiane dos Santos in front of Russia (3 falls on uneven bars) and Canada.
However, on beam the Russians then overtook the Brazilians in the as the Brazilian team also made mistakes on uneven bars. Also 3 falls on beam followed for the Brazilians and so Candada managed to overtake them with the score of 36,174 on uneven bars.
1. RUS 145,048; 2. CAN 141,659; 3. BRA 141,333

Monette Russo (AUS)

Mixed group:
Australia's coach Peggy Liddick only brought one gymnast Monette Russo but she managed to take the lead in the first rotation just until shortly before the end (37.524) when Courtney McCool (USA) overtook her on floor (37.549).
The two US-girls Courtney McCool and Samantha Sheeham presented their routines dynamicely and technically perfect - however, with slight mistakes today. Good performances today also from the Russian Junior-European Champion from Patras Anna Pavlowa, (37.199) and Romania's Alexandra Eremia (37.274) who competed in the 2nd rotation.

Fan, Ye (CHN)

2nd ROTATION: (with CHN – ESP – UKR)
China's gymnasts presented themselves in a good mood in Athens, their team included three gymnasts from the Anaheim-team, including beam World Champion Fan, Ye.
With sensational 38.124 points they started without any mistakes on uneven bars and took the lead in front of Ukraine (36.887 - vault) and Spain (36.523 -floor).
Another great rotation for China followed on beam - with a 9.675 for Fan, Ye and an even better team result, 38.136!!
- on the second place Ukraine ( 35,974 on bars). In the end the power was a bit missing in the floor routines of China's gymnasts. They made a few mistakes in their routines which partly included four (!!) acrobatic series. Nonetheless, they clearly kept the lead after the 3rd apparatus with the total score of 111.656 in front of Spain (108.671) and Ukraine (108.435). On their last apparatus floor Ukraine fell back but China still remained on the first position:
1. China 148,258; 2. RUS 145,058; 3. ESP 144,295; 4. UKR 144,209; 5. CAN 141,659; 6. BRA 141,333
3rd ROTATION: (with GBR, GRE and three French gymnasts)
The top ranks in the team result did not change after this 3rd rotation which ended at 10.15 pm local time in Athens. The hosts Greece reached the 7th place and Great Britain ended up on rank 8.

1. China 148,258;
2. RUS 145,058;
3. ESP 144,295;
4. UKR 144,209;
5. CAN 141,659;
6. BRA 141,333
7. GRE 138,433
8. GBR 137,735