10. März 2006  
Madeira / Portugal  
Artistic Gymnastics

PREVIEW: 11th International Tournament Madeira 2006 GYM family Event 2006

... first time as a
GYM family Event 2006

After one decade only the International Madeira Tournament', which will held coming weekend on the Portuguese island Madeira - is established in the worldwide gymnastics calendar.
Started in 1996 as an rhythmic gymnastics event it is mixed from 2001 on with male artistic gymnastics. These competitions for both disciplines are a early start event into the young international season.
So the 11th anniversary will use by artistic and rhythmic gymnasts coming from 19 different nations - a new tournament record of the ten years old history!
So a lot of young participants utilize this date for their preparations to the beginning world cup season and specially for the European Championships, which will held at the beginning of May.....

11th International Madeira Tournament 2006 - powered by dvillena'

TODAY: Rhythmic gymnastics begin with qualifyings...
- from Funchal reports Esther Teijeira (text/photo) -

Today afternoon (Friday, March 10) , first part of Madeira’s gymnastics tournament will start with the performances of individual rhythmic gymnasts with rope and ball. Groups perform in the late evening their five ribbons routines.
Between the individual gymnasts, Almudena Cid Tostado from Spain, eight place at Olympic Games in Athens and last years's winner, Marina Spekht from Russia and Liubov Cherkashyna from Belarus are the favourites to win medals.
At group competition girls from Belarus, Spain and France will certainly decide the podium places.
The men’s artistic gymnastics competition starts tomorrow, Saturday, today it’s training day at Madeira’s Tecnopolo hall for all participants, among of them the German candidates for the this year's European Junior Championships:

German boys, just arrived and ready to go, from left: Max Finzel, Brian Gladow, Steve Woitalla and coach Jens Milbradt

Manuel Campos (POR)
- three times winner

Attractive of artistic & rhythmic gymnastics
Beginning in 2001 the artistic gymnastics competions were won three time by the Portuguese gymnastics star Manuel Campos, who was the winner 2001, 2002 and 2005 - broken by his teammate Felipe Besugo (2003) and by the Canadian Grant Golding (2004).

Last years winner of the rhythmic gymnastics all-around was the Snaiard star , followed by her compatriot Esther Escolar (ESP) and Raquel Muro e Silva from Portugal.

GYMmedia Eventservice

<< This event was booked as a 'GYMfamily Event 2006', by the sponsor dvillena'

>> GYMmedia correspondent Esther Teijeira will report directly from Madeira....