21. April 2019  
Akita, JPN  
Wheel Gymnastics

Team World Cup to the first Time in Japan

* IRV-press release--: The best four teams from the 2018 World Championships met at the 21st of april 2019 in Akita, in the North of Japan to determine the best Gym Wheel Team in the world. Teams from Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Japan had qualified for the Team World Cup 2019 in Akita. It was the first international Wheel Gymnastics competition in Japan ever and we are very happy about the enthusiasm of the japanese gymnasts and officials to organize the first IRV competition in Japan.
With a total of 21 points the German Team with the athletes Kira Homeyer, Sarah Metz, Carsten Heimes and Luca Christ from the World champion Team Germany got the gold medal in Akita.
Second place went to Japan, with the local „stars“ Yasuhiko Takahashi and Aya Horiguchi and their team mates Yuki Matsuura and Daisuke Mori.
Bronze medal was won by Team Switzerland with Cheyenne Rechsteiner, Leonie Botta, Simon Rufener and Matthias Reich.
 Team Netherlands got 4th place, with excellent routines of Martine van den Boogaard, Sanne Romijn, Ilse van der Ham and Sannah Boer. About 3.000 enthusiasts followed the invitation of the organizing committee of the Japan Rhoenrad Association.

* R E S U L T S:

1. GERMANY        - 61,80 (21)
2. JAPAN              - 60,95 (20)
3. SWITZERLAND  - 62,40 (19)
4. NETHERLANDS - 56,10 (15)

* The IRV President Henningsen wrote in a preview before Akita: " ...The hosts ofJapanese gymnasts have shown in the last years, that they can compete at top level. Gold, silver and bronze medals for japanese senior men and women, as well as the gold medal for the team 2014 in Berlin (Germany), were the result of advanced training activities.
Going to the „Next Level“ is not only the name for the IRV strategy to shape the future of Wheel Gymnastics, it is the overall aspiration of gymnasts in Gym Wheel and Cyr Wheel around the world, to make our sport more attractive, more collaborative and more innovativ.
Japan has become one of the leading countries in our sport. To follow the invitation of the Japan Rhoenrad Association (JRA) for the Team World Cup 2019 in Akita is an honor for all of us. We are looking forward to see this new country and all our friends.
* Source: Henning Henningsen, IRV President