20. April 2024

Doha, QAT

Artistic Gymnastics

FIG Artistic World Cup series in the 2024 Olympic year

WC Cottbus, 2nd FINAL DAY

After 100 (!) World Cup winners (60x men + 40x women) were determined on the individual apparatus in the 2023 World Challenge Cup circuit alone, there will be no all-around competition in the 2024 FIG World Cup series in the Olympic year!
This year, the World Cup Circuit (- the first four WC's) also serves as another qualification opportunity for the Olympic Games, with two athletes per apparatus - a total of 8 opportunities (female) and 12x for the men - who can still earn Olympic starting opportunities through a points system based on their placings at three of the four World Cups that will take place over the next few months (before the Olympics).
* After the first events in Cairo / Egypt and Cottbus / Germany and in Baku / AZE follows the fourth and last FIG World Cup with qualifyinc character in Doha / QAT ...:

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→ ... current World Cup :

(4) FIG WORLD CUP 2024 - Doha /QAT (April 17 -20)

* INFO -: After Cairo, Cottbus and Baku (- see below), now the last of the four FIG World Cups in the 2024 Olympic year with qualification opportunities for Paris;
** FINALS -: Milad KARIMI (KAZ) was the best on floor (14.766) and horse winner Ahmad ABU AL SOUD (JOR) impressed with the highest score of the day 1 in the men's competition with (6.6)=15.500. Vahagn DAVTYAN (ARM) won the rings decision, Austrian Vizenz Hoeck came on forth place. Artur DAVTYAN (ARM) was the best on vault, beating Carlos Edriel YULO (PHI), which won the parallel bars final, but the title on high bar went to TANG, Chia-Hung from Taipeh.

* In the women's preliminaries, Kaylia NEMOUR (ALG) achieved top scores on three apparatus (except vault). She also won on the first day of the final with a D-7.0 and the highest score of the day on parallel bars with 15.366 points. The victory on vault went to Karla NAVAS (PAN). Second victory for Kaylia NEMOUR on lst day on floor, but Anna LASHCHEVSKA from Ukraine won the beam decision.

* Qualifications --:
* Austria's ring ace Vinzenz HOECK Vinzenz finished fifth and was thoroughly satisfied with his qualification freestyle, it was a confident performance, there were no mistakes, even if I could hit one or two swing-power combinations even more precisely in the final. It definitely gives me confidence for the European Championships.
* In the women's event, Algerian Kaylia Nemour triumphed on three apparatus (except vault).
Austria's Charlize Moerz, on the other hand, did not have a good day, botched an acrobatic landing, had to leave the floor area once and also had other uncertainties. This makes her high score and confident qualification for the final (5th place) all the more impressive. Moerz: "I can definitely do that much better." Her German Coach Gabriele Frehse: "Charlize actually had too much power today. That's why she overdid the double back somersault. She'll do better in the final. We'll increase to a stretched one, we can afford to take that risk - and see what comes out."

♦♦ All Daily WC Results in overview (- after Final day 2)

* MEN's: FINALS (19./20. Apr) → Qualifikation (17./18. Apr) →	>FX	>PH	>SR	>VT	>PB	>HB
* WOMEN's FINALS (19./20..Apr) → Qualifikation (17./18. Mar) →	>VT	>UB	>BB	>FX	-	-

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(3) FIG WORLD CUP 2024 - Baku / AZE (March 07- 10)

* Info - :
According to the registration list, a record number of 65 countries are also expected at the "Milli Gimnastika Arenasi" in Baku, some of which still want to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. At the end of the four-day competition, the traditional "AGF Trophies" will also be awarded to the gymnasts with the highest execution scores. (The competitions start each day at 12:00 local time). ⇒ Information on the status of Olympic qualification
* Qualification >> S t a r t l i s t s
♦ MEN's FINALS
FINALE:
1. SHARAMKOU, Yahor (AIN) - (6.4)=14,933; 2. MINAMI, Kazuki (JPN) - (6.2)=14,666;
FINALE:
1. LEE, Chih Kai (TPE) - (6.5)=15,400; 1. NEDOROSCIK, S. (USA) - (6.5)=15,400;
FINALE:
1. YOU, Hao (CHN) - (6.4)=14,900; 2. ZOU, Jingyuan (CHN) (6.3)=14,900;
FINALE:
1. CHEPURNYI, Nazar (UKR) - (5.6/5.6)=14,900; 2. SHEK, Wai Hung (HKG) - (6.0/5.6)=14,866;
FINALE:
1. KOVTUN, Illia (UKR) - (6.7)=14,900; 2. ZOU, Jingyuan (CHN) (6.8)=14,900;
FINALE:
1. TVOROGAL, Robert (LTU) - (5.5)=14,333; 2. MARIANO, Arthur (BRA) - (5.8)=14,333;
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♦ WOMEN's FINALS

At the third of the four Olympic qualification artistic gymnastics World Cups in Baku (AZE), 18-year-old Austrian Charlize MÖRZ achieved her first victory. With a personal points record (13,566), this meant the first ever Austrian women's gymnastics World Cup victory, and for Mörz it also meant an early Olympic qualification! After winning bronze a fortnight ago in Cottbus, Charlize Mörz - protégée of ex-Chemnitz (GER) and now Austria's national coach Gabriele Frehse - won this time by a wafer-thin margin of 33 thousandths of a point ahead of Chinese Olympic fourth-placed Yushan Ou and three tenths ahead of world silver medallist Kaylia Nemour from Algeria, making her the only finalist from a German-speaking country!
FINALE:
1. GEORGIEVA, (BUL) - (4.6/4.4)=13,799;
     2. AN, Chang Ok (PRK) - (5.0/5.6)=13,783
FINALE:
1. NEMOUR, Kaylia (ALG)) - (6.9)=15,433;
     2. AN, Chang Ok (PRK) - (5.0/5.6)=13,783;
FINALE:
1. ZHANG, Qingying (CHN) - (6.4)=14,233;
     2. TAKEZAWA, Kaoruko (JPN) - (5.7)=13,933;
FINALE:
1. MOERZ, Charlize (AUT) - (5.8)=13,566;
     2. OU, Yushan (CHN) - (5.4)=13,533

♦♦ WC-DAILY RESULTS / Overviews:

* MEN's: FINALS (10. Mar)→ Qualification (07./08. Mar) →	>FX	>PH	>SR	>VT	>PB	>HB
* WOMEN's, FINALS (10. Mar)→ Qualifikation (07./08. Mar) →	>VT	>UB	>BB	>FX	-	-

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→ ... l a s t competition:

(2) FIG WORLD CUP 2024 (February 22 - 25)
"47^th International TOURNAMENT of MASTERS", Cottbus / GER

* I n f o - : After receiving over 300 entries from 75 countries (!) for the Cottbus World Cup (200 men from 65 nations; 115 gymnasts from 52 nations) with one of the last qualification opportunities for the Olympic Games in Paris, this traditional local tournament is close to its logistical feasibility limits and raised the thought-provoking question of the relationship between quality and quantity.* See also the ► GYMmedia COMMENTARY
!! Regardless of this: In the end, the Cottbus World Cup organisers deserve unreserved praise and great respect for having managed this onslaught on the equipment in the highest quality and without any mishaps!

♦The MEN's COMPETITIONS:
FINAL: 1. HEPWORTH, Harry (GBR) - (6.8)=14,900
2. DOLGOPYAT, Artem (ISR) - (6.4)=14,866; 3. RYU, Sunghyun (KOR) - (6.1)=14,366
    ► Detailed Results
* QU.→ On floor leads World Champion DOLGOPYAT from Israel. German Milan Hosseini (GER) finished fourth on the floor and confirmed this position in the final, the hosts' only place in the final.
FINAL: 1. KURBANOV, Nariman (KAZ) - (6.7)=15,433
2. ABU AL SOUD, Ahmad (JOR) - (6.4)=15,300; 3. HUR, Woong (KOR) -(6.5)=15,300
   ► Detailed Results
* QU.→ Pommel horse-: Nariman KURBANOV (KAZ; 15.600) achieves the highest score of the day on pommel horse. The hosts' only qualification for the final; Nils Dunkel (GER) only finished 16th on the horse.
FINAL: 1. SIMONOV, Nikita (AZE) - (6.2)=14,700
2. AIT SAID, Samir (FRA) - (6.1)=14,666; 3. DAVTYAN, Vahagn (ARM) - (6.0)=14,600
► Detailed Results
* QU.→ On Still Rings Nikita Simonov (AZE) presented his difficulties (D=6.2) best on the rings and led the field of specialists after the preliminary competition.
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FINAL: - 1. DAVTYAN, Artur (ARM) - (5.6/5.6)= 15,050;
       2. OLFATI, Mahdi (IRI - (5.6/5.6)=14,900; 3. CHEN, Yilu (5.8/5.6)=14,850;
   ► Detailed Results
* QU.→ On Vault Artur DAVTYAN (ARM) led the field with two 5.6's (=14.966) - Felix Remuta (GER/ 5.2/5.2=13.900 in 24th place of the 50 qualifiers) had no chance.
FINAL: - 1. KOVTUN, Illia (UKR) - (6.7)=15,266;
        2. VERNIAIEV, Oleg (UKR) - (6.6)=15,166; 3.ABDURAKHIMOV, Rasuljon (UZB) - (5.9)=14,766;
      ► Detailed Results
* QU.→ Parallel bars -: Not unexpectedly, the two Ukrainians also marked the day's top scores here: Illia KOVTUN (6.7)= 15.166 ahead of Oleg VERNIAIEV (6.6)=15.000. The two Colombians Jossimar Orlando CALVA MORENO (3rd) and Angel BARAJAS (5th) also qualified for the final with the highest difficulty score (6.7). Nils Dunkel (GER- 6.0=13.933) finished 18th in the 62-strong field.
FINAL: - 1. TANG, Chia-Hung (TPE) - (6.1)=14,600;
       2. TIAN, Hao (CHN) - (6.3)=14,600; 3. TVOROGAL, Robert (LTU) - (5.7)=14,533;
      ► Detailed Results
* QU.→ Two Asians lead the field on high bar: TANG, Chia-hung (TPE/ 6.1)=14.600 ahead of TIAN, Hao (CHN -(6.3)=14.566. Local hero Lucas Kochan just missed out on a place in the final by - 0.134 points with (5.6)=13.866 as twelfth of the 57 competitors.

♦ THE WOMEN's COMPETITIONS:
FINAL: - 1. AN, Chang Ok (PRK) - 13,999
         2. GEORGIEVA, Valentina (BUL) - 13,99 3. NAVAS, Karia (PAN) - 13,383
      ► Detailed Results
* QU.→ Best on vault AN, Chang Ok (PRK; 14.233) - no German competitor; Oxana Chusovitina (UZB) qualified in sixth place.
FINAL:
     1. NEMOUR, Kaylia (ALG) - (7.0) =15,433 (!)
       2. TSITAVETS, Alena (AIN) - (6.2)=14,100;
       3. BRASSART, Mayellyse (BEL) - (5.7)=13,700;
      ► Detailed Results
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* The sensational Cottbus exercise by Kaylia NEMOUR
... unbelievable compression of the difficulties ...!

!! Kaylia NEMOUR, the vice world champion on uneven bars, who is of French origin and competes now for Algeria, performed a world-class routine with sensational difficulty (D=7.0) and won with the day's highest score of 15.433 points! (Kaylia actually performed her routine with a difficulty of D=7.2, but because she grabbed her Tkatchev in the double grip too late, the judges deducted -0.2 points from her score, even though she had performed all her highlights of the routine in direct connection. SENSATIONAL!!!)
* QU.→ Uneven bars: Kaylia Nemar (ALG; 6.9=14.433 in the lead; 23. Selina Kickinger (AUT/12.900; 25. Meolie Jauch (GER/12.833); 28. Janoah Mueller (GER/12.633); 37 Bianca Frysak (AUT/12.233).

FINAL: 1. AN, Chang Ok (PRK) - 13,999
         2. GEORGIEVA, Valentina (BUL) - 13,99 3. NAVAS, Karia (PAN) - 13,383
      ► Detailed Results
* QU.→ Balance beam: Here ZHOU, Yaqin shone with the most difficult routine and Chinese beam artistry and leads with 14.533 ahead of Kaylia Nemour (6.0) =14.133 and ahead of Belgium's ace Nina Derwael with (5.4) and the highest E-score (8.3)=13.700. World Cup debutant Janoah Mueller (GER) did well with (5.2)=13.200 and took 11^th place out of a total of 73 beam competitors.
FINAL: - 1. ZHOU, Yaqin (CHN) - (5.6)=13,733
       2. CHEN, Xinyi (CHN) - (5.6)=13,666;    3. MOERZ, Charlize (AUT) - (5.3)=13,100;
* Austrias's Charlize MOERZ won her first World cup medal and behind two Chineses she was the best European gymnast on floor!!
   ► Detailed Results
* QU.→ On floor - China's ZHOU, Yaqin also impressed as the most elegant gymnast with the highest E-score at D=5.5 and 13.600 points. Right behind them a chasing duo with 5.6 difficulty each, her compatriot CHEN, Xinyi (13.500) and Austria's Charlize MÖRZ with 13.200 points - protégée of coach Gabriele Frehse - who had already made a positive impression a week ago as the best in the preliminary competition in Cairo...!
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(?) - Curious coaching constellation:
* Germany's former national coach Ulla Koch is now in Belgian service and in Cottbus assisting Nina Derwael, among others.
* Germany's former top coach Gabriele Frehse is now working as Austria's national coach with Charlize MOERZ to achieve a better World Cup result for the "red and white colours" in Lusatia than the German hosts...?! Great !?!

♦♦ WC RESULTS, Overview:

* MEN's: FINALS → Qualification (22./23. Feb) →	> FX	> PH	> SR	> VT	> PB	> HB
* WOMEN's, FINALS → Qualification (22./23. Feb) →	> VT	> UB	> BB	> FX	-	-

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→ International season opener:

(1) FIG WORLD Challenge CUP 2024 Kairo / EGY (15. - 18. February)

* Preview --: The World Gymnastics Federation FIG has published the nomination list for the first World Cup 2024, which will open the WCha series in the Olympic year from 15 February in Cairo. (Almost 300 (!) athletes and just as many gymnasts have expressed an interest in competing - that's more than twice as many entries as usual for these events ...!

* TOURNAMENT REPORT - :

♦♦ MEN's FINALS :

- RYU Sung-hyun (KOR; 14.970) - the now 22-year-old South Korean former junior world champion (2019; Györ) relegated Diorges ESCOBAR (CUBA) and Eddie PENEV (BUL ) to second and third place.

- ABU AL SOUD - Jordan's first runner-up World Champion (2022) was also unbeatable by Korea's HUR Woong (14.930) with 15.070.
- JONG Ryong IL - North Korea's Asian champion of past years is in top form at the age of 34 and won the rings competition ahead of the co-favourite Armenian Vahagn Davtyan and Salvatore Maresca (ITA).

- Artur DAVTYAN (ARM) - What didn't work on the still rings, succeeded on the vault: victory with a narrow lead over Nazar Chapurnyi (UKR).

- Illia KOVTUN - with (6.7)=15.600 world top and highest score of the day. Oleg Verniaiev (6.6)=15.233 silver at eye level, almost equal!!!

- TANG Chia-Hung (TPE) won with (6.4)=14.500, as Angel Barajas (CLO), the best in the preliminary competition, was unable to repeat his most difficult routine and finished third behind Joe Fraser (GBR).

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⁺ MEN's qualification:
→ Day 1:
* Floor: Korean double lead by RYU Sunghyun (6.1)=14.270 ahead of KIM Hansol (6.ß)=14.200;
* Horse: Best was HUR Woong (KOR) with (6.5)=15.230,
* Rings: Armenian duo in front: Artur AVETISYAN(5.9=14.530) ahead of Vahagn Davtyan (6.00)=14.530; Vinzenz Hoeck (AUT) missed the final in ninth place by 1 thousandth.
→ Day 2:
* Vault: On day 2, Vahagn DAVTYANwas alsothe best on vault (=15.000).
* Parallel bars: Ukrainian leading double: Illia KOVTUN (6.7)=15.100 ahead of veteran Oleg Verniaiev (6.6)=14.970
* high bar: Angel BARAJAS from Columbia (6.8!)=14.530 relegates Joe Fraser (GBR) to second place: (6.0)=14.300.
♦ MEN's RESULTS :

► MEN's FINALS (Feb 17/18)
Qualification (Feb 15/16) >	►FX	►PH	►SR	►VT	►PB	►HB

⁺ WOMEN's FINALS

- AN Chang-ok (PRK) - North Korea's two-time Asian champion (2022, vault, parallel bars) prevailed against Valentina Georgieva /BULand Pranati Nayak / IND.

- HUANG Zhuofan ahead of LUO Huan - Chinese double victory on parallel bars ahead of Ondine Achampong (GBR).

* FINAL DAY 2 (18. February)
- Nina DERWAEL - Belgium's uneven bars specialist surprises with best balance beam performance, but was already European vice-champion on beam in 2018.

- Mana OKAMURA (JPN), last year's beam winner in Cottbus is also strong on floor exercise at the moment and takes the 3rd victory for an Asian in Cairo. Austria's Charlize Moerz (AUT) unfortunately had a slip-up in the first acro-row and was unable to match her pre-competition performance. However, this 4th place in her 4th World Cup final is her best result so far!
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⁺ WOMEN's qualification:
→ * Day 1:The best qualifiers of day 1 were An, Chang-ok (PRK; 14.050) on vault and Rebecca Downie (GBR; 13.930) on uneven bars.
→ * Day 2: Austrian Charlize MÖRZ - protégée of former Chemnitz coach Gabriele Frehse - took a surprising lead after the floor qualification with the most difficult routine of the competition (5.4) and a score of =13.200. Ondine Achampong (GBR) achieved the best apparatus score on beam with 13.700.