Here we are again, at the end of the year, in that post-Worlds relaxation (only the spectators!), enjoying gymnastics for gymnastics sake (both us and the gymnasts) and trying to figure out (again) the rules of the “sister” Swiss Meets that happen a few days apart around this time of the year.
Arthur Gander Memorial took place last night. Eleven women competed for the title. In this meet, each of the gymnasts first competed on two events. Then six qualified for the final. Here, they chose one of the events where they would compete again, with the scores for the tree performances (two from first round and one from final round) adding up for the final score.
The very talented Russian Daria Sporidonova won the title 0.2 ahead of Larisa Iordache from Romania. Spiridonova competed on vault and bars and again on bars in the final. She seemed to have had her best routine of the day in the first round, on bars (15.0/6.4) but was not far behind in the final (14.9/6.2). It is nice to see that she gets international assignments where she competes so well on her pet event. Daria was the rising star of the Russian team in 2014 managing to win medals on bars both at Worlds and Euros.
Larisa Iordache did not compete very well on floor in the first round getting only a 13.5 for a watered down routine (5.7). Outside major competitions Larisa tends to take out the opening Silivas element so the watered down routine was no surprise. But there must have been some sort of execution error(s) as the 7.8 execution score is rather uncharacteristic. She also executed two good DTYs (one of them in the final).
Elisabeth Seitz chose to compete on vault (13.9/5.0) and bars (14.3/6.2) and again on bars in the final (14.35/6.3), placing 3rd.
Other finalists were Giulia Steingruber, Youna Dufurnet and Ilaria Kaeslin.
Gymnasts that only competed in the first round were: Daniele Hypolito, Carlotta Ferlitto, Angelina Kysla, Mai Murakami and Caterina Barloggio.
Coppa Città di Chiasso in the women’s event was awarded to the best floor routine of the day and it went to Larisa Iordache.
Finalists:
1 Spiridonova Daria RUS VT 13.300/5.0 UB 15.0/6.4 – 14.900/6.2 43.200
2 Iordache Larisa Andr ROM VT14.500/5.8 FX 13.500/5.7 – VT 15.000/5.8 43.000
3 Seitz Elisabeth GER VT 13.900/5.0 UB 14.300/6.2 – UB 14.350/6.3 42.550
4 Steingruber Giulia SUI VT 14.400/5.0 BB 13.350/6.1 – VT 14.500/5.0 42.250
5 Dufournet Youna FRA VT 13.750/5.0 UB 14.450/6.1 – UB 13.300/6.0 41.500
6 Kaeslin Ilaria SUI VT VT 13.600/5.0 BB 13.500/5.4 – BB 13.850/5.5 40.950
Stopped after qualifications
7 Hypolito Daniele Mati BRA VT 13.900/5.0 FX 13.050/5.1 26.950
8 Ferlito Carlotta ITA VT 13.800/5.0 BB 13.100/5.4 26.900
9 Kysla Angelina UKR VT 13.950/5.0 FX 12.750/5.2 26.700
10 Murakami Mai JPM VT 13.850/5.0 FX 10.800/4.2 24.650
11 Barloggio Caterina SUI UB 12.850/4.9 BB 11.750/5.0 24.600
Article by: Bea Gheorghisor
Photo Cover via Lotul Feminin de Gymnastica and Romaniei on Facebook