Bad news for Spain, Canada and North Korea.
And highly touted Australia finished only 11th.
The new code of points punishes falls more than in the past. And rewards consistency.
It’s official. The field of 12 countries that will send full teams to the 2008 Beijing Olympics has been set. The teams, in order of qualification, are:
1 United States 245.025
2 China 241.175
3 Romania 239.875
4 Russia 238.000
5 Italy 234.425
6 Great Britain 233.025
7 France 232.700
8 Brazil 232.250
9 Ukraine 231.425
10 Germany 231.125
11 Australia 230.850
12 Japan 228.175
Teams that were part of the 2004 Athens team competition but failed to qualify include North Korea, Spain and Canada. Spain had the greatest drop after placing seventh at the 2004 Olympics. Italy, Germany and Japan made the roster after an absence in Athens.
The top eight teams here in Stuttgart have qualified to the team-finals competition, later this week.
Rounding out the field in today’s team qualification round:
13 North Korea 226.575
14 Canada 225.975
15 Spain 224.850
The FINALS deciding World Team Champions are set for later in the week, the top 8 teams qualifying to that round. But the most important part of the competition — earning a spot in Beijing — is already over.
For more detailed coverage check GYMmedia.com
As expected, the USA was dominant.
Congratulations — especially to Nastia Liukin who had been subjected to a lot of heat after falls at USA Championships on Floor and Vault.
photos Inside Gymnastics – Grace Chiu
Gymnastics Coaching.com 