UPDATE: 5th as a team, so far.
China leads World Gymnastics Championships with 362.482.
Full team results (PDF), so far.
… And we have no idea what China is keeping in reserve. For example, their 5th man on rings didn’t need to compete after the superb performance of the first 4 competitors.
For all we know they many have left better gymnasts at home, planning to surprise when they show at Worlds 2011.
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Russia is the last team that could possibly challenge. They’re looking GOOD on Parallel Bars … meaning low start score routines with very nice execution. Sadly, that doesn’t win in 2010.
A good example is David Belyavsky on Horizontal bar. Uchimura clean. But the start score will be too low.
On Floor Russia is the only other team aside from GBR that takes pains to try to STICK landings. Respect.
WOW. They are killing on Pommels, the strongest team, so far. Hit 5 for 5. My old coach Physical Ed Vincent would love Russia. He always told us that Pommel was the most important discipline. Then the all-around. Then school.
Vault last rotation. Hit (9.5E). Hit. Hit. Very clean.
Anton Golotsutskov nearly sticks Tsuk double pike. And nearly sticks a (slightly early twisting Dragalescu. Two 7.0 vaults. We’ll see the Olympic Bronze medalist in Finals.
Russia will likely finish lower than JPN, USA and GBR. … Perhaps even lower than that. But personally I’m a big fan of team Russia. They should win the EXECUTION World Championships. Or finish 2nd to GBR.
Rings starts well. Cherkasov sticks triple tuck, the first I’ve seen at this meet.
… OK, China will probably win that too, despite errors.
Not everything. David Belyavsky RUS is my leading candidate for the Men’s Longine Prize. Him and Romanian Ana Progras.
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Update: Brazil has been quietly hitting a lot of routines today. They were somewhat written off since injured Diego Hypolito is not here.
Gonzalez from Chile mounted Floor with double double layout. Nice. And dismounted triple twist STICK like a knife in a plank. Awesome. … He’s sitting in 8th right now, will likely get bumped from finals.
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