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Patrick is from Netherlands, bringing some of that training approach to the historically tough Romanian training.
This interview was just after qualifications. They are waiting to see if Romania finishes top 12 for Olympic qualification.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Kaylia was born inย Saint-Benoรฎt-la-Forรชt, France, to a French mother and an Algerian father.
She’s representing Algeria at Worlds 2023.
Happily, she hit 4/4 in the qualification round and has qualified to Paris through the AA.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
She’ll be one of the favourites in the Bars final, as well.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Top 12 teams qualify to Paris.
Here’s where they stand with 30% of the competition complete.
Unlike the men’s competition where Canada finished 4th, WAG is much more predictable.
The U.S. score is about what Spencer predicted.
Italy and Netherlands are safe to qualify a full team.
Read Spencer’s LIVE blog. Though he’s got his feet up in California this year, it’s still one of the most insightful commentaries.
Day 1 was pretty much the Simone Biles show โย with a supporting cast of other characters. Simone might qualify for all 6 Finals. Potentially adding to her 19 World titles and 25 medals overall from 2013 to 2019.
Shilese Jones and Jessica Gadirova were really fantastic, as well.
Korea had some terrific performances.
But personally I was most impressed with Panama. These ladies have some world class difficulty. Are they the most improved nation this quadrennial?
Here’s the official FIG write-up. I ASSuME these are the Canadian guys cheering the Biles 2 Vault. ๐
Congratulations. There were at least 18 teams with a realistic shot of making the top 12 on any given day.
Kensley’s new site โ Neutral Deductions โ is the best source of information on Worlds:
2023 World Gymnastics Championships Qualifiers
We’re thrilled Ukraine was able to qualify in the final position.
Belgium, South Korea, and Brazil each earned 1 individual spot.
Click PLAY or watch a 1-minute highlights VIDEO on Instagram.
The TOP gymnast on each of the 6 apparatus will earn an individual spot in Paris.
But only those gymnasts whose team has not qualified are eligible. Individual AA qualified gymnasts are also not eligible. (Yulo took a zero on Vault so didn’t make it in the AA.)
IF all named gymnasts compete, there is only ONE eligible on Floor and Vault.
Here are Spencer’s predictions. It won’t be official until after the Apparatus Finals.
Floor: CARLOS YULO (Phillipines)
Horse: Whoever places best in the final among McClengaghan, Abu Al Soud, Lee CK, and Merdinyan
Rings: Whoever places best in the final among Petrounias, Simonov, Hoeck, Avetisyan, and V Davtyan
Vault: KEVIN PENEV (Bulgaria)
PBars: Carlos Yulo also ended up as the top non-qualified athlete here, so Iโll have to see whether they go down to Kuavita in 23rd on the list here, or Ryu Sunghyun in 20th on floor
High Bar:ย Whoever places best in the final between Srbic and Nory
NOTE โ Unlike the Tokyo Olympics, if Yulo qualifies from Floor, he can compete as many apparatus as he likes in Paris. He can do the AA. He could possibly medal in the AA.
Diogo Soares is the final qualifier. He also earned an individual spot for Paris.
Insiders all knew that Canada could be one of the top teams with super talents like Fรฉlixย Dolci and his club teammate Williamย รmard.
Tokyo Olympian Renรฉ Cournoyer (now age-26) has been one of most artistic gymnasts for years.
BUT Canada waited until it really counted to put together the best team performance of any Olympic contenders. (In fact, I’d argue that Canada was also most consistent at the 2022 Worlds.)
It’s a team strategy. Lower difficulty, higher execution and consistency. More teams should do this. Smart.
I doubt anyone predicted Canada could finish as high as 4th.
Since Canada started on Pommels, they brought in specialist Jayson Rampersad. The Worlds rookie looked a veteran to me. Nailing his difficult routine. Actually, he said his heart rate was going up โย but when he looked back at his teammates, confidence returned.
And what can we say about Zach Clay. (age-28). A mainstay of Canada’s top team for years. Finally getting a chance to meet his lifetime goal of competing Olympics.
Zach did not train nor plan to compete the AA in qualification. But things happen โย and Zach did do all six.
I talked to alternate Yanni Chronopoulos about how difficult is to be ready โ but not compete. He graciously gave all credit to his teammates.
Canada has not qualified a full team since the Kyle Shewfelt era. 2008.
See you in Paris.
related – Neutral Deductions – LIVE blog
Trying to make sense of what happened the first day of Worlds?
2/3rds of the men’s teams have competed. Top 12 will win a team placement in the Paris Olympics.
Kensley will get you up-to-speed.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (36min)
Here’s the official FIG write-up:
Gymnastics Coaching.com 