1 KUKSENKOV Nikolai RUS 89,950
2 HAMBUECHEN Fabian GER 89,850
3T BELYAVSKIY David RUS 89,600
3T VERNIAIEV Oleg UKR 89,600
5 KATO Ryohei JPN 89,300
6 STEPKO Oleg UKR 88,650
Ukrainian Olympian Nikolai Kuksenkov defended his all-around title from Shenzhen in his first international competition for Russia.
Kuksenkov was near perfect in his efforts in a thrilling final, with scores ranging from 14.700 on vault to 15.350 on high bar. No longer wearing a wrap on his knee, Kuksenkov ended his day on floor exercise where he appeared much springier. He nearly went out of bounds on his triple twist dismount but just stayed in, which was enough to give him the title by just .1.
Kuksenkov now lives and trains in Vladimir under Igor Kalabushkin, coach of the late Yuri Ryazanov. Kuksenkov is the first gymnast since Vladimir native Yuri Korolyov (1981 and 1983) to repeat as University Games champion.
Three-time German Olympian Fabian Hambüchen picked up the silver. He made it through his pommel horse routine — his nemesis — and blew away the field on high bar with a spectacular 15.700.
European champion David Belyavsky (Russia) and Ukrainian talent Oleg Vernyayev tied for the bronze. …
read more on IG – Mustafina, Kuksenkov Win University Games
Examiner LIVE blog
RRG – Kuksenkov defends Universiade title … for Russia, this time!
Recall that Kuksenkov decided to apply to compete for Russia after a number of frustrating challenges in Ukraine.
Here’s Kuksenkov winning the AA for Ukraine at the LAST FISU Games.
