This annual competition, the most important elite gymnastics event in every non-Olympic year, returned to Japan for the first time since it was first staged there in 1995. It took place in the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, where the 1964 Summer Olympics took place, from October 7 through October 16. The latest update to the entry list featured a total of 532 competitors (288 men and 244 women) from 80 different countries, with 24 teams in both the men’s and the women’s competition, all of whom qualified at the 2010 World Championships in Rotterdam.
The competition was fierce, especially since the team events in Tokyo determined participation for the 2012 Olympic Games, with the top eight qualifying directly for London and those finishing in 9-16 going through to the Olympic test event in January that will serve as a second Olympic qualifier.
This year clearly illustrated that gymnastics is a sport where fans can expect the unexpected, although the first day of event finales went mainly according to plan. Day two was far more interesting and controversial, but it wouldn't be Worlds without some surprises. Here's what fans are likely to be talking about for awhile:
The surprise winner on floor. Ksenia Afanasyeva has been a strong figure on the Russian team for years. She's the kind of gymnast that comes through with clutch routines when a team medal is on the line, but who seems to collapse when it’s for herself. But as the last gymnast to compete in the individual final for floor, Afanasyeva nailed one of the best routines of her career to trouble leader Sui Lu. It was a controversial win because she had some small hops landing her tumbling, while Sui virtually had none.
Viktoria Komova on beam. The young Russian fell on her double turn in event finals, her second fall in four beam routines at this World Championships. Most agree that she was not at full strength after months of recovery from an ankle surgery this year. This meet is likely to raise concerns about her hardiness going into the Olympic year.
Phan Thi Ha Thanh on vault. The newcomer from Vietnam stunned when she shook defending World bronze medalist Jade Barbosa for third on vault. It was quite a step forward for Vietnamese gymnastics, as Phan was competing without the support of a team at this World Championships, and earned her country its first ever World medal.
Brazilians’ Leap. Arthur Zanetti, after landing fourth place on rings at the 2009 Worlds and being out of the 2010 competition due to an injury, showed the resilience on the rising Brazilian men's team by taking silver on rings with a remarkable routine that nearly challenged the dominance of China's Chen Yibing. In the meantime on floor, two-time World floor champion Diego Hypolito, also recovering from injury, earned bronze.
Jordyn Wieber on bars. Although she didn't take home a medal on this event, the new World champion scored a personal victory by hitting the only routine she didn't perform to her standard in the all-around final. Wieber topped her Worlds with a bronze medal on beam and finished sixth on floor, making her the most successful of a very successful U.S. women's team as the event came to an end.
By: Marie-Josee Blanchet
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