Chalk up another one for Komova: Italian Grand Prix 2011, Catania, Italy
Russian gymnast, Viktoria Komova is out to prove that there is more to cover on her than gymnastics politics. This weekend she swept away all the titles in the Italian Grand Prix held in Catania, Italy.
The Italian Grand Prix features competitions in rhythmic gymnastics, men’s artistic gymnastics and women’s artistic gymnastics. Komova was representing her country in the women’s artistic gymnastics.
In the competition, only two apparatus were included from the women’s artistic gymnastics discipline, namely the balance beam and the uneven bars.
This restrictive inclusion of apparatus does not diminish the importance of the tournament, however. The prizes and awards are bait enough to lure in the talented gymnasts from all over the globe.
While last year the Russian star, Aliya Mustafina, attended this tournament, this year saw Viktoria Komova in action.
Komova scored 15.70 points on the uneven bars, with a flawless routine.
“Her bars were amazing! No problems and stuck dismount. Same leo as Russia in 2010 worlds TF,” Giulia Holzer observed.
The up-and-coming Romanian gymnast, Larisa Iordache, lacked perfection in her form, but her performance was still skilful enough to take her up to the podium for a silver medal. She scored 14.15 points on uneven bars.
Georgia Campana earned the host country a bronze on the uneven bars with 13.60 points to her claim.
On the balance beam, Komova was a little shaky after executing her front aerial and took a tiny hop when she dismounted, which brought her score down to 14.85 points.
Her routine was still neat enough to outshine all other contenders’ and she secured the title for the balance beam too.
Catalina Ponor, from Romania, lost the gold by 0.1 points. It was her obvious wobble on the beam after her layout 2 feet, coupled with missing a connection in her omelianchick, that held her back.
Her smooth turns and stuck dismount ensured her a silver win with14.70 points.
Italian gymnast, Elisabetta Preziosa, secured the third place on the balance beam. Recall that earlier this year Preziosa got a move named after her in the FIG’s code for the same apparatus.
Here she hit a 14.30 on her balance beam routine and brought Italy a bronze.
Interestingly the results across the two events were uniform in national wins, such that, both the gold medals were taken by traditional gymnastics powerhouse, Russia.
Likewise, both silver medals were taken by Romanian gymnasts and both bronze medals went to host country, Italy’s representatives.
Once the competition was over, reporters flocked to Komova to really suck the last dregs of a story out of her on the World Championships controversy.
The Italian Grand Prix Champion affirmed with unwavering confidence that at the Olympics the first place will only be hers. For Komova’s sake, we hope it is not just a tall claim and Komova lives her words to realization.
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