ECh RG Baku apparatus finals: 4 gold medals for Evgenia Kanaeva
No surprise for these apparatus finals. The Olympic champion Evgenia Kanaeva wins all four titles. Three times, the Russians win also the silver medal, followed by Ukraine. Azerbaijan wins one bronze medal, behind Ukraine and Russia.
6 countries are qualified for these finals: RUS, AZE, UKR, BLR, BUL, ISR. Several gymnasts qualified for all four finals: Kanaeva RUS, Bessonova UKR, Gurbanova and Garayeva AZE, Irina Risenson ISR.
Rope final:
Vera Sesina, RUS, in a long black attire presents her routine with a rock rhythm « Back in USSR » and gets 28.150.Anna Bessonova UKR, in short black and gold, yellow rope, has also chosen a very suitable and dynamic music wih "Italian Job". Evgenia Kanaeva, RUS, presents herself in a quite different style with a Russian folklore music « Kadril » and an arrangement by Chernishov. Difficulty score 9.60, the only one achieving this level. Final score 28.850 and a first individual gold medal.
Special fact: the inquiry submitted and accepted by the Federation of Ukraine with regard to the difficulty score of Bessonova. It took quite a while for the video control and the score was corrected 27.625 (instead of 27.550). A first note showed even 27.400.
Rest of the ranking: 4. Anna Gurbayeva 27.200. 5. Liuboc Charkashyna BLR 26.800. 6. Silvia Miteva BUL 26.650. 7. Irina Risenson ISR 26.525. 8. Aliya Garayeva AZE 26.150.
Hoop final:
As the award ceremonies are organised after the competitions, the rotations continue without break. Evgenia Kanaeva begins in a pretty white and pink dress. Her music is a piano concert of Arenzskiy. She gets a slightly higher note than for rope 28.875. Vera Sesina, in burgundy on an extract of « Dame de Pique » from Tchaikowski, does what she knows so well. But as Olga Kapranova, this gymnast has not as much charisma and it is difficult to really enjoy her performance. Anna Bessonova, in purple is much more to the liking of the public which boos the notes of the judges 27.650. Great performances from the gymnasts representing the host country, Anna Gurbanova, with a music of Tchaikowski and a very original final and from Alyia Garayeva with a Sirtaki. However, their starting notes are too low and they can’t beat Bessonova for the bronze medal.
Special fact: again an inquiry submitted from Ukraine with regard to the difficulty score of Bessonova. This time, it was rejected and the note maintained. Rudalova BLR looses her hoop during the final pose.
Rest of the ranking: 4. Aliya Garayeva AZE, 5. Anna Gurbanova AZE, 6. Irina Risenson ISR. 7. Silvia Miteva BUL. 8. Svetlana Rudalova BLR.
Ball final:
The composition of Olga Kapranova, this time in black, is based on « Nessun dorma » from Puccini.27.600. She presented only this one exercise in Baku and, at the age of 22, seems to be less appreciated than her two comrades and rivals Sesina and Kanaeva (19 years). Evgenia Kanaeva, still as beautiful and sensual as the day before, delights the public and the judges. With 9.70 artistic value, she is very close to perfection (10.00). For the first time, the score of 29.00 is exceeded with her note of 29.050. What mastery of the ball by Anna Bessonova, a ball which glides slightly along her body, a “dream”, as the title of her music. Provisional score 27.600, note corrected to 28.000 and silver medal. Anna Gurbanova and her Tango with ball were also appreciated by the judges: 27.850 and bronze medal.
Rest of the ranking: 4. Olga Kapranova RUS. 5. Aliya Garayeva AZE. 6. Melitina Staniouta BLR. Irina Risenson ISR. 8. Liubov Charkashyna BLR.
Ribbon final:
Anna Bessonova is no ribbon specialist and with this apparatus she was unlucky and let it fall. Her note 27.575 is however sufficient for the bronze medal. Right before her, the Bulgarian gymnast Silvia Mitieva ended her competition of three finals. Vera Sesina, in mauve, and with an arrangement of « Yesterday » of the Beatles, exceeds as first gymnast the score of 28 points (28.050). French music to end this competition with « Padam padam » which became famous thanks to Edith Piaf. Brilliant interpretation by Evgenia Kanaeva who wins her 5th gold medal (among them the four finals).
Beautiful Elena Risenson ISR qualified too for the four finals. The composition of her ball routine with the famous « Besame mucho », which suits her temperament very well, was highly appreciated and obtained her a 26.925. Silvia Miteva ended the three finals. For a long time number 3 in Bulgaria, she is now number 1. Simone Peycheva, former number 1, is expecting a baby at the end of May. As Peisseva, who is now coach for junior gymnasts, she has put an end to her career. Melitina Staniouta BLR, is with 16 years the youngest of the finalists and ends on the 6th rank in the ball final and 8th in the ribbon final.
Rest of the ranking: 4. Aliya Garayeva AZE. 5. Anna Gurbanova AZE. 7. Silvia Miteva BUL. 7. Irina Risenson ISR. 8. Melitina Staniouta BLR.
Special prize (offered by the partners and sponsors of the organisers)
Carolina Rodriguez, ESP, prize of the public, vote by Internet
Anna Bessonova, UKR, Miss Grace of the 2009 ECh Baku
Source: UEG Official Web-Site
