Stuttgart (GER), September 08, 2007 : China dominated the first five Apparatus Finals with 3 Gold and 1 Bronze medals, followed by Brazil and Russia with one Gold each. A number of favorites were overturned but all in all the first afternoon of the Individual Apparatus Finals saw many superlative performances.
Cheng Fei, won the World title on Vault for the third time after Melbourne 2005 and Aarhus 2006 performing two Vaults with a SV of 6.5 (1. Yurchenko 2 ½ twists and 2. Round off, half turn on to the table, handspring front somersault in straight position with 1 ½ twists.)
Hong Su Jong (PRK), using the same vaults as the gold medallist and with excellent execution, took the silver medal.
The American Sacramone whose difficulty value was slightly lower, deservedly took the bronze medal because of the spectacular height and length of her vaults.
2. HONG Su Jong (PRK)- 15.812
3. Alicia Sacramone (USA)- 15.412
4. HONG Un Jong (PRK), 15.200; 5. Jade Barbosa (BRA), 15.162; 6. Oxana Chussovitina (GER), 14.687; 7. Jana Komrskova (CZE), 14,412; 8. Zamolodchikova (RUS), 13.875
It is hard to imagine that Russia, after a week of competition could show no medals and it must have been a great relief to their camp when their young debutant Ksenia Semenova swung to achieve the gold medal on A. Bars.
The three pre-competition favorites, Nastia Lukin (USA), the 2005 World Champion, YANG Yilin (CHN), 15, one of the four Chinese newcomers in Stuttgart and Beth Tweddle, 2006 World and European Champion on A. Bars, had to settle for silver, bronze and 4th place.
The separation of the scores for these places was very small indeed. It could relate to start value of all four gymnasts, which spread from 6.9 (Tweddle) to 7.2 (Semenova).
1. Ksenia Semenova (RUS)- 16.350
2. Nastia Liukin (USA)- 16.300
3. YANG Yilin (CHN)- 16.150
4. Beth Tweddle (GBR), 16.125; 5. Hindermann (GER), 15.875; 6. Steliana Nistor (ROM), 15.800; 7. HONG Su Jong (PRK), 15.650; 8. Vanessa Ferarri (ITA), 14.700.
