Worlds 2021: 2 finals for the Belgian men.

 Tuesday october 19, the Belgian men competed during the qualifications at the World Championships in Kitakyushu. Luka Van den Keybus and Noah Kuavita both qualified for the all-aroundfinal.

The Belgian men started their competition on still rings. Luka Van den Keybus scored 12.433 and Noah Kuavita 11.966. They both showed strong vaults. Luka scored 14.333 for his yourchenko with 2.5 twist and Noah 14.200 for his handspring double front. Luka was solid on parallel bars too and got 14.000 for his routine. Noah had some trouble and scored 11.300.

On high bar Maxime Gentges took the floor and scored 13.900 for a well controlled routine. Noah did even better and scored 14.066. He finishes on the 11th place on high bar. Luka added a 13.666 to his total.

No problems on floor where Luka scored 13.966 and Noah 13.600. On pommel horse Maxime received the highest score for the team: a 13.033. Noah was rewarded with 12.500 and Luka with 12.700. 

Luka Van den Keybus totalised 81.098 and qualifies in 12th place for the all-around final. Noah Kuavita finished in 24th with a score of 77.632 and also secured a spot in the all-around final.

After a long day of qualifications the Japanese Olympic champion Daiki Hashimoto was in the lead. Boheng Zhang from China and Adem Asil from Turkey are second and third. 

On the women's side Angelina Melnikova from Russia finished on top of the field in front of the young Americans Leanne Wong and Kayla Di Cello. The Belgian women's team did not participate. 

Thursday and Friday, the all-around finales are scheduled. The both start at 11.00 Belgian time. They are livestreamed on the youtube channel of FIG and on sporza. 

You can find the full results here.

Worlds 2021: All you need to know.

 The Japanese city of Kitakyushu hosts the World Championships Artistic gymnastics from october 18 to 24. Team Belgium is represented by Maxime Gentges, Noah Kuavita and Luka Van den Keybus.

As these World Championships are individual, there is no team competition. Maxime Gentges  will compete on pommel horse and high bar. Noah Kuavita and Luka Van den Keybus will compete all-around and try to qualify for the all-around final. 

On monday and tuesday morning the women's qualifications are scheduled. The men's qualifications start tuesday afternoon. The Belgian men will compete in the 2nd  subdivision, starting at 12H10 Belgian time.

Programme

october 18-19 : WAG qualifications

october  19-20 MAG qualifications (12h10 Belgian time: Subdivision 2  with the Belgian men)

october 21 : All-aroundfinal WAG (11 h )

october 22 : All-aroundfinale MAG (11h)

october 23 : Apparatus finals : vault and uneven bars WAG & floor, pommel horse and rings MAG                              (9h10)

october 24  Apparatus finals: beam and floor WAG & vault, p-bars and high bar MAG (9h25)

You can follow the live scores via the following link. 

The finals will be broadcasted on the FIG's  Youtube kanaal and on Sporza. 

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: 8th place for Belgium in the team final

This Tuesday was the women's team final at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, where, for the first time, Belgium competed.

Nina Derwael started this final on beam for Team Belgium with an amazing routine (13.866). Things got a little bit more complicated for Jutta. She started her beam routine with a good layout step out and and an excellent flip to two layout step out, but she then lost her confidence and counted a few wobbles. She also had to take a deep step back on her dismount. She scored 12.200  Maellyse fell twice and got 10.933.

The ladies came back strongly on floor exercise. Jutta was first up, with her playfull choreography and nicely executed  tumbling passes (13.066). Nina was very expressive and solid and added 13.366 to the team total. Lisa's double arabian, full-in and double tuck were skyhigh. She scored 12.900.

On vault Jutta scored 13.466 for her Yurchenko with full twist. Maellyse showed a much better Yurchenko with double twists than during the qualification round. She unfortunately had to take a step out of bounds but scored 14.033. Lisa showed the handspring front with one and a half twist, the vault she intended to do during the qualifications. She scored 14.233.

On bars Lisa and Jutta had a few issues. Lisa hit the bar with her feet on her Jaeger and Jutta fell on her Shaposhnikova. Nina impressed again with yet another flawless routine. She scored 15.400, exactly the same score as her main contender for the uneven bars gold: Sunisa Lee.

Team Belgium scored 159.695 for the 8th place in this team final. They should nevertheless be very proud of what they accomplished by just reaching this final. Nobody can take this away from them.

With Simone Biles withdraing after the first rotation, the competition for the gold medal was exciting. The Russian foursome consisting of Angelina Melnikova, Vladislava Urazova, Viktoriia Listunova and Liliia Akhaimova was on fire and grabbed the opportunity to win the gold medal in this competition. The United States won the silver medal and Great Britain the bronze.

Results Team final women:

1.	Russian Olympic Committee	169.528
2.	United States	166.096
3.	Great Britain	164.096
4.	Italy	163.638
5.	Japan	163.280
6.	France	163.264
7.	China	161.196
8.	Belgium	159.695

Next up: the women's all-around final on Thursday. The final starts at 12h50 Belgian time. 

Be ready to support Nina Derwael and Jutta Verkest.

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games : 4 historical finals for Team Belgium!

Sunday the Ariake Gymnastics Centre staged the women's qualifications at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Team Belgium did an excellent job and finished 5th. The team walks away with 4 historical finals: the team final, the all-around final for Nina and Jutta and off course the uneven bars final for Nina, a historical result !

Maellyse Brassart started the competition for Team Belgium on floor with a routine that included a full in, a double piked and a double tucked. She scored 12.766 . Jutta Verkest was next up and did slightly better with a 12.933. Nina Derwael received the highest score of the team with a 13.566. Lisa Vaelen then got 12.766. She started with a sky high double arabian and a solid full in and double tucked. 

On vault Jutta scored 13.400 for a solid Yurchenko with full twist. Nina added a half twist and scored 13.900. Maellyse  had to take a large step on her Yurchenko with double twist. She added a 13.766 to the team total on vault. Lisa opted for a handspring piked front and received 13.000.

The rotation on uneven bars brought back the smile on the girls faces. Maellyse started with a solid routine that scored 13.366. Lisa found her confidence back and scored 14.100. Jutta completed her Derwael-Fenton and received 13.633. Nina excelled. She confidentely brought her 6.7 routine and finished with a stuck double tucked with a full twist. She scored 15.366. She qualifies as the leader for the uneven bars final. 

The girls did not loose their head on beam. Nina opened up the games with a rock solid routine that scored 13.766. Jutta counted a few little wobbles but was solid on her acrobatic series, a flick to two layout step outs. She added 13.666 to the team total. Lisa kept her nerves under control and managed to stay on the beam. She mounted with a tucked front summersault and scored 12.500. Maellyse closed the competition with another solid beam routine. The judges rewarded her with 13.033. 

The Belgian team finishes 5th with 163.895 and qualifies for the team final on Tuesday. Nina Derwael got 56.598 in the all-around and confirms her place amongst the world's best all-around gymnasts. Jutta Verkest, the youngest gymnast of the field also qualifies for the all-around final with a total score of 53.632. Maellyse Brassart finishes in 35th place with a total score of 52.931. Lisa Vaelen scores 52.366 and is 42nd. 

The Russian girls impressed by beating the United States in the team standings. They were particulary impressive on uneven bars The team final will be exciting to watch if the Russian team competes at the same level as they did in qualifications. China qualifies in third place for the team final, France in fourth. After Belgium, Great Britain, Italy and Japan also qualified for the team final on Tuesday.

Team results qualification:

1. Russia  171.629

2. USA 170.562

3. China 166.863

4. France 164.561

5. Belgium  163.895

6. Great Britain 163.396

7. Italy 163.330

8. Japan 162.662

Individually Simone Biles took the lead despite a few errors. She also qualifies for all finals. Brazil's Rebeca Andrade placed second ahead of Sunisa Lee. 3 Russian ladies complete the top 6. Angelina Melnikova was 4th, her younger teammates Vladislava Urazova and Viktoriia Listunova 5th and 6th. Today's qualifications also mark the end of an era: 46 year-old Oksana Chusovitina competed in her 8th and last Olympic Games. She was honoured with a standing ovation. 

All-around results qualification:

1.	BILES Simone (USA)	57.731
2.	ANDRADE Rebeca (BRA)	57.399
3.	LEE Sunisa (USA)	57.166
4.	MELNIKOVA Angelina (ROC)	57.132
5.	URAZOVA Vladislava (ROC)	57.099
6.	LISTUNOVA Viktoriia (ROC)	56.932
7.	DERWAEL Nina (BEL)	56.598
8.	TANG Xijing (CHN)	56.432
9.	CAREY Jade (USA)	56.265
10.	de JESUS dos SANTOS Melanie (FRA)	55.431
…
26.	VERKEST Jutta (BEL)	53.632
35.	BRASSART Maellyse (BEL)	52.931
42.	VAELEN Lisa (BEL)	52.366

 Vault final qualifiers:

1.	BILES Simone (USA)	15.183
2.	CAREY Jade (USA)	15.166
3.	ANDRADE Rebeca (BRA)	15.100
4.	YEO Seojeong (KOR)	14.800
5.	OLSEN Shallon (CAN)	14.699
6.	AKHAIMOVA Liliia (ROC)	14.699
7.	MORENO Alexa (MEX)	14.633
8.	MELNIKOVA Angelina (ROC)	14.616

Uneven bars final qualifiers:

1.	DERWAEL Nina (BEL)	15.366
2.	LEE Sunisa (USA)	15.200
3.	ILIANKOVA Anastasiia (ROC)	14.966
4.	MELNIKOVA Angelina (ROC)	14.933
5.	LU Yufei (CHN)	14.700
6.	SEITZ Elisabeth (GER)	14.700
7.	FAN Yilin (CHN)	14.600
8.	BILES Simone (USA)	14.566

Beam final qualifiers:

1.	GUAN Chenchen (CHN)	14.933
2.	TANG Xijing (CHN)	14.333
3.	LEE Sunisa (USA)	14.200
4.	IORDACHE Larissa (ROU)	14.133
5.	BLACK Elsabeth (CAN)	14.100
6.	BILES Simone (USA)	14.066
7.	URAZOVA Vladislava (ROC)	14.000
8.	SARAIVA Flavia (BRA)	13.966

Floor final qualifiers:

1.	FERRARI Vanessa (ITA)	14.166
2.	BILES Simone (USA)	14.133
3.	CAREY Jade (USA)	14.100
4.	ANDRADE Rebecca (BRA)	14.066
5.	GADIROVA Jessica (GBR)	14.033
6.	LISTUNOVA Viktoriia (ROC)	14.000
7.	MELNIKOVA Angelina (ROC)	14.000
8.	MURAKAMI Mai (JPN)	13.933

You can find the full results here

You can find a video of most routines here and here.

The team final starts Tuesday july 27 at 12.45 hours Belgian time. 

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: Team Belgym is ready to shine

Nina Derwael, Maellyse Brassart, Lisa Vaelen and Jutta Verkest are ready to shine in the Ariake gymnastics centre!

                                            Credit: Maellyse Brs facebook

The main goal for the team is a top 8 finish and a qualification for the Team Final. All 4 gymnasts will have to perform at the top of their abilities to obtain that goal but it's not impossible. They will compete in the last subdivision alongside the team of Germany and 2 mixed groups. In Rio 2016 they competed in the first subdivision. Team Belgium will start the competition on floor at 13:20 Belgian time and will be live on Sporza and Tipik (RTBF). 

The girls will also try to qualify for the All-around final that gathers the 24 best gymnasts with a maximum of 2 per country. All 4 Belgian gymnasts can qualify for the final. All will depend on their performance during the qualifications.

Off course all eyes will be on Nina Derwael on uneven bars. As the reigning World Champion, she's one of the favourites for the gold medal. She nevertheless still has to qualify for the final. Normally that shouldn't be a problem. Nina is confident and ready to deliver. She's also seen as a possible qualifier for the balance beam final.

Program:

July 25 2021 - Qualifications women

3h-4h40 : Subdivision 1 - Italy , mixed group 3, Japan et mixed group 6 - Live on La Une (RTBF)

4h55-6h35 : Subdivision 2 - China, Great Britain, mixed group 7 and Russia - Live on La Une (RTBF)

8h10-9h50 : Subdivision 3 - mixed group 8, the Netherlands, mixed group 1 and USA - Live on Tipik (RTBF) and Sporza Livestream 2

10h05-11h45 : Subdivision 4 - Canada, mixed group 4, France and Spain - Live on Tipik and Sporza Livestream 2

13h20-15h : Subdivision 5 - mixed group 5, Germany, mixed group 2 and Belgium - Live on Tipik and Sporza (Eén)

July 26 2021 - Team final men 

12h-14h45 : Final

14h45-15h : Medal ceremony

July 27 2021 - Team final women 

12h45-14h45 : Final - Live on Tipik

14h45-15h : Medal Ceremony

July 28 2021 : All-around final men 

12h15-14h50 : Final - Live on Tipik

14h50-15h : Medal Ceremony

July 29 2021 - All-around final women 

12h50-14h50 : Final - Live on Tipik

14h50-15h : Medal Ceremony

August 1 2021 - Apparatus finals - Live on Tipik

10h-10h35 : Floor final men

10h35-10h45 : Medal Ceremony

10h45-11h20 : Vault final women

11h20-11h30 : Medal Ceremony

11h30-12h05 : Final pommel horse

12h05-12h15 : Medal Ceremony

12h15-12h50 : Final uneven bars

12h50-13h : Medal Ceremony

August 2 2021 - Apparatus finals - Live on Tipik

10h-10h35 : Final still rings

10h35-10h45 : Medal Ceremony

10h45-11h20 : Floor final women

11h20-11h30 : Medal Ceremony

11h30-12h05 : Vault final men

12h05-12h15 : Medal Ceremony

August 3 2021 - Apparatus finals - Live on Tipik

10h-10h35 : Final parallel bars

10h35-10h45 : Medal Ceremony

10h45-11h20 : Beam final

11h20-11h30 : Medal Ceremony

11h30-12h05 : High bar final

12h05-12h15 : Medal Ceremony

You can also follow the livescores here.

 Are you ready to support Team Belgium?!

2021 Euros : Jutta Verkest 10th, Luka Van den Keybus 15th in the all-around final

The European Championships all-around finals took place this Friday. Last minute entry Jutta Verkest impressed and finished 10th. Luka Van den Keybus is 15th.

It was withdrawal after another before the Women's all-around final. France's Marine Boyer was replaced by her teammate Sheyen Petit, Italy's Vanessa Ferrari by Naomi Visser and Romania's Larisa Iordache by Hungary's Csenge Maria Bacskay. 

But it is following the withdrawal of Switzerland's Giulia Steingruber, 30 minutes before the start of the final, that Jutta Verkest was suddenly set to compete. And she did so magnificently, taking the 10th place with a total score of 52.132, thanks to an astounding beam routine. Forgot the falls in qualifications, Jutta got 13.500, 3 points better than on Wednesday. 

Favourite after the qualifying round, Angelina Melnikova (Russia) fell twice but still managed to clinch the silver medal (55.432). Her teammate Vitkoria Listunova, 15 years old and Juniors world all-around champion in 2019, takes the gold (56.731). Great Britain's Jessica Gadirova takes the bronze (55.100).

On the Men's side, Belgium was represented by Luka Van den Keybus, whom stayed in th top 10 for a great deal of the final, thanks to stellar performances on floor (14.033), vault (13.833) and parallel bars (13.900). He was even in 8th place before the last apparatus, pommel horse, an event that wasn't kind to him (11.800). With 79.065, Luka takes the 15th place.

Without surprise, Russia's Nikita Nagornyy takes the gold and retains his title for the second time in a row after 2019. With 88.032, he'll be the one to beat at the Olympics in a few months.

He's joined on the podium by his teammate David Belyavskiy (85.864) and young Ukrainian star Illia Kovtun (84.864), 3rd at the 2019 Juniors World Championships.

All the results can be found here.

The apparatus finals will take place on Saturday at 13:30 and on Sunday at 13:00. You can follow them live on Eurovision.

2021 Euros: All-around final for Luka Van den Keybus

This Thursday, it was the men's turn to compete in the qualification round. Luka Van den Keybus qualified for the all-around final. 

Maxime Gentges, Florian Landuyt, Noah Kuavita, Takumi Onoshima and Luka Van den Keybus defended the Belgian colours. 

Maxime and Florian competed in the second subdivision. Maxime did all 6 events, while Florian competed on everything but high bar and still rings. They started their competition on pommel horse. Maxime fell and scored 12.766 while Florian scored 12.100. Maxime performed well on still rings and dismounted with a double front. The judges rewarded him with a 12.800. On vault Maxime fell on his front handspring with one and a half twist (12.233). Florian performed his Kasamatsu with one and a half twist well and scored  13.966.

Maxime was solid on parallel bars and dismounted with a double pike (13.100). Florian  made a little mistake but scored 13.766. Maxime impressed on high bar with a routine including a Kolman, Kovacs et Piatti-releases and a double layout with a full twist as a dismount (13.333).

On floor Maxime started well but unfortunately fell on his double arabian. He scored 12.500. Florian scored 13.333 for a routine that included a front double pike and a front double tuck, as well as a triple twist. 

Takumi, Luka and Noah took the floor in the third subdivision. Takumi competed on floor and pommel horse, Noah on high bar and Luka competed in the all-around. 

Luka started his competition well on still rings with a score of 13.233. He then moved on to vault where he received 13.866 for his Yurchenko with double twist. On parallel bars he did even better with a 14.000. He kept it together on high bar and scored 13.100. Noah hoped to qualify for the event final on high bar but fell twice. He scored 11.833.

Luka was solid on floor and showed nice tripple twist for a score of 13.800. Takumi  showed impressive work with a double twist followed by a full twist, a front double piked and a triple twist to finish. With 14.100, he misses the final for 0.2. He also got a 13.166 on pommel horse.  Luka made some errors on pommels but stayed on. He adds 11.800 to his total. 

Luka got an all-around total of 79.799 and qualifies in 19th place for the all-around final. Maxime was 41st with a total of 76.732.

The Russian men dominated the qualifications. Nikita Nagornyy was first with 87.097, his teammates David Belyavskiy and Aleksandr Kartsev were second and third. 

Kartsev qualified an extra spot for Russia to the Tokyo Olympic Games. Turkey's Adem Asil took the second qualifying spot. 

You can find the full results here.

Friday will be the first day of finals. The women's all-around final starts at 13:30 and the men's final at 17:00.