Nina Derwael and Noah Kuavita are the 2018 Belgian Champions!

This weekend, Izegem hosted the 2018 Belgian Championships. With just a little over two months to go until the European Championships, our national teams, both Juniors and Seniors, are determined to show the best of themselves.

Credit : Florence Lestienne

On the women's side, Nina Derwael took the title easily, depsite two falls on beam, with the score of 53.050. Her best event was, no surprise here, the uneven bars, where she once again broke her record, scoring 15.350. Nina then delivered a good floor routine to win the first Seniors National title of her career.

In silver position, we have Axelle Klinckaert, who showed an impressive and controlled Yurchenko full twist on vault. Beam was an issue for her too, but she delivered some good moves and even competed a brand new mount, a roundoff layout with full twist. She finished strong on floor with her Harry Potter-themed routine, to score 51.000.

Senna Deriks completes the podium. She also had troubles on beam but entertained the public with her Michael Jackson floor routine. Her total of 49.550 was enough to award her the bronze medal, ahead of Maellyse Brassart and Laura Aerts. Rune Hermans only did bars and beam, while Julie Meyers only performed on bars.

Credit: Florence Lestienne

Fien Enghels won the Juniors title, with the total of 50.900 and a steady competition. Her best event was the uneven bars, with a 13.000, and she showed great control on beam as well (12.850). Margaux Daveloose takes the silver (49.950). Margaux had to count a fall on beam but then came back strong on floor, where she earned the best score (13.100). Lisa Vaelen is in 3rd place, thanks to a good vault and an impressive full twisting double back on floor (49.250).

On the men's side, the competition was exciting and wowed the crowd with impressive skills. Noah Kuavita, after amazing performances, notably on horizontal bar, floor and vault, earned a total score of 82.650. 

Credit: Florence Lestienne

Jimmy Verbaeys also had a great meet, and despite a mistake on vault, has proven to be ready for the upcoming events. Verbaeys was particularly impressive on parallel bars, where he got the best score of the competition, with 14.400. Jimmy got the silver with 81.150.

This competition also marked the return of Maxime Gentges, who had to undergo a wrist surgery after the World Championships last november. This was his first competition since Montreal and Maxime came to Izegem with no pressure and no particular expectations. But he proved to be fit and ready, enjoying every bit of the competition. Despite a fall on vault (a new one he still has to adjust on), he got 80.800 for the bronze medal.

Right behind him, Takumi Onoshima had a great meet too up until the last event, when he fell on his high bar dismount. He was followed by Luka Van den Keybus and Yureck Van Eetveld. Jonathan Vrolix only did 5 pieces but got good scores on floor and parallel bars, while 2017 National champion Daan Kenis didn't compete on floor, after his horizontal bar routine went wrong. Finally, Dennis Goossens got an impressive 14.950 on rings.

This competition was particularly important for the Juniors. 

Credit: Florence Lestienne

Ward Claeys easily took the gold, with 76.750, ahead of Nicola Cuyle, with 74.300. In 3rd place, we find Victor Martinez, a 1st year Junior. He had a good competition despite a fall on high bar and continues his progression. He got 73.800. In 4th, Justin Pesesse impressed on vault and floor, and was in the medal position before he fell on high bar and pommel horse. He finished just ahead of Mattis Bouchet, in 5th. Glen Cuyle was 6th. Wout De Smedt, Senne Spyckerelle, Bram Vanmullen and Abel Stoop complete the top 10.

Find the full results below:

* WAG : click here

* MAG : click here

You can find pictures of the compeition here and here 

2018 Belgian Championships : who will take the crown?

The 2018 national season comes to an end, but things really only get started for our Juniors and Seniors this weekend, as they compete at the 2018 Belgian Championships, a competition that also serves as a test for the upcoming European Championships and the Youth Olympic Games.

Credit : GymFed

On the Juniors side, last year's champion, Julie Vandamme will be one to follow as she'll compete to retain her title. Margaux Daveloose, Kay-Li De Neef and Stacy Bertrandt will be right there too, fighting for a spot on the European Championships team, that will be held this summer in Glasgow. Keep an eye on Jade Vansteenkiste too, as well as young Fien Enghels. Other contenders also include last year's Top Gym participants, Lisa Vaelen and Cato Fleurackers, and FIT Challenge contender Margo Van Linden.

Noemie Louon, who showed great promises earlier this year at internal tests, will unfortunately not compete, due to a broken foot. 

On the seniors side, the field is packed, with Nina Derwael, Axelle Klinckaert, Rune Hermans, Maellyse Brassart, Julie Meyers and Senna Deriks all competing this weelend in Izegem. Also competing is Laura Aerts. A noticeable absent is Dorien Motten.

This competition is also important for our MAG teams. Junior Justin Pesesse, who placed 5th last week at a test in Eksel, will have to fight to retain his title. Victor Martinez, last year's Youth champion, will be one to look after, as well as the Cuyle brothers and Ward Claeys, who showed great potential last weekend. The competition promises a lot of suspense, with a packed field here too, with Mattis Bouchet, Liam De Smet and Wout De Smedt also wanting to prove their values, as the selection process for Juniors European and Youth Olympic Games gets harder.

On the Seniors side, no new faces. Maxime Gentges will make his comeback after undergoing a wrist surgery after World Championships last year. Daan Kenis, last year's champion, will have to keep an eye on him, as well as on Takumi Onoshima, Luka Van den Keybus, Jimmy Verbaeys and Noah Kuavita, who will fight for the medals. Dennis Goossens and Jonathan Vrolix will also compete this weekend.

Program:

WAG : click here 

MAG : click here

Find the selection procedures for European Championships and Youth Olympic Games below :

WAG : click here

MAG : click here

Doha World Cup: Gold for Axelle and Bronze for Nina !

Today the Doha World Cup concluded with the last 5 finals. 4 Belgian gymnasts were in contention for the medals. Axelle Klinckaert won the floor gold and Nina Derwael added a bronze medal to her collection on beam !

Credit: Alkass TV

Nina Derwael was the fifth gymnast to mount the beam, right after the two French girls. Apart from a wobble on her side aerial, she showed a clean routine. She scored 13.400 and won the bronze medal. Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos was rock solid to win the gold, ahead of her teammate Marine Boyer who was second.

Results Beam final:

1. Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos (FRA) 13.933

2. Marine Boyer (FRA) 13.466

3. Nina Derwael (BEL) 13.400

4. Yuki Uchiyama (JPN) 13.366

5. Nora Feher (HUN) 13.066

6. Nagi Kajita (JPN) 13.066

7. Adela Sajn (SLO) 12.100

8. Aneta Holesova (CZE) 11.766

Credit: Thierry Deleuze

Axelle Klinckaert was the third gymnast to go in the floor final. She cleanly performed her tumbling passes and had the crowd in the palm of her hand with her choreography. She scored 13.333. Two more gymnasts matched that score: the Italian Elisa Meneghini and Su Jong Kim from North Korea. Rune Hermans would have beaten that score if it weren't for her last tumbling pass, which took her out of the floor area and out of the medals. Her exercise was nevertheless a pleasure for the eye.

Results floor final:

1. Axelle Klinckaert (BEL) 13.333

1. Elisa Meneghini (ITA) 13.333

1. Kim Su Jong (PRK) 13.333

4. Lara Mori (ITA) 13.266

5. Rune Hermans (BEL) 13.133

6. Taeja James (GBR) 13.133

7. Marine Boyer (FRA) 13.033

8. Nagi Kajita (JPN) 12.666

9. Jinru Liu (CHN) 11.666

Credit: FfG

Noah Kuavita was the last Belgian gymnast to take the stage in Doha in the horizontal bar final. Unfortunately he missed the bar on his kovacs salto and ended up in 8th in his first World Cup Final. The high bar final was won by Tin Srbic from Croatia, ahead of Marvin Kimble (USA) and Deng Shudi (CHN). 

Results high bar final:

1. Tin Srbic (CRO) 14.800

2. Marvin Kimble (USA) 14.533

3. Shudi Deng (CHN) 14.500

4. Edgar Boulet (FRA) 14.400

5. Alec Yoder (USA) 13.600

6. Ruoteng Xiao (CHN) 13.466

7. Ryohei Kato (JPN) 12.866

8. Noah Kuavita (BEL) 12.533

With three medals and 7 finals, the Doha World Cup was a great one for Team Belgium. Congratulations to the team!

Results here

Doha World Cup: Nina Derwael wins gold !

This Friday was the first day of event final in the Aspire Dome in Doha. 3 Belgian gymnasts competed today. Uneven bars favorite Nina Derwael delivered an impressive routine to easily win the gold medal !

Credit: Thierry Deleuze

Nina Derwael and Rune Hermans both competed in the uneven bars final today. Rune was the 3rd gymnast to go. She delivered a clean and confident routine to score 13.833, a great score for her !

Nina Derwael was up right after her. The European Champion and Worlds bronze medalist, already a favorite to win the title, didn't disappoint and easily won the gold, with the massive score of 15.300, the best score of her career !

Nina took the gold more than 0.7 ahead of Russia's Uliana Perebinosova (14.566) and France's Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos (14.400).

Uneven bars final results

1. Nina Derwael (BEL) 15.300

2. Uliana Perebinosova (RUS) 14.566

3. Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos (FRA) 14.400

4. Rune Hermans (BEL) 13.833

5. Du Siyu (CHN) 13.833

6. Louise Vanhille (FRA) 13.533

7. Nagi Kajita (JPN) 12.866

8. Lara Mori (ITA) 9.400

On the men's side, Dennis Goossens competed on rings. Our Lord of the Rings started really well, but had to take a big step on the landing, which cost him a few tenths. Dennis ended in 7th place with 14.133. The final was won by Igor Radivilov from Ukraine, with 15.266, ahead of Ibrahim Colak (Turkey, 15.000) and China's Zou Jingyuan (14.966).

Still rings final results

1. Igor Radivilov (UKR) 15.266

2. Ibrahim Colak (TUR) 15.000

3. Zou Jingyuan (CHN) 14.966

4. Marco Lodadio (ITA) 14.700

5. Andrei Vasile Muntean (ROU) 14.633

6. Yuya Kamoto (JPN) 14.433

7. Dennis Goossens (BEL) 14.133

8. Marvin Kimble (USA) 13.966

Tomorrow, the finals continue at 2pm (Belgian time)! Nina Derwael will be in the balance beam final, while Rune Hermans and Axelle Klinckaert will compete on floor. Finally, Noah Kuavita will be in the horizontal bar final.

Full results here

Doha World Cup: 7 finals for Team Belgium!

The Doha Aspire Dome is currently hosting its annual World Cup event. Qualifications happened on Wednesday and Thursday, while the finals are set for Friday and Saturday. Team Belgium did not disappoint in Doha: they qualified for 7 finals!

Credit: Doha Artistic Gymnastics-Qatar

6 gymnasts represented Team Belgium in this World Cup: Dennis Goossens competed on still rings, Takumi Onoshima on floor, pommel horse, parallel bars en high bar and Noah Kuavita on parallel bars and high bar. On the girls' side, Nina Derwael competed on uneven bars and beam, Rune Hermans on all events but vault and Axelle Klinckaert on floor.

Wednesday Takumi Onoshima opened the competition on pommel horse. He did well and placed 13th in a field packed with champions. Dennis Goossens was next up on his favourite event: the still rings. He qualified for the final on Friday with a score of 14.533 (6th). Takumi also placed 31st on floor where he had some troubles to control his landings.

Rune Hermans was really stable and clean on uneven bars and qualified with the 6th score for the final on Friday. She scored 13.133. Nina Derwael once again raised the bar. She topped the field with a stunning 15.233 and is the gymnast to beat for the uneven bars gold.

On thursday Nina and Rune competed on beam first. Nina did an excellent job and finished 3rd with 13.500 while Rune couldn't avoid some wobble and ended in 13th place. Takumi and Noah Kuavita were next up on high bar. They both did well: Noah finished 7th and qualified for the final (13.566) and Takumi placed 15th. Rune and Axelle Klinckaert showed good floor routines and finished second (13.500) and eight (13.133). They both qualified for the final. Takumi and Noah closed the qualification round on parallel bars. Takumi took the 15th place with 13.166 and Noah finished 28th.

Dennis, Nina and Rune will compete on Friday at 2pm (Belgian time). On Saturday, it will be Nina, Rune, Axelle and Noah's turn.

MAG Qualification results:

Floor

1. Takumi Sato (JPN) 14.866

2. Dmitrii Lankin (RUS) 14.433

3. Chih Kai Lee (TPE) 14.233

...

31. Takumi Onoshima (BEL) 12.466

Pommel horse

1. Chih Kai Lee (TPE) 15.200

2. Zou Jingyuan (CHN) 15.066

3. Rhys McClenaghan (IRE) 14.700
...

13. Takumi Onoshima (BEL) 13.566

Still rings

1. Igor Radivilov (UKR) 15.066

2. Zou Jingyuan (CHN) 14.866

3. Andrei Vasile Muntean (ROU) 14.766

...

6. Dennis Goossens (BEL) 14.533

Parallel bars

1. Zou Jingyuan (CHN) 16.266

2. Xiao Ruoteng (CHN) 15.133

3. Andrei Vasile Muntean (ROU) 14.533

...

15. Takumi Onoshima (BEL) 13.166

28. Noah Kuavita (BEL) 12.266

Horizontal bar

1. Xiao Ruoteng (CHN) 14.833

2. Edgar Boulet (FRA) 14.533

3. Deng Shudi (CHN) 14.500

...

7. Noah Kuavita (BEL) 13.566

15. Takumi Onoshima (BEL) 12.600

WAG Qualifications results

Uneven bars

1. Nina Derwael (BEL ) 15.233

2. Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos (FRA) 14.266

3. Uliana Perebinosova (RUS) 14.200

...

6. Rune Hermans (BEL) 13.133

Balance beam

1. Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos (FRA) 13.733

2. Marine Boyer (FRA) 13.666

3. Nina Derwael (BEL) 13.500

...

13. Rune Hermans (BEL) 12.466

Floor exercise

1. Taeja James (GBR) 13.533

2. Rune Hermans (BEL) 13.500

3. Elisa Meneghini (ITA) 13.466

...

8. Axelle Klinckaert (BEL) 13.133

Full results

DTB Pokal Team Challenge : gold medal for Team Belgium!

This weekend, Stuttgart held its annual DTB Pokal Team Challenge, a team competition happening as Stuttgart also hosts an individual World Cup event. Belgium was represented by two teams, a men and a women's team. Recap!

Credit: Mazarine Brassart

Qualifications were held on Friday. In the morning session, our women's team, composed of Rune Hermans, Nina Derwael, Maellyse Brassart, Axelle Klinckaert and Senna Deriks placed 1st, 5 points over 2nd and 3rd qualifiers, Japan and Germany.

Nina Derwael particularly impressed on bars, where she showed upgrades to score 14.900. Rune Hermans was steady on beam to score 13.200, while Axelle Klinckaert delivered a brand new routine on floor. Together with Japan, Germany and Switzerland, Belgium advanced to the final.

Still on Friday, the men's team competed in the 1st out of 2 sessions. Belgium was represented by Dennis Goossens, Noah Kuavita, Takumi Onoshima, Jimmy Verbaeys and Luka Van den Keybus. They had a pretty good competition, with high scores from Dennis on rings (14.600), Takumi on parallel bars and vault (13.350 and 13.650), while Jimmy and Luka looked sharp on pommel horse and horizontal bar.

With a total score of 233.500, they placed 8th in a strong field. Japan placed 1st in qualifications, ahead of Russia and Brazil. The top 6 advanced to the final. If the men's team missed the final, this result is still a good one, as the selection procedure for European Championships started for them. Next weekend, Takumi Onoshima, Dennis Goossens and Noah Kuavita will compete in another World Cup, this time in Doha.

This Saturday, in the team final, our women's team started on vault, with three strong Yurchenko full twist from Axelle, Senna and Maellyse (who got the highest score with 13.666). Moving on to the uneven bars, Senna Deriks unfortunately fell on her piked Jaeger but had a clean routine otherwise. She was followed by Rune Hermans and Nina Derwael. The European Champion and Worlds bronze medalist showed an intricate routine to score the highest score of the weekend, with a massive 15.033 ! 

After two rotations, Belgium was in the lead by a little over than 1.5 point. On beam, Rune and Axelle showed great combinations, with a few wobbles here and there, but clean work. Nina started really well and showed a nice triple wolf turn but unfortunately fell on her side aerial.

Germany had taken the lead after three events, but Belgium was right behind. On floor, Nina once again got the highest score for Team Belgium with a routine that included a double tuck, one and a half twist to front twist and a double twist (13.000). Rune also went clean, despite landing out of bounds on one of her passes. But the highlight on floor came from Axelle Klinckaert. Displaying a brand new Harry Potter routine, she showed a lot of expressivness and good execution.

Those three stellar routines were enough to secure Belgium the team gold medal, with a total score of 156.463. Switzerland and Japan took the silver and the bronze medal, while Germany, after a particularly rough rotation on beam, placed 4th.

Team final standings:

1. Belgium 156.463

2. Switzerland 153.129

3. Japan 151.663

4. Germany 151.462

Nina, Rune and Axelle will also compete in Doha next week.

Stuttgart's results here

International Gymnix 2018: Promising work from our juniors.

The last few days Montreal hosted the International Gymnix, a competition that combines an international competition for both juniors and seniors, the Gymnix Challenge, and a international team competition for juniors, the Junior International Team Cup. 

Credit: International Gymnix

Belgium was represented by Stacy Bertrandt, Margaux Daveloose, Noemie Louon and Julie Vandamme in the Junior Team Cup. Cassia Priels competed for Gymnos Charleroi in the Gymnix Challenge. The Juniors team placed 5th and the gymnasts qualified for 5 apparatus finals.

Team Belgium started this 4-4-3 competition (each team consists of 4 gymnasts, all compete, the 3 best scores are taken into account for the team total) on floor. Stacy Bertrandt was first up and showed a clean and solid exercise, including a double pike, a front layout with full twist and a double twist (12.367). Julie Vandamme and Noémie Louon both showed intricate combinations of backwards and forward twists, in addition to their double pike. Noémie especially showed beautiful lines and extension on her leaps. They both scored 12.434. Last up was Margaux Daveloose who delivered a solid performance including a double pike, 2 1/2 twist, a double wolf turn, a switch ring leap and an front layout with full twist. She got the highest score for Team Belgium with a great 13.267, a score that qualified her for the FX final on sunday.

On vault, the Belgian team often chooses the safe option. Margaux, Noémie and Stacy all showed a layout Yurchenko. Julie Vandamme added a full turn to hers and scored 13.434.

On uneven bars, the Belgians showed clean lines. Noémie did a sky high Jaeger and a double pike dismount (12.834). Stacy performed clean turns, a great Shaposhnikova, a bail and a Jaeger (12.667). Margaux received 12.500 for her exercise with a stalder with full turn, a Jaeger and a double front dismount. Julie had a clean exercise with a nice Shaposhnikova, a stalder with full turn and a double front dismount. Unfortunately, her hands slipped of the bars on her Tkatchev (11.267).

The final event for the 4 Belgian girls from Turnkring Varsenaere, near Bruges, was beam. Stacy and Margaux both mounted the beam with a steady roundoff back handspring. Margaux was also very solid on her back handspring layout and her wolf turn. Julie had a bit of a hard time on beam. She mounted with a nice front tuck and showed a nice backhandspring to layout and a double tuck dismount, but unfortunately fell on her free walkover.

Credit: Gymnix International

The team finished 5th, behind Italy, Russia, Canada 1 and Japan. Individually the competition was won by home gymnast Zoé Allaire-Bourgie. Italian Asia  D'Amato was second and Russian Viktoriia Listunova third. The Belgian girls all ended in the top 20. Margaux was the first Belgian with a nice 9th place.

Cassia Priels, another Belgian junior who's in the running for the European junior championships team, competed in the Gymnix Challenge and finished 36th in a mixed field of juniors and seniors. She performed well and posted her highest score on floor. She received 12.334 for her exercise that included a 2 1/2 twist, a double tuck and a front layout with full twist. On vault she did a layout Yurchenko and she showed a nice Shaposhnikova and a Jaeger on uneven bars. Unfortunately, she fell on beam on her front tuck but she showed a nice combination of two side aerials and a side somersault. She dismounted with a front layout with a full twist. The Gymnix Challenge was won by Canadian Olympian Isabela Onyshko before teammate Victoria Woo and Irina Alexeeva from WOGA.

---------------------------------------------------------

Event finals took place on Sunday. On Uneven bars, Stacy Bertrandt unfortunately fell on her giant to full tuen but showed great lines, as she performed a Jaeger and a double piked dismount (11.700). Noémie Louon also performed a great Jaeger et a double piked dismount to score (12.100). Stacy placed 7th while Noémie was 5th.. 

On beam, Noémie and Margaux Daveloose impressed with their routines. Noémie mounted the beam with a roundoff backhandspring. She also performed a backhandspring layout step out, a free walkover, a side somersault and a full twist dismount (12.500). Margaux showed great execution on her free walkover to Korbut and a double twist dismount (12.900). With this result, Margaux placed just outside the medal positions to take the 4th place. Noémie ranked 5th. 

Margaux also performed in the floor final. She showed a double pike, a two and a half twist and a front twist to score 12.700. Dhe placed 7th.

Find all the results by clicking here.