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Affichage des articles du octobre, 2017

A reflection on Worlds: what's next?

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On Sunday night, the lights were turned off in the Olympic Arena in Montreal, putting an end to the 47th World gymnastics championships. In Montreal, our Team Belgym showed promises, talent, and that hard work always pays off. With an historic bronze medal and three finals, but also all our gymnasts in the top 30, future seems bright for Belgium's gymnastics. Credit: Mathias Hikketik After a season packed of competitions, Maxime Gentges arrived in Montreal with high hopes and expectations, wishing to make it to the all-around final. Unfortunately, the young gymnast from Malmedy fell short and missed the final for a point, placing 29th with a total score of 76.364. Although this result is not the one he was hoping for, Maxime's performance in Montreal remains a great achievement, placing in the top 30 at Worlds, his best result. With a nagging wrist injury, Maxime kept pushing and gave his best, but will now have to undergo surgery. No doubt he'll be ready for the 2

2017 Worlds: Nina Derwael wins a historical bronze medal on uneven bars!

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After an amazing performance in the all-around final along with Rune Hermans, Nina Derwael did even better in the uneven bars final, winning a historical bronze medal ! Credit: Mathias Hikketik Nina successfully qualified for the final with the 4th best scores out of the 8 gymnasts that made it, posting 14.966. But she knew she had to step up her game if she wanted to medal. Which she did. She was the second gymnast to go on Saturday, and with the best routine she's ever performed, she managed to score 15.033, earning the best score of her career under the new code of points ! All she had to do now was to wait anxiously. Only two gymnasts surpassed her : the reigning World Champion, China's Fan Yilin (15.166), and European silver medalist Elena Eremina (Russia, 15.100), leaving Nina Derwael with a historical bronze medal around her neck. What Nina achieved in Montreal is an amazing accomplishment. After being the first female gymnast to ever qualify to a

2017 Worlds: historical performances for Nina Derwael and Rune Hermans in final !

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Last night, Nina Derwael and Rune Hermans both competed in the all-around final, with the hope of improving their qualification score. But they did even better than that, as they both placed in the top 12 and made history once again ! Credit: Mathias Hikketik Nina started her competition on the uneven bars, her best event, where she got 14.966 to take the lead. That score was the highest of the competition, not only on the uneven bars but on all four events! Rune was in the 4th group and started on floor exercise, where she performed a piked full-in, un one and a half twist to full twist and a two and a half twist to front tuck, for which she received a 13.066. In the lead after the first rotation, things got a bit more complicated on beam for Nina , as she fell on her back handspring layout step out. She finished strong, with a triple wolf turn, a double wolf turn and a Gainer dismount (11.633). On vault, Rune got a 13.300 for a Yurchenko full twist. Moving on to f

2017 Worlds: another page of Belgian gymnastics History written in Montreal

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On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Olympic Arena in Montreal hosted the Women's qualifications. Maellyse Brassart, Rune Hermans and Nina Derwael all took part in these. And they wrote another page of Belgium's gymnastics history. Credit: Mathias Hikketik Our girls competed in the 2nd subdivision on Tuesday, meaning they had to wait 24 hours to know their rankings. But the wait was worth it. They started on bars, Nina 's best event. And the European Champion lived up to her standards, as she easily took the lead with a huge 14.966, her personal best. She also got an element named after her: the stalder linked to the Tkatchev regrasped in L grip. An element she will be sharing with Great Britain's Georgia-Mae Fenton who also successfully completed the skill. Rune Hermans also had a gret score, posting 13.800, while Maellyse delivered a good performance until the dismount where she had a rebound and put her hands down (12.533). Credit: Mathias Hikketik Bea

2017 Worlds: 29th place for Maxime Gentges in qualifications

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The 2017 World Championships finally started on Monday with the men's qualifications. Maxime Gentges kicked things off for Belgium. He placed 29th after both days of qualifications! Credit: Mathias Hikketik Maxime started the competition on vault, where he performed a double twisting Yurchenko. He didn't get a big enough push off the table and couldn't avoid the fall (12.266). On parallel bars, Maxime had to count another fall on the dismount, as he stumbled backwards on his double pike (12.466). Maxime seemed to regain a bit of confidence on his next two events. On high bar, he showed a good routine, with good heights on the releases to score 12.966. He got his best score on floor, with a great front layout to double front as his opening tumble. With a 13.600, Maxime seemed to be on the right path again.  On pommel horse, one of his best event, a couple of leg separations cost him a few tenth (12.900). He finished his competition on rings, where he got

2017 Worlds: all you need to know and what to expect!

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The 2017 World Gymnastics Championships will start tomorrow in Montreal, Canada! These are the first Worlds since last year's Olympic Games and new champions will be crowned. Here's a look at what to expect! MTL 2017 On the men's side, Maxime Gentges will be the only representative for Team Belgium. His main goal will be to go clean and try to qualify for the all-around final. Maxime will compete in the 2nd subidivison on Monday 2nd October. Japan's Kohei Uchimura and Ukraine's Oleg Verniaiev will battle for gold in the all-around. Uchimura, undefeated since 2009, will try to win his 7th straight world all-around title! In the apparatus finals, Max Whitlock is a favorite to win gold on floor and pommels, while Eleftherios Petrounias will try to retain his World title on rings.  On vault, Yang Hak-seon, the 2012 Olympic champion, will have to watch his back as European vault champion Artur Dalaloyan and Japan's star Kenzo Shirai should reach the