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

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 floor, Nina performed the best floor routine of her season, posting 13.366 with her double piked, one and a half twist to full twist and a double tuck. No problem for Rune on bars, where she improved her qualifying score, getting a 13.900.

Before the last rotation, both Nina and Rune were in the top 10, which was already a huge accomplishment. Rune finished her competition on balance beam, an event that had caused troubles to all the competitiors all night long. Rune didn't fell but she had to count some major wobbles (12.033). Nina received a 13.533 for her Yurchenko full twist on vault.

Credit: Mathias Hikketik

With a total score of 53.498, Nina ranked 8th in the all-around, while Rune placed 11th (52.299). Our Belgians made history once again, achieving the best all-around results two gymnasts ever had ! Before that, the best results were a 17th and a 19th place obtained in 2015 in Glasgow by former elite gymnast Lisa Verschueren and ... Rune Hermans !

The all-around title was won by USA's Morgan Hurd (55.232), ahead of crowd favorite Elsabeth Black (Canada, 55.132) and Russia's Elena Eremina (54.799). The favorite to win the gold, the American Ragan Smith, sustained an ankle injury just a few minutes before the competition started.

Tonight, Nina Derwael will compete in the uneven bars final and will make history once again, as she's the first Belgian female gymnast to compete in an event final at Worlds.

Full results here.