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Jiang tops women's all-around at Olympic gymnastics test
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-29 15:47

 

BEIJING -- Chinese teenager Jiang Yuyuan scored 61.225 points to win the women's all-around at the "Good Luck Beijing" Olympic gymnastics test event here on Thursday.


Teenager Jiang Yuyuan of China competes on the floor exercises during the "Good Luck Beijing" Olympic gymnastics test in the National Indoor Stadium, Nov. 29, 2007. Jiang scored 61.225 points to win the women's all-around, followed by silver medalist Daria Joura from Australia and bronze medalist Bridget Sloan of America. [Xinhua]

The 15-year-old Jiang was the only gymnast to surpass 60 points in the women's all-around finals. She was ranked third in preliminaries.

It was an almost flawless exhibition for Jiang as she led all four apparatuses in the big names devoid all-around final.

Jiang was the sole gymnast to reach the mark of 15 in the floor exercise. Her best score came from the uneven bars with 15.725 points, which was also the highest of the day.

The Chinese teen made her world championships debut this year, winning a team silver medal and placing fourth in the floor exercise.

Russian-born Daria Joura, the top finisher in qualification, earned Australia the silver medal in 59.800, 0.2 trailing her performance in Wednesday's qualification.

Joura matched Jiang's vault score of 14.875. Joura placed 10th all-around at the world championships.

The second-placed qualifier Bridget Sloan of the United States took the bronze, 0.575 adrift of Joura.

Sloan was only the alternate (non-competing) member of the American squad that won the team gold medal at this year's worlds.

Jiang twice fell victim to the beam in Wednesday's qualifying round, but she recovered well to sweep through the finals.

Joura's teammate Lauren Mitchell, the fifth finisher of the beam at the Stuttgart worlds, placed fourth in 57.700.

The 2005 world all-around champion Chellsie Memmel was anticipated to be among the leading contenders, but failed to make comeback announcement in fifth place.

Memmel stepped out of bounds twice in the floor exercise, obviously rusty after the long absence from international competition.

Since winning the 2005 world title, however, Memmel has been bothered by a shoulder injury. At the 2006 world championships, she placed first in all-around qualifications, but had to withdraw from the final because of the sore shoulder.

Memmel had not recovered in time to compete in this year's worlds. The Olympic try-out event was her first international appearance this year, but more needed to be done to prove she is still one of the top candidates for honors at next year' s Olympic Games.

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