Oct
10
Written by:
Andy Thornton
Saturday, October 10, 2009 12:14 AM
Are the Ksenias the ones to beat in London?
I’ve highlighted six contenders for the women’s all-around title in London this week:
Ksenia Semenova (RUS)
Ksenia Afanasyeva (RUS)
Yang Yilin (CHN)
Deng Linlin (CHN)
Bridget Sloan (USA)
Rebecca Bross (USA)
As we look at each of these gymnasts and what they bring to the table as an all-arounder, we tend to first focus on their weaknesses, because we know those tend to be what keep gymnasts from winning major all-around titles. Here’s a look at what I consider the weaknesses for each of these gymnasts:
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All-Around Contender
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Weaknesses
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Ksenia Semenova
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Vault, mediocre tumbling on floor
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Ksenia Afanasyeva
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A little unpredictable on floor, recent trouble with bars
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Yang Yilin
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Still recovering from layoff, weak tumbling, recent problems with beam
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Deng Linlin
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Bars is a little weak, mediocre tumbling on floor
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Bridget Sloan
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A little unpredictable under high pressure
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Rebecca Bross
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First world competition, recent trouble with beam
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As you can see, they each have weaknesses – some more physical, and some more mental. I would say that Afanasyeva, Sloan, and Bross probably have the most well-rounded abilities because they are pretty equally strong on all four events. Deng, Yang, and Semenova each have an event or two you could easily call “weaker” than the others, although they are capable of making up for it with their strengths.
I can’t say for sure yet which of these six gymnasts I think is going to win, but one thing is for sure – the Ksenias are capable of taking gold and silver. Semenova surprised some by placing 4th all-around in Beijing, but some of us weren’t too surprised. She was world and European champion on bars as well as a European champion on beam, and her floor was improving remarkably in 2008. Vault was a bit weak, but overall she was quickly changing her status as a “specialist” to one of the best all-arounders in the world. Her competitive abilities proved to be uncanny in Beijing as well, as she smiled her way through one brilliant performance after another, qualifying for the uneven bars final and knocking on the door of the medal podium in the all-around. She culminated her all-around performance with a beautifully artistic and entertaining floor routine that seemed underappreciated by the judges, who perhaps had a tough time seeing her as more than a bars and beam specialist. She cemented her status as a world all-around leader by winning the European Championships this past spring, having adjusted her routines to the changed code of points and looking as strong and confident as ever.
Afanasyeva was seen more as a “table-setter” for the Russian team in Beijing, but many probably don’t realize she actually placed 6th all-around in the preliminaries with a strong 60.8, but was unable to advance the finals due to the unfortunate 2-per-country rule. Her teammates Semenova and Pavlova qualified just ahead of her in 4th and 5th. Afanasyeva did shock many by making the beam finals at the Olympic Games, where she ended up 7th but gained some extremely valuable experience that would serve her well in the years to come. In 2009 she placed 2nd all-around behind her teammate Semenova at the European Championships, serving notice that the two new Russian leaders with the same first name may well be the ones to beat at this year’s worlds in London.
Let’s take a look at some 2009 routines on all four events from the two Ksenias to see if one of these two may possibly be the 2009 world all-around champion:
Ksenia Semenova Vault 2009 European Championships AA
Ksenia Semenova Bars 2009 European Championships EF
Ksenia Semenova Beam 2009 European Championships AA
Ksenia Semenova Floor 2009 European Championships EF
Ksenia Afanasyeva Vault 2008 Olympics Qualifications
Ksenia Afanasyeva Bars 2009 European Championships EF
Ksenia Afanasyeva Beam 2009 Russian Cup EF
Ksenia Afanasyeva Floor 2009 Russian Cup EF
Ksenia Afanasyeva Floor 2009 European Championships AA
I love both of these gymnasts. I think either of them is very capable of winning this world all-around title. I absolutely love the way Semenova carries herself during all of her routines – she has quick, energetic, and dynamic gymnastics that is very exciting and entertaining to watch. Her showmanship and choreography on floor are among the best in the world and almost makes you completely forget that her tumbling is quite mediocre. Unless she has upgraded her vault, that event will open the door for some others to beat her, but her confidence and competitive ability could easily put her on top of the all-around podium this week.
Afanasyeva has a traditional Russian balletic look, and I like her more and more every time I watch her. I love how she now carries the confidence of an Olympic beam finalist with her on that event, and that will serve her very well this week, particularly considering her American rivals may be a bit unpredictable on beam under pressure. Her floor is beautiful to watch and contains some of the best turns of anyone in the world. I included that first routine from the Russian Cup to show she has added a new tumbling pass – two whips through to a triple full. Hopefully she’ll put back in her full-in mount and that routine will be very strong.
What do you think…are the Ksenias the ones to beat or is this all-around too close to call?
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3 comments so far...
Re: Are the Russian Ksenias the ones to beat in London?
Bridget nailed the most pressure situation she has had all year at Nationals on day 2. She isn't the head case you pretend she is.
By gym on
Saturday, October 10, 2009 3:32 PM
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Re: Are the Russian Ksenias the ones to beat in London?
I think the Womans AA in worlds is gonna be:
1. Ksenia Semenova
2. Deng Linlin
3. Either Bridget Sloan or Ksenia Afanasyeva
By John on
Sunday, October 11, 2009 3:28 PM
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Re: Are the Russian Ksenias the ones to beat in London?
Actually now that
Ksenia Afanasyeva is out because of back injury
i think that bridget sloan will definitely medal is she does what she has to
But if someone slips i could be between rebecca and yang to fight for third
By John on
Sunday, October 11, 2009 5:42 PM
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