AARHUS, Denmark, Oct. 19, 2006 - Jana Bieger of Coconut Creek, Fla., nailed her floor exercise routine to clinch the all-around silver medal at the 2006 World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark. Ashley Priess of Hamilton, Ohio, who stepped up to compete in the all-around finals when defending all-around champion Chellsie Memmel withdrew due to an injured shoulder, finished in 10th place.
"It feels great (to win the silver medal)," said Bieger, who was third after the preliminaries. "It was wonderful just being out there and representing the United States. I was having so much fun, especially on my floor routine."
"I felt horrible for Chellsie, but I am excited to be in the meet," said Priess. "I am happy with how I did. It is an honor to be one of the best gymnasts in the world."
Bieger's total of 60.750 landed her behind Italy's Vanessa Ferrari's 61.025 and ahead of Romania's Sandra Izbasa's 60.250. Priess posted a total of 58.800 for the all-around.
"We are so proud of Jana and Ashley for their performances today and how well they stepped up," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "We also respect Chellsie for making a difficult decision and providing this great opportunity for Ashley."
"I am happy," said Martha Karolyi, the women's national team coordinator. "Jana did everything we could have asked of her. There was added pressure when Chellsie scratched the meet."
Bieger and Priess started on vault, where they scored a 14.725 and 14.450, respectively, putting Bieger in eighth place and Priess in 13th after the first rotation. On the uneven bars, both U.S. gymnasts had solid performances. Bieger, whose routine has a lot of difficulty, scored a 15.350. Priess' energetic routine was also well done, earning a 15.425. Italy's Ferrari was first at the end of the second rotation, followed by Panpan Pang of China.
Bieger made her move to third after the third rotation. Bieger earned a 15.300 for her beam routine, which includes her back layout step-out where she finishes on one knee. Priess' exceptional beam routine included an impressive sheep jump, posting 15.325. Ferrari's fall on beam allowed Pang to move into first with 45.650. Ferrari was second, with Bieger and Australia's Daria Joura tied for third. Romania's Izbasa was sixth and Priess was seventh.
At the start of the fourth rotation, Pang fell on her vault landing, opening the door for the top slots. Izbasa was the last to vault, earning a 15.025. The drama was in the floor exercise, where the last three to go were Bieger, Ferrari and Priess. Bieger nailed her floor routine, receiving a 15.375. Ferrari answered with a 15.500, clinching her all-around title. Priess was the last to go, and but for a missed landing on her second tumbling pass, would have placed higher in the standings. She received a 13.600.
"Before floor, I just thought to myself, 'This is it. Do it the best you can. Go out and hit your floor routine, and what happens, happens,'" said Bieger.
Andrea Bieger, Jana's mom and coach, said, "She did absolutely great. She hit everything. I never expected this because you never know what is going to come in a competition.
"She did a great job," said A. Bieger, who was a three-time gymnastics Olympian for West Germany. "It is great to have someone that close to you, that you coach, and know that you can count on them to give you 100 percent."
The USA's Nastia Liukin of Parker, Texas, and Memmel will compete in the finals for the uneven bars on Oct. 20, along with Alicia Sacramone of Winchester, Mass., who is in the vault finals. Bieger and Memmel will compete in the floor exercise finals on Oct. 21.
Men's all-around
China's Wei Yang was first in the all-around, followed by Japan's Hiroyuki Tomita and Germany's Fabian Hambuechen. Guillermo Alvarez of Denver finished in 18th place, with Alexander Artemev of Morrison, Colo., in 22nd place.
Alvarez was solid on all six apparatus, despite a small hitch on the pommel horse.
"Guillermo did great," said Ron Brant, men's national team coordinator. "He had a good meet. His routines need a little more difficulty, but he was very poised. He handled himself well for competing in his first World Championships."
"I was fairly pleased," said Alvarez. "I didn't let my nerves get to me too much. My (pommel) horse routine was rocky, but I stayed on. I was very happy to be out there and take in the whole the experience (of the Worlds).
"Gaining experience is one more step to 2008," said Alvarez. "I am willing to put in the work to up my routines and start values."
Artemev was strong on the first two events, vault and parallel bars, and was first going into the third rotation, the horizontal bar. Unfortunately, his high bar routine did not go as planned, with three falls. Artemev bounced back for two of the three remaining events.
"Alex had a nice vault and a good parallel bars," said Brant. "He was on the podium, ready to go on the high bar, when they announced he was leading. It looked like he got nervous. I think he got a little hesitant, and then he just couldn't pull it together, even for a skill he never misses. As a young competitor, he hasn't yet learned that you have to keep your focus and get tougher at a competition like this."
Artemev said, "This meet has shown me that I need to do some work and improve. It was very disappointing to fall on the high bar when I was leading. I learned that everyone makes mistakes, and I've got to improve and stay on the equipment."
Artemev will compete in the pommel horse finals on Oct. 20.
"It is kind of hard to think about the pommel horse right now," said Artemev. "I need to regroup and focus for tomorrow. I've got to motivate myself."
2006 World Championships all-around finals Women 1. Vanessa Ferrari, Italy, 61.025 2. Jana Bieger, Coconut Creek, Fla., 60.750 3. Sandra Raluca Izbasa, Romania, 60.250 U.S. finish 10. Ashley Priess, Hamilton, Ohio, 58.800
"It feels great (to win the silver medal)," said Bieger, who was third after the preliminaries. "It was wonderful just being out there and representing the United States. I was having so much fun, especially on my floor routine."
"I felt horrible for Chellsie, but I am excited to be in the meet," said Priess. "I am happy with how I did. It is an honor to be one of the best gymnasts in the world."
Bieger's total of 60.750 landed her behind Italy's Vanessa Ferrari's 61.025 and ahead of Romania's Sandra Izbasa's 60.250. Priess posted a total of 58.800 for the all-around.
"We are so proud of Jana and Ashley for their performances today and how well they stepped up," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "We also respect Chellsie for making a difficult decision and providing this great opportunity for Ashley."
"I am happy," said Martha Karolyi, the women's national team coordinator. "Jana did everything we could have asked of her. There was added pressure when Chellsie scratched the meet."
Bieger and Priess started on vault, where they scored a 14.725 and 14.450, respectively, putting Bieger in eighth place and Priess in 13th after the first rotation. On the uneven bars, both U.S. gymnasts had solid performances. Bieger, whose routine has a lot of difficulty, scored a 15.350. Priess' energetic routine was also well done, earning a 15.425. Italy's Ferrari was first at the end of the second rotation, followed by Panpan Pang of China.
Bieger made her move to third after the third rotation. Bieger earned a 15.300 for her beam routine, which includes her back layout step-out where she finishes on one knee. Priess' exceptional beam routine included an impressive sheep jump, posting 15.325. Ferrari's fall on beam allowed Pang to move into first with 45.650. Ferrari was second, with Bieger and Australia's Daria Joura tied for third. Romania's Izbasa was sixth and Priess was seventh.
At the start of the fourth rotation, Pang fell on her vault landing, opening the door for the top slots. Izbasa was the last to vault, earning a 15.025. The drama was in the floor exercise, where the last three to go were Bieger, Ferrari and Priess. Bieger nailed her floor routine, receiving a 15.375. Ferrari answered with a 15.500, clinching her all-around title. Priess was the last to go, and but for a missed landing on her second tumbling pass, would have placed higher in the standings. She received a 13.600.
"Before floor, I just thought to myself, 'This is it. Do it the best you can. Go out and hit your floor routine, and what happens, happens,'" said Bieger.
Andrea Bieger, Jana's mom and coach, said, "She did absolutely great. She hit everything. I never expected this because you never know what is going to come in a competition.
"She did a great job," said A. Bieger, who was a three-time gymnastics Olympian for West Germany. "It is great to have someone that close to you, that you coach, and know that you can count on them to give you 100 percent."
The USA's Nastia Liukin of Parker, Texas, and Memmel will compete in the finals for the uneven bars on Oct. 20, along with Alicia Sacramone of Winchester, Mass., who is in the vault finals. Bieger and Memmel will compete in the floor exercise finals on Oct. 21.
Men's all-around
China's Wei Yang was first in the all-around, followed by Japan's Hiroyuki Tomita and Germany's Fabian Hambuechen. Guillermo Alvarez of Denver finished in 18th place, with Alexander Artemev of Morrison, Colo., in 22nd place.
Alvarez was solid on all six apparatus, despite a small hitch on the pommel horse.
"Guillermo did great," said Ron Brant, men's national team coordinator. "He had a good meet. His routines need a little more difficulty, but he was very poised. He handled himself well for competing in his first World Championships."
"I was fairly pleased," said Alvarez. "I didn't let my nerves get to me too much. My (pommel) horse routine was rocky, but I stayed on. I was very happy to be out there and take in the whole the experience (of the Worlds).
"Gaining experience is one more step to 2008," said Alvarez. "I am willing to put in the work to up my routines and start values."
Artemev was strong on the first two events, vault and parallel bars, and was first going into the third rotation, the horizontal bar. Unfortunately, his high bar routine did not go as planned, with three falls. Artemev bounced back for two of the three remaining events.
"Alex had a nice vault and a good parallel bars," said Brant. "He was on the podium, ready to go on the high bar, when they announced he was leading. It looked like he got nervous. I think he got a little hesitant, and then he just couldn't pull it together, even for a skill he never misses. As a young competitor, he hasn't yet learned that you have to keep your focus and get tougher at a competition like this."
Artemev said, "This meet has shown me that I need to do some work and improve. It was very disappointing to fall on the high bar when I was leading. I learned that everyone makes mistakes, and I've got to improve and stay on the equipment."
Artemev will compete in the pommel horse finals on Oct. 20.
"It is kind of hard to think about the pommel horse right now," said Artemev. "I need to regroup and focus for tomorrow. I've got to motivate myself."
2006 World Championships all-around finals Women 1. Vanessa Ferrari, Italy, 61.025 2. Jana Bieger, Coconut Creek, Fla., 60.750 3. Sandra Raluca Izbasa, Romania, 60.250 U.S. finish 10. Ashley Priess, Hamilton, Ohio, 58.800
U.S. women's scores
Vault
Uneven bars
Balance Beam
Floor exercise
Total
2
Jana Bieger
14.725
15.350
15.300
15.375
60.750
10
Ashley Priess
14.450
15.425
15.325
13.600
58.800
Men
1. Wei Yang, China, 94.400
2. Hiroyuki Tomita, Japan, 93.175
3. Fabian Hambuechen, Germany, 92.975
U.S. finishes
18. Guillermo Alvarez, Denver, 88.175
23. Alexander Artemev, Morrison, Colo., 87.225
U.S. men's scores
Rank
Name
Floor exercise
Pommel horse
Still rings
Vault
Parallel bars
Horizontal bar
Total
18
Guillermo Alvarez
15.375
13.775
14.550
15.725
14.525
14.225
88.175
22
Alexander Artemev
15.075
14.475
14.250
15.750
15.525
12.150
87.225
1 comment:
This Bieger Gym located in Pompano, FL is unethical. The owner Andrea has no ethics. Do not go to this gym. Find another gym. She does not care about your child. She is ONLY interested in your money.
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