Russia’s Aliya Mustafina who went to the final as the reigning World balance beam champion, controversially won a bronze medal over Japan’s Asuka Teramoto.
The Russian gymnast missed several connections and the acrobatic series requirement, she also had wobbles here and there.
Teramoto who scored lower than Mustafina by just less than a tenth of a point, filed an inquiry hoping to bump up her D score from a 5.6 to a 5.8, but the judges rejected it.
Mustafina’s win was marred by controversy. Several gymnastics fans and international gymnasts felt that the bronze medal belonged to Teramoto.
“So sad for Teramoto of Japan, as much as I love Mustafina that last routine deserved the bronze.” wrote the reigning uneven bars European champion Rebecca Downie of Great Britain on Twitter.
“Teramoto from Japan definitely deserved that Bronze medal over Musty” World finalist Ruby Harrold of Great Britain tweeted.
“I knew my beam routine was not the most difficult one and I had no expectations to make it to the podium today. It was sheer luck.” said Aliya after the competition.
China’s Bai Yawen whose coach hinted that she might be taken out of the balance beam final since it was believed she had a lower chance of medalling that her other teammates, won a silver medal with a flawless routine.
The gold went to US Simone Biles who dominated day two of the event finals. Moments later, she successfully defended her World title on floor exercise. After only two Worlds where she won nine medals, Simone is tied with Shannon Miller and Nastia Liukin for the second-highest tally of World Championship medals (among US gymnasts).
Romania’s Larisa Iordache who was one the favorites to win the balance beam gold, just like last year had a fall then redeemed herself on floor exercise. With a silver on the apparatus, she leaves Worlds with two silver medals.
Aliya Mustafina knocked US Mykayla Skinner out of the podium and added another bronze to her medal collection. With eleven medals, Aliya is the ninth most decorated female gymnast at Worlds.
Full results:
Women’s Finals – Balance Beam Results | |||
Rk | Name | NOC | Total |
1 | BILES Simone | USA |
15.100
|
2 | BAI Yawen | CHN |
15.033
|
3 | MUSTAFINA Aliya | RUS |
14.166
|
4 | TERAMOTO Asuka | JPN |
14.100
|
5 | IORDACHE Larisa Andreea | ROU |
14.066
|
6 | ROSS Kyla | USA |
13.866
|
7 | BLACK Elsabeth | CAN |
13.700
|
8 | YAO Jinnan | CHN |
13.366
|
Women’s Finals – Floor Live Results | |||
Rk | Name | NOC | Total |
1 | BILES Simone | USA |
15.333
|
2 | IORDACHE Larisa Andreea | ROU |
14.800
|
3 | MUSTAFINA Aliya | RUS |
14.733
|
4 | SKINNER Mykayla | USA |
14.700
|
5 | FERRARI Vanessa | ITA |
14.666
|
6 | MILLER Larrissa | AUS |
14.233
|
7 | FASANA Erika | ITA |
13.900
|
8 | FRAGAPANE Claudia | GBR |
13.100
|