Belarus, Russia and Portugal golden in Las Vegas

The world’s top acrobatic gymnasts continued their World Cup programme in the US last weekend. Fresh off their victory in front of their home fans in Maia, Portuguese women’s pair Rita Ferreira and Ana Rita Teixeira hit the jackpot in Las Vegas as well while their compatriots Henrique Piqueiro, Miguel Silva, Henrique Silva and Frederico Silva settled for silver behind the spectacular Chinese men’s group.

In a closely contested – the difference between first and third place was a mere 0.160- Russian talents Kirill Startsev and Viktoria Aksenova scored their third World Cup victory in a row, beating Belarussians Artur Beliakou and Volha Melnik and their own teammates Kirill Volynkin and Madina Zakariaeva who performed the highest difficulty.

Belarussian women’s group Yulia Ivonchyk, Veranika Nabokina and Karina Sandovich claimed the gold medal after collecting silver and bronze in the two previous World Cup events. The trio placed first thanks to their 9.100 for artistry, finishing ahead of their teammates Sofia Belmach, Daria Niamarskaya and Angelina Tsiukha and Ukrainian newcomers Inna Kaplanska, Iryna Khyzhniak and Olena Vykhovanets.

2017 World Games Champions Tim Sebastian and Michail Kraft settled for silver again, like in Maia, in the men’s pair competition, trailing the Kazak men by just a hundredth of a point. Great Britain’s Finlay Gray and Frazer Windows upgraded from fourth in Maia to third in Las Vegas, proudly winning their first senior international medal.

Results

Women’s pair

1. Rita Ferreira & Rita Teixeira (POR) 28.370
2. Katelyn Dullard & Tori Singleton (AUS) 27.170
3. Anelya Nurzhanova & Yuliya Prosvetova (KAZ) 26.440
4. Emily Davis & Aubrey Rosilier (USA) 24.430

 

Men’s pair

1. Daniyel Dil & Vadim Shulyar (KAZ) 28.450
2. Michail Kraft & Tim Sebastian (GER) 28.440
3. Finlay Gray & Frazer Windows (GBR) 28.260
4. Artsiom Yashchanka & Aliaksei Zayats (BLR) 28.040
5. Daniyar Muslimov & Sultanbek Naisbayev (KAZ) 27.930
6. Jamie Jeffery & Aidan Lim (GBR) 25.230

 

Mixed pair

1. Kirill Startsev & Viktoria Aksenova (RUS) 29.970
2. Artur Beliakou & Volha Melnik (BLR) 29.910
3. Kirill Volynkin & Madina Zakariaeva (RUS) 29.810
4. Konstantin Evstafeev & Hanna Kasyan (BLR) 29.350
5. Filip Bucki & Julia Fajfur (POL) 27.850
6. Finlay Cochrane & Kirsten Owen (GBR) 27.770
7. Aisley Boynton & Sean Obley (USA) 26.270
8. Nikita Amoskin & Anastasiya Dolganyuk (KAZ) 25.150

 

Women’s group

1. Yulia Ivonchyk, Veranika Nabokina & Karina Sandovich (BLR) 29.670
2. Sofia Belmach, Daria Niamarskaya & Angelina Tsiukha (BLR) 28.620
3. Inna Kaplanska, Iryna Khyzhniak & Olena Vykhovanets (UKR) 28.480
4. Sarah Arndt, Anika Liebelt & Vanessa Riffel (GER) 27.280
5. Elanor Chang, Grace Vonder Haar & Kayla Vonder Haar (USA) 26.920

 

Men’s group

1. Zhi Fu, Pei Guo, Heng Jiang & Junshuo Zhang (CHN) 30.910
2. Henrique Piqueiro, Miguel Silva, Henrique Silva & Frederico Silva (POR) 29.830
3. Artem Balashov, Aleksandr Doronin, Nikolay Fedosov & Vladislav Sherstnev (RUS) 28.450

 

The World Cup circuit in Acrobatic Gymnastics continues in Puurs (BEL) from 12 to 14 April!