AZTEC-GOLD!

BY PHILIPPE SILACCI

At the opening of this mundial, pride and emotion were written on the face of Organising Federation President Gustavo Salazar as Mexico hosted its first World Championship under the banner of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), which Mexican gymnasts have been affiliated with since 1946. A date with history, and an organising federation delighted to see one of its own gymnasts strike gold!

Like a return on an investment...

The event is of particular importance since it unfolds for the first time on the New Continent. This broadening of horizons did not escape the discipline’s president, Mireille Ganzin of France, who is savouring the upswing of Aerobics.

THE MEXICAN EXAMPLE

The mundial is proof of the Mexican Federation’s emergence among gymnastics’ elite hierarchy. Mexico is present in the FIG authorities with Alejandro Peniche, Executive Committee Member; Naomi Valenzo, Women’s Technical Committee Vice President and Aldrin Rodriguez, Athletes Commission Aerobic Delegate. Through the organisation of the 79th FIG Congress in 2012 – a congress that holds the record for participation with 106 of the FIG’s 132 national federations represented - the Mexican Federation is active in several sectors and leads the Latin American pack as a dynamic and enterprising federation.

An example to follow.

 

 

 

INDIVIDUAL MEN

CANTA NO LLORE!

 

 

​Josefath Veloz (MEX)Daniel Bali (HUN)Benjamin Garavel (FRA)

 

 

Emotion and anxiety rippled through the Mexican public as they waited for their qualified gymnast to perform in this Individual final. Much the same was the emotion and enormous pressure felt by Ivan Veloz Velazquez.

The gymnast didn’t flinch, delivering a flawless performance in ‘his’ Worlds on ‘his’ turf - in Mexico. Champion in this final, Ivan was given a standing ovation, not only by the public, but also by the other athletes who immediately struck up a round of ‘Canta no llore’. His is the first Mexican medal in the history of Aerobic Gymnastics! And his national federation cashes in.

Benjamin Garavel (FRA) made a valiant effort in his pursuit of an individual title. Powerful and determined, the French gymnast was foiled in the end; neither his experience nor his talent could save the day.

Daniel Bali (HUN) surprised everyone with an exercise of rare quality. Jury and public applauded, making this his first significant result at the senior elite level.

 

 

INDIVIDUAL WOMEN

PREMIERE FOR AUSTRIA!

 

​Lubov Gazov (AUT)Oana Corina Constantin (ROU)Aurelie Joly (FRA)

 

In a hall sizzling with the traditional Eight Count - Aerobic’s acoustic ‘mascot’ – the first finalists in the 13th World Championships stepped out onto the floor. Attending the final were FIG President Prof. Bruno Grandi and his prestigious guest, the President of the Mexican Olympic Committee Carlos Padilla Becerra. (p35)

It was the consecration of Austria’s Lubov Gazov. Bronze medallist from the 2012 Worlds, the gymnast left no room for victory to title-holder Sara Moreno (ESP), who proved totally off the grid in this final. It was also an historic premiere world title for Austria! Gazov is powerful, elegant, boasts great technique, and was deeply moved by the enthusiasm shown by the public at the end of her performance. Her victory comes well deserved!

And Lubi came back from the dark side! She was nearly eliminated after a fall in qualifications. Why? Extremely high humidity in the hall and the effects that had on a floor which in some places had turned dangerously slick!

 

MIXED PAIRS

NEXT IN LINE

 

​Marius Ciprian Petruse /
Maria Bianca Becze (ROU)Benjamin Garave Aurelie Joly (FRA)Denis Solovev / Dukhik Dzhanazyan (RUS)

 

The choreography presented by Romanian pair Maria Bianca Becze and Marius Ciprian Petruse sent waves of appreciation through the grandstands and jury. An 8.725 execution score backed that up. These gymnasts confirmed that their first place on the FIG ranking list is anything but luck. Their World title comes well deserved and applauded.

Gold medallists from the World Games in Cali (COL) in 2013 (tied with Spain, Romania and Vietnam - all present in Cancun), Aurélie Joly and Benjamin Garavel (FRA) were given no glory, likely because their execution was inferior to that of the Romanians.

Classic third place for Dukhik Dzhanazian and Denis Soloviev (RUS), title-holding European champions. Disappointment, however, for Sara Moreno and Vicente Lli Lloris (ESP), two-time world champions in 2010 in Rodez (FRA) and 2012 in Sofia (BUL). The end of an excellent career?

 

TRIOS

FEMALE COUP D’ÉTAT

 

​Oana Corina Constantin /Anca Claudia Surdu /Andreea Bogati (ROU)Whang Zizhuo /  Mingzhe
Han /  Lei Che (CHN)Kim Hanjin / Go Kyungmin /Ryu Jusun (KOR)

 

Trio competitions are always a favourite with fans and the Cancun events were no exception.

The final reached a mind-blowing high, dominated by Romania 1 with Oana Corina Constantin, who only minutes earlier was handed an Individual Silver.

It is worth noting that since the 2004 worlds in Sofia, the world title had not left planet… Mars! Until this edition in Cancun, that is, when the charming Romanian trio straight off Venus snatched victory from the hands of their male nemeses from China and Korea. The Balkan country wears the crown shared equally two years ago by China and Korea, just ahead of – wait for it - Romania!

What goes around comes around!

 

​RomaniaFrancePeople’s Republic of China

 

GROUPS

ROMANIA ON CLOUD 9!

 

The Romanians are working their magic again. The all-female group dominated the final with amazing artistic interpretation.

Staff members Mircea Brinzea and Mariana Mezei conjured results to vie with an incredible investment – something we had picked up on the night before. Romania is more convincing with execution than degree of difficulty, intense though it may be.

Poles apart was Maison France. If this group was able to demonstrate a technical level superior to its adversaries, execution lagged behind. And in a final of this level, the devil is in the details.

China was placed third in the final, but with no silver lining. Two thousandths of a point shy of the Silver is something they’ll likely regret.

 

AEROBIC DANCE

VICTORY IN MUSIC

 

​Russian FederationPeople’s Republic of ChinaRepublic of Korea

 

Dance and step have been a part of the Aerobic programme since Sofia 2012. Yet it was in Cancun in 2014 that the two first World titles were officially awarded.

The first Gold medal went to Russia. There’s no question this group remembered the FIG Workshop on music and its impact on exercise contribution. These gymnasts immersed themselves in their musical selection and rolled out an exercise tailored to fit a well-balanced medley. When music is the inspiration the World title is clinched by the coda! Russia’s victory came over China who, while motivated, lacked in execution.

Eight gymnasts in an aerobic dance group are a fertile field for choreographers who let their imaginations run wild in the creation of accomplished, original sequences that delight a demanding public! Korea is a perfect example of this and they pocketed a much-deserved Bronze. The only letdown came for Romania, who remained podium-less.

 

AEROBIC STEP

STEP BY STEP!

 

​People’s Republic of ChinaRussia FederationFrance

 

As spectacular as ever, Step is the only category in Aerobics that makes use of equipment, and choreographers are keen on wielding it to their advantage with imaginative moves aimed at seducing jury and public alike.

China masters the category, and proved it once again with a world title over Russia and France. No one’s arguing. Through their artistic content and unique interpretation, they carried the day.

Mongolia, third in Sofia in 2012, was unable to keep up. The group has fallen into obscurity in every category. Disappointing for a fun bunch of gymnasts - who double as engineers fresh out of the same university, no less!

 

 TEAMS

‘LA MARSEILLAISE’
OPENS THE BALL!

 

​FranceRomaniaPeople’s Republic of China

 

At the close of qualifications, a ranking is established by adding the top five places obtained across the various categories, which determines the world hierarchy for registered teams.

This time around, France took the team title ahead of Romania and China. The tricolored flag waving to strains of ‘La Marseillaise’ was largely do to the efforts and talent of Aurélie Joly and Benjamin Garavel, whose participation and results obtained in individuals, pairs, mixed, trios and groups contributed to the French victory.