As the Official Partner of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), Longines was proud to be the Official Timekeeper for the 45th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, held in Nanning, China. During this world class event, the Swiss watch brand awarded the Longines Prize for Elegance to Kohei Uchimura (Japan), winner of the All-around title for the fifth year in a row and Yao Jinnan (China), silver medallist in the team competition. In addition, Longines Ambassador of Elegance Aaron Kwok came to congratulate the Chinese men’s team on delivering a brilliant performance and winning the World Championships title.

Set up in 1997, this prize is aimed at honoring the most elegant and charismatic sportswomen and men. Apart from purely technical considerations, the criteria applied by the jury are based on grace, harmonious movement and emotion during the performances. The jury was made up of Prof. Bruno Grandi, FIG President, Li Ning, “the King of Gymnastics”, winner of 6 medals in the Olympic Games in 1984 and 6 medals in the 1982 World Cup, Dennis Li, Brand Manager for China and Walter von Känel, President of Longines. The winners of the Longines Prize for Elegance received a trophy, a Longines watch, as well as cheque worth US$ 5,000.

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As tradition would have it, the journalists and photographers present in Nanning were invited to take a stab at designating the Longines Prize for Elegance Jury’s choice for the most elegant male and female gymnast from the respective Individual All-around competitions. Five perceptive journalists guessed right and received the Press Award, which comes with two timepieces from the Swiss watchmaker Longines!

After a drawing of lots, Ma Zhen Yu from Xinhua Press Agency and Qiu Jian Hui from the Liberation Army Daily were deemed the winners of the prestigious watches, one lady and one gent, offered by the watchmaking company in official partnership with the International Gymnastics Federation.

A total of 127 journalists and photographers slid their ballots in the urn at the Nanning Press Centre, among whom only 52 voted for the Japanese and 24 for the Chinese gymnast, while 46 missed the target altogether.

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