Just like Simone Biles, Aliya Mustafina is making her own comeback. The Russian is back to competing just 16 months after giving birth to daughter Alisa. While there were doubts over how she would perform at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, the seven-time Olympic medallist and 2010 world All-around champion showed little effects of motherhood as she led Russia to team finals at the Aspire Dome yesterday.
“I was missing the emotions, the equipment, the girls, everything. When you become a mother, your life doesn’t end,” Mustafina said, after guiding a young Russian team to second place in qualifying. The 24-year-old had to shepherd three rookies — 18-year-old Angelina Melnikova, and 16-year-olds Irina Alekseeva and Angelina Simakova — who were nervous to perform on the big stage. The nervousness was laid bare when Angelina Simakova scored zero points on Vault as she did not land her feet first and then fell on Uneven Bars.
But Mustafina steadied the ship with clinical routine in Uneven Bars, Floor Exercise and Balance Beam as Russia finished with a team score of 165.497 points, just ahead of China (165.196). However, Russia’s total was nearly nine points behind the Americans, who dominated the qualifications on Saturday thanks to Biles’ brilliance. The women’s finals are scheduled for tomorrow, and Biles will lead an American squad that is heavily favoured to continue a winning streak that dates back to the 2011 World Championships
Alekseeva, who earned a spot in the All-around final after being 12th in qualifying, was confident the Russian team will perform better in the final. “It’s just qualifications and it’s the first day, so of course we had a little bit of nerves,” she said. “So we’ll hope to get rid of those for the team final.”
China was below par yesterday, committing mistakes in its traditionally two strongest apparatus – Uneven Bars and Balance Beam. But it was still good enough to finish third.
One Chinese gymnast fell on Uneven Bars, and two of them struggled on Beam, but all-arounder Chen Yile predicted a better result in team final. “I think the whole team will do much better in the final,” Chen said. “We all have trust in each other. We will try our best to get a medal.”
Meanwhile, Canada qualified fourth with veteran Ellie Black leading the team’s charge as they totalled 163.897 points. Black, the 2017 Worlds silver medallist, qualified sixth in All-around.
“I’m very proud of how everyone in the team did,” said Black. “They all held themselves up high — chins up and had a positive attitude — and really put it all out there.”
Brazil, Japan, France and Germany made the top eight to qualify for the final. There was disappointment for Britain as they missed out on final place by just 0.107 points and finished ninth. Kelly Simm, Georgia-Mae Fenton, Alice Kinsella, Ellie Downie and Becky Downie combined to score a team total of 160.964 points. Britain had finishing fifth at the 2016 Olympics. The result means Britain will not have representation in a world championships women’s team final for the first time since 2006.
There were standout performances from Becky Downie, who produced a stunning Bars routine to qualify for the individual final, while her sister Ellie showed her credentials in All-around to seal her place in the final alongside Simm.
“It was a tough competition. It’s not been the easiest of years for us with injuries to some of our key players. We’ve given it all we’ve got and we can’t really ask for more than that,” Becky said. “It’s the first time they’ve come into a team world championships and that kind of pressure.”
“We’ll go back and look at where we can improve and take it from there. Don’t write us off. There’s still a whole year until qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and, if anything, it’s just going to make us work harder,” she added.
Today, the men’s team final will be held in the evening.
More than 500 gymnasts from 76 nations are taking part in the World Championship, which is being staged in the Middle East for the first time. Along with 42 world championship medals, the three medal-winning nations in the team finals for both men and women will earn team berths directly to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Russia’s Aliya Mustafina. PICTURE: Thajudheen
