Friday 23 October 2015
Great Britain’s women are on course for qualification for the Rio Olympics, after finishing their Team qualification competition at the 2015 World Gymnastics Championships in Glasgow in second place.
The five-strong British team of Ruby Harrold, Becky Downie, Ellie Downie, Claudia Fragapane and Amy Tinkler, took to the podium in front of an ecstatic home crowd at the SSE Hydro, knowing they must deliver a strong performance, with a host of other top performing nations, including the USA and China, still to compete on day two (Saturday 24th).
A number of impressive individual performances left Great Britain sitting in second place with a score of 227.162 and a top eight finish required to secure their Olympic berth.
Great Britain’s Becky Downie was pleased with the team performance saying: “From a team perspective I am really happy, the girls did an amazing job. I am really confident that after today we will get that top eight qualification. There’s still a day to go, but from a team perspective we have all done our job.”
Teammate Amy Tinkler was also hopeful of a top eight finish, “I am really happy, so proud of everyone. We did the best job we could. We have all worked really hard and we deserve to make the team final, but I guess whatever happens, happens.”
Day one of the team qualification also included the mighty Russia and Romania, who finished third and fourth respectively at the 2014 World Championships in Nanning, China.
It was business as usual for the Russian gymnasts who delivered a number of strong routines to finish day one of qualification in first place scoring, 231.437. However the day didn’t go as planned for the usually on-point Romanian team, which includes three time world medallist Larissa Iordache. A number of errors including uncharacteristic falls on the uneven bars, left the Romanian team in eighth place with a score of 217.220.
However there was joy for the Italian women’s team who finished in third scoring 224.452.
Day 1 Team Qualification Standings
1. Russia 231.437
2. Great Britain 227.162
3. Italy 224.452
4. Japan 223.863
5. Canada 222.780
6. Brazil 221.861
7. Germany 219.261
8. Romania 217.220
Great Britain’s women’s team will have to sit tight for another 24 hours and can only look on as USA, China, North Korea, Belgium and others get their World Championship campaigns underway.
Reigning Olympic champions, USA, are aiming to make it back to back World Championships Team gold, whilst their top performer Simone Biles will also be pushing the boundaries, determined to be the first woman to capture three world All-Around titles in a row.
China who finished in second at the 2014 World Championships on home soil, behind the USA, will also be looking to put down a marker and qualify well up the order for the Team final.