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Olympic Artistic Gymnastics Recaps: 28 July (Day 9)

Men's Individual Event Final/Floor Exercise

MELISSANIDIS Carries the Weight, Wins His Gold for Greece

Ioannis MELISSANIDIS, who before the competition said he carried the hopes of Greece on his shoulders, performed a flawless and flexible routine to win the gold medal in the floor exercise in the men's gymnastics event finals. The only performer from Greece in the men's competition, MELISSANIDIS scored a 9.850 as the judges favored his artistic, fluid motions and solid tumbling. Taking second was the men's all-around gold medal winner, LI Xiaoshuang of China, whose routine was more difficult and spectacular but not as precise, scoring a 9.837. Alexei NEMOV of Russia took the bronze at 9.800.

Individual Medal Winners: Gold - Ioannis MELISSANIDIS (GRE), 9.850; Silver - LI Xiaoshuang (CHN) , 9.837; Bronze - Alexei NEMOV (RUS), 9.800.

"Before I saluted the judges," said Ioannis MELISSANIDIS, "I said to myself, I'm not in the U.S., I'm not in the U.S., I'm in Athens. The people were so friendly, so kind, I felt like I was in Greece. I had to be perfect for Greece. I was not Ioannis MELISSANIDIS, I was Greece."


Women's Individual Event Final/Vault

AMANAR Wins Romania's First Gold

The Romanian gymnastics team took the bronze medal in the team competition and won a silver and two bronze medals in the all-around, but it was Simona AMANAR who won her country's first gold, winning the vault competition in the women's event finals. The final gymnast to compete, AMANAR opened with a strong 9.875. On her second vault, she took a small step on her landing and scored 9.775, but her average of 9.825 won the gold medal ahead of MO Hulian of China at 9.768 and another Romanian, Gina GOGEAN at 9.750.

Individual Medal Winners: Gold - Simona AMANAR (ROM), 9.825; Silver - MO Hulian (CHN), 9.768; Bronze - Gina GOGEAN (ROM), 9.750.

"For the team competition I was a bit too nervous," said silver medal winner MO Hulian. "For the all-around I tried my best. In vault finals, many of the others made mistakes, I was luckier. On the floor final, I will be the eighth to go, and I think that will be an advantage."


Men's Individual Event Final/Pommel Horse

Donghua LI Waits, Wins Gold for Switzerland

Donghua LI, who waited five years to become a citizen of and compete for Switzerland, waited Sunday night for three other gymnasts to take their turns before his 9.875 effort on the pommel horse held up for the gold medal. LI, the oldest gymnastics competitor at the 1996 Olympic Games, turned in the most difficult routine, completing it solidly to win his first Olympic medal. The silver medal winner was Marius URZICA of Romania at 9.825 and the bronze medals went to Alexei NEMOV of Russia at 9.787.

Individual Medal Winners: Gold - Donghua LI (SUI), 9.875; Silver - Marius URZICA (ROM), 9.825; Bronze - Alexei NEMOV (RUS), 9.787.

"I am 29 years old and I have had many injuries, so this wasn't easy for me," said Olympic champion Donghua LI, "I never gave up despite all my injuries. This is an incredible accomplishment for me. We are expecting a child now, so this medal is for my wife and my child."


Women's Individual Event Final/Uneven Bars

Tallest and Smallest Medal on the Uneven Bars

Svetlana CHORKINA of Russia, the tallest gymnast competing in the women's event finals, has an unmatched elegance that helped her win the gold medal on the uneven bars in Sunday's event finals. Her score of 9.850 narrowly defeated the 9.837 scored by the smallest gymnast competing, BI Wenjiing of China. For the event finals, BI threw a risky Gaylord -- a somersault over the high bar more common to men's high bar competition. Amy CHOW of the USA, performing flawlessly, also scored a 9.837 to share the silver medal with BI. CHOW, who almost didn't make the USA team, earned her second medal. The United States team won the gold on 25 July.

Individual Medal Winners: Gold - Svetlana CHORKINA (RUS), 9.850; Silver - BI Wenjiing (CHN) and Amy CHOW (USA), 9.837.

"It doesn't feel much to be an Olympic champion," said Svetlana CHORKINA. "I don't yet realize how important this competition is. I probably will when I get back home. The inhabitants of Belgorod [her hometown] will carry me through the town. Yes, there will be a big party."


Men's Individual Event Final/Rings

CHECHI Takes Gold Home to Italy

Yuri CHECHI of Italy celebrated as soon as he completed his dismount and did not wait long to see his score, a 9.887 that earned him the gold medal on the still rings in the men's event finals. The favorite on the apparatus, CHECHI has been undefeated since 1992 but was injured and unable to compete in Barcelona. The last gymnast to compete, CHECHI turned in a powerful routine. His score edged that of Dan BURINCA of Romania and Szilveszter CSOLLANY of Hungary, who both scored 9.812 and both took home silver medals.

Individual Medal Winners: Gold - Yuri CHECHI (ITA), 9.887; Silver - Dan BURINCA (ROM) and Szilveszter CSOLLANY (HUN), 9.812.

"I have waited a long time," said Yuri CHECHI. "When I was going to Barcelona, I was injured three weeks before the competition, and I was very, very disappointed. This is my event. To win a gold medal was very important to me, and it was something worth waiting for."


This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department.


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An estimated 5.3 million visted Centennial Olympic Park between opening day - 13 July - and closing day - 4 August, making the park the most single most visited Olympic site during the Games.