2013 Dutch Friendly in Alphen aan den Rijn

Bulimar, Wevers Shine at 2013 Dutch Friendly Meet

Sep 2, 2013 by Anne Phillips

During this weekend's Dutch Friendly meet, Sanne Wevers of the Netherlands displayed one of the most interesting beam routines we've seen so far this quadrennium. She earns the majority of her difficulty score with unique elements like full twisting back handsprings and risky turn elements. Most impressively, she competes a triple turn at the very end of the routine!

Watch Wevers's bronze medal winning beam routine during the Dutch friendly event finals. Her score was a 14.333 (5.7/8.633).

Wevers has always been known for her beam routines packed with difficult turns and even has a turning skill named for her. At the 2010 World Championships in her home country, Wevers successfully competed a double L turn on beam. That element has since been named the "Wevers" and is valued as an E element.

With an upgraded dismount, Wevers could contend for a place in the World Championships event finals. The meet results state that Wevers earned a 6.20 D score on qualification day, half a point higher than her event finals routine.

Photo: Diana Bulimar training floor at the 2011 World Championships

This competition served as a tune up for the upcoming World Championships to be held later this month in Belgium. Romania's Diana Bulimar was the overall star of the competition and looks ready for Antwerp. Bulimar easily won the all around (57.533), and earned gold medals on beam (14.533), and floor (14.30). Ruby Harrold of Great Britain dominated the uneven bars competition with an exciting routine to score 14.767. The vault competition lacked depth and Chatysha Netteb of the Netherlands took the title with a 14.400.

Also of note, after being named alternate to the 2012 British Olympic team, 2008 Olympian Becky Downie looks to be in great form. Downie finished second on uneven bars, her key event, and was the surprise silver medalist on balance beam.

Top 3 Event Finals results, via the couch gymnast:

Vault

1 Chantysha Netteb Netherlands 14.400 (5.3 9.300 0.0 9.000 0.0 5.2)

2 Wyomi Masela Netherlands 14.234 (5.3 8.867 0.0 8.700 0.0 5.6)

3 Kelly Simm Great Britain 14.100 (5.8 8.900 0.0 8.900 0.0 4.6)

Uneven Bars

1 Ruby Harrold Great Britain 14.767 (6.3 8.467 0.0) [video]

2 Rebecca Downie Great Britain 13.833 (6.6 7.233 0.0) [video]

3 Diana Bulimar Romania 13.733 (5.5 8.233 0.0) [video]

Balance Beam

1 Diana Bulimar Romania 14.533 (6.0 8.533 0.0) [video]

2 Rebecca Downie Great Britain 14.400 (5.9 8.500 0.0) [video]

3 Sanne Wevers Netherlands 14.333 (5.7 8.633 0.0) [video]

Floor

1 Diana Bulimar Romania 14.300 (5.7 8.600 0.0) [video]

2 Sandra Izbasa Romania 14.133 (6.1 8.133 0.1) [video]

3 Rebecca Tunney Great Britain 13.800 (5.8 8.000 0.0) [video]