2014 Nanning World ChampionshipsOct 12, 2014 by Becca Reed
Recap: Women's Event Finals Day 2 - BB, FX
Recap: Women's Event Finals Day 2 - BB, FX
The 2014 World Championships in Nanning, China concluded today with the second day of event finals with beam and floor competition. Simone Biles won gold on both beam and floor and totaled four gold medals for the 2014 World Championships.
Biles is now tied with Shannon Miller and Nastia Liukin for nine career World Championships medals. Only Alicia Sacramone has more with 10 total.
Beam
Bai Yawen of China was first up on beam and nailed a beautiful set. She performed a round off to layout two feet, a front aerial to sheep jump, a side somi, and dismounted with a double pike. She didn’t have any wobbles and with a 6.2 difficulty value, she earned a 15.033.
Up second was Simone Biles of USA. She looked confident and hit her handspring layout layout series with just a tiny balance check. Other highlights were her 2 1/2 wolf turn and her signature full in dismount that was nearly stuck. She scored a 15.1.
Aliya Mustafina of Russia was next and displayed her elegance and beautiful execution. However, she had a few hesitations and missed many connections including her acro series of a front aerial to front aerial. Instead, she did a front walkover for the second element. She regained composure for his dismount of a solid double tuck but only scored a 14.166 with a 5.5 difficulty score.
Yao Jinnan of China was up fourth and hoping to earn another medal after winning gold on bars yesterday. She missed a connection on her very first sequence and then fell on her series of a handspring, handspring, layout two feet. She ended with a double pike dismount and scored a 13.366.
Fifth up was Ellie Black of Canada. She started with a daring double turn and then a punch front pike. Her first acro series was a handspring to layout two feet and her second was a handspring to tuck full but she landed crooked and wasn’t able to stay on the beam. She finished her routine strong to earn a 13.7.
All-around silver medalist Larisa Iordache of Romania was next with her stylish and crowd pleasing beam routine. However, she was off to a rough start and fell on her first series of a handspring tuck full. She recovered well and nailed her handspring layout series as well as her side somi. She dismounted with her signature round off, back handspring, triple twist but with her fall only scored a 14.066.
All-around bronze medalist Kyla Ross of USA was up next and had a few uncharacteristic mistakes. She was off to shaky start but continued and nailed her series. She had another pause after her switch leap and didn’t connect her back tuck. However, she stayed on the beam and finished with a solid double tuck but only scored a 13.866.
Asuka Teramoto of Japan was up last and only needed a 14.166 to earn a medal. She nailed her handspring, handspring, layout series as well as her side somi. She finished with a beautiful triple twist dismount and scored a 14.1 to finish fourth and just miss out on the podium.
1. Simone Biles - USA - 15.1
2. Bai Yawen - CHN - 15.033
3. Aliya Mustafina - RUS - 14.166
Floor
Claudia Fragapane of Great Britain was up first on floor. She opened with a big layout full in but rebounded out of it and ended up falling to her stomach. She was able to get up quickly and hit the rest of her routine including a beautiful double layout to pike jump and a tucked Arabian double front. She scored a 13.1.
Larisa Iordache of Romania followed with an excellent, energetic routine. She opened with a tuck double double and closed her routine an impressive pike full in for her last pass. She also performed a beautiful triple twist and gorgeous leaps. Her final score was a 14.8.
Simone Biles was next with her incredible routine and she did not disappoint. She opened with a tuck double double with a hop back, continued with a double layout half out and a double layout, and finished with a tuck full in. She got amazing height on her floor passes and easily landed every single one of them. She scored a 15.333 to put her in first and set the bar high for the rest of the competitors.
Up third was Vanessa Ferrari of Italy who performed an impressive routine with great presentation. She opened with a tuck double double and continued with a double layout that landed a little short and she had to step forward to save it. She stuck her tuck full in and performed beautiful leaps and fabulous dance. She scored a 14.666 to put her in third at the time.
Mykayla Skinner was next with her dynamic routine. She opened with her signature layout double double that had incredible power. She continued with a tuck double double, a full in, and finished with a 1 1/2 step out to 2 1/2. Her routine displayed incredible tumbling but also showed major improvements in terms of leaps, dance, and execution. She scored a 14.7 to put her in third behind Biles and Iordache.
Larrissa Miller of Australia was up next with an elegant and classic routine. She opened with a full to front double full and continued with a tuck Arabian double front to stag jump. She had great form and technique and earned a 14.233.
Erika Fasana of Italy was up seventh and opened with a tuck double double. She also performed a double layout and a double pike to score a 13.9.
The last competitor on floor was Aliya Mustafina. She performed a new pass that she hadn’t yet competed at this World Championships of a whip, whip, back handspring, to tuck Arabian double front. She continued with a 2 1/2 to front full and a double tuck. She also performed a beautiful triple turn with her leg held up. She earned a 14.733 to take the bronze medal and push Skinner into fourth place.
1. Simone Biles - USA - 15.333
2. Larisa Iordache - ROU - 14.8
3. Aliya Mustafina - RUS - 14.733
