2019 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships

Simone Biles, Carlos Yulo Make History In Worlds Event Finals

Simone Biles, Carlos Yulo Make History In Worlds Event Finals

On the first day of event finals at the 2019 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, Simone BIles and Carlos Yulo made history with their event titles.

Oct 14, 2019 by Amanda Wijangco
Simone Biles, Carlos Yulo Make History In Worlds Event Finals

The first day of event finals at the 2019 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships was historic and exciting for both the men and women. Simone Biles continued to set new records as she added to her record-breaking medal haul with vault gold. Carlos Yulo became the first Philippine gymnastics world champion with his win on floor. 

Carlos Yulo becomes first Philippine World champion

After his worlds debut last year, where he earned a bronze medal on floor, Yulo improved his result and his gymnastics to beat veterans for the men's floor world title. His floor routine consisted of lots of clean twisting and landings, reminiscent of the training he does with the Japanese men's gymnasts.

Yulo became the Philippines' first world medalist in gymnastics last year with his bronze on floor, and now he is continuing to make more history for the Philippines in the world of artistic gymnastics. The lone Philippine gymnast competing at worlds earned a 15.300 to win the gold.

Israel's Artem Dolgopyat wasn't far behind the young Filipino with a strong 15.200, giving him his second silver medal on floor. Dolgopyat also won silver on the event in 2017 in Montreal. China's Xiao Ruoteng earned the bronze with a 14.933.

USA dominates women's vault

With two excellent vaults, including a near-stuck Amanar, Simone Biles won her 23rd world gold medal and her third vault title. Biles earned an average of 15.399 to win. U.S. teammate Jade Carey earned silver after two good vaults scored an average of 14.833. Great Britain's Ellie Downie won her first individual world medal with the bronze. Downie had one of the best Cheng vaults in the final and scored an average of 14.816.

Whitlock wins again on pommel horse

Last year in Doha, Great Britain's Max Whitlock was unable to secure his third world gold medal on pommel horse, earning silver after a tiebreak. But he has put himself back on top this year in Stuttgart with an excellent pommel horse routine scoring a 15.500 for the gold medal. 

The pommel horse final was quite exciting, competitive, and close with many high-scoring routines. Lee Chih Kai of Chinese Taipei won the silver medal with a 15.433. The bronze medal went to Rhys McClenaghan of Ireland, who has officially won his first world medal with a score of 15.400. McClenaghan is the first Irish gymnast to qualify to a world event final and has officially qualified to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with his podium finish.

Derwael defends uneven bars title

After a close uneven bars final that came down to the final routine, Belgium's Nina Derwael successfully defended her worlds uneven bars title with a 15.233. All three bars medalists hit routines full of great connections as the silver medal went to Great Britain's Becky Downie with a 15.000 and the bronze went to USA's Sunisa Lee with a 14.800. 

Still rings medalists qualify to Tokyo

As the world championships the year before the Olympics, Stuttgart 2019 has Olympic berths on the line, and all three still rings medalists punched their tickets to the Tokyo Olympics by placing on the event as none of the men are from countries who qualified a team during the meet.

The still rings final was another nail biter. Turkey's Ibrahim Colak won the gold with a 14.933, giving him his first and his country's first world medal. Earning silver with a 14.900 was Italy's Marco Lodadio. France's Samir Ait Said scored a 14.800 for the bronze, also winning his first world medal.