With Olympics looming, Mamun seals FIG Rhythmic World Cup series title
24/07/2016With just two weeks before the curtain rises on the Rio Olympic Games, Margarita Mamun became the star of the AGF Trophy in Baku. At the final World Cup stop on the Road to Rio, Mamun defeated three-time World champion Yana Kudryavtseva in the All-around for the second time this month, sewing up the 2016 FIG World Cup series title at the same time.
Mamun takes a front seat to Kudryavtseva in Baku
Mamun, the reigning World silver medallist, has most often placed second to Kudryavtseva at big international competitions. But during the past month, the 20-year-old from Moscow has charged to the forefront of her sport, beating her friend and training partner at two consecutive World Cup events, first in Kazan two weeks ago and this past weekend in the Azeri capital. The margin between the two in Baku was miniscule, with Mamun prevailing by a single tenth of a point.
Kudryavtseva, for her part, did not take defeat lying down. She roared back in event finals, scoring an exceptional 19.450 for her Hoop routine, which the judges awarded a 9.75 for execution. On that apparatus alone, she was nearly a point ahead of Mamun, who received 18.550. The two tied for gold with the Clubs and the Ribbon, receiving identical 19.400s for both events.
Baku's bronze stars: Soldatova, Moustafaeva, Durunda, Rivkin
Russia's Aleksandra Soldatova, winner of two World Cup events earlier this season, settled for All-around bronze behind Mamun and Kudryavtseva and added silver with the Ball. With Mamun or Kudryavtseva or both occupying the top spots everywhere else, the remaining bronzes were divvied up by France's Kseniya Moustafaeva (Hoop and Clubs), Israel's Neta Rivkin (Ball) and Azerbaijan's Marina Durunda (Ribbon).
Russia revels in Group golds
Russia, the reigning Olympic champions in Rhythmic Group competition, went two-for-three in Baku, walking out with the All-around title as well as a gold medal for their 3 Clubs/2 Hoops performance on the gilded carpet in Baku.
But in the 5 Ribbons final, the Russians found themselves edged by Israel, whose superior execution gave them the title after they settled for silver in the All-around. Spain and Italy, two Groups who harbor hopes of mounting the medal podium in Rio each mounted the podium twice in Baku: the Italians with bronze in the All-around and silver with the Clubs/Hoops. The Spanish, for their part, were awash in bronze in both event finals.
Mamun and Russia, queens of the Rhythmic World Cup series
World Cup series rankings are determined by a points system correlated to the standings at World Cup events.
Her wins in Baku, as well as at the past three World Cups she entered before that, cemented Mamun's coronation over Kudryavtseva as the 2016 FIG World Cup series winner in the All-around. Additionally, Mamun is the 2016 World Cup series titlist with the Hoop, Clubs and Ribbon. Soldatova won the series title with the Ball.
The Russian Group, the defending Olympic champions, took World Cup series champions in the All-around as well as with the 5 Ribbons. Though absent from Baku, the rising Belarussian Group became the series champions with the Clubs and Hoops.
Related: Results from the AGF Trophy can be found here.
Related Events
Date | Title | City | Discipline | |
---|---|---|---|---|
05/08/2016 21/08/2016 | Games of the XXXI Olympiad | RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA) | MAG, WAG, RG, TRA | |
22/07/2016 24/07/2016 | World Cup 2016 Cat. B AGF Trophy | BAKU (AZE) | RG |