FIG President Morinari Watanabe (centre) waves the FIG flag after receiving the same from Ali Al Hitmi (left), the Executive Director of the Organising Committee of Doha Worlds and also President of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation during the closing cerem
Doha: Simone Biles clinched two more podium finishes including a gold medal on the final day to write more history as 48th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships Doha 2018 concluded after 10 days of thrilling action.
Biles, marking her return to international competitions after a 14-month break, secured floor gold and a bronze medal in balance beam to wrap up Doha Worlds with a total of six medals. She will return home with four gold medals, one silver and a bronze medal.
With her medals tally in Doha, Biles eclipsed Russia’s Svetlana Khorkina as the most decorated female artistic gymnast in World Championships.
Both have won 20 world medals apiece, but Biles went ahead due to the higher number of gold medals (14) as compared to Khorkina’s haul of nine.
By winning medals in all the six events, the 21-year-old also became the first women to earn six podium finishes since 1987 when Soviet Union’s Yelena Shushunova achieved the same feat.
“I am definitely very happy, especially to win a medal in every event. No matter what colour the medal, I’m really proud of myself,” Biles said while commenting on her overall performance yesterday.
“It feel really rewarding because I’ve put a lot of hard work and dedication into this sport, so I couldn’t be happier. I’m really proud of my performances here. I wish some of them would have been better but I’m really proud of the outcome,” she added.
The American superstar, who was competing in Doha with a kidney stone, added colour to the historic World Championships with her superb performances. It was the first ever World Championships to be staged in the Middle East with Qatar once again reaffirming its commitment to deliver the best.
“Doha hosted an amazing World Championships. It was unique competition in many ways. I would like to congratulate the organisers for hosting the event successfully,” FIG President Morinari Watanabe said while speaking at an impressive closing ceremony of the event yesterday.
Ali Al Hitmi, the Executive Director of the Organising Committee of Doha Worlds and also President of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation said: “We have succeeded in providing an exceptionally well organised event which has exceeded expectations and the specified criteria.”
Floor triumph for Biles, Tinging rules in balance beam
On another day of packed house at Aspire Dome yesterday, Epke Zonderland, Zou Jingyuan, Se Gwang Ri and Liu Ting Ting also clinched world titles apart from Biles on the last day.
Biles did not face much difficulty in dethroning Japan’s Mai Murakami in floor final for her record 14th world title.
She tallied 14.933 points for a gold medal followed by team-mate Morgan Hurd (13.933) and Japan’s Mai Murakami (13.866).
However, the American gymnast fell behind in the balance beam with China’s Tingting emerging as a surprise winner.
The 18-year-old Tingting coming as the last contestant amassed 14.533 points to overcome Canada’s Anne-Maries Padurariu (14.100 points) and Biles (13.600 points).
This was Tingting’s second medal in the event after winning a bronze in the women’s team final.
“I just kept telling myself, ‘Calm down, calm down.’ I didn’t think of a medal. I just believed in myself and tried my best. I feel so incredible,” said the Chinese gymnast.
Zonderland takes gold in HB, silver for Uchimura
Dutchman Epke Zonderland continued his domination in horizontal bars to take gold medal after earning 15.100 points.
Japanese legend Kohei Uchimura claimed his first individual medal in the event by grabbing silver medal while America’s Sam Mikulak also secured his first-ever medal at Worlds by finishing third.
In men’s vault final, North Korea’s Olympic champion Ri Se Gwang stormed to victory after earning 14.933 points, edging Artur Dayaloyan, who was confined to a silver medal.
China’s Jingyuan clinched parallel bars victory for his first individual gold medal after finishing ahead of Ukraine’s Oleg Verniaiev and Russia’s Dalaloyan.
Over 600 gymnasts from 76 countries competed for a total of 42 medals at Doha Worlds. The 2019 edition of the World Championships will be held in Stuttgart, Germany.
