Ivankov wins Goodwill all-around gold

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Tuesday July 21, 1998 12:49 AM

Nemov was attempting to become the first gymnast to successfully defend an all-around title

UNIONDALE, New York (AP) -- This time, Ivan Ivankov's Achilles' tendon held up just fine.

The reigning world champion from Belarus rallied with a brilliant performance on the last two exercises to win the gold medal in the men's all-around competition at the Goodwill Games Monday night.

Ivankov, who missed a chance to compete at the Atlanta Olympics when his Achilles' tendon snapped as he left a doctor's office, started slowly, moving up from third place to second and then first after the three rotations.

But when his momentum on the vault -- his fourth apparatus -- forced him into an extra step, his score of 9.450 dropped him back to third place behind Alexei Bondarenko of Russia and American Blaine Wilson.

Ivankov recovered with a 9.775 on the parallel bars to regain the lead, then clinched the gold with a 9.575 on the horizontal bar before a crowd of just 2,278 at the Nassau Coliseum.

The 23-year-old from Minsk finished with 57.500. The silver went to Bondarenko with 56.700 and the bronze to Wilson with 56.575.

Bondarenko was attempting to keep his country's perfect gold-medal record in the Goodwill men's all-around intact. Of the nine medals awarded in the event at the first three Goodwill Games, only one had been claimed by a non-Russian or Soviet Union athlete. That was the bronze won by Lance Ringnald of the United States in 1990.

Bondarenko seized the lead on the fourth rotation of the night with a 9.775 on the parallel bars, holding his balance on a difficult landing. Then he scored a 9.475 on the horizontal bar, yielding the lead to Ivankov.

Bondarenko's performance made up for a disappointing night by countryman Alexei Nemov, who finished seventh.

Nemov, the defending Goodwill Games champion, was attempting to become the first gymnast to successfully defend an all-around title in these games. After taking the early lead with a 9.450 in the floor exercises, he dropped off the pommel horse halfway through his routine.

The mistake cost him dearly, resulting in a 9.100 score that dropped him from first place to sixth. He didn't help himself with a 9.125 on the rings, dropping to seventh, and he never recovered.

Eric Lopez Rios of Cuba and Xu Huang of China missed the bar and fell heavily in their final exercise. Both completed their routines.  

Related information
Stories
May wins rare male medal in synchronized duet Pregnancy forces Quance out of Swimming competition Goodwill Games Television Schedule Moceanu claims first major all-around victory Dawes to compete on uneven bars
Multimedia
See Ivankov comeback with a 9.775 on the parallel bars to regain the lead   • Start(3.33 M .MOV) Click here for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI.