|
 |   |
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|  |
Kabaeva hoop blooper hands Barsukova rhythmic gymnastics gold
= = SYDNEY, Oct 1 (AFP) - Russia's Yulia Barsukova won the Olympic rhythmic gymnastics all-around title here Sunday after favored compatriot Alina Kabaeva bungled her hoop routine and settled for bronze. Barsukova won with 39.632 points to 39.548 for second place Yulia Raskina of Belarus with Kabaeva third at 39.466, edging 1996 Ukranian bronze medal winner Olena Vitrychenko, at 23 the eldest competitor, by .058 of a point. "It's unbelievable," Barsukova said. "I can't believe that I am in the first position. I never thought that I would be in this position. "I didn't expect I would win the Olympic gold. I feel very emotional. I still have to come to my senses." Kabaeva was leading the all-around event after a 9.925 for her rope performance, but bungled catching the hoop after she threw it over her head during her second routine. "At the time I couldn't understand what happened," Kabaeva said. "I was waiting for music. I just relaxed my hand." She had to leave the competition area to retrieve the hoop, bringing an automatic penalty. Her score of 9.641 for the performance dropped her to ninth. "All people make mistakes," Kabaeva said. "I just carry on regardless and move forward." But Kabaeva battled back from disaster to claim the bronze, leading the ball routine with a score of 9.950 and the ribbon with the same total. Barsukova's top score came on the ribbon, 9.933. She was the highest scorer in the hoop with a 9.900. Raskina's best score, a 9.933, came on the ball. But she placed behind Kabaeva and Barsukova in the concluding ribbon to miss her chance at gold. "I'm very happy,"Raskina said. "I can't comprehend what's going on. I'm so happy and happy for Yulia.
|
