2008 Olympic Women's Gymnastics Bars Final
Liukin Goes for Gold along with He, Yang, Tweedle, and Semenova
Aug 17, 2008
As this Olympic Games has already proven many times, start order and A-score can be two crucial elements in deciding who earns gold, silver, and bronze. Nastia Liukin already has one of each of those medals, and is hoping to add another gold on her best event, but she goes second, and scores tend to build. She will have to rely on her phenomenal difficulty Monday night.
Nastia Liukin and Yang Yilin Go Head to Head Once Again
Yang Yilin, China’s third place finisher in the all around to Liukin’s gold, is also a very strong contender on the uneven bars. She and Liukin both start from a 7.7, which comes from difficult pirouetting elements and high-flying release moves. Yang’s teammate He Kexin also starts from a 7.7, and if there are no errors these gymnasts should place 1-2-3.
Liukin can score as high as 17 on this event, though her highest score so far has been a 16.9 in team finals. Yang’s highest score, also in team finals, was 16.8, and He’s was 16.85.
Assuming all three women perform without falls or major errors, there are a few things fans can watch for to determine who will get the highest execution score. Deductions come when a gymnast does not reach a full handstand on top of the bar, and if more than thirty degrees short can suffer an A-score deduction as well. There are also deductions for breaks in form and rhythm, leg separations, and steps on the landing. All three of these gymnasts have beautiful form, though, so it could come down to who has the most nerves.
Tweedle, Semenova, and Nistor Hope for an Upset
This is Beth Tweedle’s event, and it is what she came here to do. Tweedle’s British team did not compete in the team finals, and she was not an all-around competitor, but she was World Champion on bars in 2006. Her routine is valued only a tenth of a point lower than the top three, so if she performs much stronger in the finals than she did in qualifying, she could earn a medal.
Ksenia Semenova, who like Steliana Nistor came very close to an all-around medal, is hoping to prove herself on the bars. Her start value is 7.4, and Nistor’s is 7.3. She qualified with a 16.475, and matched that score on bars in the all around, so she would need a mistake from someone to earn a medal unless she can improve her execution score. Nistor has only managed a score over sixteen once in these Games, in team finals, and so she too will be hoping for errors at the top to earn another event final medal for Romania after teammate Sandra Izbasa on floor.
Yang, Tweedle, and Semenova will be the last three gymnasts to go, and so they will be able to see how Liukin and He did and where they need to place to earn a medal. The competition begins at 6:43 pm Monday, Beijing time.
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