MEN’S WPWL 2016: EUROPEAN POWERHOUSES WIN IN ROUND 1

The FINA Water Polo World League 2016 kicked-off on Tuesday October 21, with the men’s European preliminaries home-and-away games.

The season started well for Balkan powerhouses Serbia and Croatia, gold and silver medallists at both FINA World Championships 2015 in Kazan and at the 2015 edition of the FINA Men’s Water Polo World League.

The Serbian team has collected all titles at stake since 2014, namely: the FINA World Cup 2014, the FINA World Leagues 2014/2015 and the FINA Worlds, while neighbour Croatia triumphed at the last Olympic Games in London 2012.

In first round of the 2016 Water Polo World League yesterday night, Group A’s Serbia defeated France in Belgrade (12-9) as Andrija Pralainovic scored four goals alone becoming the best scorer of the match. Captain Filp Filipovic sent three successful shots.

Group C’s Croatia crushed Turkey in Sibenik (CRO) 19-6, totalising three points. Players scoring the most goals were Antonio Petkovic, Marino Cagalj and Ante Vukicevic (three goals each).

To complete the Balkan success Montenegro defeated Spain 11-6 and traditional powerhouses Hungary, Greece and Italy also confirmed their favourite status. Hungary played Georgia (17-10), Greece crushed Romania (17-3) and Italy won in Moscow against the Russian team (16-11).

MEN’S WPWL 2016: EUROPEAN POWERHOUSES WIN IN ROUND 1

Provisional rankings:
GROUP A: HUN 3 pts (1W); GRE 3 (1W); GEO 0 (1L); ROU 0 (1L)
GROUP B: SRB 3 pts (1W); MNE 3 (1W); FRA 0 (1L); ESP 0 (1L)
GROUP C: CRO 3 pts (1W); ITA 3 (1W); TUR 0 (1L); RUS 0 (1L)

The Intercontinental tournament will take place from February 16-21, 2016 (city TBC) and the Super Final will be held in June, from 21-26, 2016

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Rhythmic Gymnastics FIG World Cup Series 2015: Russians Yana Kudryavtseva, Margarita Mamun Sweep Titles

The 2015 FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup series ended in a Russian rout. Teammates Margarita Mamun (RUS) and Yana Kudryavtseva (RUS) shared the honors as World Cup competition came to a close this past weekend in Kazan (RUS). Kudryavtseva, the reigning two-time World champion, claimed the series All-around title; Mamun won or tied for every individual event.

World Cup rankings are generated by awarding gymnasts a certain number of points based on results at World Cup events. A gymnast’s best four performances are taken into account, and the points added to generate a final points total that determines winners of the World Cup series. The seven-stop World Cup series debuted in Lisbon (POR) at the end of March and included competitions in Bucharest (ROU), Pesaro (ITA), Tashkent (UZB), Budapest (HUN), Sofia (BUL) and finally Kazan (RUS).

Kudryavtseva, already victorious in the All-around at four of this season’s World Cup events, was guaranteed to win the World Cup series All-around even before competition began in Kazan. The 17-year-old Muscovite also finished second to Mamun in the World Cup rankings with the Hoop and Ribbon, and third with the Ball. The good friends and training partners tied with the Clubs.

Mamun, 19, solidified her status as the season’s top gymnast in World Cup competition with the Hoop, Ball, Clubs and Ribbon after sweeping the gold medals in Kazan.

Margarita Mamun, Russia. Credit: Volker Minkus.

Kudryavtseva and Mamun, who normally finish 1-2 in international competition, are expected to renew their rivalry at the World Championships in Stuttgart (GER) September 7-13. In spite of a slow start to her season, Kudryavtseva has not shown much tendency to crumble under pressure; she has swept the medals at two World Cups in 2015. Not for nothing is she nicknamed the “angel with iron wings.”

Mamun, meanwhile, has also twice swept World Cup competitions this season, albeit both times when Kudryavtseva was not in the field.

The Russian Group won the World Cup Series titles in Group All-around as well as with the 5 Ribbons. In the Three Pairs of Clubs and Two Hoops category, however, the Russians settled for third, behind Italy and Bulgaria.

USA WINS “TEAM TROPHY” IN KAZAN

Katie Ledecky (USA) and Sun Yang (CHN) were the best swimmers of the 16th FINA World Championships in Kazan (RUS), after the completion of the eight days of competition. The US star collected five golds and three World Records, while the Chinese champion goes home with two world titles and a silver medal. The team of the United States also won the overall “Team Trophy” of the competition, after being at the top of the medals’ table, with 8 gold, 10 silver and 5 bronze medals, for a total of 23 podium presences. However, since 1998, this is the second worse result for US, after the 22 medals in Rome 2009 (but with 10 golds on the counter).

To this US relatively modest result contributed the excellent performances of Australia, China and Great Britain, the next ranked countries in the medal’s table, with 16, 13 and 9 awards respectively. In terms of comparison, Australia had only 13 medals in Barcelona (but three golds in 2013 against 7 now), China was at 9, and Great Britain had only placed one athlete in the podium! In a medal chart with 23 countries, new entries included Jamaica, Singapore and Argentina.

Individually, many stars have shone in the Kazan Arena outstanding facility. Multi-medallists included Bronte Campbell and Mitchell Larkin, both from Australia, Florent Manaudou and Camille Lacourt, from France, Adam Peaty and James Guy, from Great Britain, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA), Alia Atkinson (JAM), Lauren Boyle (NZL), Cameron van der Burgh (RSA), Yulia Efimova (RUS), Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) and Ryan Lochte (USA).

USA WINS TEAM TROPHY IN KAZAN photo credit FINA.ORG

In the initial final of the eighth and last competition day in Kazan, Camille Lacourt (FRA) revalidated his 2013 title in the men’s 50m backstroke in a time of 24.23. It was his second individual medal in Kazan, after the silver in the 100m backstroke – moreover, Lacourt equals Liam Tancock (GBR), who also won two back-to-back gold medals in this event, in 2009 and 2011. Precisely six years ago, in the Italian capital, Tancock had set the World Record still in charts, 24.04, but this time he was the seventh of the final in 24.88.

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SUCCESSFUL HUNT FOR GOLD

After chasing for so long the gold medal, Gary Hunt (GBR) finally got the world title in Kazan (RUS), winning the men’s High Diving competition, with a total of 629.30 points. The British star (31 years old) had been second in both the 2013 Worlds in Barcelona (ESP) and last year, also at the Kazanka venue, during the first edition of the FINA High Diving World Cup. On both occasions, Hunt finished second to Orlando Duque, from Colombia, who made some mistakes in Russia and could not enter the podium (he was sixth) Normally praised for his consistency, Duque was quite regular in the last two rounds of the competition, but was not so solid in the inaugural three dives on Day 1. This time, Hunt did everything almost perfect and successfully allied solid execution with very high degrees of difficulty in his combinations.

Also in the podium in Barcelona 2013, Jonathan Paredes, from Mexico, upgraded his bronze to silver, also displaying a very challenging programme, concluding his performances in Kazan with a total of 596.45 points. At the two editions of the World Cup (Kazan 2014 and Cozumel 2015), the Mexican star had been fifth, each time behind Duque, Hunt, Steve LoBue (USA) and Artem Silchenko (RUS).

The Russian star was precisely the third best man of the day, getting the bronze in 593.95. Fourth one year ago, also in front of a cheering crowd, Silchenko has made a steady progression since then, and was already silver medallist at the 2015 World Cup. Thanks to a very solid last dive (back 3 somersaults 3 twists pike, DD 5.6), the 31-year-old climbed from the fourth to the third position, also benefiting from a not-so successful final attempt from David Colturi, from the USA.

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RACHELLE SIMPSON (USA) GETS FIRST WORLD TITLE IN KAZAN

Kazan is definitively an inspiring location for Rachelle Simpson! After winning the first edition of the FINA High Diving World Cup, last year also in the beginning of August, the 27-year-old North American promised to also shine at the 16th FINA World Championships in the capital of Tatarstan.

The promise was kept and after the three rounds of dives in the final, Simpson got the gold in 258.70, getting the first world title of her career. The silver went to the first champion ever, two years ago, in Barcelona, her teammate Cesilie Carlton. The bronze went to a newcomer at this level, Yana Nestsiarava from Belarus.

The youngest competitor of the field (nine divers participated in this final) has been fourth last year in the same Kazanka venue, but had already upgraded to third in the 2015 World Cup in Cozumel (MEX).

After a not so successful first dive (5161B), Simpson appeared more inspired in her second attempt (5262B) and climbed from the sixth to the first position.

RACHELLE SIMPSON (USA) GETS FIRST WORLD TITLE IN KAZAN, photo credit FINA.ORG

Thanks to a very solid final round, where she presented one of the most difficult combinations (5163B, forward 3 somersaults 11/2 twists pike, worth DD 4.0), the US star had no problems in securing the gold. Carlton, with a 3.9 attempt (back 3 somersaults tuck), was also consistent and assured the silver in 237.35, more than four points ahead of the Belarus champion (233.10).

The US athlete, who caused sensation in 2013 by saying after her victory that she was afraid of heights, was third in Kazan in 2014, but was out of the podium at the 2015 rendezvous in Cozumel.

SUN (CHN) AND LEDECKY (USA) REVALIDATE THEIR 400M WORLD CROWN

In a first day of four finals at the 16th FINA World Championships in Kazan (RUS), the best performance appeared in a semi-final, when Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) qualified first for the decisive race in a World Record of 55.74 in the women’s 100m butterfly. The Swedish star improved the previous best global mark from Dana Vollmer (USA), who had raced for gold at the London 2012 Olympics in a time of 55.98. In terms of performances, this was the highlight of the inaugural day in the capital of Tatarstan, but many other intense moments marked the finals’ session.

In the men’s 400m free, Chinese star Sun Yang found no major difficulties in revalidating his world title, touching home in 3:42.58. He was challenged by silver medallist James Guy (GBR) until the 300m-mark, but Sun’s final lap was sufficient to secure gold.

SJOSTROM Sarah SWE Women’s 100m Butterfly Final World Record
Day10 02/08/2015 Kazan Arena
Swimming Nuoto
XVI FINA World Championships Aquatics
Kazan Tatarstan RUS
Photo Andrea Staccioli/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

Starting very strong, Katie Ledecky (USA) was in a good pace to break her own World Record in the women’s 400m free, but some final fatigue dictated a comfortable win in “only” a Championship Record of 3:59.13. The only woman under four minutes, the US champion (winner in 2013) had also been the fastest of the preliminaries, giving the idea that the WR (which she holds at 3:58.37) could be a tangible target in the decisive race.

CAGNOTTO WINS GOLD AT LAST AND BREAKS CHINA’S WINNING STREAK IN KAZAN

Tania Cagnotto finally won the world gold which had eluded her for so long when she scored a superb victory on the 1m springboard which ended China’s monopoly of the diving titles in Kazan. The 30-year-old Italian, who claimed her first FINA World Championship medal 10 years ago, took charge from the start and held off the Chinese challenge through the five rounds of the final to relegate former 1m world champions Shi Tingmao and He Zi to silver and bronze after China had bagged the first five titles of the meet.

CAGNOTTO WINS GOLD AT LAST AND BREAKS CHINA’S WINNING STREAK IN KAZAN photo credit FINA.ORG

Cagnotto, three silver and four bronze medals already in her collection from five previous editions of the FINA World Championships, was pipped for gold by a tiny 0.10 points – the smallest margin in the history of the championships – by He Zi at the last Worlds in 2013 after having led through three of the five rounds. But this time she was not to be denied her rule at the Aquatics Palace as she claimed Italy’s first World Championship diving gold in 40 years since Klaus Dibiasi won the men’s 10m title at the first two editions in 1973 and 1975.

MAY AND JONES (USA) MAKE HISTORY IN KAZAN

The dreams of male synchronised swimmers came true as mixed duet made its first appearance at the FINA World Championships in Kazan.

Bill May and Christina Jones (USA) were the favourites of the first technical routine before the start.

May is 36 years old. He is the most experienced and the most famous male synchronised swimmer in the world. He is actually the pioneer of this discipline. Back in 1998 Bill took part in his first international competition – the Goodwill Games, where him and his partner Kristina Lum competed with “ordinary” duets and lost only to Russia’s Maria Kiseleva and Olga Brusnikina.

Bill May and Christina Jones

Ten years ago May left sport for the Cirque du Soleil show but got back to synchronised swimming with one goal in mind, to grab the first world gold medal. And he did it!

KAZAN READY TO HOST 1ST HIGH DIVING WORLD CUP

Kazan, Russia will host the first FINA High Diving World Cup on August 8-10, 2014, bringing together the best high divers in action, one year after the successful staging of this new FINA discipline at the World Championships in Barcelona, Spain. A temporary tower is being erected on the Kazanka River, which will be used for the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan, as well.

A total 34 divers, 25 men and nine women, coming from 15 nations – Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Luxemburg, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, Ukraine and USA – will take part in the event, ready for eye-opening performances!

Two events are on the programme: a men’s competition in three rounds (August 8 and 10) and a women’s competition in one round (Aug 9). Men will perform five dives from the 27-metre high platform while women will take off at 20m, exhibiting three dives.

There will be required, intermediate and optional dives (with no limit of degree of difficulty). The top 12 divers, among men, will advance to the final.

Top qualifiers include world champions Orlando Duque (COL) and Cesilie Carlton (USA), and all medallists from Barcelona: Gary Hunt (GBR), current leader of the Red Bull World Series, Jonathan Paredes (MEX), Ginger Huber (USA) and Anna Bader (GER). All will be chasing their first World Cup title in Kazan.

KAZAN READY TO HOST 1ST HIGH DIVING WORLD CUP

I’m living the American way of life in Russia- Kazan star Quinn Larson

Dinamo Kazan’s US-American Jordan Quinn Larson-Burbach finds hometown feeling in faraway Russia.

Hamburger and Borsh, Starbucks-Coffee and Samovar, Nebraska and Kazan; let’s confess, almost nobody would see any connection between these things. Jordan Quinn Larson – Burbach, however, does. The 27 years old universal player lives between two worlds, in more than just one aspect – and the reason is the big passion for volleyball.

Almost everybody knows the old stories from the Cold War between the two world powers, Uncle Sam and the old Bear. Jordan Larson-Burbach, however, doesn’t take too narrow the view of this: “I really enjoy it in Kazan. I already feel a little bit like a Russian, even though I don’t speak really well the language.

The people are so friendly.” The US national player can’t wrap up in secrecy her problems with the Pushkin’s and Dostoevsky’s language: “Although I’ve been playing already some time here in Kazan, I still have some problems with Russian. I think it’s quite hard to learn it, but I’m so glad that my teammates help me with this.”
The US-American national player already feels like home, how she explains, even more because there are some parallels between her hometown and Kazan: “I’m from Nebraska. It’s cold there too. Not -20° degree like in Russia, but cold. That’s the reason why the weather wasn’t a big shock for me.”

The 27 years old universal player, however, sees some big differences too: “I’m from a small town in Nebraska. Kazan, in comparison, is an impressive, big city. I’m really happy that I don’t live in the centre, because in my neighbourhood there’s not as much traffic as there is downtown.” But that’s not the only distinction between her hometown and Kazan. “I think there’s another driving style in Russia. I’ve got sometimes the feeling that people drive however and wherever they want. It was quite strange for me, when I was on the streets for the first time there.”

But what’s an American without the typical American food? Fast food and fast coffee are the epitome of the “American way of life”. As there aren’t as many fast food restaurant as there are in the US, even Jordan Larson sometimes have longing for the taste of her home, she confesses: “I know some really nice restaurants in Kazan and like to go there with my friends, but there are missing some typical American restaurants – and I have yearning sometimes.”

However, there’s almost no other possibility for the American national player to play professionally volleyball than abroad. The reason why is easy to find: There’s no professional league in the US like there are in Europe and South America. Like many of other American volleyball players, for example Volero Zurich’s Courtney Thompson too, the national universal player had to leave her home if she wanted to play volleyball on a high club level. Not always an easy decision: “I really enjoy seeing new places and meeting new person. Even though, I have sometimes longing for the USA.” But Jordan Larson has got support to feel more like home, even in Kazan: “My teammates are amazing and help me a lot. I also started to enjoy the Russian cuisine and drinking Samovar.”

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Kazan to host 2016 IAAF World Junior Championships

In its second and last day of business in the Senegalese Capital of Dakar, the IAAF Council decided that the Russian city of Kazan will be the host of the 2016 edition of the IAAF World Junior Championships on Tuesday (15).

In other business, Council heard a full status report from the organisers of the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing as well as presentations from the IAAF Area Associations outlining details of their own Strategic Plans which assess the challenges and opportunities ahead as they seek to develop and promote the sport of athletics at Area level.

No fewer than 11 IAAF Committee and Commission reports were studied as well.

During a break in Council proceedings, the President of Senegal, Macky Sall, invited its members to the Presidential Palace in Dakar where he invested Lamine Diack with the title of Commander of the Order of the Golden Lion.