GYMNASTICS: Liu edges MacLennan in Trampoline World Cup opener

China's trampoline star Lingling Liu (Photo: Trend)

A classic showdown between Olympic and World Champions was the highlight of the first FIG Trampoline World Cup of 2019, in Baku (AZE).

China’s Lingling Liu, the 2014 World Champion and Canada’s 2012 and 2016 Olympic champ, Rosie MacLennan were the two to keep an eye on in the women’s competition and they did not disappoint.

They qualified second and third in the prelims, then put on a show in the finals. McLennan went sixth in the order and put together a high-difficulty routine that scored 56.245 and looked like a possible winner.

But Liu – next up – was ready and despite have a routine with slightly less difficulty, managed a little better execution and more time in the air and won with a score of 57.050.

The star of the men’s event was Belarus’s 2016 Olympic champ Uladzislau Hancharov. He won the men’s individual event at 61.590, well ahead of 2012 Olympic gold medalist Dong Dong of China (60.320), then teamed with Aleh Rabtsau for a silver in the Synchronized event.

Japan’s Daiki Kishi and Ryosuke Sakai pulled the upset win on the Synchro, and the American pair of Cody Gesuelli and Isaac Rowley won a surprise bronze, 52.430-52.280-50.300. Summaries:

FIG Trampoline World Cup
Baku (AZE) ~ 16-17 February 2019
(Full results here)

Men

Trampoline: 1. Uladzislau Hancharov (BLR), 61.590; 2. Dong Dong (CHN), 60.320; 3. Daiki Kishi (JPN), 59.365.

Synchronized: 1. Daiki Kishi/Ryosuke Sakai (JPN), 52,430; 2. Uladzislau Hancharov/Aleh Rabtsau (BLR), 52.280; 3. Cody Gesuelli/Isaac Rowley (USA), 50.300.

Tumbling: 1. Vadim Afanasev (RUS), 75.100; 2. Mikhail Malkin (AZE), 74.600; 3. Maksim Riabikov (RUS), 72.000

Women

Trampoline: 1. Lingling Liu (CHN), 57.050; 2. Rosie MacLennan (CAN), 56.345; 3. Chisato Doihata (JPN), 55.800.

Synchronized: 1. Valiantsina Bahamolava/Anhelina Khatsian (BLR), 47.420; 2. Kira Ward/Eva Kierath (AUS), 46.950; 3. Camilla Gomes/Alice Gomes (BRA), 46.790.

Tumbling: 1. Daryna Koziarska (UKR), 61.300; 2. Alina Mamchur (UKR), 58.700; only entrants.