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The Major Competitions in 2002 |
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Results
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2002 Rhythmic Gymnastics National Championships Report
Murata repeats in winning all-around |
| by YAMAZAKI,Hiroko
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Day 1
Qualifications
Yukari Murata (Tokyo Women's College of Physical Education), the bronze medalist
in the Asian Games, was best on the first day of the all-around final (rope and
hoop). She said "I could show everything I had practiced." Her performance
was steady, without any major mistake. Yachiyo Nakamura (Aeon) performed almost
perfectly with good flexibility to get second. Ai Yokochi (Aeon) was third with
some small mistakes, but her performance was relaxed and clean.
Interview with Murata
"After the Asian Games, I have trained to progress more and to make my
routines bigger and more dynamic. I had always been daunted in competition, but
I was trying to relax in this meet, and I think I could do it today. On my second
event, hoop, it was tough because I was tired, but when the music started, I felt
relieved. I was at my peak in this meet. The world's top gymnasts perform on all
four events. I'd like to follow their example and to show what I can do at tomorrow's
competition."
Day 2
All-Around Finals
 Murata(PHOTO)
won two championships in a a row in the all-around final. She missed a reverse
illusion on ball, but on the whole, her level of difficulty has grown and her
performances were very powerful. She was steady even though she was very tired.
Nakamura (second) and Yokochi (third) were as great as Murata. Yokochi's whole
routines and Nakamura's perfect technique battled against Murata's performance,
and the competition was very exciting. The other gymnasts raised their levels
of difficulty. However, we found that their movements suffered, especially when
they performed difficult stunts. For example, on clubs, they overused the spin
of the clubs holding the middle part of the clubs; this is the simplest sort of
movement. As for ball, they started rolling the ball before their run, which wasn't
acknowledged as a roll during a jump. The Code will be changed next year, and
movement with the apparatus will be more important. So we hope they will consider
this when composing
their routines.
At the group final, Tokyo Women's College of Physical Education was unbeatable,
and they won their fourteenth successive championship. They were mentally ready.
The other teams had good composition and entertained us, but we have to say that
all the gymnasts in the group competition lacked perfection in thier difficulty.
They will need to raise their difficulty as much as that of the gymnasts of the
individual competition. Moreover, the victory of Tokyo Women's College of Physical
Education was great, but it is regrettable that they had so little competition.
If they had a rival, not only the gymnasts but also the fans could have enjoyed
the meet more. More strong competition will help the development of rhythmic gymnastics
in Japan.
Interview with Murata
"There was not much time between the Asian Games and the Nationals, but
I have trained to show a joyful routine. I am satisfied with today's performance
because I could do that. From now on, I'd like to try to perform the difficult
skills perfectly and to impress the audience. I don't think I'm blessed with flexibility
or style, so I'd like to appeal with a joyous routine."
Day 3
Individual Apparatus Finals
The top eight athletes on each event at the qualification went to the apparatus
finals. On rope, Murata hit as solid a routine today as she did in the all-around
final to win the event. On hoop, Murata, Nakamura, and Yokochi went head-to-head,
performing almost perfectly. Eventually, Nakamura topped with the highest level
of difficulty.
Murata withdrew from the other two events of the finals due to a pain in her rib.
On ball, Nakamura used her flexibility for a beautiful routine, and Yokochi matched
her with a well-composed routine. Their battle was very close, but Nakamura defeated
Yokochi by a small margin, and she won a second event. Yokochi controlled the
clubs with skill to win the final event.
Nakamura and Yokochi performed amazingly to cover the absence of Murata. The other
athletes, such as Tomoko Yoshida (Machida RG), one of the Asian Games members,
did their best at this nationals, and the crowd loved their performances. However,
they still had a long way to go to catch the top three gymnasts (Murata, Nakamura,
Yokochi). The world championships next year will be the qualification for the
Olympics. We expect the younger athletes not only to give a good fight but to
beat one of the top three.
Murata's Comment
"I had a pain in my right rib since yesterday. I had a backache, too,
so I took a painkiller, but when the painkiller wore off, the pain returned. Today,
the medicine didn't help, and even raising my arms was painful. So I decided to
withdraw from the rest of the competition. I'd like to apologize to the audience
for dropping out."
Nakamura's Comment
"I'm pretty happy with my clean performances. I'd like to thank my coaches,
and my company which has given me the chance to train. On rope, I had to change
my routine a little. On ball, the performance was better than that of the other
competitions. As a whole, I have not held back in my routines. In next year's
competitions, I'd like to try to compose simpler routines than Yokochi. I'd like
to be an Olympian, and before that, I'd like to represent Japan in the next Worlds."
Yokochi's comment
"In the all-around final, I was a little too shaky to be satisfied with
my performance, and made some small mistakes. Today, I got myself into shape.
I'd also like to be an Olympian, so I'd like to start to build my body again,
and try new skills."
Group Apparatus Finals
 On
Ribbons, every group had mistakes as a whole. The 6 meter length of ribbon and
the continuous throws of the ribbon set the gymnasts up for consecutive mistakes.
We saw good difficulty in the group competition, but the all-around champion,
Tokyo Women's College of Physical Education(PHOTO), had the power to win. On rope
& ball, they performed powerfully and beautifully. Finally, they made a perfect
win in the group competition in the nationals.
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