London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

Olga kapranova Russian Women's rhythmic gymnastics gold medalist : Photos

September 2008 Sports calendar

Key events this month:
CRICKET: Sep 3 Cardiff: ODI: England v South Africa
MOTOR CYCLING: Sep 7 Donington Park: World Superbikes
TENNIS: Sep 8-14 Fed Cup final
RUGBY LEAGUE: Sep 12, 19, 26 Super League play-offs
RACING: Sep 13 Doncaster: St Leger
ATHLETICS: Sep 13-14 Stuttgart: IAAF World Athletics Final
GOLF: Sep 19-21 Kentucky: Ryder Cup


The month in detail:

CRICKET: Sep 1 NatWest Women's Series: England Women v India Women
RACING: Sep 1 Hamilton, Kempton, Lingfield
ATHLETICS: Sep 2 Lausanne: International Meeting
RACING: Sep 2 Goodwood, Sedgefield, Southwell
CRICKET: Sep 3 Cardiff: NatWest Series: England v South Africa
BASKETBALL: Sep 3 TBA: Eurobasket Men's qualifying: Israel v Great Britain
RACING: Sep 3 Brighton, Hereford, Kempton, Lingfield
CRICKET: Sep 4 Taunton: NatWest Women's Series: England Women v India Women
RACING: Sep 4 Great Leighs, Redcar, Salisbury, Warwick
GOLF: Sep 4-7 Crans-sur-Sierre: Omega Masters
GOLF: Sep 4-7 Mississippi: BMW Championship
ATHLETICS: Sep 5 Brussels: Van Damme Memorial
RACING: Sep 5 Catterick, Chepstow, Kempton, Lingfield
BASKETBALL: Sep 6 O2 Arena, London: Eurobasket Men's qualifying: Great Britain v Czech Republic
BASKETBALL: Sep 6 TBA: Eurobasket Women's qualifying: Lithuania v Great Britain
RACING: Sep 6 Haydock, Kempton, Stratford, Thirsk, Wolverhampton
MOTOR RACING: Sep 7 Belgian Grand Prix
MOTOR CYCLING: Sep 7 Donington Park: World Superbikes
FOOTBALL: Sep 7 UEFA Women's Championship qualifier: Czech Republic v England
CRICKET: Sep 7 Arundel: NatWest Women's Series: England Women v India Women
ATHLETICS: Sep 7 Dubnica: Athletic Bridge Meeting
ATHLETICS: Sep 7 Rieti: International Meeting
ATHLETICS: Sep 7 Sheffield: BUPA Great Yorkshire Run
RACING: Sep 7 Fontwell, Thirsk, Worcester
CYCLING: Sep 7-14 Tour of Britain
RACING: Sep 8 Bath, Folkestone, Newcastle
TENNIS: Sep 8-14 Bucharest: Romanian Open
TENNIS: Sep 8-14 Bali: Commonwealth Bank Classic
TENNIS: Sep 8-14 Fed Cup final
CRICKET: Sep 9 Hove: NatWest Women's Series: England Women v India Women
ATHLETICS: Sep 9 Zagreb: IAAF Meeting
RACING: Sep 9 Beverley, Leicester, Lingfield
ATHLETICS: Sep 10 Rovereto: Palio Citta della Quercia
BASKETBALL: Sep 10 NIA, Birmingham: Eurobasket Men's qualifying: Great Britain v Bosnia
BASKETBALL: Sep 10 TBA: Eurobasket Women's qualifying: Great Britain v Germany


RACING: Sep 10 Doncaster, Kempton, Uttoxeter, Warwick
RACING: Sep 11 Chepstow, Doncaster, Great Leighs (tbc), Sandown
GOLF: Sep 11-14 Cologne: Mercedes-Benz Championship
RUGBY LEAGUE: Sep 12 Engage Super League play-offs
RACING: Sep 12 Bangor, Doncaster, Sandown, Wolverhampton
BASKETBALL: Sep 13 Liverpool Arena: Eurobasket Men's qualifying: Great Britain v Israel
BASKETBALL: Sep 13 TBA: Eurobasket Women's qualifying: Israel v Great Britain
SPEEDWAY: Sep 13 Bydgoszcz: Polish Grand Prix
RACING: Sep 13 Chester, Doncaster (including St Leger), Goodwood, Great Leighs (tbc), Kempton
GOLF: Sep 13-16 Atlanta: Tour Championship
ATHLETICS: Sep 13-14 Talence: Decastar Meeting Combined Events
ATHLETICS: Sep 13-14 Stuttgart: IAAF World Athletics Final
MOTOR RACING: Sep 14 Italian Grand Prix
MOTOR CYCLING: Sep 14 USA: MotoGP
ATHLETICS: Sep 14 Rotterdam: Fortis Half Marathon
RACING: Sep 14 Goodwood, Great Leighs (tbc), Stratford
RACING: Sep 15 Leicester, Musselburgh, Redcar
TENNIS: Sep 15-21 Mumbai: Mumbai Open
TENNIS: Sep 15-21 Tokyo: Pan Pacific Open
TENNIS: Sep 15-21 Guangzhou: International Open
RACING: Sep 16 Haydock, Lingfield, Yarmouth
BASKETBALL: Sep 17 TBA: Eurobasket Men's qualifying: Czech Republic v Great Britain
RACING: Sep 17 Beverley, Kempton, Sandown, Yarmouth
RACING: Sep 18 Ayr, Great Leighs, Pontefract, Yarmouth
BASKETBALL: Sep 20 TBA: Eurobasket Men's qualifying: Bosnia v Great Britain
GOLF: Sep 18-21 Mississippi: Viking Classic
RUGBY LEAGUE: Sep 19 Engage Super League play-offs
GOLF: Sep 19-21 Kentucky: Ryder Cup
RACING: Sep 19 Ayr, Newbury, Newmarket, Wolverhampton
RACING: Sep 20 Ayr, Catterick, Newbury, Newmarket, Wolverhampton
MOTOR RACING: Sep 21 Sweden: World Touring Car Championship
MOTOR CYCLING: Sep 21 Italy: World Superbikes
ATHLETICS: Sep 21 Amsterdam: Dam tot Dam loop
RACING: Sep 21 Hamilton, Plumpton, Uttoxeter
RACING: Sep 22 Hamilton, Kempton, Leicester
TENNIS: Sep 22-28 Bangkok: Thailand Open
TENNIS: Sep 22-28 Beijing: China Open
TENNIS: Sep 22-28 Seoul: Korea Open
RACING: Sep 23 Beverley, Folkestone, Sedgefield
RACING: Sep 24 Goodwood, Kempton, Perth, Redcar
ATHLETICS: Sep 25 Utrecht: Fortis Singelloop
RACING: Sep 25 Fontwell, Great Leighs (tbc), Perth, Pontefract
GOLF: Sep 25-28 The Belfry: Quinn Direct British Masters
GOLF: Sep 25-28 Georgia: Tour Championship
CYCLING: Sep 25-28 Road World Championships
RUGBY LEAGUE: Sep 26 Engage Super League play-offs
RACING: Sep 26 Ascot, Haydock, Wolverhampton, Worcester
SPEEDWAY: Sep 27 Lonigo: Italian Grand Prix
RACING: Sep 27 Ascot, Chester, Great Leighs (tbc), Haydock, Market Rasen
MOTOR RACING: Sep 28 Singapore Grand Prix
MOTOR CYCLING: Sep 28 Japan: MotoGP
ATHLETICS: Sep 28 Berlin: Berlin Marathon
RACING: Sep 28 Ascot, Market Rasen, Musselburgh
RACING: Sep 29 Bath, Brighton, Windsor
TENNIS: Sep 29-Oct 5 Tokyo: Japan Open
TENNIS: Sep 29-Oct 5 Metz: Moselle Open
TENNIS: Sep 29-Oct 5 Stuttgart: Porsche Open
TENNIS: Sep 29-Oct 5 Tashkent Open
RACING: Sep 30 Sedgefield, Southwell, Warwick


Courtesy : BBC

All-time greats in the history of the Olympic Games

Nadia Elena Comaneci
Nadia Elena Comaneci is a winner of five Olympic gold medals, and the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10 in an Olympic gymnastic event. Comaneci was the first Romanian gymnast to win the all-around title at the Olympics. She is also the youngest-ever Olympic gymnastics all-around champion.




Mark Spitz
Mark Spitz gave swimming an unparalleled and unforgettable memory in Munich. A total of seven gold medals, and as many world records, were won by the determined Californian during the Games of 1972, adding to what he described as his "disappointing" haul of five medals in 1968.




Carl Lewis
Carl Lewis won 10 Olympic medals including 9 golds, and 10 World Championships medals, of which 8 were golds, in a career that spanned from 1979 when he first achieved a world ranking to 1996 when he last won an Olympic title and subsequently retired. He was voted "Sportsman of the Century" by the International Olympic Committee and was also named "Olympian of the Century" by Sports Illustrated. He also helped transform track and field from its nominal amateur status to its current professional status.




Paavo Nurmi
If long distance running was in need of a role model, one would have to look no further than Paavo Nurmi. The legendary Finn smashed an incredible 22 world records, winning nine Olympic golds on the way. Nurmi won a total of 12 Olympic medals across three Games --- 1920, 1924 and 1928.




Jesse Owens
The German head of state had done everything in its power to leave a taste of Nazi propaganda in the mouths of all the competing nations at the 1936 Olympic Games. Jesse Owens, born the son of a slave in 1913 in segregated Alabama, however, left his own mark by winning four gold medals which would turn Adolf Hitler's theory of racial supremacy on its head.




Dawn Fraser
Whether it was due to a modest background, or a refusal to give up swimming even when banned in the early stages of her career, Dawn Fraser's determination led her to battle adversity and ultimately conquer the sprint events at three consecutive Olympic Games -- 1956, 1960 and 1964. Three Olympic gold titles in 1956, 1960 and 1964 in the 100m freestyle eventually brought the daughter of a Sydney docker justified success. She won a total of eight Olympic medals.




Bob Beamon
Robert "Bob" Beamon leapt to world prominence with a stunning long-jump gold in the 1968 Mexico Games. A virtual flight of 8.90m also broke the Olympic and world records, earning the American a deserved place in athletics history. Beamon's mark was not bettered until the 1991 Tokyo world championships when his compatriot Mike Powell jumped 8.95m.




Fanny Blankers-Koen
Fanny Blankers-Koen won four gold medals at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. She accomplished this as a mother of two, during a time when many disregarded women's athletics. Her background and performances earned her the nickname "the Flying Housewife."




Michael Johnson
At the Atlanta Games of 1996 Michael Johnson not only became the first athlete to take Olympic golds in both the 200m and 400m, but shattered the 200m world record with an eye-opening time of 19.32sec. In all, he won five gold medals across three Olympic Games.




Greg Louganis
Greg Louganis can simply be described as the total diver. At age 16, he took part in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, where he placed second in the tower event. in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Louganis won gold medals in both the springboard and tower diving events. He repeated his 1984 feat in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, although not without drama. Louganis suffered an injury, hitting his head on the diving board during the preliminary rounds while performing a reverse 2 1/2 pike; he completed the preliminaries, despite a concussion, then went on to repeat the dive during the finals, with nearly perfect scores, earning him the gold medal.




Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Jackie Joyner-Kersee is ranked among the all-time greatest athletes in the women's heptathlon as well as in the women's long jump. She won three gold, one silver, and two bronze Olympic medals, in those two different events. "Sports Illustrated" magazine voted her the Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th century.




Steve Redgrave
Great Britain's now legendary rower Steve Redgrave pushed his ageing body through more gruelling punishment at the Sydney Olympics as he won his fifth gold medal at consecutive Games - a feat never before achieved in endurance events. After previous victories from Los Angeles (1984) to Sydney 2000, he finally retired from the sport in 2000, and was given a knighthood for his remarkable achievements.




Kristin Otto
East Germany's Olympic swimming champion Kristin Otto is truly unique for the display of talent in three separate styles -- freestyle, backstroke and butterfly -- which brought her six gold medals during the Seoul Games of 1988.




Abebe Bikila
With his win in the marathon in the 1960 Rome Olympics, Abebe Bikila became the first black African Olympic champion. Bikila, who ran the marathon barefoot in Rome ntered Olympic history with a world best time of 2:15:16.2. Bikila also won the gold in the 1964 Games in Tokyo -- this time he ran with shoes and once again set a new world best time of 2:12:11.2.




Olga Korbut
Olga Korbut is a Belarusian, Soviet-born gymnast who won four gold medals and two silver medals at the Summer Olympics, in which she competed in 1972 and 1976 for the USSR team. At the 1972 Munich Olympics, she became the first person to do a backward somersault on the balance beam in competition. She was also the first to do a standing backward somersault on bars, and a back somersault to swingdown (Korbut Flip) on beam.

Russian Evgeniya Kanaeva won gymnastics rhythmic individual all-around Olympic gold

Evgeniya Kanaeva of Russia




Evgeniya Kanaeva of Russia




Evgeniya Kanaeva of Russia performs with ribbon during the individual all-round final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games rhythmic gymnastics event in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Evgeniya Kanaeva won the gold medal of the event.(Xinhua Photo/Cheng Min)




Evgeniya Kanaeva of Russia


Evgeniya Kanaeva highlighted Russia's dominance in rhythmic gymnastics by taking the individual all-around gold medal at the Beijing Olympics by an impressive 3.575-point margin on Saturday.

The gold medal was the 18-year-old's first Olympic title, and the third Olympic rhythmic individual gold for powerhouse Russia in a row.

The retirement of Athens all-around gold and silver medallist from Russia, Alina Kavaeva and Irina Tchachina, opened the way for their compatriots Kanaeva and Olga Kapranova, and for 2004 bronze medallist Anna Bessonova of Ukraine.

Saturday's rhythmic individual all-around final saw a rivalry among the three and a newcomer, Inna Zhukova from Belarus.

But Kanaeva stood out just too easily, leading all the way through all the four routines of rope, hoop, clubs and ribbon.

The difficulty value of all her four routines exceeded the 9.0 barrier, and she matched her high difficulty with high-standard execution, mesmerizing fans with dazzling swings, circles, tosses, catches and spirals, among other daredevil tricks.

The 2008 European all-around champion who ranked first in qualifications, claimed the title with the highest scores in all her four routines, and a winning combination of 75.500 points.

"I am so happy for myself, for my coach and viewers in the stadium," she said. "I did my best in the competition. I only wanted to follow what my coach told me to do."

She said she was so focused on her performance and did not even notice she was first or not. "I only realized I won the gold medal when I saw the mark on the screen."




Irina Risenzon of Israel competes during the individual all-round final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games rhythmic gymnastics event in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Irina Risenzon ranked 9th in the event. Irina Risenzon ranked 9th in the event. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)




Inna Zhukova of Belarus




Inna Zhukova of Belarus competes with the hoop during the individual all-round final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games rhythmic gymnastics event in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Inna Zhukova won the silver medal of the event. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

Photos of gymnastics rhythmic individual all-around

Evgeniya Kanaeva of Russia performs with ribbon during the individual all-round final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games rhythmic gymnastics event in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Evgeniya Kanaeva won the gold medal of the event.(Xinhua Photo/Cheng Min)




Inna Zhukova of Belarus competes with the ribbon during the individual all-round final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games rhythmic gymnastics event in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Inna Zhukova won the silver medal of the event.(Xinhua Photo/Cheng Min)




Olga Kapranova of Russia competes with the clubs during the individual all-round final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games rhythmic gymnastics event in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Olga Kapranova ranked 4th in the event.(Xinhua Photo/Cheng Min)




Anna Bessonova of Ukraine competes with the ribbon during the individual all-round final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games rhythmic gymnastics event in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Anna Bessonova won the bronze medal of the event.(Xinhua Photo/Cheng Min)




Irina Risenzon of Israel performs with ribbon during the individual all-round final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games rhythmic gymnastics event in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Irina Risenzon ranked 9th in the event. Irina Risenzon ranked 9th in the event.(Xinhua Photo/Cheng Min)




Simona Peycheva of Bulgaria competes




Simona Peycheva of Bulgaria competes with the ribbon during the individual all-round final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games rhythmic gymnastics event in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Simona Peycheva ranked 10th in the event.(Xinhua Photo/Cheng Min)

Gymnastics Rhythmic: feast for your eyes

Eleni Andriola of Greece competes during the hoop contest of individual all-around qualification of Beijing Olympic Games gymnastics rhythmic event in Beijing, China, Aug. 21, 2008. (Courtesy : Xinhua/Cheng Min)





Neta Rivkin of Israel competes during the rope contest of individual all-around qualification of Beijing Olympic Games gymnastics rhythmic event in Beijing, China, Aug. 21, 2008. (Courtesy : Xinhua/Cheng Min)





Evgeniya Kanaeva of Russia competes during the hoop contest of individual all-around qualification of Beijing Olympic Games gymnastics rhythmic event in Beijing, China, Aug. 21, 2008. (Courtesy : Xinhua/Cheng Min)





Irina Risenzon of Israel competes during the hoop contest of individual all-around qualification of Beijing Olympic Games gymnastics rhythmic event in Beijing, China, Aug. 21, 2008. (Courtesy : Xinhua/Cheng Min)





Natalia Godunko of Ukraine competes during the rope contest of individual all-around qualification of Beijing Olympic Games gymnastics rhythmic event in Beijing, China, Aug. 21, 2008. (Courtesy : Xinhua/Cheng Min)





Odette Richard of South Africa competes during the rope contest of individual all-around qualification of Beijing Olympic Games gymnastics rhythmic event in Beijing, China, Aug. 21, 2008. (Courtesy : Xinhua/Cheng Min)





Inna Zhukova of Belarus competes during the hoop contest of individual all-around qualification of Beijing Olympic Games gymnastics rhythmic event in Beijing, China, Aug. 21, 2008. (Courtesy : Xinhua/Cheng Min)





Eleni Andriola of Greece competes during the rope contest of individual all-around qualification of Beijing Olympic Games gymnastics rhythmic event in Beijing, China, Aug. 21, 2008. (Courtesy : Xinhua/Cheng Min)





Irina Risenzon of Israel competes during the rope contest of individual all-around qualification of Beijing Olympic Games gymnastics rhythmic event in Beijing, China, Aug. 21, 2008. (Courtesy : Xinhua/Cheng Min)



Courtesy : www.news.xinhuanet.com