With less than two years until the 2012 Summer Olympics, all-around champions Aliya Mustafina of Russia and Kohei Uchimura of Japan established themselves as the favorites for the London Games.
The 16-year-old Mustafina, in her first year of eligibility for major competitions, won two gold and three silvers in six events at the world championships, a stunning arrival on the international scene that highlighted Russia’s return as a top power after several lean years.
Uchimura overcame an inflamed shoulder that worsened during the nine-day competition that concluded Sunday to successfully defended his all-around title from London last year, and added team and two event medals for four overall. The 21-year-old was among the youngest of the top men.
And both should benefit from the international gymnastics federation’s move toward bigger rewards for elegance, with both displaying airy grace in the toughest exercises at the Ahoy Arena.
Overall, China again had the depth to lead the medals table with nine, including four gold, with Zhang Chenglong winning the concluding high bar event ahead of local favorite Epke Zonderland. Russia was second with Mustafina winning five of its six medals. The United States came in third, also with six medals, with Alicia Sacramone earning gold in the vault.
It appeared as if Mustafina would become the first woman since Romania’s Daniela Silivas at the 1988 Olympics to get six medals from six events, but the grind of competing caught up with her on the beam Sunday.
On a rare fumble, she wavered and then fell off when it seemed she could have recovered.
It left the way open for Romania’s Ana Porgras to take gold ahead of American Rebecca Bross, the all-around bronze medalist. Bross won four medals overall, two silver and two bronze. The 17-year-old also looks like a major contender for 2012.
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