Russia, China and others set for Olympics gymnastics glory (Feature)

By Peter Auf der Heyde Jul 28, 2008, 19:58 GMT

Hamburg - The Russian and American gymnastics teams are expected to dominate the sport's disciplines at the Beijing Olympics although host country China remains confident of a breakthrough.

The sport has been a part of every Olympic Games since the birth of the modern Olympics in 1896, with only men being allowed to compete for the first 30 years.

Until 1984, only artistic gymnastics was on the programme. In that year rhythmic gymnastics was introduced and in 2000 a trampoline competition was added.

This year there will be fierce competition for medals at Beijing's National Indoor Stadium among male and female athletes in the artistic gymnastics and trampoline while the women will also compete in the rhythmic gymnastics discipline.

There are a total of 14 events in artistic gymnastics, including team events for both the men and women as well as the all-round, vault and floor exercise.

However, while the men compete on the pommel horse, rings, parallel bars and high bar, the women battle it out on the uneven bars and balance beam.

The American women's gymnastics team is hoping to not only win the team gold medal but also compete strongly in the individual events with 16-year-old Shawn Johnson, the 2007 world all-round champion, and Nastia Liukin both hoping to emulate Carly Patterson's achievement in Athens by taking the all-round gold medal.

The US men's team includes reigning Olympic all-round champion Paul Hamm, who has recovered from a broken bone in his right hand suffered in May, and brother Morgan, despite testing positive for a prescribed substance without first getting the proper clearance.

China is expected to medal well in the men's events with Yang Wei hoping to improve on the silver he won in the 2000 Olympics individual all-round in Sydney.

Three-time world champion on the pommel horse, Xiao Qin, should start as favourite in his discipline as are Chen Yibing on rings and Huang Xu on parallel bars.

South Korean Yang Tae-Young will be hoping to put the memories of an incorrect start value on parallel bars that cost him gold in the all-round four years ago although the parallel bars looks to be his strongest discipline this time around.

Kyle Shewfelt caused a shock by taking gold for Canada in the floor competition in Athens but Bulgaria's Jordan Jovtchev will be looking to pip him and finally win gold at the age of 35 after amassing three bronzes and a silver to date.

In the women's event, Romania's Steliana Nistor will be hoping to go one better than the second-place finish she achieved in the all- round at the 2007 World Championships while Jade Barbosa could become the first Brazilian gymnast to win an Olympic medal.

Russia has traditionally been a powerhouse in rhythmic gymnastics, winning the group title in the past two Olympic Games as well as four world championships in a row.

In individual all-round competition, Vera Sessina will be favourite after winning the European title this year in Turin although Ukraine's Anna Bessonova, winner of the bronze in Athens four years ago as well as the 2007 worlds, could run her close.

China doesn't expect its sole representateve, Xiao Yiming, to win a medal in the individual event but is confident of snatching a group medal.

In the trampoline, Germany's Anna Dogonadze will be defending her title at the age of 35.