The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic GamesAugust 8-24 2008
(BEIJING, August 17) -- Glory and tears marked an action-packed day in the Artistic Gymnastics competition on August 17. A total of four gold medals were decided, including the Men's Floor Exercise, the Women's Vault, the Men's Pommel Horse and the Women's Floor Exercise.
Let's start with the expected. China's Xiao Qin was the favorite in the Men's Pommel Horse and didn't disappoint with a near-flawless performance. Xiao, 23, won the gold medal with a score of 15.875. The silver medal was won by Croatia's Filip Ude and the bronze medal was won by Great Britain's Louis Smith.
Ude and Smith were tied in second place after both scored 15.725, but Ude won the silver medal due to his superior level of execution. The 19-year-old Smith impressed judges with a very difficult routine and will be a favorite to win gold on home soil at London 2012.
The day was full of tears for Brazilian gymnasts Diego Hypolito and Jade Barbosa. Hypolito started as a favorite in the Men's Floor Exercise, but fell backwards during his last tumbling routine. A tearful Hypolito could only watch on as China's Zou Kai won the gold medal.
Zou, a boyish-looking 20 year old, practically pranced in and won the gold medal with a solid routine. It is the first time that a host nation has won the gold medal in the Men's Floor Exercise.
Barbosa cried after performing poorly in the Women's Vault. Barbosa had a chance of winning after the favorite Cheng Fei of China fell on her second vault. But mistakes on her first vault clearly unnerved Barbosa and she was unable to perform at her best. Hong Un-jong of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea won the gold medal with a difficult pair of vaults that scored well.
Cheng also cried after she fell during her floor routine and scored poorly. The Women's Floor Routine was won by Romania's Sandra Izbasa whose floor routine featured solid tumbling and precise choreography.
Probably the most unlucky gymnast of the day was Russia's Anna Pavlova. Pavlova scored 0.00 on her second vault for starting her performance before receiving the green light. The score ensured that she finished last in the Women's Vault. She then fell during her floor routine and also finished last in the Women's Floor Exercise.
