Women’s Artistic Team in Commonwelath Games 2018
Scotland’s women’s artistic gymnasts have finished fifth in the team event on the second day of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The five-strong team was competing in the second subdivision of four, alongside one gymnast from New Zealand and Malta, and teams from Malaysia, India and Sri Lanka. And by the end of the session, they were leading the way on the scoreboard.
They then had to wait as the remaining teams tussled for podium places, with Canada eventually winning gold, England silver and Australia bronze, and see who qualified for the all-around and apparatus finals.
How the session unfolded
Team Captain Isabella Tolometti (Izzy) started the session’s action on the vault with a good solid, start, which she landed confidently, her 8.550 execution mark helping towards an overall score of 12.250. Next was the youngest member of the team, 15 year-old Ellie Russell from West Lothian Artistic Gymnastics Club, who followed her captain’s lead with good high vault, finishing neatly in the central line for a 13.150. She confidently followed up with her second attempt 12.800, to average 12.975.
Cara Kennedy, the only woman in the team competing in her second Commonwealth Games, had a good flight, landing just off line earning a small deduction, but a worthy 13.550. Her second vault was equally assured at 13.050, and her score of averaged at 13.300. Her city of Glasgow teammate Shannon Archer contacted well with apparatus getting plenty of lift for her first attempt of 13.900. Her second attempt was clean and raised a small smile at the end, and so it should have, earning 13.400 for a vault average of 13.650. A good start to the competition for the women with a team score of 40.600, easily leading the subdivision after the first piece of apparatus.
The rotation moved on to the high bars and Shannon was first on the apparatus, a short routine, but it ended with a very tidy dismount and the judges awarded 11.050. Cara was next and again her short routine was cleanly performed, for 10.950, suggesting perhaps that Scotland were thinking of the long game, ensuring high execution marks for the team total rather than risking penalties on harder routines.
Ellie’s routine was marred early on when her legs hit the bar, but the teenager wasn’t unnerved, and she continued well, although the deduction affected her score – 10.500. Izzy started and ended strongly, and hers was the highest score of the four, adding 11.300 to the team total.
Their total at the half way point of 73.900 was out in front of the other nations with Shannon marginally behind in second place in the individual rankings. And as the teams rotated around the arena, the large contingent of Scottish supporters, including the gymnasts’ families, continued to cheer and wave their saltires in the packed arena of 7000 of spectators.
Next was the beam, and Izzy stepped up or rather cartwheeled on to the apparatus. She concentrated hard and executed her first series of flips, but a slight wobble on a cartwheel, and she had to remount. But the Garioch Girl finished strongly and the judges awarded 10.650. Cara was next, her routine including three confident leaps, but her cartwheel also unbalanced her, but again, a neat round-off to end with, and a score of 11.200.
Shannon then lightly leapt into action with an elegant routine finishing with double twist dismount only marred by her back flip which also meant a restart for the City of Glasgow gymnast, and the judges deemed it worthy of 11.350.
Sofia Ramzan from Dundee 2K Gymnastics Club then made her first Commonwealth Games appearance which can be tough to debut on the beam. And the 17 year-old was going great guns until a wobble and a restart towards the end, but she again recovered well for the finish and a score of 10.400.
Time to move on to the final apparatus, the floor. And despite some tight scoring on the beam, Shannon and Cara were first and second at the top of the individual scoreboard, with the team also maintaining their lead with 107.100, ahead of Malaysia, India and Sri Lanka. And the saltires continued to wave the team on to the final rotation of the session.
Cara’s smile lit the arena as she took to the floor and performed her first set of tumbles well in her up-tempo, well-constructed routine. She beamed even more when she finished, and quite rightly, with an execution of 7.500 earning a score of 11.900 to set the pace for the team.
Step up Sofia, and she sprightly moved around the floor as the strong, energetic beat played her soundtrack. A 7.300 for execution resulting in 11.500. Next up was Shannon with her elegant routine to the sounds of Simon and Garfunkel. No signs of troubled water for the Scot however, as she showed her artistry and skill throughout, although her clean routine only earned a 7.750 in execution, and she added 12.050 to her and the team total.
Team captain Izzy ended the Scot’s challenge, just as she had started it such a short time earlier in a session which seemed to whizz by. Her solidly performed routine to dramatic music was awarded 7.800 for execution and 11.900 overall.
At the end of the morning’s competition, Scotland were sitting at the top of the team scoreboard on 142.950, ahead of second placed Malaysia on 137.850, with India on 128.975 and Sri Lanka, 108.600.
Shannon was at the top of the individual standings, her total of 48.350 putting her ahead of Malaysia’s Farah Ann Abdul Hadi in second on 48.300. Cara was sitting in third on 47.600 and Izzy fifth on 46.300.
Their work done, the waiting game began, with subdivisions three and four to come, to decide the final standings and progression to the finals.
Commenting on her performance, Shannon said:
“The morning was good. There was a great atmosphere in the gym and I couldn’t have asked for a better competition, to be honest. I’m hoping to make the vault and all-around final because they’re what I was aiming for and I am hoping to get the chance to go out there and compete again.”
The team watched with anticipation at Scotland House, their home from home away from the village and the competition arena, as Canada, England, Wales and Australia battled for positions through the rotations. In the end, Canada won the gold with 163.075, England silver (162.650) and the host nation taking bronze (157.450) ahead of Wales in fourth (155.975). Scotland’s total of 142.950 meant they equalled the best previous finish for the women’s artistic team at the Commonwealth Games.
When the individual results were in, Shannon had indeed qualified for the vault final with her fourth placed qualifying score of 13.650, with Cara qualifying in seventh place (13.300). The two gymnasts also qualified for the all-around final which is restricted to two gymnasts per nation. Shannon narrowly missed out on qualifying for the floor final, and is first reserve, with Izzy right behind her as second reserve for the event.
Cara, competing in her second Commonwealth Games, added:
“It was amazing, and just as good as the first one. I started well on vault and finished well on the floor, so I’m happy how I did and how the team did.”
Congratulations to all the gymnasts, and we now look forward to seeing Shannon and Cara in the finals.
> Full reaction from all the team members
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