Goosebumps in the Olympic Hall: Gymnast Elisabeth Seitz impressed with a flawless exercise on the uneven bars and won the European Championship title. A short time later, the great talent Emma Malewski unexpectedly followed up with gold on the balance beam. Twice gold for Germany – that was not to be expected.
The only 18-year-old from Chemnitz, Emma Malewski, surprisingly won gold in the gymnastics competition from the balance beam. She triumphed ahead of Ondine Achampong (Great Britain) and Carolann Heduit (France). Her Chemnitz team colleague Pauline Schäfer-Betz experienced a disappointment as she missed the podium in fifth place.
The world champion made a mistake right at the start, but then caught herself, but was also penalized by a tenth for the time. Malewski had presented with an elegant, almost sovereign performance, and the competition then bit its teeth on the native of Hamburg.
Seitz after EM title with goosebumps interview
Elisabeth Seitz initiated the historic German Gymnastics Day. The woman from Stuttgart was only at the end of the uneven bars. She did a great competition. Seitz seemed surprised that it wasn’t just enough for a medal, but even for gold. She could hardly believe her luck and burst into tears too. “It’s a huge dream coming true. I’ve been in the national team since 2009 and I’ve always dreamed of being at the top. And now it’s happened, here in Munich in the Olympiahalle in front of a home crowd. It doesn’t get any better than that , but I haven’t realized it yet,” said Seitz in a goosebumps interview.
Bui finishes fifth in the last competition of her career
It was 33-year-old Kim Bui who opened the uneven bars final. Bui did his gymnastics confidently as usual and did her exercise cleanly. Only when landing did she make a small hop.
Afterwards, Bui was overcome by her feelings. At the end of a great career, she burst into tears, enjoying the audience’s ovation and celebrating 14.066 points.
Italian women push themselves in front of Bui
After her it was the turn of the two Italians who had already won gold in the team. Giorgia Villa started and finished just ahead of Bui with 14,100 points. Her teammate Alice D’Amato went one step further and moved up to the top of the field with 14,400 points.
The Brit Georgia-Mae Fenton and Naomi Visser got worse ratings than Bui, so that the Stuttgarter initially stayed on the bronze rank. But France’s Lorette Charpy then put in a strong practice between the Italians in second place.
Hungarian Kovacs European champion on vault, D’Amato crashes
However, the jumping final took place without German participation. The Hungarian Zsofia Kovacs prevailed with 13.933 points ahead of the Italian Asia D’Amato (13.716). As one of the big favorites, she twisted her ankle on landing and had to be carried off the mat.
D’Amato did not take part in the award ceremony afterwards. She was represented by her coach. The bronze medal went to Aline Friess from France.