Selection competitions across Europe

As I write this post the opening ceremonies of London 2012 are 40 days, 23 hours and 30 minutes away. So far of the countries sending full teams only France and Japan have confirmed their final olympic selection.

However this weekend has been busy with selection competitions, particularly in Europe. The most high profile of these being the Russian Cup. 

Word coming from the Russian camp is that the women's team is mostly set, with Viktoria Komova, Aliya Mustafina, Anastasia Grishina and Ksenia Afansyeva all but confirmed.

The question is who will be the 5th member of the team? The likely players after the Russian cup are Julia Inshina (3rd in the all-around), Anna Dementyeva, Tatiana Nabieva, Anastasia Sidorova or (if she can get her Amanar vault consistent in the next few weeks, Maria Paeska). The Russian's found having a team of specialists didn't work out for them at the European championships so may be looking to keep their options open with a team full of all-arounders.

It's also great to see 2-time olympian Anna Pavlova not out of the running yet (she won the vault event final) She is a VERY long shot though so I'm not getting my hopes up of seeing her in London yet....

Russian Cup AA results:
1.Viktoria Komova 15.200 16.200 15.067 14.300 60.767
2.Aliya Mustafina 15.067 15.867 14.100 14.133 59.167
3.Yulia Inshina 13.700 14.200 14.400 13.867 56.167
4.Ksenia Afanasyeva 13.600 13.500 14.700 14.267 56.067
5.Anna Pavlova 14.733 12,833 14,533 13.600 55.697
6.Anna Myzdrikova 13.833 11.867 13.300 13.400 52.400
7.Yulia Belokobylskaya 13.367 12.500 13.567 12.900 52.334
8.Anastasia Sidorova 14.300 10,333 13,133 14.033 51.799
-----
Tatiana Nabieva 14.233 14.767 0,000 0,000 29.000
Maria Paseka 14.533 13.667 0,000 0,000 28.200
Anna Dementyeva 0,000 14,733 13,067 0,000 27.800
Anastasiya Grishina 0,000 13.800 0,000 0,000 13.800

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Europe:
Fabian Hambuchan, who missed Europeans in order to get competition ready has won the German men's championships. whilst Elizabeth Seitz won the women's title.

1.Fabian Hambuchen 91.100
2.Marcel Nguyen 89.050
3.Philip Boy 88.200
4.Andreas Toba 87.650
5.Thomas Taranu 85.850
6.Eugen Spiridinov 85.450
7.Sebastian Krimmer 84.900
8.Matthias Fahrig 84.350

1.Elisabeth Seitz 58.750
2.Nadine Jarosch 56.150
3.Kim Bui 54.800
4.Pia Tolle 53.100
5.Lisa Katharin Hill 53.000
6.Giulia Hindermann 52.150
7.Anja Rheinbay 50.250
8.Janine Berger 49,750
....
Oksana Chusovitina 39.650 (no FX)

In Italy, veteran Vanessa Ferrari took the all-around title
1.Vanessa Ferrari 56.850
2.Carlotta Ferlito 55.950
3.Elisa Meneghini 55.000
4.Lara Mori 52.300
5.Chiara Gandolfi 51.850
6.Martine Buro 51.700
7.Jessica Mattoni 51.650
8.Elisabetta Preziosa 51.600
9.Alessia Leolini 51.500
10.Adriana Crisci 50.300

And in Holland, just a few days after being named as her country's single olympic entrant, Celine Van Gerner has cemented her title with an all around win.
1.Celine Van Gerner 54.750
2.Lisa Top 53.950
3.Wyomi Masela 52.850
4.Vera Van Pol 52.825
5.Noel Van Klaveren 51.400
6.Maartje Ruikes 51.100
7.Melissa Scherpenisse 50.450
8.Julia Bombach 50.350

(Source: The All Around)

Next week the road to london continues with the British Championships and the USA's olympic trials!