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Mustafina, Paseka take medals on bars

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Vault bronze medallist Maria Paseka is congratulated by 1956 and 1960 Olympic Champion, Larissa Latynina  Courtesy RGF
Today's event finals saw mixed fortunes for the Russians as Aliya Mustafina won the gold medal expected on bars, while Paseka erred twice on vault but delivered beyond promise on bars with a surprise bronze.  

It was an emotion filled afternoon as Russia celebrated its emerging legend, Mustafina, and coped with the relative disappointment of somewhat below-par presentations in the men's competition.  We will have to wait till tomorrow to see whether Denis Ablyazin can finally win a long expected gold medal on vault at this championships  - and whether the brilliant but unpredictable Ksenia Afanasyeva can assert herself on the floor at European level, to match the Worlds gold medal she won two years ago in Japan.  Anastasia Grishina may be in with a chance of a medal on beam if she can perform her routine without error, and Emin Garibov will defend his high bar title won a year ago in 2012.

Full results and start lists for the competitions are available at this link.  Switzerland's Guilia Steingrueber won vault brilliantly, performing the handspring double twisting front somersault (6.2) to perfection.  In the men's events, British gymnasts Max Whitlock and Daniel Keatings won two gold medals, on floor and on pommels, and earned compliments from the knowledgeable audience here in Russia for their great technique - not surprising, since they are coached by Russian Andrei Popov.    Rings was won by France's Ait Said, and a first gold medal was won by Igor Radivilov for Ukraine.  Floor also was shared between Max Whitlock and Israel's Alexander Shatilov. 

There are too many draws in the men's competition in particular - it is the judges' job to decide who has won.

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