Golds, silver for gymnast

Press, 12 November 1985, Page 60

Golds, silver for gymnast

NZPA-Reuter Montreal Yuri Korolev of Russia left his indelible mark on the World Gymnastics Championships at Montreal when he claimed two gold medals and a silver in the men’s individual apparatus finals.

The haul took Korolev’s personal gold tally to four on the final day of the week-long championships. He also led Russia to victory in the team competition, and won the individual over-all title for the second time.

Korolev, who won only a team silver with Russia in 1983, took the vault title outright, and shared the rings gold with China’s Li Ning. Korolev, aged 23, the over-all and floor champion in 1981, became the second Russian gymnast in successive championships to win four golds. Dmitri Belozerchev achieved the same feat in 1983.

Two others to enjoy a golden double were Valentin Mogilnyi, of Russia, and China’s evergreen Tong Fei. Mogilnyi dominated the pommel horse final and collected his second gold when he drew with the East German, Silvio Kroll — the only man to contest all six finals — on the parallel bars.

Most titles were up for grabs in the absence of Belozerchev, but Tong made sure he retained his floor crown with a majestic performance of heart-stopping tumbles and breathtaking twists. He scored a 9.90 for the routine to win from Korolev and the triple Olympic gold medallist Li.

Russia heads the medals table with nine golds, two silvers and a bronze. China are second with three, three and one.