Day two of the Olympic Hopes competition saw the GB juniors in action once more for apparatus finals. Having qualified the maximum two gymnasts to each final, there were further chances to impress, and chances to improve for the young British team.

Vault 

Amelie and Teaja in the vault final, Amelie up first, and a great full twisting Yurchenko from her to open with. Second vault a straight Yurchenko, an average on 13.950 and fourth place for her.

Taeja also vaulted a strong full twisting Yurchenko, she then as we are used to seeing from her, but not that many other juniors worldwide, impressively used a different entry for her second vault, using the tucked Tsuk full. 13.70 average, and fifth place for Taeja.

Bars 

Amelie and Chiara contested the bars final. Amelie started well, long clean lines which look so good on this piece when a gymnast works with E score in mind. Unfortunately Amelie had a fall on her big Jaeger today, but she recovered well, with a nice shoot half right into handstand, and a really high full out dismount. Sixth place today 12.10 (4.9 D, 7.2 E)

 

Chiara hit a great routine, safely through the Tkatchev and shoot half, nice shoot back to high bar, a tidy giant full, and my favourite part of her routine as I love anything a bit different, the one and half twisting front flyaway. Fifth place for Chiara 12.70 (4.7 D, 8.0 E)

 

 

Beam 

Amelie went up first on beam, she wasn’t as clean as yesterday hence the 0.55 less in E score today, and did lose 0.2 in D score, but another hit routine from her under pressure which is very encouraging. A little short on the change half, and an adjustment on the flick flick layout, but overall great work, clean lines, fluid movement, and nice presentation from her again. Fifth place 13.00 (5.1 D, 7.9 E)

 

Taeja had a long wait stood on the board, but handled it very well. The feed of her routine is interrupted by two MAG vaults, and and a gymnast infront of the camera, so we missed her change to change half, we then saw a very solid flick flick layout a change from the series she has been using, but very well done. We miss the front somi, but see that she lands without issue today after yesterday’s fall, side somi well performed, then another MAG vault while Taeja does choreography, strong two and a half twist to finish. Very well done to Taeja, when she’s on, she has such a strong, sharp confident air to her beam work which I love. A well earned bronze medal for her 13.2350 (5.3 D, 8.05 E)

 

 

Floor 

Finally on floor, Amelie up first, and with her eighth competitive routine in two days, she finished her competition strongly to take the bronze medal. Clean expressive work again,  she had a couple of steps after her double tuck, and was a little short on the triple twist today, but lovely straight front double twist to stag jump. Great extension and range through the leaps, beautifully presented and overall a very good routine, I imagine she will be absolutely thrilled with how she has done at her first GB junior international event. 13.450 (5.3 D, 8.15 E)

 

The final performance from the British juniors came from Zoe, and I just love this floor. I am a big fan of lyrical graceful routines, but I love any routine where the music and choreography perfectly suits the gymnast’s performance style and character, and this bouncy swing routine is perfect for Zoe. Full of energy and fun throughout, I very much hope she keeps this for her second junior year in 2017, as it’s impossible not to smile throughout, and definitely one of my favourites from this year’s junior ranks.
Trademark double front to open, then an newly upgraded one and a half to full twisting straight front second tumble, sharp leaps, then the straight front immediately into chasse change half. Two and a half with small step to finish, great routine. Sixth place for Zoe 13.100 (5.2 D, 8.0 E)