Today was the day of the finals at the Centre Sportif de la Cite de l'Eau in Publier-Amphion, France, where the athletes from 23 countries came to compete in trampoline, tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics.  It was the first time that an acrobatic gymnastics World Cup was held in parallel to a trampoline and tumbling World Cup. 

The finals took place in front of a sold out crowd of 1,000 people.

The World Cup in trampoline and tumbling was a Category A event, whereas it was a Category B event in acrobatic gymnastics.  In trampoline, this Publier World Cup constituted the 3rd World Cup of 2008 and the 10th stage of the 2007-2008 World Cup. 

In the first finals, 2005 World Champions Natalia Chernova-Irina Karavaeva (RUS) prevailed in women's synchronized trampoline with 47.00 pts.  This win was the 4th World Cup gold medal for the pair from Krasnodar after those won in Ostend in 2005, Krasnodar in 2006, and Ostend in 2007.  The silver and bronze medals went to Katherine Driscoll-Claire Wright (GBR - 46.20 pts) and Ekaterina Khilko-Anna Savkina (UZB - 45.40 pts).  It was the first World Cup medal for the British pair, whereas the pair from Uzbekistan won its fourth World Cup bronze medal.

In men's synchronized trampoline, Masaki Ito-Manabu Yamaguchi (JPN) prevailed.  The silver medal went to 2008 European silver medalists Gregoire Pennes-Sebastien Martiny (FRA), who received a warm support from the crowd.  It was the third World Cup medal for the French pair after other performances in St Petersburg in 2007 and Osaka last week.  The bronze medal went to Diogo Ganchinho-Nuno Merino (POR). 

2-time World Champion Anna Korobeynikova (RUS) triumphed in women's tumbling with 70.70 pts, capturing a record 14th World Cup gold medal in tumbling.  3-time World Champion Elena Chabanenko (UKR) took the silver medal with 68.00 pts, followed by 2007 World bronze medalist Anastasia Isupova (RUS).  The podium of this Publier World Cup was a carbon copy of the podium of the 2007 World Championships.  

The men's tumbling final saw 2005 World Games winner Jozef Wadecki (POL) upset 2005 World Champion Wang Jiexu (CHN).  It was the third World Cup win in Wadecki's career after successes in Levallois in 2005 and Salzgitter in 2006. The bronze medal in Publier went to 2004 World Cup Final winner Andrei Kabishev (BLR). 

In women's trampoline, 2003 World Champion and 2-time Olympic medalist Karen Cockburn (CAN) prevailed with 39.00 pts over 2007 World silver medalist Huang Shanshan (CHN - 38.60 pts) and Claire Wright (GBR - 37.20 pts).  It was the 5th World Cup gold medal in individual trampoline for Cockburn.   

In men's trampoline, Dong Dong (CHN - 41.00 pts) won the third World Cup of his career after edging Masaki Ito (JPN - 40.00 pts) and former World Champion Alexander Rusakov (RUS - 39.50 pts).     

You will find the detailed results at the bottom of this report.  Acrobatic gymnastics results and pictures to come soon.  More detailed reporting to come.  

The whole AcrobaticSports.com team would like to thank Damien Dorna and Michel Bontemps for his great coverage of the event. 

Link to the official website