Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour continues to mark herself as Paris 2024 gold medal favourite with win at Baku World Cup
The 17-year-old backed up her Cottbus victory with a second, straight gold Saturday (9 March)
Algerian Kaylia Nemour continued her dominance on the uneven bars Saturday (9 March), winning her second-straight World Cup gold medal at the International Gymnastics Federation’s Baku (Azerbaijan) World Cup.
The 17-year-old posted a massive 15.433 for her dynamic, non-stop routine to take the win. She was more than a point clear of Elisa Iorio of Italy, who took second at 14.300. The United States’ Katelyn Jong rounded out the podium after earning a 13.733.
For Nemour, the win comes just two weeks after posting the same mark at the World Cup in Cottbus, Germany.
The history-making gymnast became the first representing an African nation to win a medal at the World Championships in 2023 when she took silver on bars. But her performances – and big scores - in 2024 mark her as a gold medal favourite at this summer’s Olympic Games Paris 2024.
“It’s beautiful what she does,” said reigning Olympic uneven bars champion Nina Derwael of Belgium, according to sporza.be. “I don’t think anyone will take the gold from her in Paris.”
Derwael is currently working her way back on the apparatus following major shoulder surgery.
In Saturday’s other women’s final on the vault, Bulgaria’s Valentina Georgieva took top honours, averaging a 13.799. Her second vault was a clear Tsukahara with a full twist.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s An Chang Ok finished right behind with a 13.783 average. Georgieva and An’s one-two finish was a reversal from the results of the World Cup competitions in Cairo and Cottbus where An was the champion, while the Bulgarian settled for second.
Panama's Karla Navas scored 13.733 to com in third.
Ukraine’s Illia Kovtun upsets reigning Olympic champ Zou Jingyuan on the parallel bars
Ukraine’s Illia Kovtun, who won in Cairo and Cottbus last, kept his World Cup win streak alive on the parallel bars.
The victory for the reigning World all-around silver medallist might seem routine at this point, but Saturday’s winy came over three-time World parallel bars champion and the reigning Olympic champion on the event, Zou Jingyuan of the People’s Republic of China.
The pair scored matching 14.900, but Zou lost the execution score tie-break after sitting on the parallel bars on a move near the end of his routine.
Colombia’s Angel Barajas was third with a 14.700.
In the day’s opening final on the floor exercise, Yahor Sharamkou, an Authorised Neutral Athlete, secured top spot with a 14.933. Japan’s Minami Kazuki was second at 14.66, while the Philippines’ Carlos Yulo finished third (14.366).
China’s You Hao, the Tokyo 2020 still rings silver medallist, held off teammate Zou in the still rings final, 14.900 to 14.866, as the duo finished with gold and silver.
Samir Ait Said of France, who is still seeking an Olympic quota for his home country Games, scored a 14.633 to earn the maximum available Olympic qualifying points.
Competition in Baku continues Sunday (10 March) with finals in the men’s vault, pommel horse and horizontal bar and the women’s balance beam and floor exercise.