How to watch artistic gymnastics stars outside of Olympics and world championships, starting with Cottbus World Cup
The Cottbus World Cup in Germany, which takes place over four days starting Thursday 23 February, is the 2023 season-opener of the annual series that plays host to big names including Olympic and world champions – but what actually is it, who participates, and does it have anything to do with qualifying for Paris 2024? Olympics.com reveals all.
Artistic Gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics is so popular at an Olympic Games that iconic moments from the sport become part of the parlance of fans the world over. Nadia’s perfect 10, Simone’s twisties, the magnificent seven, but between times the sport fades in profile, despite those same gymnasts performing throughout the fallow Olympic period.
The annual FIG World Cup series offers fans the chance to not only keep an eye on current stars and how new routines are progressing toward the next world championships and Olympic Games, but also be the first to know about any newcomers who could potentially challenge the status quo.
Gymnasts accumulate ranking points throughout the series with those bagging the highest totals claiming the World Cup title on that apparatus. The series offers an opportunity for individual gymnasts to qualify for the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium (from 30 September to 8 October), part of the Olympic qualification pathway for Paris 2024.
With the first of four Apparatus World Cup taking place in the 2023 season – the Cottbus World Cup from 23-26 February – Olympics.com takes a look at who's participating in Germany and how previous World Cups have impacted their careers, including progression to world titles and Olympic gold.
Lord of the Rings – Eleftherios Petrounias (Greece)
Rio 2016 still rings champion, Eleftherios Petrounias of Greece, left it to the last opportunity to qualify for Tokyo 2020, heading to the Doha World Cup just one month before the Games knowing he not only had to win the event but do so with a minimum score of 15.333.
An injury-hit season meant the defending rings champion hadn’t yet qualified and ahead of the final event in Qatar, Petrounias said he was "so ready for the fight of my life".
Fight he did, scoring 15.500, more than half a point ahead of second-placed Arthur Zanetti of Brazil to make it to Tokyo, where he secured a bronze medal.
There’s a reason the two-time Olympic medallist and three-time world champion is known as Lord of the Rings.
Never give up – Ashikawa Urara (Japan)
Many a gymnastics fan will be keeping an eye on the 2021 world beam champion Ashikawa Urara in Cottbus, to see if the Japanese can again perform the heroics seen in qualification at the World Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan – the very definition of not giving up.
In front of a home crowd, Ashikawa looked nailed on to fall from the beam, but, despite a huge wobble that appeared to defy the laws of physics (see below), the teenager managed to stay on the tricky apparatus and scored enough marks to make it into the top eight gymnasts in the final.
Experience of competing at apparatus World Cups, in which she claimed gold at Cottbus 2019, Melbourne 2020 and Baku 2020, came to play when Ashikawa held her nerve in the final to become world champion.
By virtue of winning those three World Cups to claim the beam title, Ashikawa scored enough points to secure her Olympic dream, competing in her home Games where she came sixth in the final.
Other gymnasts to watch in Cottbus
Tokyo 2020 floor exercise gold medallist, Artem Dolgopyat of Israel will showcase his current form in Germany, while reigning pommel horse world champion, Ireland's Rhys McClenaghan will be eyeing a pathway toward an Olympic title to add to his collection.
Elisabeth Seitz, a world bronze medallist on bars, will be competing in front of a home crowd while Italy's Alice D'Amato, a world team bronze medallist alongside twin sister Asia D'Amato – will be hoping to bring some good cheer to herself and her sibling, the reigning European all-around champion, who is currently recovering from injury.
Tin Srbic of Croatia is also on the roster, the 2017 world champion on the spectacular high bar will be plying his new routine in Germany while two-time world champion, on floor and vault, Carlos Yuol is a crowd favourite with his powerful, explosive gymnastics (exhibit A below).
For the most up-to-date entry list, check the FIG roster here.
Cottbus Apparatus World Cup schedule 23-26 February 2023
(MAG = Men's Artistic Gymnastics, WAG = Women's Artistic Gymnastics. Times CET)
Thursday, 23rd February
• 16:30 – 19:30 Qualifications I MAG & WAG
Friday, 24th February
• 16:30 – 19:30 Qualifications II MAG & WAG
Saturday, 25th February
• 14:00 – 17:00 Final I MAG & WAG (5 apparatus)
Sunday, 26th February
• 14:00 – 17:00 Final II MAG & WAG (5 apparatus)
How to watch / follow the Cottbus Apparatus World Cup 2023
Check out the German Gymnastics Federation for the Cottbus feed and how to watch in your country.
Follow the German Gymnastics Fderation on social media – Instagram and Facebook.
FIG Apparatus World Cup schedule 2023
23–26 February – Cottbus, Germany
1–4 March – Doha, Qatar
9–12 March – Baku, Azerbaijan
27–30 April – Cairo, Egypt