European Championship in Antalya
Sarah Voss misses the top ten in the all-around at the European Gymnastics Championship
Sarah Voss took 16th place in the all-around. photo
© Marijan Murat/dpa
Sarah Voss is not yet in her best form after a stubborn injury. At the European Gymnastics Championships in Antalya, the German champion missed the top ten in the all-around.
Sarah Voss washed down her first disappointment with a strong sip from the Coke can. A mistake when going up on the balance beam at the beginning and a fall on the uneven bars at the end of the all-around cost the woman from Cologne a place in the top ten at the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antalya. The 23-year-old only scored 49.932 points and finished 16th.
In the qualification two days earlier she had scored 49.732 points in the four-way battle of floor, balance beam, vault and uneven bars and was 20th in the final battle of the 24 best. “It’s a shame about the rise,” she stated, “on the parallel bars, I’m honest, I was too hectic. All in all, I can’t be dissatisfied. That’s just the state I have at the moment. I was super happy, ever again to do the four-way gymnastics.”
Jessica Gadirova from Great Britain secured the title with 55.032 points ahead of Zsofia Kovacs from Hungary (54.899). Italy’s Alice D’Amato won bronze with 54,500 points.
A nail-biter at the start, strong on the ground
Like two days before, the bar was a nail-biter at the start, and she failed to get up. Nevertheless, the woman from Cologne got a higher rating. On the floor, where she fell in the elimination in the last acrobatics row, she improved significantly. After a flawless jump, Sarah Voss had to involuntarily leave the apparatus at the end of the uneven bars and missed out on a better placement as a result.
“We can be proud of her after her injury was so protracted. I also saw what happened on the beam and parallel bars in training. That’s definitely something where she can improve,” said national coach Gerben Wiersma.
Voss again “capable of fighting and competitive”
After a stubborn calf injury, Sarah Voss is happy to be able to compete again in an all-around competition. A torn muscle had already handicapped the 23-year-old at the successful home European Championships with team bronze eight months ago in Munich and then forced her to give up the World Championships in Liverpool. “I’ve got fit for the European Championships, which makes me extremely proud. I’m able to fight in all kinds of situations and I’m competitive,” she said.
She used the injury break to work on her body with strength training. “As far as strength and speed are concerned, I’m very, very well back. I would almost say it’s better than ever,” said the German all-around champion. “I am very happy where I am now and would like to keep this platform and add the last percentage points.”
The long-term goal is the Olympic Games in Paris next year, for which qualification will take place at the World Championships in Antwerp in autumn. “The goal is to get the best team and also my best all-around at the World Cup so that we can look stronger to 2024,” said Sarah Voss. Until then, she wants to upgrade her exercises again with greater difficulties in order to be able to collect more points than in Antalya.
