DOHA, QAT (November 3, 2018) – Ana Padurariu of Whitby, ON had the performance of her life on the final day of the 2018 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships on Saturday to capture the silver medal on beam in the individual apparatus finals.
The 16-year-old Padurariu, who trains out of Gemini Gymnastics in Oshawa, ON with coaches Elena Davydova and Valery Yahchybekov, is competing in her first World Championships, and qualified for the finals in 5th position with a score of 13.966. She bettered that score today to 14.100 to finish in the silver medal position behind Liu Tingting of China who took the gold with a score of 14.533, and in front of Simone Biles of the USA who captured the bronze with a score of 13.600.
“This is unbelievable! I’m still trying to believe it right now. It paid off. These weeks have been a roller coaster, but it ended on a good note, and that’s all I can ask for,” said an ecstatic Padurariu following the competition.
A stand-out junior, Padurariu joined the senior ranks this year, and after sustaining an injury at the first competition this year, only competed on the beam and uneven bars in Doha.
World Championships veteran Ellie Black of Halifax, NS also had a solid performance on the beam to finish her World’s competition with a score of 13.033 to finish in 5th position.
Cambridge, ON’s Brooklyn Moors was the lone Canadian to compete in the floor finals, and scored a 13.066 to finish the competition in 8th place. Biles took the gold with a score of 14.933; Morgan Hurd of the USA captured silver with a score of 13.933, and the defending World Champion on floor – Mai Murakami of Japan, rounded out the podium with a score of 13.866 to take bronze. Winner of the 2017 Longines Prize for Elegance for her incredibly artistry in this routine, Moors is coached by Elvira Saadi out of Dynamo Gymnastics.
Canada finishes these World Championships with a record-setting two silver medals and a record-setting high placing of fourth in the women’s team competition.
Next up for Canada are the Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships which kick off on Wednesday, Nov. 7 in St. Petersburg, RUS.
For all of the competition results visit: https://live.gymnastics.sport/schedule.php?idevent=13335