In a discipline where it is particularly difficult to qualify for the Olympic Games, the one who brilliantly won the ticket to France just a year ago in Valencia (ESP), Hélène Karbanov, took to the stage this Thursday in the Porte de la Chapelle Arena for the all-around competition, the only event on the program for Paris 2024 and previous editions. Indeed, only one medal is awarded to the individuals on the 4 apparatus after two days of competition: the first devoted to the qualifications and the second to the final. The resident of the Calais club and center is therefore particularly keen to succeed in her exercises in front of a large French audience, cheering her on in the Paris hall, in order to offer her routines again the next day. To reach this final final, the Frenchwoman must enter the top 10. She starts with a nice passage on the hoop where she obtains 30,500 points. She continued in the morning with excellence in ball and added 32.350 points to her total. After a short break, the Tricolore then presented herself in clubs where she made a few inaccuracies including 2 falls from apparatus and a departure from the floor. She obtained 28.650 points. She concluded nicely in ribbon with 29.650 points. Hélène Karbanov thus totaled 121.150 points and took 17th place in the general competition of her first Olympic Games.
Coming soon, in rhythmic gymnastics, the Ensemble France, composed of Aïnhoa Dot-Espinosa, Manelle Inaho, Célia Joseph-Noël, Justine Lavit, Lozéa Vilarino, on August 9.
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STATEMENTS
Hélène Karbanov: During the first run, I didn’t really know what to expect with the audience. I knew they would be there, but I didn’t expect to hear my first and last name throughout the room. They were yelling so much that I didn’t even hear the signal to enter the floor. On the hoop, it was a no-fall, but with quite a few inaccuracies. I felt a lot of adrenaline rising and at that moment it took over. After the first run, I knew how to handle it and I made a nice ball. It was good, I was happy. Then the clubs, it’s a sequence that I particularly like to do, but I wanted to do too well and it didn’t work. I still managed to make the most of this experience. On the last run on the ribbon, I let go to enjoy every moment. It was incredible. I still have a hard time realizing it, because I’ve been waiting for this moment for 10 years. It’s a waking dream. And I’m realistic, there was nothing particularly at stake, so I have no regrets, I loved this experience. I’m not going to dwell on that.
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THE FRENCH DELEGATION
GYMNASTS: Hélène KARBANOV (Calais Pole / Calais GRS) | Manelle INAHO (INSEP / SCA 2000) | Lozéa VILARINO (INSEP / Thionville GRS Association) | Justine LAVIT (INSEP / GRS Odos) | Aïnhoa DOT-ESPINOSA (INSEP / Orléans Gymnastics Municipal Society) | Célia JOSEPH-NOËL (INSEP / Issy GRS)
SUPERVISION: Head of delegation: Kevinn RABAUD | GR Coaches: Anna BARANOVA, Sara BAYON, Katia GUILLERE and Grégory MILAN | GR Physiotherapist: Martin VANDERKAM