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Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela dominated the gymnastics competition at the 9th South American Games, held this week in Medellin, Colombia.
 Venezula's Jessica Lopez won four gold medals at the 9th South American Games, held this week in Medellin, Colombia.The 2010 edition of the quadrennial South American Games features athletes from 15 nations competing in more than 35 sports, including artistic and rhythmic gymnastics.
Contintental powerhouse Brazil won both team titles, defeating the host nation in both contests. The women won by a nearly 8-point margin of victory, with Venezula finishing third.
"We expected this result, but the competition wasn't easy," Brazilian women's coach Irina Ilyashenko said. "We competed in a tense atmosphere, in front of a large audience of Colombia fans putting a lot of pressure on our gymnasts. But the important thing is that they managed a great performance and got the title."
Brazilian gymnast Bruna Leal noted it was the first big competition of the year for her squad.
"This result is very important for our team," Leal said. "We picked up some pressure to continue with the results and it shows that we have potential."
The Brazilian men had a closer competition, beating Colombia by slightly more than 3 points. Argentina won the bronze.
"The boys had a good competition and met expectations. But the great advantage of the Brazilian team was the camaraderie of the gymnasts," Brazilian coach Marcos Goto said. "We did not medal in the all-around, but our focus was on the team competition and we are pleased to reach our goal."
The Brazilian team featured veterans Diego Hypolito, 23, and Mosiah Rodrigues, 28, as well as newcomers Sergio Sasaki, 17, and Francisco Barretto, 20.
"This combination of experienced athletes with young talent worked perfectly," said Rodrigues, who also helped Brazil win in 2002 and 2006. "The competition was at a strong level, Colombia has worked hard, but the Brazilian team was very good as a whole and deserved this victory."
 Diego Hypolito (Brazil) won three golds in Medellin.2008 Olympians Jessica Lopez (Venezuela) and Jorge Hugo Giraldo (Colombia) won the all-around competition, held during Monday's team contest.
Lopez, second at the Nadia Comaneci International in February and third at the American Cup in March, claimed an easy victory over two Brazilians. With the highest score on each event, Lopez defeated Leal by nearly 3 full points. Priscila Cobello won the bronze.
"My performance could not have been better — it's marvelous!" a thrilled Lopez said.
In Wednesday's event finals, the former Denver standout added three more gold medals on uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise.
"I thank God I had a very good performance in the competition today, and I am very proud to give these medals to my country," said Lopez, 24. "It's thanks to all the work and preparation I've been doing with my coach (Brazilian Nilson Medeiros) that I was able to have this triumph."
Colombia, competing without top gymnasts Nathalia Sanchez and Jessica Gil, took its only women's gold from Catalina Escobar on vault.
Brazil and Colombia split the men's event finals with three golds each. Hypolito took floor exercise and vault titles, and teammate Arthur Zanetti won still rings.
Giraldo added pommel horse and parallel titles to his all-around victory. Young teammate Didier Lugo, 18, ended the competition with a gold medal for Colombia on high bar to go with his all-around silver.
The 30-year-old Giraldo said he was ecstatic to have the South American Games in his hometown of Medellin, and hoped the event would have a lasting positive effect on Colombian gymnastics.
"The competition gym is at the level of any competition in the world and the [Gymnova] equipment is excellent," he said. "I hope we can make everything for the future of sport in the country."
Argentina added two more bronze medals in finals from Ayelin Tarabini on women's vault and Federico Molinari on still rings. Chile took three medals from Tomas Gonzalez, who finished second on men's floor exercise and third all-around and on vault.
Ecuador was the sixth and final nation to medal in artistic gymnastics, with the women's floor exercise bronze going to 15-year-old Elid Helwigg.
External Link: Official Web Site
IX South American Games
March 22-24, Medellin, Colombia
| Women's Team | VT | UB | BB | FX | Total |
| 1. | Brazil |  | 54.30 | 51.40 | 51.65 | 51.95 | 209.30 |
| 2. | Colombia |  | 52.65 | 51.85 | 45.25 | 51.60 | 201.35 |
| 3. | Venezuela |  | 54.45 | 46.85 | 49.30 | 50.40 | 201.00 |
| 4. | Argentina |  | 52.25 | 43.35 | 50.50 | 49.45 | 195.55 |
| 5. | Peru |  | 48.80 | 40.85 | 44.15 | 46.15 | 179.95 |
| 6. | Ecuador |  | 38.30 | 40.25 | 46.75 | 49.50 | 174.80 |
| Men's Team | FX | PH | SR | VT | PB | HB | Total |
| 1. | Brazil | | 59.45 | 54.05 | 57.45 | 61.95 | 55.85 | 54.75 | 343.50 |
| 2. | Colombia | | 57.00 | 54.60 | 56.75 | 61.05 | 56.55 | 54.40 | 340.35 |
| 3. | Argentina | | 55.60 | 51.75 | 54.10 | 60.45 | 53.70 | 52.25 | 327.85 |
| 4. | Chile |  | 54.35 | 49.80 | 53.10 | 59.20 | 51.65 | 47.95 | 316.05 |
| 5. | Peru | | 53.35 | 45.90 | 45.00 | 57.75 | 49.35 | 42.00 | 293.35 |
| Women's All-Around | VT | UB | BB | FX | Total |
| 1. | Jessica Lopez | | 14.35 | 14.15 | 14.50 | 13.80 | 56.80 |
| 2. | Bruna Leal | | 13.95 | 13.75 | 12.95 | 13.25 | 53.90 |
| 3. | Priscila Cobello | | 13.35 | 13.10 | 13.80 | 12.90 | 53.15 |
| 4. | Elid Helwigg | | 13.45 | 11.35 | 12.85 | 13.20 | 50.85 |
| 5. | Catalina Escobar | | 12.55 | 13.05 | 11.35 | 13.15 | 50.10 |
| 6. | Sandra Collantes | | 13.45 | 11.30 | 12.50 | 12.65 | 49.90 |
| 7. | Marcela Sandoval | | 12.00 | 13.10 | 11.60 | 12.65 | 49.35 |
| 8. | Valeria Pereyra | | 13.50 | 10.90 | 13.05 | 11.85 | 49.30 |
| 9. | Ayelen Tarabini | | 13.40 | 9.20 | 13.50 | 12.50 | 48.60 |
| 10. | Britt Reusche | | 12.75 | 11.00 | 10.90 | 13.00 | 47.65 |
| 11. | Cindy Daniela Ruiz | | 13.45 | 9.60 | 11.90 | 12.25 | 47.20 |
| 12. | Stephania Villalba | | 12.50 | 10.00 | 11.70 | 12.65 | 46.85 |
| 13. | Makarena Pinto | | 13.20 | 10.20 | 10.25 | 10.50 | 44.15 |
| 14. | Marcela Alvarez | | 12.75 | 4.05 | 10.85 | 10.75 | 38.40 |
| 15. | Debra Acosta |  | 12.15 | 4.10 | 9.80 | 9.95 | 36.00 |
| Men's All-Around | FX | PH | SR | VT | PB | HB | Total |
| 1. | Jorge Hugo Giraldo | | 14.65 | 14.70 | 15.20 | 15.80 | 14.70 | 14.10 | 89.15 |
| 2. | Didier Lugo | | 14.60 | 13.60 | 14.90 | 15.25 | 14.60 | 14.20 | 87.15 |
| 3. | Tomas Gonzalez | | 15.60 | 13.35 | 14.20 | 15.85 | 14.05 | 12.20 | 85.25 |
| 4. | Victor Rosa | | 14.70 | 13.20 | 13.40 | 15.35 | 14.35 | 13.55 | 84.55 |
| 5. | Sergio Sasaki | | 14.40 | 13.80 | 13.95 | 14.90 | 13.95 | 13.40 | 84.40 |
| 6. | Federico Molinari | | 12.95 | 12.40 | 14.05 | 14.75 | 14.20 | 13.15 | 81.50 |
| 7. | Fernando Fuentes | | 13.60 | 11.80 | 13.80 | 15.40 | 13.90 | 12.65 | 81.15 |
| 8. | Juan Lompizano | | 14.80 | 13.35 | 12.80 | 15.40 | 11.95 | 12.70 | 81.00 |
| 9. | Christian Bruno | | 13.15 | 11.75 | 13.35 | 15.00 | 12.80 | 13.25 | 79.30 |
| 10. | Byron Lopez | | 13.60 | 11.80 | 11.05 | 15.25 | 12.15 | 11.55 | 75.40 |
| 11. | Luis Ramirez | | 13.00 | 11.45 | 11.00 | 14.05 | 12.25 | 12.25 | 74.00 |
| 12. | Mauricio Gallegos | | 13.00 | 12.00 | 10.50 | 13.55 | 12.45 | 10.05 | 71.55 |
| 13. | Luis Gamarra | | 11.05 | 10.40 | 10.50 | 13.65 | 12.15 | 9.80 | 67.55 |
| 14. | Luis Scilinguo |  | 12.30 | 9.10 | 7.85 | 13.95 | 10.70 | 10.75 | 64.65 |
| 15. | Erwin Terrazas | | 12.00 | 7.00 | 10.10 | 12.60 | 10.85 | 9.95 | 62.50 |
| Women's Vault Final | D Panel | E Panel | ND | Score | Average |
| 1. | Catalina Escobar | | 5.3 | 8.925 | | 14.225 | 13.987 |
| 4.800 | 8.950 | | 13.750 | |
| 2. | Leticia Acosta | | 5.3 | 8.950 | | 14.250 | 13.925 |
| 4.600 | 9.000 | | 13.600 | |
| 3. | Ayelen Tarabini | | 4.9 | 8.800 | | 13.700 | 13.737 |
| 5.000 | 8.775 | | 13.775 | |
| 3. | Elid Helwigg | | 5.2 | 8.625 | | 13.825 | 13.737 |
| 5.000 | 8.650 | | 13.650 | |
| 5. | Jessica Lopez | | 5.8 | 8.000 | | 13.800 | 13.525 |
| 4.400 | 8.850 | | 13.250 | |
| 6. | Makarena Pinto | | 4.6 | 8.250 | | 12.850 | 13.200 |
| 5.000 | 8.550 | | 13.550 | |
| 7. | Valeria Pereyra | | 5.0 | 8.625 | 0.5 | 13.125 | 12.525 |
| 4.600 | 7.625 | 0.3 | 11.925 | |
| Uneven Bars Final | D Panel | E Panel | ND | Score |
| 1. | Jessica Lopez | | 5.4 | 8.450 | 13.850 |
| 2. | Catalina Escobar | | 5.4 | 7.950 | 13.350 |
| 3. | Bruna Leal | | 5.4 | 7.900 | 13.300 |
| 4. | Marcela Sandoval | | 5.1 | 8.100 | 13.200 |
| 5. | Priscila Cobello | | 5.2 | 7.950 | 13.150 |
| 6. | Virginia Deluzio | | 4.8 | 7.450 | 12.250 |
| 7. | Elid Helwigg | | 5.0 | 7.175 | 12.175 |
| 8. | Yarimar Medina | | 4.8 | 7.300 | 12.100 |
| Balance Beam Final | D Panel | E Panel | ND | Score |
| 1. | Jessica Lopez | | 5.6 | 7.775 | 13.375 |
| 2. | Bruna Leal | | 5.0 | 8.275 | 13.275 |
| 3. | Ayelen Tarabini | | 5.1 | 8.150 | 13.250 |
| 4. | Valeria Pereyra | | 4.5 | 8.550 | 13.050 |
| 5. | Priscila Cobello | | 5.2 | 7.625 | 12.825 |
| 6. | M. Cabrera | | 4.8 | 7.675 | 12.475 |
| 7. | Elid Helwigg | | 4.8 | 7.425 | 12.225 |
| 8. | Sandra Collantes | | 4.6 | 6.900 | 11.500 |
| Women's Floor Exercise Final | D Panel | E Panel | ND | Score |
| 1. | Jessica Lopez | | 5.3 | 8.325 | 0.1 | 13.525 |
| 2. | Bruna Leal | | 5.4 | 8.025 | 0.1 | 13.325 |
| 3. | Elid Helwigg | | 5.0 | 8.175 | | 13.175 |
| 4. | Britt Reusche | | 5.1 | 8.000 | | 13.100 |
| 5. | Leticia Acosta | | 5.2 | 7.775 | | 12.975 |
| 6. | Sandra Collantes | | 4.9 | 7.700 | | 12.600 |
| 7. | Ailen Valente | | 4.7 | 7.425 | 0.1 | 12.025 |
| 7. | Stephania Villalba | | 4.8 | 7.425 | 0.2 | 12.025 |
| Men's Floor Exercise Final | D Panel | E Panel | ND | Score |
| 1. | Diego Hypolito | | 6.7 | 9.125 | | 15.825 |
| 2. | Tomas Gonzalez | | 6.6 | 8.900 | 0.1 | 15.4 |
| 3. | Victor Rosa | | 5.9 | 8.875 | | 14.775 |
| 4. | Juan Lompizano | | 5.7 | 8.600 | | 14.300 |
| 5. | Didier Lugo | | 5.7 | 8.550 | | 14.250 |
| 6. | Juan Melchiori | | 5.5 | 8.575 | | 14.075 |
| 7. | Mario Berrios | | 5.8 | 8.175 | | 13.975 |
| 8. | Juan Escobar | | 5.3 | 8.225 | 0.1 | 13.425 |
| Pommel Horse Final | D Panel | E Panel | ND | Score |
| 1. | Jorge Hugo Giraldo | | 6.1 | 9.100 | | 15.200 |
| 2. | Didier Lugo | | 5.5 | 9.000 | | 14.500 |
| 3. | Mosiah Rodrigues | | 5.8 | 8.450 | | 14.250 |
| 4. | Sergio Sasaki | | 5.6 | 8.600 | | 14.200 |
| 5. | Jose Luis Fuentes | | 6.2 | 7.550 | | 13.750 |
| 6. | Juan Lompizano | | 5.2 | 7.850 | | 13.050 |
| 7. | Mario Gorosito | | 5.5 | 6.750 | | 12.250 |
| 8. | Juan Raffo De La Jara | | 5.0 | 7.225 | | 12.225 |
| Still Rings Final | D Panel | E Panel | ND | Score |
| 1. | Arthur Zanetti | | 6.5 | 8.725 | | 15.225 |
| 2. | Didier Lugo | | 6.3 | 8.675 | | 14.975 |
| 3. | Federico Molinari | | 5.9 | 8.625 | | 14.525 |
| 4. | Tomas Gonzalez | | 5.9 | 8.525 | | 14.425 |
| 5. | Francisco Barreto | | 5.8 | 8.550 | | 14.350 |
| 6. | Osvaldo Martinez | | 5.8 | 8.500 | | 14.300 |
| 7. | Fernando Fuentes | | 5.4 | 8.575 | | 13.975 |
| 8. | Jorge Hugo Giraldo | | 5.6 | 8.350 | | 13.950 |
| Men's Vault Final | D Panel | E Panel | ND | Score | Average |
| 1. | Diego Hypolito | | 6.6 | 9.575 | | 16.175 | 16.062 |
| 6.4 | 9.550 | | 15.950 | |
| 2. | Sergio Sasaki | | 6.6 | 9.500 | 0.1 | 16.000 | 15.862 |
| 6.2 | 9.525 | | 15.725 | |
| 3. | Tomas Gonzalez | | 7.0 | 8.225 | | 15.225 | 15.650 |
| 6.6 | 9.475 | | 16.075 | |
| 4. | Byron Lopez | | 6.2 | 9.025 | | 15.225 | 15.075 |
| 5.8 | 9.125 | | 14.925 | |
| 5. | Mario Berrios | | 6.2 | 8.725 | 0.1 | 14.825 | 14.950 |
| 5.8 | 9.275 | | 15.075 | |
| 6. | Juan Lompizano | | 6.2 | 9.250 | 0.1 | 15.350 | 14.487 |
| 5.0 | 9.025 | 0.4 | 13.625 | |
| 7. | Fernando Fuentes | | 6.2 | 8.550 | 0.1 | 14.650 | 14.175 |
| 6.2 | 8.000 | 0.5 | 13.700 | |
| 8. | Juan Escobar | | 5.8 | 8.675 | 0.4 | 14.075 | 13.875 |
| 4.8 | 8.975 | 0.1 | 13.675 | |
| Parallel Bars Final | D Panel | E Panel | ND | Score |
| 1. | Jorge Hugo Giraldo | | 6.0 | 8.750 | | 14.750 |
| 2. | Jose Luis Fuentes | | 5.9 | 8.625 | | 14.525 |
| 3. | Tomas Gonzalez | | 5.7 | 8.625 | | 14.325 |
| 4. | Federico Molinari | | 5.8 | 8.150 | | 13.950 |
| 5. | Didier Lugo | | 5.6 | 8.250 | | 13.850 |
| 5. | Sergio Sasaki | | 5.9 | 7.950 | | 13.850 |
| 7. | Victor Rosa | | 5.5 | 7.875 | | 13.375 |
| 8. | Fernando Fuentes | | 5.4 | 7.100 | | 12.500 |
| High Bar Final | D Panel | E Panel | ND | Score |
| 1. | Didier Lugo | | 5.8 | 8.550 | | 14.350 |
| 2. | Mosiah Rodrigues | | 6.1 | 8.225 | | 14.325 |
| 3. | Jose Luis Fuentes | | 6.1 | 8.100 | | 14.200 |
| 4. | Jorge Hugo Giraldo | | 5.9 | 8.075 | | 13.975 |
| 5. | Francisco Barreto | | 5.4 | 8.500 | | 13.900 |
| 6. | Nicolas Cordoba | | 5.3 | 8.325 | | 13.625 |
| 7. | Christian Bruno | | 5.3 | 8.025 | | 13.325 |
| 8. | Federico Molinari | | 4.6 | 8.225 | | 12.825 |
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