Preview: Spanish Women Headline Session 9

Written by Amanda Turner for International Gymnast Magazine | Sunday, 17 October 2010 04:44

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Spain, Portugal and Dutch neighbors Belgium take to the floor in Subdivision 9.

Like Canada, Spain is looking to get back into the top 12. Eighth in 2006, the team plummeted to 15th in 2007. The Spanish women's team includes two gymnasts born abroad: Ecuadorian Ana Maria Izurieta, who moved to Madrid in 2000, and Romanian Cristiana Mironescu, who moved to Barcelona in 2002.


Ana Maria Izurieta anchors Spain on every event.

Spain: Vault

The Spanish begin on vault, where the powerful Izurieta typically competes a double-twisting Yurchenko. Izurieta is anchoring every apparatus, with beam and floor her best events.

Izurieta is the star for the team, which also has three first-year seniors: Cintia Rodríguez, Claudia Vila and Elena Zaldívar in its lineup. Another 16 year old, Sara Cuso, is the alternate.

Portugal: Uneven Bars

Portugal is another nation pleasantly able to field a full team in 2010. Top gymnasts are five-time national champion Zoi Lima and Russian-born Ekaterina Kislinskaya.

Belgium: Balance Beam

Southern neighbors Belgium are sure to have plenty of crowd support as it returns with a full women's team. The team includes two Olympians: Brazilian-born Aagje van Walleghem and Gaelle Mys.

Belgium is hoping for a big score from first-year senior Julie Croket, whose charming floor exercise should be the team's highlight in rotation 3.

Next Up in Subdivision 10:: Switzerland, Korea, Turkey and Mixed Group 4.

Chat with other fans as you follow IG Publisher Paul Ziert's live commentary from the Ahoy Arena, broadcast simultaneously on IG's official Facebook Page and Twitter account!

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