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Two-time Olympian Beth Tweddle (Great Britain) recaptured her uneven bars title Sunday at the European Gymnastics Championships in Milan.
Beth Tweddle (Great Britain)Tweddle, the 2006 European champion on uneven bars, punctuated her difficult routine with a stuck dismount on her way to the gold. Defending champion Ksenia Semyonova, the all-around champion Saturday, settled for silver over Germany's Anja Brinker.
It was Tweddle's best result since her banner year of 2006, when she took the gold on uneven bars at the Europeans, World Championships and World Cup Final. She finished fourth at the 2007 World Championships, 2008 Europeans and 2008 Olympic Games.
"It is nice to be back," said Tweddle, 23. "Since 2006 I have had my share of fourth positions, and all week I have been so focused on getting everything right. I was a touch short on the Tkatchev-half, and I think it was pure determination that got me through."
Her coach Amanda Kirby was asked her if this title was more satisfying than others.
"No, not the medal but the courage Beth has shown every day to keep going 100 percent," Kirby said. "I get my appreciation every time she comes into the gym and completes the training. She is a brilliant champion."
The Netherlands' Yuri van Gelder (still rings) and Krisztian Berki (pommel horse) defended their individual titles. Van Gelder held off defending champion Alexander Vorobyov (Ukraine) and veteran Jordan Jovtchev (Bulgaria) to take his third title, after winning in 2005 and 2008.
Berki (15.600) took his third consecutive title on pommel horse, edging the British pair of Louis Smith (15.550) and Daniel Keatings (15.500).
In another tight final, men's all-around champion Fabian Hambüchen won the floor exercise gold (15.450), half a tenth ahead of teammate Matthias Fahrig (15.400). Greece's Eleftherios Kosmidis tied Alexander Shatilov (Israel) for the bronze (15.350).
Ariella Käslin, who won the Swiss women's first European medal Saturday with the all-around bronze, went one better Sunday by winning the gold on vault. Top qualifier Yulia Berger (Russia) finished second over Ukraine's Anna Kalashnyk.
Competition concludes Sunday afternoon with the second half of the apparatus finals.
2009 European Championships
April 5, Milan, Italy
| Women's Vault Final | D Panel | E Panel | ND | Score | Average |
| 1. | Ariella Käslin |  | 6.3 | 8.825 | | 15.125 | 14.625 |
| 5.3 | 8.925 | 0.1 | 14.125 | |
| 2. | Yulia Berger |  | 5.5 | 8.925 | | 14.425 | 14.325 |
| 5.7 | 8.525 | | 14.225 | |
| 3. | Anna Kalashnyk |  | 5.8 | 8.875 | | 14.675 | 14.275 |
| 5.0 | 8.875 | | 13.875 | |
| 4. | Aagje Van Walleghem |  | 5.3 | 9.200 | 0.1 | 14.400 | 14.200 |
| 5.2 | 8.800 | | 14.000 | |
| 5. | Kim Bui |  | 5.4 | 8.700 | | 14.100 | 14.150 |
| 5.3 | 8.900 | | 14.200 | |
| 6. | Becky Downie |  | 5.8 | 8.625 | | 14.425 | 14.025 |
| 4.8 | 8.825 | | 13.625 | |
| 7. | Wyomi Masela |  | 5.3 | 8.800 | | 14.100 | 13.950 |
| 5.0 | 8.800 | 0.1 | 13.800 | |
| 8. | Jana Komrskova |  | 5.2 | 9.125 | | 14.325 | 13.875 |
| 5.0 | 8.525 | | 13.425 | |
| Uneven Bars Final | D Panel | E Panel | ND | Score |
| 1. | Beth Tweddle |  | 6.7 | 8.875 | | 15.575 |
| 2. | Ksenia Semyonova |  | 6.5 | 9.000 | | 15.500 |
| 3. | Anja Brinker |  | 6.0 | 8.800 | | 14.800 |
| 4. | Youna Dufournet |  | 6.1 | 8.550 | | 14.650 |
| 4. | Ksenia Afanasyeva |  | 6.1 | 8.550 | | 14.650 |
| 6. | Becky Downie |  | 6.1 | 8.425 | | 14.525 |
| 7. | Anastasia Koval |  | 6.0 | 8.350 | | 14.350 |
| 8. | Valentina Golenkova |  | 5.2 | 7.500 | | 12.700 |
| Men's Floor Exercise Final | D Panel | E Panel | ND | Score |
| 1. | Fabian Hambüchen |  | 6.3 | 9.150 | | 15.450 |
| 2. | Matthias Fahrig |  | 6.4 | 9.000 | | 15.400 |
| 3. | Eleftherios Kosmidis |  | 6.5 | 8.850 | | 15.350 |
| 3. | Alexander Shatilov |  | 6.3 | 9.050 | | 15.350 |
| 5. | Anton Golotsutskov |  | 6.2 | 9.000 | | 15.200 |
| 6. | Alexander Yakubovsky |  | 6.2 | 8.875 | | 15.075 |
| 7. | Enrico Pozzo |  | 6.1 | 8.925 | 0.1 | 14.925 |
| 8. | Eddie Penev |  | 5.9 | 8.525 | | 14.425 |
| Pommel Horse Final | D Panel | E Panel | ND | Score |
| 1. | Krisztian Berki |  | 6.7 | 8.900 | | 15.600 |
| 2. | Louis Smith |  | 6.5 | 9.050 | | 15.550 |
| 3. | Daniel Keatings |  | 6.5 | 9.000 | | 15.500 |
| 4. | Andrei Perevoznikov |  | 6.6 | 8.600 | | 15.200 |
| 5. | Alberto Busnari |  | 6.4 | 8.775 | | 15.175 |
| 6. | Donna-Donny Truyens |  | 6.7 | 7.850 | | 14.550 |
| 7. | Daniel Popescu |  | 6.4 | 7.125 | | 13.525 |
| 8. | Saso Bertoncelj |  | 6.0 | 7.150 | | 13.150 |
| Still Rings Final | D Panel | E Panel | ND | Score |
| 1. | Yuri van Gelder |  | 6.6 | 9.150 | | 15.750 |
| 2. | Alexander Vorobiov |  | 6.8 | 8.800 | | 15.600 |
| 3. | Jordan Jovtchev |  | 6.7 | 8.850 | | 15.550 |
| 4. | Matteo Morandi |  | 6.7 | 8.825 | | 15.525 |
| 5. | Danny Pinheiro-Rodrigues |  | 7.0 | 8.425 | | 15.425 |
| 6. | Konstantin Pluzhnikov |  | 6.6 | 8.725 | | 15.325 |
| 7. | Matteo Angioletti |  | 6.6 | 8.675 | | 15.275 |
| 8. | Dimosthenis Tambakos |  | 6.7 | 8.275 | | 14.975 |
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