Russia Defends European Title

With close to a three-point margin of victory, Russia successfully defended its team title Saturday at the Men's European Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Led by 2007 European all-around champion Maxim Devyatovsky, Russia scored 272.450 to defeat Germany (269.575) and Romania (268.950) in the team final.

"On a whole I'm happy with the team," said Russian head coach Andrei Rodionenko. "In Beijing, though, the competition certainly will be sharper. The center of gymnastics currently is in Asia, and not in Europe."

Russia earned the highest team total on only one event, still rings, while Germany was the top team on high bar. Weak rings and a low vault score cost Germany the title.

Romania outscored the field floor exercise, pommel horse and vault, but weak rings (sixth), parallel bars (sixth) and high bar (seventh) kept them from finishing higher. Fifth-place France was the top team on parallel bars.

Competition concludes Sunday in Lausanne with the apparatus finals.

Click here to download detailed results.

2008 Men's European Championships
May 10, Lausanne, Switzerland

Team Final
1. Russia 272.450
2. Germany 269.575
3. Romania 268.950
4. Belarus 266.450
5. France 266.350
6. Ukraine 265.875
7. Switzerland 264.900
8. Italy 263.475