Mustafina takes bars gold, bronze for Tweddle

06 Aug, 2012

The 2010 world champion finished ahead of defending champion He Kexin of China, with Great Britain's Beth Tweddle claiming a crowd-pleasing bronze medal.

Mustafina had already won individual bronze and team silver in London and she completed her medal collection thanks to a superb display that earned her a score of 16.133.

It was Mustafina's first major title since she ruptured knee ligaments at last year's European Championships, and it gave Russia their first gymnastics gold medal of the London Olympics.

Tweddle, meanwhile, can bow out of the sport after finally adding an Olympic honour to her three world titles, her six European crowns, and her 2002 Commonwealth Games success.

Defending champion He got the final off to a strong start with an impressive opening routine that gave her a score of 15.933.

She was followed by reigning world uneven bars champion Viktoria Komova of Russia, but a little step backwards on landing meant a score of 15.666, which ended her chances of claiming gold.

Tweddle began her routine to deafening cheers but although she produced a brilliant display, she miscued her landing with a big step backwards.

Her score of 15.916 took her into the silver medal position but she was dropped back a place after Mustafina stormed into the lead with a near-flawless display.

Freshly crowned individual champion Gabrielle Douglas of the United States closed the final but her routine only yielded a score of 14.900, meaning that Mustafina's gold, and Tweddle's long-awaited bronze, were safe.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2012

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