Mondial de gym: Belgians must cross their fingers

156.063 pts, such is the total achieved by the Belgian women’s gymnastics team during the qualifications for the World Cup this Saturday evening, in Liverpool. If the Belgians were logically overtaken by the Americans (167.263), it is impossible to say what their performance will really be worth before Sunday evening and the passage of all the nations. What to remember from this evening?

1. Nina Derwael: 14,700 pts on uneven bars

After a delicate exercise on the beam, where she was the first to compete and where she unfortunately lost her balance, which earned her a score of 12.566 pts, Nina Derwael signed a good performance on the uneven bars earning her the best score, so far, with 14,700 pts. As a reminder, the Trudonnaire was crowned at the Tokyo Games with 15.366 in qualification and 15.200 in the final. A stage that she will reach by appearing in the Top 8 on this apparatus.

2. Lisa Vaelen: 52.432 pts in the all-around

Aligned on the four apparatus, Lisa Vaelen proved to be the most effective Belgian of this inaugural evening with a best score of 13.966 pts on vault, the second being evaluated at 13.033. Previously, the Antwerper had totaled 12.700 pts on the beam, 13.200 pts on the floor and, then, 12.566 pts on the uneven bars for a total of 52.432 pts, synonymous with provisional fourth place in the general competition. You have to be in the Top 24 to reach the final.

3. Nervousness and three unfortunate falls on beam…

Three falls on the beam! The first apparatus of this World Cup did not smile on the Belgians who unfortunately risk paying for it. Just like Nina Derwael, Maellyse Brassart and Jutta Verkest lost their balance on this delicate element, which earned them respective scores of 11.833 pts and 11.333 pts. But both Maellyse and Jutta did not let themselves be defeated, signing good scores, on vault for the first (13.300) and on bars for the second (12.866). Their total is 50.699 pts for Maellyse and 49.565 pts for Jutta.