|
Khorkina makes farewell flop
Athens - Russian star Svetlana Khorkina stormed off the world gymnastics stage in true diva fashion here on Sunday after flopping in her bid for a third consecutive Olympic uneven bars gold medal in her farewell performance.
The 25-year-old beauty, retiring after a career that includes three world all-around titles, lost her grip on the upper bar, failed to complete a swing through, hung for a moment, then let go, dropping to the mat on her feet.
She finished the routine and received an 8.925 from judges, then stormed out of the arena without watching the final competitor, American Terin Humphrey.
France's Emilie Lepennec dethroned Khorkina, winning with 9.687 points with Humphrey second at 9.662 and American Courtney Kupets third in 9.637.
Khorkina, nicknamed "Queen of the Bars", could have been the first gymnast to lay sole claim to gold medals on the same apparatus in three consecutive Games.
Khorkina, who complained about judges' scoring after finishing as runner-up to American Carly Patterson for Olympic all-around gold on Thursday, is a five-time world champion on the bars. - Sapa-AFP
|
