Slevin earned her way into this final after a brilliant display in the heats on Tuesday. She joined a list of 24 of the world’s best gymnasts after she was ranked in 19th place in qualifying. The Championships was taking place in Kitakyushu in Japan.

To read more about how Emma Slevin qualified for this morning’s final, click here.

She made her way into the arena for the women’s All-Around final at 10:00 this morning.

Two of the highest-ranking women going into this were the USA’s Kayla de Cello and Russia’s Angelina Melnikova.

Making history

Emma Slevin has become the first Irish woman to ever reach the Women’s All Around Finals at the Gymnastics World Championships

Emma scored qualifies 21st
11.466 Balance Beam
12.466 on Floor
12.700 Uneven Bars
13.533 on Vault
AA score of 50.165 pic.twitter.com/p0j9hbUaAg

— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) October 19, 2021

Women’s AA World Championships final

The Galway woman was the highest-ranked of the fourth group of athletes. This group began their set with a routine on the floor mat.

After Round One, De Cello was in first place with a score of 14.600 while Slevin found herself in 22nd place with 11.264.

Next up, the Irish woman would go sixth in her group on the vault. She scored a well-needed 13.600 with the crowd showing their excitement at her routine. At the halfway point, she jumped up in the ranking to 17th place.

Slevin’s third apparatus would be a challenging prospect on the uneven bars. After a moderately difficult routine, she moved into 18th place with an overall score of 37.399.

She was nearly five and a half marks behind the Russian leader going into the last round. Slevin finished her event with the balance beam. After a decent routine earning 13.733, she finished out the competition in 19th place with a final score of 50.132, very narrowly off her qualification score.

The gold medal in the women’s All-Around was awarded to Russia’s Melnikova. America’s Wong and Di Cello won silver and bronze respectively.

The end of Slevin’s campaign also spells the end of Ireland’s involvement in the World Championships in Kitakyushu.

This has been a very impressive and successful year for Slevin after performing strongly in the European Championships and finishing in 19th place at only 17 years of age.

Now 18 years old, the Galway woman still has plenty of years to improve on her performances internationally.

To read more in-depth and up-to-date Irish gymnastics and other sports news, click here.

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One of the competitors at the event tested positive for the coronavirus and the athletes were forced to wait for all protocols to be carried out.

McClenaghan took to the pommel horse after the delay but slipped towards the end of his routine, which ended hopes of an appearance in the final.

The Antrim native had previously missed out on a medal at Tokyo 2020 earlier this summer due to a mistake.

Speaking about Rhys McClenaghan’s performance in today’s men’s qualifiers, Gymnastics Ireland CEO Mr Ciaran Gallagher said: “It was a difficult subdivision for Rhys McClenaghan out in Japan this morning, and indeed for all the other gymnasts in his sub as a Covid-19 related issue led to over an hour delay to the competition.

“The tight covid protocols and response to any covid related matter from the Japanese gov/organisers are of course completely understandable however of course this kind of impact mid-event is felt by all the gymnasts.

“As ever, Rhys pushed through his routine in difficult circumstances and was unlucky not to final on this occasion.

“We all know what he is capable of and are all incredibly proud to have him fly the flag so well for Ireland/Gymnastics Ireland.

“With this being the last major event in 2021 Rhys, our National Coach Luke and Performance & Technical Manager Sally will now refocus on 2022 as the campaign towards Paris 2024 begins next year.”

Ireland still have skin in the game at the World Championships in Japan as Emma Slevin is preparing to compete in the Women’s All-Around final.

The final will take place on Thursday morning from 9:55 am and will be available to watch live on the RTÉ Player.

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Gymnastics returns to Japan as the World Championships takes place in Kitakyushu. The competition will go from today, 18th until Sunday, 24th October.

Emma Slevin, who made history this year by becoming the first Irish gymnast to qualify for All-Around Finals in a European Gymnastics Championships, is up first.

Slevin is due to compete on Day 2 of the Women’s qualifiers on Tuesday 19th October at 11:15 Local time, 03:15 Irish time where she will compete on all four women’s apparatus.

The 18-year-old from Galway will want to push on from her recent strong form. She represented Ireland at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games as well as being the first Irish female gymnast to qualify for a senior all-around final at the European Championships this year.

Galway's Emma Slevin on being the first Irish female gymnast to reach an All-Around final at the @UEGymnastics #rtesport pic.twitter.com/NKWLmsKHYJ

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 23, 2021

Rhys McClenaghan who also made history for Ireland this year by becoming the first Irish gymnast to compete at an Olympic final will compete at the qualifiers on Pommel Horse on Wednesday 20th October at 15:10 local time, 07:10 Irish time.

This will be a chance for the 22-year-old Antrim man will be looking for silverware after his heartbreak this summer. The gymnast was set for at least a silver in Tokyo until he made a fall from the pommel horse.

A good podium Training out here at my 4th World Championships. I compete on Wednesday 20th, and feel very ready pic.twitter.com/yLOa42QdbW

— Rhys Mcclenaghan (@McClenaghanRhys) October 17, 2021

The finals are taking place on:

Thursday 21st Oct: Women’s All-Around final – from 18:00 local time (10:30 Irish time)

Saturday 23rd Oct: Pommel Horse Final at 18:00 local time (10:00 Irish time)

To see live scores and to follow how the two Irish gymnasts progress, click this link.

To read more in-depth and up-to-date Irish and international sports news, click here.

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Aside from a stumble on vault 23 year-old Adam Steele had an excellent competition finishing in 21st position.

Slevin scored 12.300 on Floor; 13.233 on Vault; 12.400 on Uneven Bars & 11.900 on the Balance Beam giving her an All-Around total of 49.833

Steele scored 12.266 on Rings; 12.766 on Vault; 12.333 on Parallel Bars; 13.066 on Horizontal Bars; 13.733 on Floor and 12.566 on Pommel Horse giving him an All-Around total of 76.730.

Speaking to RTE after her performance today Emma said:

‘I’m absolutely delighted with that performance as well as qualification. Qualifying in 22nd position and finishing in 19th position after today is something I’m really, really proud of. Overall, I am just delighted with that performance. Being with the best gymnasts in the world, overall it is just an amazing experience. Seeing how the top athletes work – it is very inspiring to say I competed alongside them. I know what I need to work on when I go back to my gym, obviously there are improvements still that I can make, and it is just very, very motivating to know that I am in with the best in Europe. It was enjoyable out there – I thought nerves would take over but it was honestly very, very enjoyable for me!

The support has been phenomenal. I would like to thank everyone for supporting me, for any gymnast coming up who is hoping to make a difference in gymnastics in Ireland just stay focused, stay motivated, do what you can. One thing for me is self-confidence, it is a gamechanger for me and I think I have discovered a lot of self-confidence this year and that has just helped me phenomenally as you can see from my results.’

Speaking after his competition Adam Steele said:

‘Today wasn’t my perfect competition but regardless of all that I am absolutely over the moon to be able to make final. I was smiling for the entire competition. I’m extremely happy with how I have done and onwards and upwards from here!’

Speaking after this evening’s competition, Sally Johnson, Gymnastics Ireland Performance & Technical Manager said:

‘It’s been great to finally compete after such a strange year… This event has been very different to anything we have competed at before however it has been very well run. We have all been very confident and comfortable with the new Covid19 protocols in place. All our gymnasts have been so adaptable while focussing on their training and competition. The great preparation by the gymnast’s support team has not gone unnoticed either! I would like to thank our coaches & Sport Ireland Institute support team.

These all-around finals for both Emma and Adam are the first time we have made the finals and shows the remarkable work & commitment they have put in to produce these great qualification performances. The finals have given them the chance to show off their routines and perform to the TV audience back home with enjoyment and excitement! A very proud Europeans for Ireland!

It was also a great surprise to see Rhys win the Shooting Star Award tonight, he has certainly been the star for the new generation of gymnasts coming through in our system.’

Speaking of the results, Mr Ciaran Gallagher, CEO of Gymnastics Ireland said:

‘To have Irish competitors for the first time in both the Men’s & Women’s European All-Around Finals and for it to be aired live on RTE meant today really was great day for our sport. Emma & Adam displayed quality performances as part of Europe’s best! Their results represent a superb achievement for them both personally but also gives all the young gymnasts following in their footsteps, & who they train along-side in our national squad programme, great role models to follow as All-Around gymnasts! On behalf of all at Gymnastics Ireland huge congratulations to Emma & Adam plus our support team including coaches Sally Batley & Will Banthorpe, our Performance & Technical Manager Sally Johnson and physio Julianne Ryan. We now look forward to Rhys McClenaghan stepping out into the Men’s Pommel Top-8 Final tomorrow which will be live on RTE One from 1pm – 3.15pm!’

Just before the All-Around medal ceremony Irish fans had a pleasant surprise when Rhys McClenaghan was brought out into the arena and presented with the ‘Smartscoring Shooting Star Award’. This award was started in 2018 by European Gymnastics sponsor Smartscoring and ‘aims to put a gymnast with an exceptional story in the spotlight, someone who is an inspiration for the future generation of gymnasts and the general public alike’.

McClenaghan will compete in the Pommel Horse Top-8 Final tomorrow, Saturday 24th April from 1pm – 3.15pm (Irish time) live on RTE One.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s finals Rhys McClenaghan said “I am very happy to be back competing. I can improve my routine so much more in every aspect. Looking forward to showing it in the finals.”

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