Ludvigson, Tortorich win silver medals in tumbling at World Cups in Russia, Poland

ZIELONA GORA, Poland, Sept. 1, 2007—Kalon Ludvigson of Plano, Texas, and Kaitlin Tortorich of Haymarket, Va., won silver medals in men’s and women’s tumbling, respectively, at a World Cup in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Aug. 28. Ludvigson earned a second tumbling silver medal at a World Cup in Zielona Gora, Poland, on Sept. 1.

In St. Petersburg, Russia, Ludvigson finished second with 76.90 points behind Russia’s Andrey Krylov. Alexander Dramaretsky of Russia rounded out the medalists in third place. Tortorich was second in women’s tumbling with a score of 66.70, and Susannah Johnson of Roanoke, Va., finished just out of a medal in fourth place. Russia’s Anna Korobeynikova won the gold at 70.30 and her teammate Ekaterina Reynbakh claimed the bronze medal.

Chris Estrada of Lafayette, La., and Ryan Weston of Chubbuck, Idaho, placed seventh in men’s synchronized trampoline. Also competing for the United States in the World Cup in St. Petersburg were: Michael Devine of Winnebago, Ill., men’s trampoline; Logan Dooley of Lake Forest, Calif., men’s synchronized trampoline; Brittany Dircks of Orland Park, Ill., women’s trampoline and synchronized trampoline; Steven Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J., men’s trampoline and synchronized trampoline; and Alaina Williams of Amarillo, Texas, women’s trampoline and synchronized trampoline.

A double mini-trampoline competition was held in conjunction with the World Cup in St. Petersburg. Ludvigson posted a 73.00 to win the silver medal, just 0.3 points behind gold-medalist Sergei Kovalev of Russia. Alexei Borovikov of Russia was third. Stephen Raymond of Grand Rapids, Mich., competed in the double mini competition, but did not advance to finals.

The other champions were: Irina Karavaeva, Russia, women’s trampoline; Karen Cockburn and Rosannagh MaClennan, Canada, women’s synchronized trampoline; Julie Warnock, Canada, women’s double mini-trampoline; Lu Chunlong, China, men’s trampoline; and Jason Burnett and Bryan Milonja, Canada, men’s synchronized trampoline.

At the World Cup in Zielona Gora, Poland, Ludvigson earned a total score of 74.40 points to finish behind Li Zhenqiu of China. Poland’s Oskar Lipa rounded out the medalists in third place. Leanne Seitzinger of Stafford, Va., competed in women’s tumbling, but did not advance to finals.

The other winners were: Karavaeva, Russia, women’s trampoline; Cockburn and MaClennan, Canada, women’s synchronized trampoline; Samantha Palmer, Great Britain, women’s tumbling; Lu , China, men’s trampoline; and Ben Wilden and Scott Brown, Australia, men’s synchronized trampoline.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics, the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States, encourages participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport.