MORGES, Switzerland, November 4, 2021 – Yul Moldauer of Wellington, Colo., claimed the top all-around spot Wednesday at the 2021 Arthur Gander Memorial competition in Morges, Switzerland, based on a combined four-event total. U.S. teammate Ciena Alipio of Maplewood, Minn./Midwest Gymnastics Center, who competed on three apparatus in the women’s all-around division, was third in her senior international debut.
Moldauer, a 2020 Olympian, will be back in action Sunday at the 2021 Swiss Cup Zurich where he will be joined in the team competition by U.S. National Team member Olivia Greaves of Staten Island, N.Y./World Champions Centre.
In a tight race for the top position on the men’s side, the Oklahoma alum posted a 57.450, edging the reigning Olympic all-around bronze medalist Nikita Nagornyy of the Russian Gymnastics Federation in the tie break. World all-around bronze medalist Illia Kovtun of Ukraine was third with a 57.400. Moldauer competed on floor exercise (14.400), pommel horse (14.200), vault (13.650) and parallel bars (15.200), notching the day’s high scores on floor and pommels. Nagornyy’s 14.650 led the way on vault, while Kovtun topped the field on parallel bars with a 15.500.
In the women’s competition, Alipio competed on vault (13.900), uneven bars (11.700) and balance beam (12.850) en route to the bronze medal. Her combined 38.450 was surpassed only by reigning World all-around champion Angelina Melnikova of the Russian Gymnastics Federation, who topped the standings with a 43.200, and France’s Tais Boura, who squeaked by Alipio with a 38.500.