DOHA, Qatar, March 27, 2014 – Paul Ruggeri of Manlius, N.Y./U.S. Olympic Training Center, won the silver medal on the floor exercise today at the Doha (Qatar) Challenge Cup at the Aspire Dome. The finals for the three-day event, which is part of the International Gymnastics Federation’s World Cup series, conclude Friday.
In tomorrow’s finals, Ruggeri will compete on the vault and high bar, and Donnell Whittenburg of Baltimore, Md./U.S. Olympic Training Center, will perform on the parallel bars.
On the floor, Ruggeri performed an Arabian double layout mount and followed it up with an Arabian double pike. Dismounting with a full-twisting double back, Ruggeri earned a 15.150 and the silver medal. World floor exercise champion Kenzo Shirai of Japan posted a 16.000 to win the title, while China’s Peng Wang took the bronze with his 15.100. Whittenburg scored a 14.800 and finished sixth in the final.