MINSK, Belarus, May 31, 2014 – U.S. junior rhythmic gymnastics all-around champion Laura Zeng of Libertyville, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, added two silver and two bronze event medals to the team bronze medal she earned yesterday at the Crystal Rose Junior Tournament in Minsk, Belarus. She was the silver medalist for ball and ribbon and the bronze for hoop and clubs.
For ball, Zeng posted a 15.900 to clinch the silver medal, finishing behind Russia’s Olesya Petrova (16.650) and ahead of Belarus’ Maria Trubach (15.800). Her silver in ribbon came via a 16.200. Russia’s Veronika Poliakova was first with 16.650, with Belarus’ Anastasia Rybakova in third at 15.850.
Poliakova won the hoop gold with her 16.750. Trubach was second at 16.050, just edging out Zeng who was third at 16.000. Zeng’s 16.150 gave her the clubs bronze. Petrova was first at 16.700, and Trubach was second with 16.350.
On the first day of competition, Zeng competed as a one-person team and scored a total of 62.450 for the bronze medal. The Russia Team 1 took the team title with a total of 66.300, followed by Israel Team 1 at 63.450. Zeng’s individual event scores were: hoop, 15.950; ball, 14.800; clubs, 15.750; and ribbon, 15.950.
Zeng has had an impressive year internally so far: Lisbon (Portugal) International Tournament, team, ball silver and hoop bronze medals; Pesaro (Italy) International Junior Tournament, hoop silver and team, club and ribbon bronze medals; and Junior Pan American Championships (Daytona Beach, Fla.), all-around, hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon and team gold medals.