Gymnastic Greats is reporting that 2005 European champion Marine Debauve is trying to make a comeback for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Debauve, 19, who initially retired in 2006, was highly impressive in Athens in 2004, where she finished seventh in the all-around, as well as in 2005, when she was the star of the Europeans.
Marine Debauve on bars at the 2004 Olympics, All-Around:
And on beam at the 2005 DBT Cup in event finals:
There’s been no word on whether Debauve’s countrywoman Emilie LePennec is still planning on returning to competition. LePennec, the Olympic bars champion, took most of 2006 off to study for le baccalauréat, the highly difficult French high school exit exam.
LePennec, who actually led the all-around competition in Athens after the first rotation, looked like she was getting back into the swing of things at the 2007 Six Nations meet in Civitavecchia and the Ghent World Cup, but was not on the French team that placed sixth at the 2007 World Championships. A French gymnastics blog reported this was apparently due to pain in her heel.
Emilie LePennec’s moment at the 2004 Athens Olympics:
And on floor at the 2007 Six Nations competition:
Both may have some competition at the top of the French roster. Marine Petit gained valuable experience at the 2007 Worlds, and Cassy Vericel is now the reigning world bronze medalist on floor exercise, which basically makes her the new Ludivine Furnon.
Cassy Vericel on floor exercise at the 2007 World Championship, event finals:
Tags: Cassy Vericel, Emilie LePennec, Ludivine Furnon, Marine Debauve, Marine Petit
October 17, 2007 at 11:25 pm |
vericel looks sharp. Lepennec has a low full-in and looks fat.
October 18, 2007 at 5:30 am |
[...] Sur la Gym reports that LePennec’s teammate, 2005 European Champion Marine Debauve is persisting in her [...]