FAIR PLAY WON!
Serious Judging mistake at the 2001
Trampoline World Championships
At the 2001 Trampoline World Championships, held in July, in the City of Odense (Denmark), a serious judging mistake was made and the Gold Medal was given to the wrong gymnast.
Olympic Champion in Sydney and 8 times World Champion, Irina Karavaeva (RUS) Gold Medallist in Odense has made the following statement. "I very much regret the mistake of the judges at the World Championships in Denmark. I consident that it is necessary to correct this mistake and I decided to give the Gold Medal to my friend Anna Dogonadze from Germany, in spirit of friendship and fair-play".
But according to the FIG rules, an official result cannot be changed after the medal has been awarded.
FIG President and IOC Member, Mr Bruno Grandi, decided to make an exception to this rule and to correct this tragic error. The results have been official changed and Anna Dogonadze (GER) is declared as 2001 World Champion. Therefore, Irina Karavaeva is awarded with the Silver Medal.
President Grandi and the Gymnastics Family are touched by this noble gesture of Irina Karavaeva, who shows a true Olympic spirit. He also declared that this Fair Play should be an example for the whole sports community and that the FIG is proud to have such an outstanding Olympic Champion.
Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique.
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