2009 SU Update: Olympic Gymnastics Champ and Quintuple SU Medallist Chats with Universiade Press

Another Olympic Champion made a chat with the Universiade media today, July 6th. At the press conference held in the MPC three artistic gymnasts were present to have a talk with the press: Donna-Donny TRUYENS (BEL), UB 2009 silver medallist on the pommel horse; Miloš PAUNOVIC (SRB), UB 2009 all-round finalist and last but not least Jiang Yuyuan (CHN), quintuple medallist at this Universiade … and Olympic Champion 2008.

Donna-Donny Truyens had his personal best last year at the World Cup in Hungary were he amassed 15.625 points. His performance in the Universiade was not perfect hence the silver (15.425). ‘Nevertheless, I’m very happy’, the Belgian said. ‘The competition was fierce. The level of the gymnasts is very high. For me the Universiade is a good preparation for the Worlds. Truyens is going on strong lately. Besides his gold in Hungary, he collected two more gold and one bronze medal in 2009 (World Cups). With adding the silver he now has all colors on his mantelpiece. Truyens is Belgium’s hope for London 2012.

Miloš PAUNOVIC told the press it’s tough to be a gymnast in Serbia as there is a big lack of equipped training venues. ‘There is only one. Thanks to the Universiade gymnastics gets more highlighted’, he commented. In a country where basketball and water polo is king, this extra spotlight is a welcome bonus for the Serbian gymnasts.

Jiang Yuyuan with the FISU Magazine

Sweetheart of the press conference was without any doubt the lovely and charming Jiang Yuyuan. Jiang has amassed all possible gold medals in her sport – Olympic, World Cup, Universiade – but one, i.e. the World Championship gold. Last event she only got … silver. ‘I will train even harder to get the gold’, she almost apologized to the press. Talking about hard training, her schedule is pretty full already. ‘Three days per week we practice a full day and three days we practice half a day. The full day we practice 7 to 8 hours a day and the half day only 4 to 5 hours. We study after the practice in the morning from 8h30 to 12h00 and in the evening from 19h30 until 23h00′, Jiang explained. When asked if she sees herself as a role model for other student-athletes, her answer was quite modest. ‘Oh no’, she replied, there are way better gymnasts than me who are role models for my fellow student-athletes.’ Her goals are set on the next World Championships and of course the 2012 Olympics in London, but prior to the London Olympics, she certainly wants to participate in the next Summer Universiade in 2011 … in Shenzhen, China.

Jiang Yuyuan & Niu Xsiamu, her interpreter

Donna-Donny Truyens (BEL), silver medal Pommel Horse

Miloš PAUNOVIC (SRB) & Jiang Yuyuan (CHN)