2017 Worlds: another page of Belgian gymnastics History written in Montreal

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Olympic Arena in Montreal hosted the Women's qualifications. Maellyse Brassart, Rune Hermans and Nina Derwael all took part in these. And they wrote another page of Belgium's gymnastics history.

Credit: Mathias Hikketik

Our girls competed in the 2nd subdivision on Tuesday, meaning they had to wait 24 hours to know their rankings. But the wait was worth it.

They started on bars, Nina's best event. And the European Champion lived up to her standards, as she easily took the lead with a huge 14.966, her personal best. She also got an element named after her: the stalder linked to the Tkatchev regrasped in L grip. An element she will be sharing with Great Britain's Georgia-Mae Fenton who also successfully completed the skill. Rune Hermans also had a gret score, posting 13.800, while Maellyse delivered a good performance until the dismount where she had a rebound and put her hands down (12.533).

Credit: Mathias Hikketik

Beam has been a real struggle to a large majority of the competitors in Montreal, so was it for the Belgian girls. Nina fell on her roundoff layout step out mount (12.333), while Rune had to count a fall on her double spin (11.900). No fall for Maellyse, but a big wobble cost her a few tenths (12.200).

Credit: Mathias Hikketik

On floor, Maellyse delivered a strong performance, with a piked full-in, a double pike, a double tuck and a double twist with her now well-known "bird routine" (12.333). Rune started a new floor routine a few weeks ago and showed a lot of presence in her exercise in Montreal to get the highest score of the Belgians with a 12.833. Nina Derwael was right behind with 12.733.

Credit: Mathias Hikketik

They finished their competition on vault where they all performed a full twisting Yurchenko. Maellyse got the highest score with 13.741, followed by Nina (13.566) and Rune (13.333).

In the all-around ranking, Nina Derwael qualified for the final with an amazing 8th place and a total score of 53.598. Rune Hermans will be joining her, as she qualified in 21st place (51.866), her second World all-around final after Glasgow in 2015. For her first major meet with the Seniors, Maellyse can be really proud of herself as she ranked 25th in the World. No doubt she can do even better in the future (50.807).

In addition to these two finals, Nina Derwael also qualified for the uneven bars final in 4th place with her great routine. She is the first Belgian female gymnast ever to qualify for an apparatus final on the World's stage. Nina makes history yet again, a few months after bringing home the first ever European title for her country.

And the best might be yet to come.

Full results here.