Horton Tops Europe's Best in Kiev

June 30, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. - Facing off against some of the world's top gymnasts from Russia and Ukraine, Oklahoma's Jonathan Horton once again proved he belongs among the sport's elite. The Houston, Texas, native scored an 89.60 to take the all-around title at Saturday's USA-Russia-Ukraine competition in Kiev, Ukraine, besting Russia's Maxim Deviatovski (89.05), the reigning European all-around champion.

Team USA finished third in the team competition, 3.45 points behind first-place Ukraine.

"It was really exciting to compete with some of the best in the world," Horton said. "This competition was a good practice meet for this year's upcoming World Championships. I still have some improvements to make before then so I will be training hard for the next month."

Horton was joined on the six-man U.S. squad by reigning U.S. all-around champion Alexander Artemev, David Durante, Joseph Hagerty, Kevin Tan and Sean Townsend.

The format for the international meet was the same as the World Championship finals and the Olympic Games. Three gymnasts from each team competed on each apparatus and all three scores counted towards the team total.

Horton finished second at the recent U.S. National Qualifier, June 7-9, in Colorado Spring, Colo., tying for the top spot on the floor exercise and finishing third on the still rings and fourth on both the vault and pommel horse.

In his most recent international competition, the Tyson American Cup on March 3, Horton earned an all-around score of 92.75 to earn his second consecutive Cup title. He became the first male gymnast to win back-to-back Tyson American Cup titles since the USA's Blaine Wilson won three straight from 1997-99.

2007 USA-Russia-Ukraine Results

All-Around
1. Jonathan Horton, USA, 89.6
2. Maxim Deviatovski, Russia, 89.05
3. Vadym Kuvakin, Ukraine, 88.7

Team
1. Ukraine, 271.7
2. Russia, 269.1
3. USA, 268.25

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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