FIG World Cup Circuit Overview
The FIG Individual Apparatus World Cup is a top-tier series dedicated to women's apparatus competition on vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor. Federations enter athletes to target event-specific podiums and to collect World Cup ranking points that aggregate across the season. Points are awarded by final placement and build an apparatus table used for end-of-series recognition. Prize money is paid per stage and final placement according to FIG directives and the local event's official provisions. Qualification follows the standard FIG format: a preliminary round determines the top eight per apparatus (maximum two per federation) advancing to finals, where medals and points are decided.
The World Cup series is distinct from the World Challenge Cup, which runs later in the calendar. Both are FIG-sanctioned and award medals, prize money, and ranking credit, but the Challenge Cup functions as a separate circuit with its own schedule and standings. World Cup stages typically attract deeper fields earlier in the season as athletes tune programs, test construction, and secure event-specific results ahead of continental and world events.
Key Highlights
- Slovenia goes 1–2 on vault: Teja Belak gold, Tjaša Kysselef silver.
- China takes three titles: Zhang Kexin (UB), Zhou Yaqin (BB), Zhang Yihan (FX).
- Execution averages above 8.4 for gold-winning routines.
- Oksana Chusovitina bronze on vault at age 49, extending her competitive legacy.
2025 Cottbus World Cup — Event Finals Recap
Cottbus opened the 2025 World Cup season with apparatus-only competition and clear results across all four events. Slovenia owned vault with a gold-silver sweep. China controlled the remaining events with decisive wins on uneven bars, balance beam, and floor. No team or all-around competition was staged.
Slovenia's Golden Sweep: Belak and Kysselef Dominate
Teja Belak secured gold at 13.299 and Tjaša Kysselef followed for silver at 13.266, delivering consistent amplitude and controlled landings to seal a Slovenian sweep. Oksana Chusovitina claimed bronze with 13.249. The eight-time Olympian returned to World Cup finals after missing the Paris Olympics due to injury. At 49, representing her fourth different nation (UZB), she remains the oldest athlete to medal at a FIG World Cup in the modern era, with her vault expertise spanning over three decades of elite competition.
Zhang Kexin's Commanding Victory Sets Chinese Tone
Zhang Kexin won with 13.900, separating from the field with clean flight and rhythm. Charlotte Booth placed second at 13.300 and Yamada Chiharu took bronze at 13.033 to round out a podium defined by efficient construction and controlled handstand positions. Booth's silver carried additional significance as the former US national team member now competing for Great Britain. Her strong international debut under the British flag ended early after sustaining an Achilles injury during training, forcing withdrawal from remaining events.
Zhou Yaqin's 14.766: Meet's Highest Score Anchors Beam Gold
Zhou Yaqin led the day at 14.766 with the meet's standout beam execution and connection work. Zhang Kexin added silver at 14.266 to complete a strong two-event output, while Yamada Chiharu earned bronze at 13.466. Zhou's score represented the competition's highest total across all apparatus, highlighting exceptional difficulty and execution control.
Zhang Yihan Completes China's Three-Event Conquest
Zhang Yihan closed the meet with floor gold at 13.433, showing stable landings and composition that balanced difficulty with control. Lihie Raz took silver at 12.933 and Zhang Kexin added bronze at 12.633, securing a multi-medal weekend across events for China. Zhang Kexin's versatility shone through with her bars gold, beam silver, and floor bronze — medaling on three of four apparatus as athletes used Cottbus to test routines ahead of major championships.