Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos won gold in the gymnastics competition in Antalya this past weekend, six months after the French team’s historic bronze medal at the World Championships in Antwerp. The 24-year-old French gymnast claimed victory on the uneven bars with a score of 14.567 points, beating out Brazilian star Rebecca Andrade (14.067) and British gymnast Georgia-Mae Fenton (13.767).
Lacking confidence on this apparatus after a fall at the World Championships, Melanie “DJDS” tested a new move during this World Cup event. Her success on the uneven bars in Turkey will surely boost her confidence. Training in the United States alongside her friend Simone Biles, Melanie had previously won on this apparatus in Paris last September, also ahead of Rebecca Andrade.
Having won two medals in Turkey, Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos also earned a bronze on the floor exercise with 13.600 points. She was joined on the podium by fellow French gymnast Morgane Osyssek, who took home the silver (13.667) behind Brazil’s Jade Barbosa (13.833).
Morgane Osyssek, like her compatriot, also won two medals over the weekend. In the vault, she tied for third place with Hungarian gymnast Greta Mayer (12.900 points). Slovenian gymnast Tjasa Kysselef claimed the top spot with a score of 13.017, followed by the 48-year-old Oksana Chusovitina (12.917), who continues to impress on the international stage.
With four medals, including one gold, the French team had an impressive performance this weekend. This bodes well for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, just four months away.
