Longines Prize for Elegance

12.10.2019 13:51 Uhr

FIG-President Morinari Watanabe, Longines Brand Manager Rainer Eckert, Samual Milulak, Melanie de Jesus dos Santos and FIG-Ambassadors Catalina Ponor and Fabian Hambuechen.

In front of around 6500 spectators, two-time Olympian Sam Mikulak (USA) and Melanie de Jesus dos Santos (FRA) were awarded the Longines Prize for Elegance. This special prize is awarded every year to the two most elegant gymnasts of the all-around finals for outstanding elegance at the 2019 World Championships in Stuttgart (GER). The prize is awarded by the Swiss watchmaker and long-standing partner of the FIG.

Both gymnasts were selected by a special jury comprised of FIG President Morinari Watanabe, Longines Germany Brand Manager Rainer Eckert, and Stuttgart 2019 Ambassadors Catalina Ponor (ROU) and Fabian Hambuechen (GER)

Harmony of movement and elegance

The winners of the Longines Prize for Elegance are gymnasts whose performances convey emotional appeal extending beyond technical considerations, sparkling with beauty, grace, harmony of movement, and above all, elegance. In addition to a superb expression on the carpet, the winners of the Longines Prize for Elegance demonstrate impeccable sportsmanship off of it as well.

Mikulak happy about the appreciation

Mikulak was happy to win the prize right after a disappointment in the All-around final, when a fall late in the competition dropped him to seventh place.

It makes me feel appreciated. I was putting out a show and it feels good to be appreciated for trying as hard as you can. For them to notice it and acknowledge it brings a bit of consolation.”

Samual Mikulak

“I didn’t think I was elegant”

De Jesus dos Santos, der europäische Mehrkampfmeister von 2019, beendete das Mehrkampf-Finale am Mittwoch als 20.

“Ich freue mich sehr und fühle mich geehrt, diese Auszeichnung zu erhalten”, sagte sie. “Ich hätte vorher nicht gedacht, dass ich elegant bin, aber jetzt habe ich dank dieser Auszeichnung eine Idee. Ein großes Dankeschön an Longines und die Mitglieder der Jury, dass sie an mich gedacht haben.”

Melanie de Jesus dos Santos

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