Brazil gymnastics has contender surplus for Pan-Am Games

Updated：2007-06-18 From：Xinhuanet

RIO DE JANEIRO, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's dominance in the last pre-Pan-American-Games gymnastics contest has created a problem for the nation's selectors: too many good candidates for this Friday's shortlist, local media said on Sunday.

Brazil's gymnasts won 233 points, outclassing Canada and Britain, with 220.25 and 220.2 respectively, at the International Artistic Gymnastics Tournament held in Natal, the capital of northeastern Brazil state Rio Grande do Norte.

Brazilians Jade Barbosa won 59.5, Daniele Hypolilto won 58.65, and Khiuani Dias won 53.35.

Brazil's biggest gymnastics star, Daiane dos Santos, did not compete in all events and so did not feature in the individuals' high-scorers' table.

It will be difficult for Brazil's gymnastics selectors -- Ukrainians Oleg Ostapenko, his wife Nadia, and Irina Ilyaschenko -- to choose the new generation of gymnasts.

Also competing for a place are Juliana Santos, Milena Miranda, Ethiene Franco and Ana Claudia Silva.