Elisabeth "Elze" Geurts (born 26 April 1995) is a Dutch artistic gymnast. She represented her country at the 2021 World Championships, as well as at the 2015, 2017 and 2019 Summer Universiade, and was named an alternate to the Dutch gymnastics team for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Elze Geurts
Elze Geurts, 2023
Personal information
Full nameElisabeth Geurts
Nickname(s)Elze
Country represented Netherlands
Born (1995-04-26) 26 April 1995 (age 29)
Raalte, Netherlands[1]
HometownAmsterdam, Netherlands
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)[2]
DisciplineWomen's artistic gymnastics
LevelSenior International Elite
ClubTurnz Amsterdam
Head coach(es)Aimee Boorman

Personal life

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As of 2021, Geurts was studying medicine and philosophy at the University of Amsterdam.[3][4]

Career

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Geurts has had an unusual career trajectory for an elite gymnast, as she did not make the national team until her twenties. Although she was considered a top prospect as a child, she plateaued as an adolescent and was written off as too tall to be competitive. Her progress had also been hindered by two Achilles tendon ruptures.[5]

Geurts represented the Netherlands at the 2015, 2017 and 2019 Summer Universiade.[6] She qualified to the vault final at both the 2017 and 2019 Universiade, finishing eighth and sixth respectively.[7][8]

In 2021, Geurts won the all-around at the 1st Dutch Olympic Trial, where she also picked up the gold on vault, silver on floor exercise and bronze on the uneven bars. She was named an alternate to the Dutch team for the postponed 2020 Summer Olympics after placing eighth in the all-around at the 2nd Olympic Trial.[9][10][11]

Following the Tokyo Olympics, Geurts placed first on vault at the 1st Dutch Worlds Trial,[12] and was selected to compete at the 2021 World Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan, making her World championship debut at the age of 26.[5] In the qualification round of the World championships, Geurts qualified to the vault final in second place behind reigning Olympic vault champion Rebeca Andrade.[13] She also placed thirteenth on floor exercise, and was the third reserve for the floor final.[14] However, during the vault final, Geurts fell on her second vault and placed eighth with a total score of 13.349.[15]

In February 2022, Geurts suffered a torn ACL in her right knee while training.[16]

Selected competitive skills

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Apparatus Name Description Difficulty[a] Performed
Vault Baitova Yurchenko entry, laid out salto backwards with two twists 5.0 2021
Uneven Bars Piked jaeger Reverse grip swing to piked salto forwards to catch high bar D 2021
Floor Exercise Podkopayeva I Double salto forward tucked E 2021
Tarasevich Salto forward stretched with double (2/1) twist D 2021
  1. ^ Valid for the 2022–2024 Code of Points[17]

Competitive history

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Year Event Team AA VT UB BB FX
2015 Summer Universiade 18
2016 Wase Gymcup 8  
Dutch Team Championships 7 11  
Bundesliga Semifinals        
2017 1st Bundesliga 6    
IAG SportEvent 4
Dutch Championships 7 6 5 4
Summer Universiade 5 8
Dutch Women's Invitational 6   6 7
2nd Bundesliga 6      
Wase Gymcup     4
3rd Bundesliga 8 9  
Dutch Team Championships        
2018 1st Bundesliga        
2nd Bundesliga        
3rd Bundesliga   5  
Klaverblad Championships        
Dutch Championships 11  
Heerenveen Friendly   16 8
Varsenare Friendly   10  
4th Bundesliga   10    
2019 2nd Bundesliga 7 15  
FIT Challenge 25
Dutch Championships 9 4 4
Summer Universiade 9 6
3rd Bundesliga 8 5  
Dutch Team Championships 4 5  
2020 1st Bundesliga   4  
2021 Heerenveen Friendly      
1st Dutch Olympic Trial        
2nd Dutch Olympic Trial 8  
1st Dutch Worlds Trial 4    
2nd Dutch Worlds Trial 4
World Championships 8 R3

Source:[6]

References

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  1. ^ "GEURTS Elisabeth - FIG Athlete Profile". International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  2. ^ "2019 Summer Universiade Entry List" (PDF). 1 July 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  3. ^ "GEURTS Elze Universiade Athlete Profile". International University Sports Federation (FISU). Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  4. ^ "Topturnster Elze Geurts (25) uit Raalte: dit moet er gebeuren om de turncultuur te veranderen" [Top gymnast Elze Geurts (25) from Raalte: this has to happen to change the gymnastics culture]. De Stentor (in Dutch). 16 April 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Patient Geurts savoring first Worlds at 26". International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). 18 October 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Elisabeth 'Elze' Geurts on The Gymternet". The Gymternet. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  7. ^ "2017 Summer Universiade". The Gymternet. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  8. ^ "2019 Summer Universiade results". The Gymternet. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Geurts verrast zichzelf met olympische kandidatuur: 'Bungelde altijd onderaan'" [Geurts surprises herself with Olympic candidacy: 'Always dangled at the bottom']. NOS (in Dutch). June 13, 2021.
  10. ^ "Elze Geurts wint eerste Olympische kwalificatiewedstrijd" [Elze Geurts wins first Olympic qualifier]. Dutchgymnerd (in Dutch). June 13, 2021.
  11. ^ "Nederlands olympisch turnteam dames en afvaardiging turnen heren bekend" [Dutch Olympic women's team and men's delegation in gymnastics announced]. Dutch Gymnastics (in Dutch). 27 June 2021. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  12. ^ "1st Dutch Worlds Trials results". The Gymternet. 13 September 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  13. ^ "Melnikova, Andrade Impress On Day Two Of Worlds, As Women's Qualifications Conclude". International Gymnast. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  14. ^ "Women's Floor Exercise Qualification" (PDF). GymnasticsResults. 18 October 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Women's Vault Final" (PDF). GymnasticsResults. 23 October 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  16. ^ "Topturnster Elze Geurts Ernstig Geblesseerd" [Top gymnast Elze Geurts Seriously Injured]. Dutch Gymnastics (in Dutch). 11 February 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  17. ^ "2022-2024 Women's Artistic Gymnastics Code of Points" (PDF). International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). Retrieved 2 July 2022.
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