France's Marine Debauve switches to tumbling

November 3, 7:37 PMGymnastics ExaminerBlythe Lawrence

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Former European Champion Marine Debauve  is back in the gym, but this time she's pursuing medals as part of France's power tumbling team.

Debauve, 21, retired from artistic gymnastics after the Beijing Olympics, but took up tumbling soon afterward, French newspaper Le Pays reported earlier this week. Although an ankle injury will keep her out of this month's T&T World Championships in St. Petersburg, Russia, Debauve has reportedly set her sights on the 2010 T&T Worlds.

As an artistic gymnast, Debauve placed seventh all-around at the 2004 Olympic Games, the highest-ever finish by a French woman. She followed up by winning all-around gold and a silver on beam at the 2005 European Championships, but retired from gymnastics in 2006.

She resumed training in 2007 with the goal of making the 2008 French Olympic team. In Beijing, she placed 35th on beam and 49th on floor in qualification.

Here's Debauve's first tumbling run during a French dual meet with Great Britain earlier this year: