GYMNASTICS / WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS : Teammate Upstages Scherbo to Win Men’s All-Around

Ivan Ivankov lost his obscurity and won a championship on Thursday night.

It wasn’t easy for the 19-year-old from Minsk, Belarus.

Ivankov had to await for 3 1/2 agonizing hours before being crowned all-around champion at the World Gymnastics Championship.

Little known outside his home country, Ivankov upstaged some of the biggest names in the sport--including defending champion and teammate Vitaly Scherbo--to score a victory even he had not expected.

Ivankov competed in the second subdivision during the afternoon and had to wait nervously throughout the evening session to see if anyone would beat his score.

He was solid through all six of the disciplines, scoring 57.012 points.

Alexei Voropaev of Russia won the silver medal with 56.924 points with Scherbo third with 56.350.

Scott Keswick of Los Angeles finished 13th with 55.275 points and John Roethlisberger of Afton, Minn., was 17th with 55.075.

Scherbo, until now regarded as the world’s best gymnast, made errors in his rings and parallel bars routines. They were uncommon mistakes for a man who won six gold medals at the Barcelona Olympics and three golds at last year’s world championships in Birmingham, England.

Ivankov’s only previous championship success was a bronze in the rings at Birmingham, but all of his routines at the Brisbane Entertainment Center scored 9.450 or better.

Scherbo has a chance to redeem himself when he competes in four individual events over the weekend.

American Shannon Miller defends her women’s all-around title today.