Athletes with great form seem to be a dying breed in gymnastics. Why? Because the current scoring system doesn’t penalize bad form severely enough to make it worth worrying about. …
Sadly, I this is true.
read the post and take a poll by clicking Who Has the Best Form? on about.com Gymnastics
more photo examples of good form and bad form - about.com Gymnastics
… The take-off of a back flip is called the “set” or “lift.” To successfully complete a back tuck, you’ll need to learn how to set the right way. This set drill can be used with a spotter (as shown) or onto a stack of high mats …
I’ve linked a number of times to Gymnast.com — certainly the best possible web address for anyone interested in gymnastics.
In soft launch, editor Steve McCain has been steadily adding content over the past number of weeks.
Unique to this site is their partnership with USA Gymnastics and the American-GymnastVideo on Demand service.
Expect to see video there you can’t get anywhere else.
Events - The highest quality On Demand Gymnastics Videos you’ll find anywhere on the web. Includes coverage of 2008 Men’s Winter Cup, 2008 American Cup, 2008 Pacific Rim, with much more coming soon!
Features - Special coverage section including “Beaming Beijing” - follow the journey of our Olympic Gymnasts as they prepare for and compete in Beijing.
News - Just what you’d expect … Team USA News, International News, Press Releases, and Results
Videos - If you love videos, you’ll love Gymnast.com. See interviews with your favorite gymnasts and coaches, learn recommended Training Tips on gymnastics skills, and more!
Photos - Browse through pictures of the latest meets and see your favorite athletes.
Community - Connect with your teammates and other gymnasts around the world. Upload your own videos and pictures. Invite your friends!
Most gymnastics coaches report that their understanding of biomechanics is a “weakness”.
Happily, mechanics are far less important than understanding conditioning, progression and how to motivate gymnasts. (Not to mention, how to keep their parents happy.)
But I’ve just put in an order for this new video.
Visuals really help when trying to explain mechanical principles.
The Gymnastic Laws of Motion
Almost all gymnastic skills are governed by the laws of physics. In this DVD, Tom Forster explains the major laws of physics and motion that apply to gymnastic movement. $29.95
The 1968 Olympics Black Power salute was a noted black nationalist protest and one of the most overtly political statements in the 110 year history of the modern Olympic Games. African American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos performed their Power to the People salute at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.
… American athlete Smith won the 200 metre race race in a then-world-record time of 19.83 seconds, with Australia’s Peter Norman second with a time of 20.06 seconds, and American Carlos in third place with a time of 20.10 seconds. After the race was completed, the three went to collect their medals at the podium. The two American athletes received their medals shoeless, but wearing black socks, to represent black poverty. Smith wore a black scarf around his neck to represent black pride. Carlos wore beads which he described “were for those individuals that were lynched, or killed that no-one said a prayer for, that were hung and tarred. It was for those thrown off the side of the boats in the middle passage.” All three athletes wore Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR) badges, after Norman expressed sympathy with their ideals. …
Carlos had forgotten his black gloves, but Norman suggested that they share Smith’s pair, with Smith wearing the right glove and Carlos the left. When “The Star-Spangled Banner” played, Smith and Carlos delivered the salute with heads bowed, a gesture which became front page news around the world. As they left the podium they were booed by the crowd. …
what happened to these men? - find out on Wikipedia
People at the top are worried something similar will happen in 2008:
In a letter to national federations, the IOC decreed that all athletes must refrain from clothing, gestures and written or oral statements that demonstrate “political, religious or racial propaganda” at Olympic venues. The missive did not outline punishment guidelines for infractions. …
For 500 years, worshippers at a Muslim shrine in western India have continued the tradition — a rite considered to bring good health and good luck to the children.
The infants land and bounce on a bed-sheet held taut by men 50 feet below, and are quickly passed through the crowd to their mothers.
Villagers say no babies have been injured during the ritual, which is practiced by Muslims and Hindus in Musti village in the district of Solapur, in the state of Maharashtra. …
Andrew Thornton on Gymnast.com has been at it again.
Comparing apples and oranges (scores from different meets) and extrapolating what would happen if these 3 all HIT …
Obviously these are all hypothetical scores …
Jiang Yuyuan: 63.2
Nastia Liukin: 63.0
Shawn Johnson: 62.9
WOW – those were honestly the first numbers I came up with – no adjustments! Keep in mind these numbers assumed Shawn WOULDN’T compete the Yurchenko 2 ½, and I think there’s a good chance she will. If we add that in, her score would go up around 7 or 8 tenths and she’d be in first place. …
Shawn by all reports can do the Amanar vault (Yurchenko 2 ½) easily (video) and remains the favourite. Jiang Yuyuan will likely be the gymnast pushed by China for the AA. She may well be Shawn’s strongest challenger.
Check out Andrew’s detailed analysis with video of Yuyuan’s Floor routine from last weekend on Gymnast.com.
Jiang Yuyuan of China competes on the beam during the women’s individual all-round final of the “Good Luck Beijing” 2007 International Gymnastics Tournament in Beijing, capital of China on Nov. 29, 2007. Jiang won the champion with a score of 61.225.
Almost everyone is predictingHe Kexin will win bars at the Olympics.
At Tianjing 2008 Chinese Gymnastics National Championships Event Finals her teammate Yang Yilin matched her start value, but did not score nearly as high: 16.725 (7.7 A)
Compare that routine with He Kexin in Finals 17.325 (7.7 A) - with 3 obvious deductions - video. Seems too high.
Are the Chinese judges are already “pushing” for specific girls on each apparatus? There’s no need to over score He Kexin on bars. That kind of strategy could easily backfire.
