tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports …

Again.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I’m surprised. That should be a pretty easy set for her. After the Weiler series.

commentary on Stoi

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Judge Grace Chiu:

The Olympic Selection Points process is well-documented (PDF) . It needs to be read and understood.

I was tasked to make a working spreadsheet based on this document for the selection committee, which I did on the plane to Regina. It was verified as correct after AA finals.

Thus, there is no Cone-of-Silence on this, and as of now, after Canadian Championships, the Top 12 candidates with points are:

1. Kristina Vaculik 46.40
2. Victoria Moors 30.80
3. Dominique Pegg 20.10
4. Ellie Black 17.60
5. Jessica Savona 11.80
6. Brittany Rogers 9.20
6. Madeline Gardiner 9.20
8. Mikaela Gerber 5.80
9. Christine Lee 4.00
10. Talia Chiarelli 3.00
11. Jessica Dowling 2.40
11. Stefanie Merkle 2.40

I believe it’s pretty cut & dry that those 12 will be invited to the Olympic selection camp in Gatineau. There is no “petitioning”. The points system is working.

The rest with points > 0:
13. Anysia Unick 2.00
13. Briannah Tsang 2.00
15. Laura-Ann Chong 1.20
16. Bianca Dancose-Giambattisto 1.00 — having ankle surgery Tuesday …

The only subjective assignment of points will be under Criteria 3A at the selection camp. It is a maximum of 5 points assessed for performance “on demand”. This is not going to be a deal-breaker for those who already have 5 points as of now, and see, they are in the Top 8.

Trust the points system…

GCG will announce the entire Olympic team for WAG, MAG, TG, and RG on June 29.

Let’s see if Grace’s confidence in the points system carries through Camp. It certainly worked badly last Olympics.

My preference would be to select the top 2 or 3 team members on (hopefully) objective criteria. And have a National Coach — after consultation — select the last 2 or 3 who best “balance” the team.

Click PLAY or watch Tori’s DTY on YouTube.

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USAG on Facebook:

.. Madison Desch’s winning balance beam routine from the 2012 Secret U.S. Classic – so here it is! Check out her new layout full …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

USAG cannot upload Sr routine videos due to their contractual agreement with the Broadcaster.

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I’m looking for the perfect release form blanks for USA and Canada. Leave a comment if you’ve got one you like. Some models would be children, of course.

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Dmitrios Tsolakidis (GRE) Parallel Bars 2012 European Championships Qualifications

Nobody, not even the Cubans, ever did front uprise skills on Parallel Bars like this.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

That’s Andy’s coolest routine from Europeans (so far):

… front uprise to diamidov 1 ½, a front uprise to diamidov, and a front uprise to Makuts. …

Thanks Dave Copeland.

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photo via his Facebook

I’m not sure how the UCLA coach is going to spot next season.

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Only 3 tumbling passes.
Score: D: 6.2 E: 9.0 = 15.2

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Andy Thornton sees her as an alternate, at this point:

Jordyn Wieber, Aly Raisman, and Gabby Douglas are currently locks.

Kyla Ross and McKayla Maroney currently have the remaining two spots.

Nastia Liukin is very close behind.

Rebecca Bross and Sarah Finnegan are other likely alternates at this point. …

American Gymnast – Putting The London Puzzle Together…Secret U.S. Classic Wrap-Up

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Huge routine. Wow. I’m sorry she missed.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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At the 2012 Men‘s European Apparatus Finals.

Click PLAY or watch Smith on YouTube. (15.775)

Louis’ never had great extension. And he’s not got superior toe point nor split.

Click PLAY or watch Berki on YouTube. (15.958)

I much prefer Berki of those two great routines. It’s nice to see flared spindle, for one thing. He’s got the best pendular swing in the world, too.

Surprisingly, Smith took the media to complain that Berki’s start score was 0.2 too high.

Both were given start values of 6.9.

… I’m not sure whether Louis is correct. Weigh in, if you’ve an opinion on their start scores.

Update: Did Berki not complete his “full spindle in flair”? Top coaches say he didn’t. …

Louis Smith will be one of the biggest media darlings of the host team in London. This controversy is only going to generate interest in Men’s Gymnastics — and Pommels in particular. Love it.

We can use the attention even if it’s only once every 4yrs.

related – Europeans – BBC – How GB beat Russia at gymnastics

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Skyriders Head Coach Dave Ross told us that there are 6 or 7 “Super Tramps” he’s built, out in the wild. Those are GIANT trampoline beds that allow athletes to get more air time than on the FIG specs.

His own in Toronto is the best design, so far, he feels.

He’s back to a rectangular frame, at this point. Supporting the corners of such a big bed is an issue.

Click PLAY to watch Sam Sendel. This (updated) edit on YouTube from 4yrs ago is called 40 Different Triples and a Quadriffus on Supertramp.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Mortals find Super Tramp height terrifying. If you want to know why Sam uses a throw mat on those skills, watch it through to the end — the crashes.

Dave’s company that sells the Super Tramp is called Rebound Products.

Thanks Hal.

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Chellsie is beloved by fans. A poll proves it.

There’s an online petition, promoted by @GymnasticsZone, where you can voice your opinion that Chellsie should be invited to the Visa Championships, keeping her in the pool of athletes eligible for selection to Olympic Team.

USA Gymnastics, USAG Olympic Selection Committee, Steve Penny: Allow Gymnast Chellsie Memmel to compete at the National Championships.

A very late candidate for the Team (like Nastia) Chellsie did not even get close to the reasonable requirement of a score of 14+ on at least one apparatus at the Secret.

Athletes expect to be declined when they don’t perform. But in this exceptional case there are a couple of good arguments for putting her through.

I’d love to see it happen. But I’m not holding my breath.

(via by Kayleigh Walsh on Facebook)

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… tying for third on balance beam at the U.S. Classic. Her score of 14.9 was just 0.10 points behind reigning world champion Jordyn Wieber and Aly Raisman …

“She was so rock solid,” marveled Raisman, one of several competitors who stood and watched Liukin’s routine. “I felt like I was watching the 2008 Olympics she did so well.”

Next up is the U.S. championships, June 7-10 in St. Louis, where Liukin plans to add uneven bars — her signature event and the event she needs to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. National team coordinator Martha Karolyi said she’s already told Liukin she’d like to see a score around 16 — a mark that would make her competitive with the best bar workers in the world.

“No pressure,” Karolyi said, laughing. “Nastia is a big girl. She knows what it means.” …

NANCY ARMOUR – Liukin makes big impression in 1st meet back

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Who’s still eligible to qualify for the Canadian Olympic Team?

… The top eight women earned automatic invitations to a final Olympic selection camp to be held in Gatineau, Que., at the end of June, with up to four more to be added to the mix.

The five-woman Olympic team plus one reserve athlete will be named following the final selection meet.

The top three ranked gymnasts so far are Kristina Vaculik of Whitby, Ont., Victoria Moors of Cambridge, Ont., and Dominique Pegg of Sarnia, Ont.

Rounding out the top eight are: Ellie Black of Halifax, Jessica Savona of Oakville, Ont, Brittany Rogers of Coquitlam, B.C., Madeline Gardiner and Mikaela Gerber, both of Cambridge, Ont. …

Herald Sport

The process is far more complicated than this, a points system. But at least it seems that these 8 will go through to Camp.

We’re hoping Peng Peng is invited. I’ve not heard any update on prognosis since the MRI.

related – IG – WAG / MAG Apparatus Finals – Vaculik, Gafuik Continue Reign in Regina

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