Andrew Thornton on Gymnast speculates that Shapiro may be essential to the American World Championships Team in 2009:
… stylish presentation, picture-perfect technique, and razor-sharp toe point …
Click PLAY or watch her 2008 Visa Championships Bars on YouTube.
… That bars routine actually scored a tremendous 15.9, which not only dominated the junior field on this event, but would have been welcomed with open arms onto our Olympic team this year! If you recall, the selection committee searched endlessly for a third gymnast who could score close to the 16-range on this event, but ended up having to fall back on Shawn Johnson’s 15.35 in the team finals in Beijing. Had Shapiro been just five months older, she may have been the ideal candidate to fill the 6th and final spot on this year’s U.S. team. …
5 comments ↓
What a beautiful handstand position. Awesome.
I remember watching her at training when i worked at the gym she trains at (AOGC).. She was awesome.. great attitude, really nice kid, real meticulous..trains A LOT of hours. I wish her all the best, and hope she gets to compete at the 2009 Worlds for US.. She is awesome..love that bar routine…sooooo nice to see such clean form. Wonder what other stars might come out of AOGC (aside from Mattie Larson, and possibly but i don’t really see it Haillee ????)..
Valentin Uzunov
TheGymPress
http://www.thegympress.net
Yes well she wasn’t mentally mature enough to handle Olympic competition yet now was she? No, that extra five months was CRUCIAL to her mental and emotional health.
Anyways, I remember a time when I used to miss Stalder/Endo/Toe-on elements and as beautiful as this routine looks (deductions where? maybe that flexed foot passing the low bar on giants) I am getting sick of all those circling elements in routines.
Look It’s Nastia’s turtle twin… Seriously What’s with the whole, stick the head out, arch your back and then swing down? It’s so fugly!
It’s a technique to use when you’re not quite strong enough to get skills through with a hollow throughout the skill. I don’t like it either but I have resorted to it with older, lankier gymnasts for clear hips from time to time. I’d rather avoid it if I can, though!
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