Another award for Michael Phelps: The record-setting swimmer was chosen the U.S. Olympic Committee’s sportsman of the year on Thursday.
All-around gymnastics champion Nastia Liukin and swimmer Natalie Coughlin, who won six medals in Beijing, tied in voting for sportswoman of the year. …
larger version – flickr – jodfevic
Liukin said she is back in the gym, training five to six hours a day. She will head to the U.S. team training camp next week. Liukin plans a comeback this year and may defend her Olympic title in 2012.
“People say, ‘Why keep going?’ ” she said. “I love competing and enjoy the sport. That overpowers the questions of putting my title up there. I haven’t made a 100 percent commitment [to return] but I’m making the commitment to myself to get in shape and compete.”
Nastia is the third individual gymnast to win this award, joining Kim Zmeskal (1991) and Carly Patterson (2004).
related – USAG – Liukin named 2008 USOC Co-Sportswoman of the Year
UPDATE: Commenters on the International Gymnast forum speculate that Shawn Johnson will not return to compete internationally for the USA. I’d say Nastia has a better shot than Shawn at qualifying for World’s 2009. It would be “easy” for her to make the team on Beam and Bars.
15 comments ↓
“Commenters on the International Gymnast forum speculate that Shawn Johnson will not return to compete internationally for the USA.”
Why would she not? She’s back in training. Can you please elaborate why she wouldn’t? I suspect this for Jana(which annoys me to no end), but why would this be true for Shawn?
The USA will have more problem replacing Nastia on Bars and Beam than Shawn on Floor, Vault and Beam, in my opinion.
Also, Nastia being a genetic ectomorph, will find it easier to stay in shape than Shawn, a mesomorph.
That’s all speculation. If Shawn trains 100%, Marta will put her on the team for Worlds.
*shrugs* I think it’s ridiculous not to put her there if she competes well. Yes, the US has bar issues, but Shawn is a great competitor and is a world champion all around mind you, unlike Nastia.
Katrina, if you read the interview Shawn did with IG this week, she states that she is working out at a fitness center, but not training in the gym. She also states she does not know when she will return to the gym. That is why there is speculation that will not return to competition.
Congratulation to Nastia. I’m glad the USOC honored both Nastia and Natalie instead of doing some silly tiebreaker. Nastia certainly knows about ties!
Also, why is it referred to as a “comeback” for Nastia? She never left the sport.
Ally, I know that, but I’ve heard she has talked to Chow. I think it’s ridiculous that just because she’ not training 8 hours a day after a very very long two years, that she’s not going to be competing. Man Give the girl a bit of a break. Chow’s training methods have seem to work so far in keeping a well rounded gymnast who isn’t burnt out or had serious injuries. I think her cross-training at the gym is a good thing.
You tube: OftUaQ1k-Es
You guys have killed Shawn’s love of the sport by stealing her AA gold. She was head and shoulders over Nastia.
” I think it’s ridiculous that just because she’ not training 8 hours a day after a very very long two years, that she’s not going to be competing. ”
It’s not because she isn’t training 8 hours. Everybody knows she never trained that much in the first place.
“She was head and shoulders over Nastia.” Only in your own mind, TCO. The results speak for themselves.
Watch that video.
Sherg, that’s what I was getting at. I think it’s great, very great that Shawn has done exceedingly well for the hours that she spends in the gym. It shows that Chow is an amazing coach and understands not only how important outside things are but how to coach fundamentals. I would send my daughter to him. My point was that just because she’s not back in the gym in the same time frame as other girls, like Nastia (whom I’m not a big fan of), doesn’t mean she’s not going to compete internationally for the US. I think people are ridiculous for even thinking that.
I’m thinking about who could be picked based on which finals. Keep in mind that there will not be a team final this year.
All-around:
Shawn
Nastia
Vault:
I don’t really know who’s performing two different vaults.
Bars:
Nastia
Chellsie (she said she wanted to compete this year)
Beam:
Shawn
Nastia
(unless somebody else greatly improves)
FX:
Shawn, Nastia, maybe Mattie, maybe Chellsie if she stays in top form.
Yes, everyone knows Shawn never trained 7-8 hours a day like many other elites. Reading her interview, she states she is riding out her publicity from the Olympics. That’s fine, good for her. She is not giving a “I miss gymnastics and can’t wait to get back into the gym” vibe. I don’t think it’s so ridiculous for people to speculate that she may be finished. I hope she is happy with whatever she chooses to do and that it is her decision.
Today is Jan. 24th.
Nastia and Shawn are celebrities tonight in yet another event, the Legendz Classic.
If Shawn is going to try out for Worlds, when is she going to start training?
February? March?
I think Nastia can pull off the celebrity / athlete balancing act. Her “home” is WOGA. Her Dad is her coach.
I’m not so sure about Shawn.
Shawn could vault at Worlds with almost no training. But the other apparatus would take some months of preparation.
I think you’re failing to factor in Shawn requiring a third less training time than Nastia.
Shawn is done. They stole her AA gold.
Leave a Comment