Day 1 of event finals has finished.
Tsuk the Pain calls this THE Story of the Championships …
From deep in West Virginia, Kayla Williams rose from a level 10 junior to an elite US National Champion on vault to a WORLD Champion on vault all within 5 months. Incredible. …
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
vault final results (PDF)
(via Aunt Joyce)
Many commented on Kayla’s excited and emotional reaction.
Kayla Williams of the US hugs her coach Bozhidar Russev after her gold medal winning routine on the vault at the World Gymnastics Championships at the O2 Arena in London, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009.
(AP Photo/Alastair Grant) – ESPN
20 comments ↓
Kayla is such an inspiration!
That was the messiest vault I have ever seen win a World medal. Not to mention she was piked throughout the entire rudi. How did she get credit for that being laid out?
There is nothing inspirational about bad form. Cheng Fie and Alicia Sacramone must be rolling in their graves that that mess won a world title.
My favourite story is that her former level 10 compatriots were in the audience earlier in the week to cheer her on. If Kayla was still in level 10, she would have been with them in the training camp!
What I’m more curious in is Kayla’s gym: Bozhi’s Gym Nest. It’s a first for them too, right?
Kayla is no Alicia. But look how young and inexperienced she is …
That vault will improve rapidly, I predict.
[...] to everyone, especially the coaching staff, for the Gold Medal on Vault by Kayla [...]
Great link. I’ll post it.
“That was the messiest vault I have ever seen win a World medal.”
Messier than Chusovitina??
I dunno, I’ve seen some pretty messy vaults. I will agree she should not have gotten credit for a laid-out Rudi. Of course I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woman truly lay out a Rudi with the closes being Atler.
Props to Kayla for sticking the double-twisting yurchenko, both in prelims and finals. Looking at the slow-motion replays, her form isn’t so bad on the yurchenko vault. Besides, I’d rather see a stuck vault, than an attempt at a more difficult one executed with fugly form, and ending in an awkward step. And for the life of me, I don’t recall Sacramone ever sticking the Rudi or Yurchenko vault. Kayla’s got a knack for planting her feet nicely, even on her difficult tumbling on floor exercise, doesn’t she. Her teary reaction afterward was endearing. Congrats!
I am pretty sure that neither Sacramone nor Cheng Fei are in graves. Celebrate her success for goodness sake.
The fugliest vaulter ever to get over scored was Boginskaya. IMHO.
Congrats Kayla. Truly an amazing accomplishment. Loved her DTY. Her Rudi needs a lot of work, but props to her for going for it. I actually thought she was a little piked, but not too bad. Her form going into the vault with the ugly leg separation off the spring board was pretty bad, but all in all, she was the best this year. This is definitely a rebuilding year though.
USA has now one a gold in every event at worlds!! thats something to celebrate!
Bogi? Fugly? Need glasses, coach Rick?
Some of the fugliest overscored vaults came from Gutsu, Bontas, Milosovici, etc … and then Zamo. I love Zamo, but come on!
congrats kayla! you were the best in this meet and you deserve the gold medal!
by the way, her built reminds me of produnova…
@ gymdead: we’ve seen Rudis that were almost completely piked throughout the whole Championships and they all got full credit (and deducted accordingly). After all, Käslin and Jong’s vaults got credit and so should Kayla’s. BTW, Alicia’s Rudi is just as piked but with better form.
@ PERTO: Shushovitina may have an awful leg separation and bad form, but her Rudi is completely laidout.
@ coach Rick: Boginskaya’s vaults were fug? Seriously, have you ever heard of the term “perfect form and pointed toes”, like ever? What about Amanar’s oh-so-lovely piked Phelps?
I never saw Chuso’s Rudi as really laid out. Maybe I watched the wrong year/clip of her. I will do some more research.
Don’t even get me started on the PHELPS as mis-performed by most everyone, but most especially the Olympic and World vault champion.
Ok here are the two links I can find of the Rudi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeMkc9uY8fU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqUHXxvlFdg
You describe her Rudi as completely laid-out – I don’t see that. I’d love for you to post of a video of her doing it all laid-out if you can find one – thanks!
kayla is a wonderful young lady and she and her family have worked hard and sacrificed so much. she deserves the opportunities she is being given!! we miss her in Nitro.. but we are cheering her on!!!!
Leave a Comment