Entries from February 2010 ↓

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks Brett.

… Stephanie McGregor juggles gymnastics, University Honors College, and an engineering major but still has time for herself

Grady Garrett in the The Daily Barometer wrote a glowing profile of a Canadian gymnast competing for the #3 ranked Oregon Beavers: McGregor knows the key to balance

It’s an inspiring read.

CONGRATS Steph.

Here’s the conference I’d most like to attend this year:

Birmingham, England Apr. 30th – May 1st, 2010

It’s multi-sport, but has very strong gymnastics representation.

“This is unique opportunity for coaches working with young performers”, said Hardy Fink, Canada, Director of Education and Academy Programme of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).

Prof Keith Russell (CAN), Prof Adam Baxter Jones (CAN), Prof Joachim Mester (GER), Prof Joan Duda (USA), Prof Nicola Maffulli (GBR), Prof Neil Armstrong (GBR), and David Hemery CBE.

Chairs: Professor Craig Sharp, Professor Colin Boreham, Professor Fred Yeadon, Professor Lew Hardy, Dr. John Atkinson, Mr. John Aldridge and Professor Greg Whyte.

Kelly's wedding with best man Kyle Shewfelt

Kelly Manjak (CAN) will be presenting on Coaching Issues.

Manjak coached Kyle Shewfelt to the Olympic gold medal … in Athens as well as a fourth place finish on the vault. Manjak and Shewfelt worked together for 16 years …

Coaching Association of Canada

British Gymnastics – Congress home page

by site editor Rick McCharles

The Great West Gym Fest is hosted in the gorgeous Coeur d’Alene Resort.

It’s wonderfully convenient to host everything in a hotel. But there are challenges.

The biggest problem with set-up for us was fitting in the bleachers.

Next … do we need to remove ceiling tiles for Bar dismounts?

In the end, we have a classy and cosy venue.

The meet is well underway. I picked up Courtney Kupets at the airport today. How was your morning?

Sports Girls Play linked to WePlay.com. One of their many sports is Gymnastics.

Youth Gymnastics Hub – Your place for everything Gymnastics

Looks good though I’m not sure how well the content is networked. See for yourself.

About 4000 “members“. (many with cartoon avatars)

Over 300 “Gymnastics Groups“.

Something called “blogs“. (Though no page without an RSS feed can be a blog, in my opinion.)

Hundreds of photos and videos:

Roanoke Academy of Gymnastics

WePlay.com – Gymnastics

A strange and dramatic edit of the champions in Beijing.

… Music’s from “The Lion King” the track entitled “King of Pride Rock. …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I like the final clip, Nastia nailing her Vault.

(via gymgal92 on IG forum)

Blythe Lawrence posted a great interview with Tim McNeill as he readies to challenge some of the best in the world at next month’s American Cup:

Gymnastics Examiner – Tim McNeill: ‘I feel like a completely different gymnast than I did a year ago’

The deadline is March 5th for Canadian eligible coaches to apply for the 2010-2011 Level 4 NCCP cycle. (MAG, RG, TG or WAG). Contact your Provincial office.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Great dismount, though difficult to stick.

More videos from the “Moscow Championships” in February.

Who is this gymnast? Alexei Nemov?

Sergei Kharkov at 1991 Moscow World Stars. Thanks Hertzen.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I’m looking for more examples of the world’s best Tkachevs.

Nemov’s layout reverse hecht is as high as any I’ve seen.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

A superb edit by Selicious, film student at Brook’s Institute.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Hardly “fluff”.

If you like that, check out his other videos.

What’s the essence of sport?

People challenging others to see who’s “best” under some arbitrary set of rules.

Short Track Speed Skating is exactly that.

The race itself is madness. There’s a delicious uncertainty about who’s going to win.

… the story of Steven Bradbury, “The Last Man Standing” in the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002. …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Salt Lake City Olympic Coach Kendra Wilkie Street linked to this video on Facebook. Thanks Kendra.

Do you call it overshoot? Shootover? Shoot half? Bail to Handstand?

This skill has many different names.

Here’s a nice series of progressions posted by Bart on Gymnastics-Skills.com.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Next, this non-spotting set-up used by Coach Milo. Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The One Arm Drop drill only needs be used if a girl has problems with the system above.

Most coaches end up standing in on this skill in competition for a long, long time. It gives the kids confidence to go for handstand.

Pak is a better alternative, in my opinion.