Alabama gymnastics sophomore Diandra Milliner (from Folger’s) scores a 10.0 on the vault against Florida on Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 in Coleman Coliseum. The Crimson Tide beat the Gators 197.725-196.900.
Blythe posted a recap of the end of his (first) career in 2009:
… The Olympic dream had crashed down on him the year before, when in spite of being the U.S. champion and petitioning directly onto the team after spraining his ankle jumping down from high bar before the Olympic Trials, the men’s selection committee not only not named him to the team, it did not even made him an alternate. (Meanwhile, in spite of his broken hand, Paul Hamm was named to the team and given every opportunity to prove that he was fit for competition before the U.S. men left for Beijing.)
… Three years later, here we are — Sender finished sixth all-around at Winter Cup, earning a place on the national team and signaling that he’s a threat to make the U.S. men’s five-member Olympic team. …
He was an excellent, artistic and tough all-arounder. With some excellent difficulty, especially on Rings. Though he looked a bit loose at Winter Cup, David’s got a real shot at London.
One valid complaint about women’s Collegiate gymnastics in the States is that routines tend to be (boringly) safe. Aside from Floor choreography, there’s not much originality, especially on Vault. I’ve seen meets with 12 Yurchenko 1/1s.
… Simone Biles easily won the level 10/open all around title Friday at the Alamo Classic and debuted a yurchenko 2.5 twist in a meet held on concrete!
It’s one thing to compete this vault on podium, but it’s even more difficult to throw it on a solid surface. Biles played it safe with a double on her first vault and even bounced out of it, then she threw the 2.5 with ease. According to the meet director. “it was beautiful – she could’ve done a triple!” …
Gymnastike visited Brestyan’s to check in with USA Gymnastics 2012 olympic team hopeful Aly Raisman. The 17-year-old gymnast is coming off a fantastic 2011 season, leading team USA to the World Championships gold medal and winning an individual bronze medal on floor. Raisman has even bigger skills and high aspirations for 2012. She talks about her upgrades, her decision to turn professional, and training to make the Olympic team.
What’s with the College judges handing out 10s so early in the season? LOVE that vault, but they could have gone 9.95.
… “She does gymnastics on a whole level that you can’t teach,” Kondos Field said. “It’s god-given. She can do the same exact skills that any other athlete does, but she has this lightness and she makes it seem effortless. It’s ethereal, like she is flying.”…
… In her career as a Bruin, she has performed four flawless vaults, earning scores of 10.000 three times in 2009 and once in 2010. …
France had a good competition, and youngster Anne Kuhm a great one. Kuhm ascended steadily through the French junior ranks, but she looks to have surpassed herself here. …
