NOTE – So far on this site, I’m projecting results for the preliminary competition. (The team final is a totally different ballgame. Let’s jump off that bridge when we get to it.)
The World Championships competition begins in about 12hrs. Podium training is finally finished.
____ But first …
Big story of the day was the (probable) Achilles tendon tear of Alicia Sacramone.
It really calls into question the wisdom of bringing Anna Li who prepared for 2 apparatus, at most.
Instead of using Anna, USA will compete their final 5 healthy gymnasts on all 4 apparatus in team prelims.
This brings CHN, ROM and RUS decidedly closer to the Americans. But I still think USA could win the team prelims, if they hit. And avoid any further injury.
If CHN hits, as well, it will be close.
RUS continues brilliant but inconsistent.
ROM is happy where they’re at, I think. (One Romanian delegate told me their only goal is to finish in the top 8.)
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In the competition venue today we saw the other half of the men’s teams on podium.
The best link is Examiner – Quick hits: Podium training, day four (men’s)
Click PLAY or watch a MAG podium training edit on YouTube.
China was in the last rotation and looks unbeatable. Superb Pommels. Great P Bars. Average Rings … aside from their best two who will likely go Gold, Silver in Finals.
But I’m not a fan of their H Bar — boring at best, embarrassing at worst. The safest possible skill selection. Long Zhang Chenglong, reigning world champion, is the exception. He swings.
On vault China does no double somersault vaults. So they can land. RUS likely has the most exciting vault team — but how many will land?
JPN should finish second as a team, comfortably. They are dynamic, exciting and fun to watch.
Still I’m thinking GBR v GER v USA for 3rd place in team prelims.
Nobody else has the depth to challenge. Not Russia. Not Korea. Not France, though they did look very good today.
The team that “won” podium training, I’m pleased to say, was Canada.
The Canucks had very few errors over 6 events today with a strategy to go “clean” rather than throw every skill they can do.
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The guys all love the Floor. But rather than add difficulty, they are focused on absorbing the landings. It’s easy to bounce right out of bounds on landing. Like Russia did many times today,
Pommels is by far the strongest apparatus for men. Nearly every team has a guy who could challenge for Finals. Amazing.
I’m liking SELLATHURAI Prashanth for World Champion. He did Magyar Spindle between the pommels today. Cool.
Korea will likely win PH as a team.
Rings is weak.
Who’s ready to challenge the Chinese here? … Leave names in the comments.
I could see old man Jovtchev and van Gelder (now eligible for Olympics) in the Final.
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Vault will be a make-or-break event for many teams.
If you throw the 6.6 and higher vaults, will you land them?
What percentage of male gymnasts will fall on vault?
35% … 40% ??
Still, everyone wants YANG Hak Seon (KOR) to compete his new vault - Handspring Front layout 3/1 twist (7.4).
He did it only once in podium. And almost landed.
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In AA prelims I’d agree that Uchimura could fall twice. Or three times … and still finish 1st. None of the other top contenders look ready to challenge.
It’s nice to see Hambuchen, Dragalescu and Keatings back doing the AA, though.
Even Jotchov, our eldest gymnast, is doing AA, I hear.
High res photos available for purchase from fig-photos.com.
