Click PLAY or watch it on Break.

The Wheelchair Replacement

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Whether you like it or not, this is the year of the iPad. It’s soon going to be everywhere.

Grace Chiu snapped this pic of judges using them for analysis during Gymnix podium training.

See more of Grace’s Gymnix photos on Examiner.

UPDATE from Grace:

Haha… that was a posed shot… We don’t judge using iPads. We keep our documents, like the Code, Help Desk, Models, clarifications there so they’re at our fingertips and we don’t have to print loads of paper and lug around 4-inch binders. Plus, it holds up my ProScore keypad.

related – The iPad Is Unbeatable

Why Apple’s tablet competitors don’t stand a chance—and maybe never will.

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… Dan Keatings launches Bupa’s partnership with UK Sport by performing the world’s first ‘human vault‘ over Spelbound in Trafalgar Square. …

In the last ten years, Bupa has has covered over 29,000 treatments for British athletes, which have included 1,130 fractures and 6,782 surgeries.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I want to see Tsuk!

For more information, visit bupa.com/uksport

We love our Sport Med professionals.

Acrobatic gymnasts Spelbound will be performing in the Olympic Opening Ceremonies.

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A recently published research study by Cuk I., Fink H., Leskosek B.

One of the authors is Hardy Fink, the man more than any other who birthed our current open-ended Code. He’s crunched the numbers more than any other alive, I reckon.

The goal was to …

… investigate how different calculations of the final score may change the ranking orders among gymnasts. Fourteen different calculations were taken into consideration and then compared with official results from the 2011 Men’s European Championships in Berlin. …

Results?

… In the Code of Points it is emphasized that the exercise presentation is the most important part and it should never be compromised for difficulty.

In the practice of competitions we often see exactly the opposite philosophy from gymnasts and their coaches. At this moment, the proportion between difficulty and execution is, on some apparatus, already above 70% (pommel horse, high bar).

If we look at other sports it is clear that the most risky sports (diving, aerial skiing) have very low contributions from difficulty towards the final score while the most aesthetic sports (synchronized swimming, rhythmic gymnastics) have a more balanced proportion …

Louis Smith

I chose that quotation because it matches my personal opinion, and the majority opinion, that current FIG rankings reward difficulty too much, execution not enough.

Gymnasts like Louis Smith (Pommels) and Ali Raisman are not penalized much compared with those who have superior body line and stretched feet.

Read the entire article (PDF). That comes from Vol. 4 Issue 1: Science of Gymnastics Journal.

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Ivan Cuk
Editorial

PUBLIC SPORTS POLICY: THE IMPACT OF THE ATHLETE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ON BRAZILIAN MEN’S ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS

BODY COMPOSITION PROFILE OF ELITE GROUP RHYTHMIC GYMNASTS

SELF-ESTEEM AND TRAIT ANXIETY IN GIRLS PRACTICING COMPETITIVE AND RECREATIONAL GYMNASTICS

CHANGES IN GYMNASTS MOTOR ABILITIES DURING THE NINE MONTH TRAINING PROCESS OF FEMALE GYMNASTS 5-6 YEARS OF AGE

THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT TEACHING SYSTEMS IN LEARNING RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS APPARATUS

JUDGING PERFORMANCE IN GYMNASTICS:A MATTER OF MOTOR OR VISUAL EXPERIENCE?

MODELING THE FINAL SCORE IN ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS BY DIFFERENT WEIGHTS OF DIFFICULTY AND EXECUTION

read it free here

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Savona (far right) silver medal team Pan-Ams 2010

GC: You’ve now had ACL surgery on both knees. How does this recovery compare with your first?

My first ACL was tough for me, but it was a different kind of surgery. Back in May 2008, I had surgery on my right knee, and they used my patella tendon to replace the ACL. That recovery was difficult because I had to let the screws / fractures heal into my bones, as well as let my patella tendon heal. It was 6 months before I was able to do anything!

August 2011 — after the injury at Tokyo Cup — I had surgery on my left knee. Instead of replacing the ACL using my own tissue, I got an allograft. Healing has been much faster and far less painful. It’s been only 5 months since surgery and I’m able to do SO MUCH already.

At 5 months with my other knee, I could barely run. Having just been cleared to train, I can already vault!

I do feel some pain, but it is nothing compared to the first knee. (Which is perfect now, by the way.) I expect to be back at 100% relatively soon.

GC: Mustafina had a similar injury a few months before you. Are there any other gymnasts you’ve known who’ve had to come back?

My coach, Kelly Manjak, tells me of the many gymnasts he’s known to come back 100%. Aliya will do it — and I will too.

GC: What’s the hardest thing about recovery?

Personally, the hardest thing is holding myself back. When I feel fresh and powerful, I, as do other gymnasts, feel the need and urge to do more and push myself beyond what I am supposed to do.

Another thing I found difficult this time, was finding things to do in my spare time. Training had many limitations, and my cardio exercises often depended on how strong my knee felt that day.

Also, I only have/had the heart for gymnastics, so I really had to force myself to exercise in other ways even though I hated doing so.

Are there any upsides?

The only good thing about having had 2 knee surgeries is that after the first one, I knew what to expect: what to do, what not to do and when I should do what. I’ve played it safe knowing that the main goal is the 2012 Olympics.

What is your “recovery” timeline for 2012? … When do you want to compete?

I really want to be able to compete at Elite Canada. If I can make that my first meet, even if I compete only some apparatus, that would mark the beginning of my 2012 year. I do not expect to be perfect my first few meets, I just want to put myself out there and get back to competing. Aliya’s first meet back was inspiring. I’d love to do the same thing.

I will be my only judge and no one can tell me otherwise. Give me time and I will make sure that I prepare myself for the most important meets, those that determine the Canadian Olympic team!

(We qualified in London! Thanks Team!)

GC: Are you interested in continuing to College gymnastics?

I’m focused on Olympics first, but I do aspire to compete in the NCAA! I have my sights set on a few Universities, and will apply for a scholarship to the school that’s best for me. And best for them.

GC … Why are you online so much? ?

I am ALWAYS online because (as many may know), I am a very social person. Sometimes I do not get the chance to see my friends or talk to them because I am busy with gym and school, so I take advantage of the World Wide Web to connect with the world beyond my reach! I have gymnastics friends all over the world.

Jessica was just cleared by medical for full training.

Click PLAY or watch day 3 of full training on YouTube.

Kyle Shewfelt sees Canada in the top 8 at Olympics. With a healthy Savona, I’d bump that up to top 6. This team could have everything: experience, leadership and good balance on all 4 apparatus.

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… In 2010–11, Crosby sustained a concussion as a result of hits to the head in back-to-back games. The injury left him sidelined for ten-and-a-half months. …

Crosby, Concussions and You

… Here, at the elite Neurotrauma Impact Science Laboratory, researchers led by Blaine Hoshizaki are reconstructing a hit similar to Crosby’s first one to establish the relationship between helmet performance and how concussions occur. …

Hits to the head: Scientists explain Sidney Crosby’s concussion

There’s never been a more studied concussion injury. Crosby is a beloved God come to earth in Canada.

… A survey showed the NHL averages 51 to 89 concussion per year …

Concussion, repercussion

Sid returned on November 21, 2011 against the New York Islanders, scoring two goals and two assists in a 5–0 shutout win. Smart move his team waiting until they were sure he was healthy.

Sidney should have been taken out after the first of his two hits. But athletes want to get up and keep fighting. Coaches and medics need intervene.

The same thing happened at World Championships 2011. Yusuke Tanaka had an obvious concussion on Floor in prelims, yet his team coaches and medical staff kept him in the meet. Dr. Michel Léglise for FIG and meet medical officials made no intervention.

Has there been any follow-up on Yusuke?

I know he opted out of All Japan Championships.

related:

• Sidney Crosby’s concussion a teaching tool

• Canadian Press – A timeline of Sidney Crosby’s concussion and recovery

_____

Discovery Channel visited Syd the Kid’s doctor to see how he was treated. Unconventional therapy — spinning in a gyroscope.

Watch it here. It starts at 1min 20sec.

Unproven science, be aware.

Thanks for the link George.

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Biomechanics in Sport – KINEMATICS AND ANGULAR MOMENTUM CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TOE-ON TKACHEV ON UNEVEN BARS IN FEMALE GYMNASTICS

CONCLUSION: The Toe-on Tkachev on Uneven bars … enables gymnasts to increase key release variables, particularly vertical velocity, (and hence flight time) and angular momentum. …

read the full article (slow loading)

It appears that even skills like layout Tkachev might even be easier from sole circle than from giant.

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The new device is composed of a processor unit with LCD display and is connected to accelerometer sensors that are placed under the top desk of the springboard.

… accelerations velocities are calculated … and several parameters such as time to maximal springboard compression and maximal velocity at take-off are determined and displayed. The data is directly transferred to a PC for further analysis ….

Matlab software was used to record, filter and analyze the measured data.

Results are in good agreement with simultaneously obtained results from the force plate and laser displacement sensor measurements (similar time and vertical velocity).

With developed equipment it will be possible to determine typical springboard action parameters for individual gymnast, optimal springboard parameters for a required jump, to analyze repeatability of springboard jumps, to analyze transverse movements and to optimize training and its efficiency. The developed device has good potential for use as a fast information system as well as a device for suitable science/research projects in vaulting.

Details in this PDF – TOWARDS A SMART SPRINGBOARD (CASE STUDY)

I saw that posted in the latest issue of the Science of Gymnastics Journal.

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… From the data it can be concluded, that the double Jaeger is possible in either tucked or piked body posture …

Despite its feasibility, there may be … arguments why the Jaeger Salto on the high bar is not performed that often in international competitions, and potentially, why the double Jaeger may not be attractive for gymnasts to learn as compared to other release-regrasp skills.

… the Jaeger salto is a forward salto during which the athlete “sees” the high bar relatively late prior to regrasp, and therefore has less time to adjust the regrasp based on visual information, as compared to other flight elements, like the Tkatschev (Gervais & Tally, 1993; Raab, de Oliveira & Heinen, 2009).

… the athlete has to reverse the direction of his rotation when regrasping the bar, as compared to other flight elements, like the Kovacs Salto if he intends to perform a subsequent giant swing. …

Download the full research article – WHAT IT TAKES TO DO THE DOUBLE JAEGER ON THE HIGH BAR (PDF)

by Thomas Heinen, Damian Jeraj, Pia M. Vinken, Katharina Knieps,
Konstantinos Velentzas & Hedi Richter

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