see original on Facebook

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

setting-up

(via Pat Warren on Facebook)

Meet Brianna, who is a fabulous gymnast, an inspired coach, a gym ‘mom’ and profoundly deaf. In her short life she has been all of these things and much more. …

Couch Gymnast Brigid McCarthy interview:

… I can always remember loving gymnastics. As a kid I loved flipping in the air and the feeling when I learned a new drill. I also loved the sparkly leos and having my mom do my hair for meets. Of course getting ribbons and seeing my friends every day at practice was fun too! …

I competed level 10 all through middle school. I qualified to Nationals twice and some of the coaches in my area wanted me to train elite. …

One of the hardest things is that using ASL (American Sign Language), … (no) words for gymnastics terms. … (skills) are finger spelled (Like “Geinger”). So we invented some of our own signs for things we used in gymnastics all the time. On the other hand, sign is great for showing how a drill needs done since it’s so visual. …

Brianna’s Story, Part One

Wow. What a life story. What a success story:

… I was able to succeed, not as that Deaf girl who is good at gymnastics, but just that girl who is good at gymnastics. I earned it all on my own and I love that. …

When Brianna started Rec, her Mom had her pretend not to be deaf. To be treated just like every other girl.

… At thirteen I was furious with my mom for not letting me move in with another family to board or better yet, switching jobs so our family could move. Now I understand why she did what she did. We lost my dad as a victim of a drunk driving accident when me and my sister were little. My mom didn’t want to send me away and split up our family. …

Brianna’s Story, Part Two

She goes by the handle bribri514 on Chalk Bucket forum.

related – gymnastics – a sport for deaf kids

Congress is hosted with Olympic Trials this year, not VISA Championships. The American teams will be named then and there — adding excitement for attendees.

48th ANNUAL
USA GYMNASTICS NATIONAL CONGRESS and TRADE SHOW
Held in conjunction with 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Gymnastics
June 29-July 1, 2012
San Jose Convention Center-San Jose, California

Three days of education with over 150 sessions. Something for everyone — 15 full tracks of education from all 6 disciplines.

Here’s the list of Topics and Presenters, so far. (PDF)

The Friday prior to Congress is normally the independent National Business Conference. But this year it’s been renamed The Business Forum (PDF), an add-on to Congress. Highly recommended!

Check the Registration page for costs and options.

Athletes from 16 countries will compete in the 2012 Kellogg’s® Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships, March 16-18, Everett, Washington … near Seattle.

Friday, March 16
10 a.m. – Rhythmic Team & All-Around (Sub Div. 1)
1:30 p.m. – Women’s Team & All-Around (Sub Div. 1)
3 p.m. – Rhythmic Team & All-Around (Sub Div. 2)
7 p.m. – Women’s Team & All-Around (Sub Div. 2)

Saturday, March 17
1:30 p.m. – Men’s Team & All-Around (Sub Div. 1)
3 p.m. – Rhythmic Individual Event Finals
7 p.m. – Men’s Team & All-Around (Sub Div. 2)

Sunday, March 18
9 a.m. – Trampoline Junior Team Competition
11:30 a.m. – Trampoline Senior Team Competition
12 p.m. – Men’s & Women’s Junior Individual Event Finals
4 p.m. – Trampoline Individual Event Finals
6 p.m. – Men’s & Women’s Senior Individual Event Finals
7 p.m. – Synchronized Trampoline Competition

USAG

Blythe Lawrence will be there for Examiner. She’s from Seattle.

… The inclusion of six of the top eight potential Olympic teams on the women’s side and Japan, China, Russia and the U.S. going head-to-head on the men’s makes this meet a bona fide Olympic dress rehearsal. …

Lauren Hopkins will be there for The Couch Gymnast. I’ll be there, too. I’m particularly interested in this opportunity:

In conjunction with the 2012 Kellogg’s Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships, USA Gymnastics is offering two days of coaching, judging and business educational opportunities during the event at the Tulalip Resort. To attend for free, you will need to show your Pacific Rim Championships event ticket.

details

Jim Jarrett, Quin Shannon, Susan Jacobson, & Linda Metheny Mulvihill are a few of the presenters.

more information & tickets

Gymnasts competing in the Nastia Liukin Cup qualify through one of the invitational meets included in the Nastia Liukin Cup Series, which spans from mid-January through late February. …

USAG

7:30 p.m. March 2nd – tickets on sale now

homepage

Watch a GK Elite promo video from the meet last year.

It’s being held in conjunction with the “American Cup”.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

… if you can do that, you’re perfect.

She’s the most powerful tumbler of the international elites, so far as I’m concerned.

Click PLAY or watch her on Gymnastike.

Watch more video of Workout Wednesday, Season 5 on gymnastike.org

Always suspecting Ali won’t make U.S. teams due to Bars, I’ve been wrong each time, so far.

She’s tough and durable. Having gone ‘pro’, I really do hope she makes the Olympic team. I’ll be in San Jose for trials.

Buy yours instantly from Black Milk.

I saw these on Full Twist.