Trudy McIntosh arrives in Orlando, Florida today to join Cirque at La Nouba.
That reminded me of Yvonne Tousek, one of the best gymnasts of her generation, double Olympian and 3 time NCAA Team champion with UCLA.
Last time I saw Yvonne she had just begun training with Cirque.
Time for an update.
Here’s a good (but older) article from the Denver Post, backstage at the Cirque du Soleil show, Corteo:
Keeping “Corteo’s” athletes and acrobats strong and healthy is an act in itself. By Suzanne S. Brown
…
Yvonne Tousek, who performs in five acts in the show, is an example of what it takes to be a professional athlete at this level. A Canadian who represented her country as a member of the Olympics team in 1996 and 2000, Tousek studied psychology at UCLA and led its gymnastics team to three NCAA championships. That many years of competition taught her to watch her diet and training schedule.
I try to eat mostly lean proteins and avoid fried foods,” she said. “I tend to eat five or six small meals per day. My biggest meal is after the show, which isn’t the best timing, but that’s how the schedule is. I’ll eat chicken or turkey, with no sauce or glaze, and some light carbs, such as a little rice. I’m not real big on vegetables, but I’m trying to eat them more.”
During the day, she snacks on yogurt, granola bars and fresh fruit. …
Tousek is one of six performers who bounce on trampolines styled as beds, engaged in a pillow fight that has them doing jumps and flips requiring impeccable timing and accuracy to prevent midair collisions. “It takes a high amount of focus,” she said. Then, toward the end of the production, she’s one of only a few women who do giant swings on the high bar. In between, she takes comedic turns as a human golf ball and one-half of a horse, so the show involves lots of running and costume changes, as well as a demanding physical performance.
Bouncing Beds
Staying strong:
At 5 feet 3 inches tall, Tousek, 27, is a petite powerhouse who supplements rehearsals with the troupe by working out a couple of times a week at the fitness center where she’s living. She builds cardiovascular strength with workouts on the elliptical machine or treadmill. She also takes Pilates and yoga classes with the other artists.
The schedule sounds exhausting, but Tousek says that being able to perform as part of the cast of “Corteo” is liberating. She’s allowed artistic expression that isn’t possible in competitive gymnastics, where every movement must be done with precision. “Compared to college, where you had to do things exactly, this is much more personal. You’re able to engage the audience,” she said.
The degree of concentration needed to perform in sync with others was something she had to learn, however. “I still get nervous,” she admitted.
One of Tousek’s partners in both the trampoline and high-bar scenes is Damian Istria, a 24-year-old Australian gymnast who also competed in the 2000 Olympic Games.
Istria, who has been with Cirque one year, said he aspired to be in the company because it requires athleticism and acting, and that the standards are high. “It’s one of the things I’ve always wanted to do,” he says. “The atmosphere is amazing.”
The most demanding schedule comes on the weekends, when he performs twice a day. He does an hour of strength training and conditioning before the first show. Between shows, he eats dinner, stretches and prepares for the evening performance.
Mental preparation is important too. “You stay on edge when you work with five guys that are swinging around you,” Istria says.
The Denver Post – Workouts with Cirque
Tournik – horizontal bar act
images from forodvdmania
Corteo – video preview
Gymnastics Coaching.com 