International Gymnast has famed bar innovator Li Ya blogging for them.
Li Ya is the only Chinese woman to have two skills on the uneven bars named after her in the Code of Points: the Jaeger ½ + Jaeger release-release combination, named the “Li Ya salto,” which China’s He Kexin now uses as her signature skill on bars; and the “Li Ya dismount,” (half-in, front-out piked) which will be performed in Beijing only by world uneven bars champion Ksenia Semyonova of Russia. In 2006 Li first debuted the “Li Ya salto” on the World Cup circuit, and to date Li and He remain the only two gymnasts to successfully perform that combination in competition. Li is also known for her unique, graceful style on balance beam, an event on which she won the 2006 World Cup Final title.
On the Chinese national team, Li, He and another 2008 Olympian for China, Li Shanshan, all trained in the same group, under coaches Liu Guicheng and He Hua.
Li Ya – 2003 World Championships – more photos
Her preview of the showdown between the USA and her beloved team is one of the best and most honest I’ve read:
… Personally, I’m a big fan of Nastia Liukin’s bars. Unfortunately, the top two American bar workers [Liukin and Chellsie Memmel] both faltered in prelims, but Liukin is lucky like He Kexin in that she still qualified to finals. She has a 7.7 A-score, just like He Kexin and Yang Yilin. It’s always been a hope of mine to compete head-to-head with Liukin in a bars final. That match played out many times in my head, but unfortunately it didn’t happen in reality. To me, Liukin is an original. Her quality of execution and body lines are first-class, but her routine composition is also dynamic and interesting — such a rich variety of skills and connections all smoothly stringed together. She has her own unique style and represents a whole different direction of developing difficulty on bars under the new Code of Points. …
Praise from Li Ya is praise indeed. Nastia does have the most complex, interesting routine ever.
… Women’s team final will be one fierce battle till the last second for sure. China has a clear lead in A-scores, while Team USA has more seasoned competitors and traditionally higher consistency. It’s really impossible to say who has the overall edge. …
Click through to read the entire blog post. An excellent overview.
Click PLAY or watch the Li Ya release combination on YouTube
Gymnastics Coaching.com 