Month: October 2008

The Couch Gymnast posted yet another original, well-researched article listing many up-and-coming Jr. Gymnasts around the world. Who will come into prominence as Seniors over the next Olympic cycle?

They even poke fun at the Chinese program with this photo:

Included are:

USA: Bross and Shapiro and Wieber

Russia: Tatiana Nabieva, Aliya Mustafina

France: Youna Dufournet

England: Nicole Hibbert, Danusia Francis

Canada: Peng Peng Lee, Dominique Pegg, Charlotte Mackie

Romania: Amelia Racea, Larisa Lordache and Diana Chelaru

Australia: Britt Greeley

Italy: Paola Galante

Japan: Shizuka Tozawa, Erica Lynn Danko

Netherlands: Nastasja Blind, Celine De Gerner

Brazil: Khiunai Dias, Ethione Franco

Belgium: Jolien Eggermont

Mexico: Daniele Espinosa

Ukraine: Natalia Kononenko

Click through to the Couch Gymnast for photos and details: Something to look forward to…

Leave a comment if you want to add to the list.

Here’s the superbly elegant Samantha Shapiro. Click PLAY or watch her beam from Gymnix 2008 Finals on YouTube.

A more important question: Which of these talents will not be able to handle the intense demands of the code of points as an all-arounder?

Many of those listed above show “loose” form on very difficult routines. That lack of control makes me worry about injury.

Will rule changes to be finalized in October make the sport “easier”?

I predict the biggest “stars” of the London Olympics will be specialists.

related: Up-and-coming juniors Part I: Russia and Romania – The C Score

MissEducated and Tuesday both recommended as “highest 1/1 twist on beam” that shown by Chinese double Olympian Kui Yuanyuan.

Click PLAY or watch her Atlanta Beam routine on YouTube.

I agree.

That’s the most awesome that has ever been done.

Compare Kui Yuanyuan with the rest on this montage of beam 1/1 twists. (I’m shocked so many different gymnasts have done it.)

Click PLAY or watch the montage on YouTube.

When this skill was first invented — many years ago — we had a gymnast named Christine Wallat who did 10 every workout.

I stopped to watch every one. It’s an unbelievable skill to see live.

On May 12, 2006, Donnellan walked onto a tumbling mat at Tucson’s Gymnastics World and did a single front flip, a move he’d done daily for seven years.

But that day, the 16-year-old Salpointe Catholic High School sophomore over-rotated and, in less time than it takes to give your best friend a high-five, fractured two vertebrae and damaged his spinal cord. …

Today Drew is age-18, a freshman at the University of Arizona.

The Tuscon Citizen posted a major article on Drew’s life after the accident:

Life at college has been an adjustment, but mostly in a good way, he said. He learned how to operate the elevator controls, something he couldn’t do before, and he loves being away from regimented high school schedules.

He doesn’t really have a social life yet, but is considering joining a Methodist campus ministry at UA and possibly the UA Adaptive Athletics quad-rugby team.

“I’ve pushed a quad chair,” he said. “I’m not very fast, but I can push it. I think it might be fun.”

read the entire article – Paralyzed gymnast’s promise: No self-pity

Hang in there Drew. We are cheering for you.