Month: October 2008

A couple of samples from the excellent American Gymnast Gymnastics on Demand series.

Click PLAY or watch Learning a Gienger – Spotting Technique on Gymnast.com.
http://gymnast.com/flashplayer/FlashPlayer.swf?v=http://www.gymnast.com/media/gymnast//upload/Videos/TTs/Gienger/230-03-spot.flv&eb=1&ap=1&av=sportnet.gy.videos&pv=video&szv=320×240&apv=doubleclick

This is a difficult spot. Easier is to slide big mats over the bar as the gymnast releases. (Be careful not to push too soon.)

Click PLAY or watch Learning a Gienger – Missed vs. Caught Giengers on Gymnast.com.
http://gymnast.com/flashplayer/FlashPlayer.swf?v=http://www.gymnast.com/media/gymnast//upload/Videos/TTs/Gienger/230-04-miss-catch.flv&eb=1&ap=1&av=sportnet.gy.videos&pv=video&szv=320×240&apv=doubleclick

Hey, Gymnast videos have short ads now in advance of the “good stuff”.

I’m OK with that. Sites need some sort of revenue steam … or they will not survive.

To me, these two athletes were the most impressive at the Beijing Olympics:

Michael Phelps

Usain Bolt

His coach said Usain could have run the 100m in 9.52 seconds instead of 9.69 seconds if he had only run through the finish line as he did in the 200m.

One gymnast that comes to mind as comparing (slightly) with Michael and Usain is two-time World Champion Dmitry Bilozerchev.

When he won World’s in 1983 at age-17, there had never been a prodigy like him. It seemed impossible at the time.

Whatever happened to …

Recently I posted about the DVD available from Gymnastics Games guru Dave Adlard.

This brand new video is specific for birthday party games:

Learn how to run birthday parties at your gym. It’s a great way to get your gyms name out there and rake in some new students! Get some exciting ideas for games you can play. Come join the fun and get the party started with non-elimination games, fitness games, cooperative games, tag games, parachute games, relay and free play games.

Click on the RECREATION link on the GymSmarts home page to see the details of this and other resources.

Australian athletes based in WA (Western Australia) – Dasha Joura, Lauren Mitchell (gymnasts), Todd Skipworth (rower), Kobi McGurk (hockey). Rear: Reece Baker (kayak), Paul Burgess (pole vault), Kim Mickel (javelin), Steve Hooker (pole vault).

original – Picture: THEO FAKOS

Makes you realize just how small gymnasts are.

Starting on Gymblog. Continuing on the Australian Gymnastics Blog is a discussion of the best Australian gymnasts of all time.

What do you think?

1. Longevity – Lisa Skinner

2. Most Decorated – Allana Slater

3. Highest Achiever – Philippe Rizzo

4. Innovator – Tie. Trudy McIntosh and Dasha Joura

news.com.au

Simply the Best

Click through to add your comments.

related: 10 things that should have happened during the Olympics… and didn’t – Gymblog

For an Artistic sport, where competitors look great, I’m always surprised at how slovenly some coaches look on the Floor.

Here are a few of the photos of coaches I took at major competitions in the States last year:

Are bandanas and ball caps acceptable dress for a coach at a competition? (I really want to know this answer.)

What about shorts? I recall several times one coach being asked to leave the competition Floor at National Championships because shorts were not allowed.

Most contentious of all, I think, are jeans. Last season many young female coaches wore jeans to coach. Appropriate?

At Elite Canada last year there were many complaints about appearance and behavior of Men’s coaches, as well.

Every team has dress requirements of varying specificity. Some competitions specify coaching attire.

My own bias is that coaches should wear “athletic” clothing. Apropos of “sport”.

What do you think? … Leave a comment.

P.S.

I still find it amusing to see NCAA coaches in evening wear. And heels. Or men in suit and tie.

Last year NCAA Championships were hosted by Georgia. They opened their fantastic facility to the general public. I took 57 photos (flickr).

The best piece of apparatus at Georgia is their Forster Sliding Platform for Bars.

Two years ago Utah hosted the NCAA Championships. But their facility was locked down for the duration of the meet. Though I tried several times, I could not get a visit.

Happily Utah posts videos on YouTube (54 so far).

In this one Kristina Baskett and Jamie Deetscreek give a tour of gymnastics and support facilities.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Fantastic. But I would say Georgia’s gym is even better. It’s newer.

Charming Kristina could easily be a TV commentator after she retires. I can hardly wait to see her compete again this season.

This was news to me.

GymnastTV talks with 2008 Olympic Silver and Bronze Medalist Jonathan Horton and Bronze Medalist Sasha Artemev at the 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars.

Click through to Gymnast TV for the video interview.

The Women’s Sports Foundation has announced Nastia as their Individual Sportswoman of the Year. …

“It is an honor to be recognized by the Women’s Sports Foundation. Their mission promotes healthy living and progression in athletics for women. This award stands for so many things I believe in.” …

NastiaLiukin.com

Congratulations!

Mary Lou Retton was the last gymnast to win this prize.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnast.
http://gymnast.com/flashplayer/FlashPlayer.swf?v=http://www.gymnast.com/media/gymnast//upload/Videos/Tour/BackStage5.flv&eb=1&ap=1&av=sportnet.gy.videos&pv=video&szv=320×240&apv=doubleclick