Year: 2010

IF the defending World Champion Kohei Uchimura does not compete all-around due to shoulder injury, who will win?

Andrew Thornton speculates on an American Gymnast post: 2010 Mens World All-Around Title Wide Open:

JPN – Koji Yamamuro (91.1), Koji Uematsu (90.15), Kazuhito Tanaka (90.7)

China – Teng Haibin (90.95), Lu Bo, Chen Yibing, Feng Zhe, Zhang Chenglong

USA – Jonathan Horton (91.3), Danell Leyva, Chris Brooks

Russia – Maxim Devyatovsky (90.6), Sergei Khorokhordin, Daivd Belyavsky

Germany – Phillip Boy (91.05)

Korea – Kim Soo Myun (89.85)

Romania – Flavius Koczi (90.1)

Who is he forgetting?

Canada – Nathan Gafuik, …

The winner will be someone who competes the all-around in the qualifying round. Not all those listed above will do so. The TEAM score is higher priority than AA for most nations.

I’ve got a good feeling about Jon Horton. … But the winner will have to hit 6 for 6 in the AA Final.

It really is WIDE OPEN. … Don’t be surprised if Uchimura ends up competing, though. He’s so talented he might just win without training.

The best Women’s Artistic meet in Canada (my opinion) has had to change the dates of their competition. Update your calendar if you are planning to attend. Edmonton, Alberta.

WildRoseGymnastics.com

Strength guru Chris Sommer from Arizona is bringing it to Europe.

His excellent strength seminars are offered Nov. 19-21st in Mallorca, a Mediterranean island paradise.

Details and costs on GymnasticBodies. While you’re there check the blog for a video profile on Jon Horton.

#gymnastics2010

World Championships team, Rotterdam.

Jayd Lukenchuk
Casey Sandy
Ken Ikeda
Nathan Gafuik
Jackson Payne
Hugh Smith

Kevin Lytwyn missing in this photo.

The new look Canadians have a great balance of youth and experience. Podium training went quite well yesterday, the highlight for me being Hugh’s stuck vault.

Check the FIG team profile – Introducing Canada’s Men’s squad

#gymnastics2010

Blythe got an excellent interview with Jon Horton and Chris Brooks after podium training:

Some prime quotes from Horton:

“In terms of gymnastics, everyone’s training well,” he said. As to some of the rougher moments of tonight’s session, “it’s exactly why we do podium,” Horton noted. “I think we did everything we needed to do to be prepared.”

… Thanks to his nutritionist, Horton’s body fat has dropped from 8.3 to 4.8 percent. His diet consists of egg whites, protein, steak, chicken and rice. “I’ll eat nothing but stuff that is clean food for my body,” he said. “I feel like a feather.”

But before every meet, he eats a steak. …

See the full interview and much more on Gymnastics Examiner.

read the official USAG press release with interviews

#gymnastics2010

If you just can’t wait for the competition itself to begin, there are plenty of videos of podium training already online.

Click PLAY or watch Huang Qiushuang on Beam on YouTube.

More video clips are linked from Aunt Joyce, about.com gymnastics, gymnworlds2010‘s YouTube channel and, as always, Gymnastike.

Those are mostly WAG. But there are far more MAG highlights from gymnasts all over the world. Guys you’ve never heard of do Tsuk double pikes as if they are Tsuks.

Click PLAY or watch one on Gymnastike.

http://videoplayer.flocasts.org/player.swf

Men’s vault is insane. They need better landing mats.

#gymnastics2010

In Rotterdam, for the World Championships, the international TV feed is going to come from a flying camera. Love it.

From the Facebook album: Wall Photos by International Gymnast Magazine

Looks cool – AliciasScramone.com

There’s a blog, as well.

(via Full Twist)

This story just gets more complicated.

A few hours ago Yuri issued his first statement:

… “Since my discharge I have not used any drugs or cocaine,” van Gelder said in a statement. “The two-year recovery period has been harder than I estimated at times, and the past few weeks were a low point.”

The rings specialist said he withdrew from the world championships in order to prevent a relapse, commenting that the pressure of performing at such a high caliber event in his home country was too much. …

Universal Sports

He’s saying the Federation assumed that he had had a relapse. And announced it to the world. A “scandal” he calls it.

… I don’t know what to think.

In happier days, …

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.js

#gymnastics2010

The Americans rocked Horizontal Bar, first apparatus. You could feel the momentum building.

I’d rank them a solid 3rd as a team with potential to defeat Japan on a good day.

Then Jon Horton missed a release. … He could be World Champion 2010 with a consistent meet.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.js

On Floor, second appartus, the full routines were rough. Many falls, especially on double fronts. But Jon kept doing his backward layout 1 ½ to double front until he landed one. He’s a gamer, I’ll give him that.

Jordan Jovtchev of Bulgaria warmed up Rings. And looked GREAT. And distinguished with his grey hair. How old is he now?
🙂

I hope I’m this strong when I grow up.

Click PLAY or watch Jordan’s strength sequence on Gymnastike.

http://videoplayer.flocasts.org/player.swf

The USA is not a team built for Pommel Horse. But podium training went quite well. Congrats. Jon Horton had no problem getting through.

The USA is not a team built for Rings. But it won’t keep them off the podium. Jon took it easy. He’ll be fine there. … (Toe point, please, Chris Brooks.) … Or convince Jovtchev to apply for U.S. citizenship. I’m estimating he’s got another 5 Olympics in him.

The USA is a team built for Vault. Big, strong guys. Horton only landed 2 of 4 double fronts, but it will be there when he needs it.

… Australia is having problems on Pipe. Jetlag? Commonwealthlag?

On Parallel Bars the Americans have some good tricks. Horton HIT. … Brooks was a disaster.

The American Men? … In a word, fugly. … But this is an era where high start scores and consistency matter most. There are dozens of prettier gymnasts from all over the world. Gymnasts with better form and technique.

But I still see team USA on the podium. And Jon Horton the man to beat in the all-around if Uchimura does not compete all 6 apparatus.

Good night.

UPDATE:

Blythe got an excellent interview with Jon and Chris.