I watched Great Britain’s podium training with Gummi Brynjólfsson, men’s judge and women’s coach from Iceland. He’s a big fan of their men’s program, as am I.
Yet Gummi recalled being at their national training centre only 8yrs ago when the British men’s program was at low ebb.
How times have changed since London won the Olympics 2012.
In 2011 there’s a very realistic chance that GBR could finish as high as 3rd as a team, ahead of USA, GER and KOR.
How would that happen?
First, they’d need to hit Pommels. Get a lead of as much as 2pts on their strongest apparatus.
Count how many Russians they compete on pig, I dare you.
Second, they have to hope that the Men’s judges actually judge. GBR has execution in the league with JPN and CHN. … Based on Rotterdam, the men’s judges don’t seem to bother with execution, “boxing” all E scores relatively close together:
bad routine = 7.9
average = 8.4
good routine = 8.9
perfect routine = 9.1
If the MAG judges do that, the “cleaner teams” (CHN, JPN, GBR) suffer relative to the uglier teams.
Still … predicting men’s gymnastics results is a dangerous game. Anything can happen in Team prelims. And by “anything”, I mean disaster can strike on 6 different apparatus. Every gymnast might fall on Vault, for example.
It’s going to be a great battle GBR v GER v USA and perhaps even KOR.
Blythe Lawrence lives part of the year in France. She’d add that team to the mix:
… I wrote awhile ago that France, which pulled a surprising fifth place finish at the 2010 Worlds despite losing Benoit Caranobe early in the competition, could have a shot at a medal here. We’ll see.
They have two of the best vaulters in the world in Samir Ait Said (who’s also good on rings) and defending World champion Thomas Bouhail. They have good pommel horse from all-arounder Cyril Tommasone. They have pbars and high bar from Yann Cucherat. They are capable. What they may not have is a second and third gymnast on every event. …
FRA has just begun podium training. Examiner LIVE blog.
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Recently I wrote that Shogo Nonomura just might be the next Uchimura.
Now I’m thinking 18yr-old Sam Oldham just might be a future world champion. Amazing Pommels for a young guy. He trains with Smith and Keatings.
Click PLAY or watch Sam on YouTube.
The British men will qualify in the top 8 teams, no problem. It’s essential that their girls do, as well, so far as the host nation is concerned. Neither team wants to do the “test event” in January.
related – British Gymnastics – Artistic Worlds- GBR boys ready to go!
Gymnastics Coaching.com 