Year: 2011

Catalina Ponor is one of the best and most fascinating gymnasts of all time.

She’s outspoken. Independent. Fierce.

Ponor won 3 gold medals in Athens. Then, shortly after, lack of discipline got her banned from the National Training Centre.

If Romania is to get back on the Team podium in London, Catalina, now age-24, will be on that team.

Fangymnastics has an English language translation of a recent interview with Adevarul:

What made you come back after having retired?

I honestly missed this a lot. I missed the gym, training, especially competing. I really wanted to come back.

What was the defining moment in this decision?

I looked back and I told myself that if other gymnasts from other countries can keep doing gymnastics at that age, why not me? And I returned very focused, very decided. God helped me prove you can come back after 4 years.

How about your USA experience?

It was nice, I learned so much from the people there, I really enjoyed it. I liked the life there, how the girls and the people treated me. Unfortunately, I can say people outside Romania treat me with more respect than those here. Not all of us here know how to respect and value the person, in other countries they know how to appreciate this and keep their best people close.

Are you considering moving to the USA after retiring?

Yes, why not? …

read more – Catalina Ponor: “Worlds were 70% disappointment and 30% joy”

related – Couch Gymnast – Looking Back: Catalina Ponor

Brigid linked to a good Gymnastics Zone article – Top 12 FX and Beam Dance Tips:

1. Have fun!

Many gymnasts perform as if they do not understand that the judges and audience can read their emotions just by looking at them. Nearly 70% of communication is by non-verbal means, like body posture, inner attitude and facial expression. Put yourself in a good mood and everyone will like you and your routines better.

2. Perform!

Regardless of the importance of the competition and the subsequent pressure you might feel, your real job is to perform to the best of your ability, at the particular time and place of the meet. This is your opportunity to show everyone what you have been doing in the gym for months and years. People love gymnasts who go all out to put on a show for them, regardless of their actual skill level, mistakes and competitive success. Put on a real show for them and they will love you.

3. Smile …

read more

No “Big Fake Smiles” allowed. 🙂

related – Gymnastics Zone – Secrets to Gymnastics Choreography e-Book $37

Leave a comment if you’ve used it.

Skateboarding and BMX freestyle have a shot at becoming Olympic sports at the 2016 Summer Games …

Cycling’s world governing body, the Switzerland-based Union Cycliste Internationale, and others are lobbying for the sports to be added to the 2016 Games in Rio …

UCI attempted to include skateboarding in London’s 2012 Olympics, but it fell through …

… The IOC has set a limit of 28 sports for the 2016 Games, meaning several sports will compete over the last two available slots. For example, baseball and softball are making bids for a return, as both were dropped from the 2012 program because not enough top players were able to compete. Other events looking for a spot in Rio include golf, rugby, squash and karate.

ESPN (April 2011)

Click PLAY or watch PLG on YouTube.

Pierre-Luc Gagnon.

It’s all over in Birmingham.

21st World Age Group Competition in Trampoline Gymnastics and Tumbling, November 24 – 27, 2011

… The event included all four disciplines (Individual, Synchronised Trampoline, Double Mini Trampoline and Tumbling) for boys and girls divided into four age groups: 11-12 / 13-14 / 15-16 and 17-18 years old. …

… 683 gymnasts competing in Trampoline, 171- in Tumbling and 233- in DMT; some competitors took part in more than one discipline. …

Trampoline & Tumbling is growing worldwide. And I heard only good news from people who were there.

For a summary of highlights and links to results, check the FIG wrap-up post – Successful WAGC conclude in Birmingham

The only “issue” is whether or not FIG should have 11yr-olds at something considered by many a “World Championships”.

FIG – 21st Trampoline World Age Group Competition – photos on Facebook

Putting aside whether or not kids this young need an event this big, I’m worried the families will be bankrupt from paying travel costs before they get to be Seniors.

Here’s more information on the intriguing new book by Steven Low, of the gymnastics performance troupe, Gymkana.

This article by Steven will give you a good idea of what’s included:

Eat Move Improve – The Fundamentals of Bodyweight Strength Training

Table of Contents

Don’t be overwhelmed. It’s actually oriented for beginner and intermediate athletes of all kinds. The emphasis is on upper body strength training using your own body weight. CrossFit and Gymnastics.

It’s $49.95 on Amazon. Unfortunately there’s no Kindle edition, as yet.

Another of those excellent ESPN sport science features.

Click PLAY or watch it on ShaunWhite.com.

http://espn.go.com/videohub/player/embed.swf

Canucks are getting some good “press”:

Examiner – Canadians top the standings in Top Gym event finals

From prelims:

Russia’s Evgenia Shelgunova won the all-around at the 15th annual Top Gym meet, a competition for youngsters not eligible for the upcoming Olympic Games being held this weekend in Charleroi, Belgium.

Shelgunova, who also competed at the 2011 Trofeo di Jeoslo, had the highest scores on balance beam (14.15) and floor (14.05) to top Italy’s Alessia Leolini and Canadian sensation Shallon Olsen by more than two points in the all-around.

Olsen, who vaults a very good double-twisting Yurchenko, had the highest score of the entire meet with her 15.05 on vault. Russia’s Yulia Chemareva, fourth all-around, was best on uneven bars (14.2).

Examiner – Russia, Italy, Canada best at Top Gym in Belgium

related – Couch Gymnast – Top Gym Results and Videos

Click PLAY or watch Shallon’s DTY on YouTube.

Shallon’s by far the best young vaulter I’ve ever seen.

Click PLAY or watch Briannah Tseng’s DTY on YouTube.

Briannah and Shallon are from Omega, Vancouver, coached by Vladimir and Svetlana Lashin. I’m hearing rumours the coaches were sued for Negligence Causing Bodily Injury from a 2006 incident. That a settlement has finally been reached, the girl awarded substantial compensation.

Leave a comment if you can confirm that.

Canada needs 3-4 DTYs for the Olympic Test Meet in January, I’m thinking.

And every NCAA team needs at least one Canadian:

Mikaela Gerber follows her sister to UCLA. She’ll be teammates still with Peng Peng.

Silvia Colussi-Pelaez, currently competing for Spain, has committed to Florida for 2013-2014.

This is Sidney Crosby, the best player in Ice Hockey today.

… In 2010–11, Crosby sustained a concussion as a result of hits to the head in back-to-back games. The injury left him sidelined for ten-and-a-half months. …

Crosby, Concussions and You

… Here, at the elite Neurotrauma Impact Science Laboratory, researchers led by Blaine Hoshizaki are reconstructing a hit similar to Crosby’s first one to establish the relationship between helmet performance and how concussions occur. …

Hits to the head: Scientists explain Sidney Crosby’s concussion

There’s never been a more studied concussion injury. Crosby is a beloved God come to earth in Canada.

… A survey showed the NHL averages 51 to 89 concussion per year …

Concussion, repercussion

Sid returned on November 21, 2011 against the New York Islanders, scoring two goals and two assists in a 5–0 shutout win. Smart move his team waiting until they were sure he was healthy.

Sidney should have been taken out after the first of his two hits. But athletes want to get up and keep fighting. Coaches and medics need intervene.

The same thing happened at World Championships 2011. Yusuke Tanaka had an obvious concussion on Floor in prelims, yet his team coaches and medical staff kept him in the meet. Dr. Michel Léglise for FIG and meet medical officials made no intervention.

Has there been any follow-up on Yusuke?

I know he opted out of All Japan Championships.

related:

• Sidney Crosby’s concussion a teaching tool

• Canadian Press – A timeline of Sidney Crosby’s concussion and recovery

_____

Discovery Channel visited Syd the Kid’s doctor to see how he was treated. Unconventional therapy — spinning in a gyroscope.

Watch it here. It starts at 1min 20sec.

Unproven science, be aware.

Thanks for the link George.

I often think the huge American competitive program should produce rare talents from unexpected places. Yet surprisingly few clubs in 2011 want to try, and are able to develop, athletes for international competition.

For Junior and Senior Women’s National Team:

All 32 National Team Members Come from Only 19 Gyms

Half (50%) of the National Team Members Come from Only 5 Gyms

… WOGA Gymnastics, Cincinnati, Gymnastics Great American Gymnastics Express (GAGE), Legacy Elite Gymnastics and Texas Dreams …

About a quarter come from the Dallas/Ft.Worth area.

There are just a handful of coaches producing most of the National Team. Most have immigrated to the States.

Those stats come from a post on Gymnastics Zone – US National Team Elite Gym Stats

The list is already out of date. Nastia (WOGA) and Amanda Jetter (Cincinnati) were re-named to National team recently, but it only makes the concentration of top talent even more obvious.

Triple Twist has an interesting post – USA’s Olympic Team- Why They’ll Make It And Why They Won’t

Of the candidates currently on National Team, a half dozen are deemed long shots because they “lack international experience“.

The American Women’s Gymnastics program rarely competes internationally. As a result, girls like Kyla Ross and Kennedy Baker are unlikely to be selected for London.

… On the other hand, Marta took young, inconsistent and inexperienced Gabby to Tokyo — and she ended up 5th (57.6570) all-around. 🙂

The Olympics are a much bigger deal than Worlds. Marta will be far less likely to name a no name.

Bottom line = It’s time American gymnasts started competing more internationally, especially National Team members.

Not only that — they need more experience on actual podium. China has one set up full time.