Year: 2011

Gerard Atzeni pointed out that the 2011 Tokyo World Championships Men’s Floor Final was pretty good.

A new Examiner post is related – Best of 2011: The men’s floor exercises.

One routine linked from that post:

David Belyavskiy, RUS. The Russian men have been lifted by youngsters like Belyavskiy and his powerful routine, which includes a stunning double full in back pike out and an easy looking triple full to end. In addition, there’s a hint of style and choreography in the sequence after his tucked Thomas. …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

A hint of style and choreography does elevate you above the likes of Zou Kai and Stephen Legendre. I like David’s routine.

However … the vast majority of FIG Men’s Floor routines in 2011 are rushed, ugly and repetitive. The rules are responsible. They must be improved in the next Quadrennial.

As you can see, I’m not convinced that the current rules are the best they could be, even though a handful of the best gymnasts in the world are able to show quality routines. They are succeeding despite the rules.

related – IG – Belyavsky Aims for All-Around Maximum in 2012

Brandi Smith-Young of Perfect 10.0 Physical Therapy works on the Big Guy.

(via Tony on Facebook)

A festive look at how the London 2012 team are gearing up for the holiday season.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Did you get one? 🙂

In 2011 we started to see hundreds of acrobatic videos from the ‘point of view‘ of the athlete.

GoPro cameras are used more than any other.

Click PLAY or watch a GoPro promo on YouTube. Helicopter skydivers, skiers, wing-suiters, surfers, scuba divers and more.

This video is © GoPro Inc. and shot entirely on the HD HERO2 camera …

(via Gear Junkie – Best Adventure Montage of 2011: GoPro Promo)

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Jerome Simpson, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver, does a front flip into the end zone to score a touchdown, Dec. 24, 2011.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (slow motion at 50sec)

Thank George Thomas for the link. 🙂

Bekah’s Christmas poem:

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the gym,
All the gymnasts were gone even little Ashton Kim.
As I sat by the beam and composed a new post,
I heard a loud sound I thought must be a ghost. …

There’s a bit of a mystery to solve. A surprise ending.

… As the man walked away, I exclaimed “Holy Moly!
That man isn’t Santa, he’s …

Find out on Bekah’s “Get a Grip” Gymblog

I’m surprised how many coaches defended the current Code and FIG rules on Floor in the comments of this provocatively titled post – FIG ruined Men’s Floor.

I disagree.

In 2011 the FIG Floor Exercise rules are not working. (Report Card). Routines are rushed, ugly and repetitive.

… But there is one point on which we agree. Today there are too many combination passes, not enough BIG TRICKS.

Future rule changes should encourage at least one “BIG TRICK”. Winning routines should include a triple back, triple twisting double back or something equally uniquely impressive. The best BIG TRICK tumblers should win.

Which of these BIG tricks do you like best?

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

RedNasvw has more MAG Code edits like this on his Code of Points YouTube playlist.

related – MostepanovaFan has many WAG Code related videos.

From Coaching Association of Canada on Facebook.

If you don’t follow American professional football (I don’t) the hubbub over this story will seem surprising.

There’s a viral craze online making fun of a football player named Tim Tebow.

“Tebowing” is a neologism derived from Tebow’s propensity for kneeling and praying. …

… they mimic a pose by Tebow that was caught on camera following the Broncos’ improbable overtime victory over the Dolphins on October 23, 2011 …

Funny? Maybe.

But I don’t like seeing people — even millionaire celebrities — mocked for their religion.

Criticize him for being a bad football player, if you like. That’s OK with me. But religious intolerance is going too far.

I’m going to ignore tebowers from here on in. But if you want to know more, read the WSJ.

(via Gymnast Crossing)