Year: 2011

… The gymnasts going to Japan are, for the record, Jordyn Wieber, McKayla Maroney, Alexandra Raisman, Alicia Sacramone, Anna Li, Gabrielle Douglas and Sabrina Vega.

Douglas and Vega, both true all-arounders, are likely to battle it out in podium training for the sixth spot. One will be the U.S. tablesetter, the other backup in case of an injury. …

Blythe Lawrence – Americans to Tokyo: Digesting the new U.S. Worlds team

Fact is, many different combinations of gymnasts could have been selected for the World Championships. The USA has more depth than any other nation.

In the end, potential for a big score on Bars during the 3-up, 3-count Team final added Anna Li to the list, showing it’s still possible to be a 2-apparatus specialist on a top team in 2011. Like Nabieva.

Though she hasn’t competed well, so far, as an Elite, I have a lot of faith in Anna. Good call. If she’s needed, she’ll hit.

related:

• Alexa Ainsworth – Youth rules on 2011 U.S. women’s world gymnastics team

Having athletes review video of their training is standard practice in 2011. Some coaches use the technology better than others.

What’s the next step?

This summer at camp George Novak was showing kids super slow motion. It’s different. It’s better. I’m thinking it will be much more effective.

Click PLAY or watch an example on YouTube. (Level 5 WAG)

George uses one of the new Canon ELPH series, not expensive.

Leave a comment if you’ve tried it with your athletes.

26yr-old Lisa got back into safety bar straps after 12yrs away from the gym.

That’s normal. Broken blood vessels. No serious harm done.

She had some explaining to do next day at work.

After a few days training her wrists will get “used to it” and show less colour. Padding would help, too.

(via I’m an Okie)

Don’t count them out. This is one serious and experienced squad.

Puerto Rico National Gymnastics Team training for the World Championships in Tokyo 2011 (Olympic Qualifiers).

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

(via @theallaround)

A new MTV reality TV show called ‘Gymnasts: Parallel Lives features REAL gymnasts training for the REAL Olympics.

Far more compelling than MIOBI.

Giuly informs us that clips already being subtitled in English. Here’s one giving a bit of insight into the life of Carlotta Ferlito, 3rd AA at the Youth Olympic Games.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Watch more subtitled video clips.

related – Couch Gymnast – CARLOTTA FERLITO- ITALY’S TRIUMPH! by
Giulia Holzer

Via GYMNAST CROSSING out of Santa Monica, California.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

That’s pretty much my favourite way to start the ‘whip layout’ forward. Additional steps could include 1-arm flyspring with each arm. And finger tip flyspring.

Kids love this.

Spin the wheel to decide the NEXT CONDITIONING exercise.

Twisters, Port Townsend, Washington. Coach Becca Cenovia.

Making conditioning more fun.

Despite fear mongering and pragmatic cautioning, people are sharing online like there’s no tomorrow.

I’m a big fan of journalism professor / internet pundit Jeff Jarvis, author of What Would Google Do?

His newest publication is Public Parts, the book. It touts the societal benefits of sharing:

… A visionary and optimistic thinker examines the tension between privacy and publicness that is transforming how we form communities, create identities, do business, and live our lives.

Thanks to the internet, we now live—more and more—in public. More than 750 million people (and half of all Americans) use Facebook, where we share a billion times a day. The collective voice of Twitter echoes instantly 100 million times daily, from Tahrir Square to the Mall of America, on subjects that range from democratic reform to unfolding natural disasters to celebrity gossip. New tools let us share our photos, videos, purchases, knowledge, friendships, locations, and lives. …

Click PLAY or watch an introduction on YouTube.

All organizations — including Gymnastics Canada — are struggling with how best to add social networking communication.

They need consult Jeff Jarvis.

Though I had two Facebook friends threaten to cancel their accounts last week, I still feel the benefits of internet sharing far outweigh risks.

(via Buzz Machine)

Have you heard of this?

MTV News: ‘Gymnasts: Parallel Lives‘, is a new series starting October 17th, the story of seven young Italian athletes

… emotional sporting adolescents (aged 14 to 20 years) who live, study and train in the Federal Center of Artistic Gymnastics in Milan, in view of the World Championships in Tokyo in October 2011 and the Olympics London in 2012.

Girls grappling with the relentless pace of athletic training, the pressure of international competition, discipline and daily sacrifices. Not only that, there are also the first flirting and love troubles, school concerns, changes in growth and body changes, shocks due to isolation from their families, friendships and rivalries with teammates. …

MTV (in Italian)

It sounds like Make It or Break It … with REAL gymnasts.

(via Double Front on Facebook)

In the pit.

Former World Floor Champion, Beth Tweddle, age-26, is still improving.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

(via Going for Gold)