Year: 2011

Romanian Gymnastics expert, Bea, has begun a 5-part series of articles on potential Olympic medalist Larisa Iordache.

The Story of Larisa Iordache – Part 1

The Story of Larisa Iordache – Part 2

Going For Gold posted the 2012-2016 training squad for Great Britain:

back row L-R – Lizzie Beddoe, Ruby Harrold, Jess Hogg, Billie Mackenzie, Ruby Straw, Loriah James…

front row L-R – Amy Sharp, Venus Romaeo, Laura Mitchell and Rebecca Tunney

read the analysis – Britain after Beth

Update from Inky in the comments:

That pic and squad list is from early 2010, I think. It’s the training squad for last year’s junior Euros. A couple of those girls are now retired or have been MIA all year through injury. All of them are technically eligible for 2012.

BG recently issued the new Performance, Potential and Start squad lists. IMO, the ones to watch for 2016 are Gabby Jupp, Rebecca Tunney, Angel Romaeo, Raer Theaker, Abbie Caig, Charlie Fellows, Tyesha Mattis (if still competing?)…

related – Bea on Gymnastics No Ceiling – will there be life (or World team finals) after Beth?

Gabrielle Jupp, Rebecca Tunney, Abi Caig …

Other gymnasts to watch: Loriah James, Raer Theaker and Angel Romaeo.

As a conclusion, the Brits have a fantastic junior team. I think that, even though Rebecca Tunney becomes a senior next year, they stand a good chance of winning the Junior TF at 2012 Euros.

Check the comments on this post for more. Not surprisingly, some strong kids are not mentioned. … 4yrs is a long time hence to be making predictions.

This week British Gymnastics released their WAG World Class Squad lists. See the list on Full Twist.

A few highlights:

On how often he thinks about Kohei Uchimura:

“[Laughs] All day. Every day. I think about his ability and his team’s ability constantly and it’s one of the things that pushes me. And it’s one thing I can’t figure out, how he’s so great every time. And it seems like he’s mastered everything so well at 22 years old that it’s like he literally doesn’t make mistakes. …

On Paul Hamm’s comeback:

“He’s very serious. He came and trained with me for about a week a few months ago. Before he had some big problems [torn labrum in his shoulder], and he was working really well in the gym. He’s already coming back really quick. He’s just one of those guys who knows how to train in any circumstances. Talking to him, I know he’s very, very serious about it. I’m a big fan of Paul Hamm and looking forward to having him back.”

Most importantly:

On how having a five-man Olympic team changes the way he trains:

“Honestly, it makes a very very big difference. Not only for us, but for those selecting the Olympic team. When you have less people on the team and have to compete the same amount of events, it increases the workload on everybody, and if you want to be competitive, you have to go out there and do everything. …

Jon feels that the rules change in 2012 to 5 gymnasts on the team, 4 compete each apparatus, 3 count puts an even greater demand on those who want to be Olympians.

… As if gymnasts needed even greater loads.

Gymnastics Examiner – U.S. Men’s Team Conference Call: Jon Horton, Danell Leyva and Steven Legendre

I’ve never been much of a Chellsie Memmel fan (aside from her Bars) … until now.

She really is a serious contender for the Olympic Team.

http://www.gymnastike.org/embed/ODg4NTAyNDk3?related=1

Watch more video of Workout Wednesday, Season 5 on gymnastike.org

related – Gymnastics Examiner – U.S. team calling! Q & A with Alicia Sacramone, Aly Raisman and Chellsie Memmel

Like many others, I’ve been awaiting news on how Christine Peng-Peng Lee‘s (minor) injury was improving. If healthy, I’d call her a shoe-in for the Canadian Team to World Championships. She has many different potential Bar and Beam routines with over 6.0+ start score.

Jenn Isbister:

Gymn.ca: Just a day or two before CBC was due to visit you for a profile piece for their 2011 Canadian Nationals coverage, you injured your knee. What happened, and how is the knee doing?

Lee: I was training on vault doing my new skill Yurchenko double twist and on my tenth vault my knee cap dislocated. I had landed awkwardly on the landing but also the mats were very wobbly so it was a combination of both. My knee is doing really well! I am very happy with how I am progressing we are still cautious with it but I am almost back to full training. I am doing watered down routines for trials but I am happy with where I am today.

I most definitely want to continue to compete Elite for Canada. The goal of going to the 2012 Olympics is what has kept me going during my hiatus. I am following my dream and I want to work hard and stay healthy so I can fulfill my goal to going to the 2012 Olympics in London.

Gymn.ca: What made you choose UCLA, and when will you start? What are you planning to study?

Lee: I chose UCLA because even though I had my back injury and I wasn’t training Miss Val always believed that I was going to come back and do gymnastics. She has been so supportive and I didn’t know if I was going to get any other offer as great as hers due to my back injury. Also, I love the atmosphere at UCLA and how the athletes get treated there, I love it. I will go to UCLA in 2012 because I want to focus on the Olympics that year. I haven’t quit decided what I want to study yet and I’m hoping the year off I will figure out my career choice/path.

read the entire interview on Gymn.ca

She’s simply wild on Beam, capable of near any skill. (VIDEO 2008)

Peng-Peng had the same injury as Chelsea Davis at Worlds Rotterdam.

… Something like the finish of a Tippelt in the middle.

Andy Hunter from William and Mary Gymnastics

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

(via All Things Gym)

Everyone’s favourite pick for the next great gymnast looks to be back from injury. (She and Larisa Iordache are two favourites for the Olympics.)

… Vika is likely going to be competing at the Russian Cup taking place next month in Ekaterinburg. If all goes well at the Russian Cup, she will be scheduled to compete at another competition taking place in Belgium …

read more on Full Twist

I’m guessing it will still be some time before we see her doing the AA, however.

Their biggest sale of the year.

Team iLuminate was so impressive during their performance tonight on America’s Got Talent that Piers Morgan called them the best new act in America. Fellow America’s Got Talent judge Howie Mandel added that he thought that Team iLuminate was the best act he ever saw on the America’s Got Talent stage. …

B2C

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Using the world’s first wearable, wireless lighting system, this team is originating nonstop surprises and illusions mixed with incredible dancing.

teamiluminate.com

This year Stacy Clark will be the casting scout at VISA Championships in St. Paul.

If you want to know more about job opportunities for your gymnasts, contact Stacy via Facebook or (better) via her webpage.

Stacy obviously practices what she preaches:

Stacy is running the open audition, Las Vegas, Sept. 17th, as well.