Month: January 2012

Brigid McCarthy:

… My standout memories from that 2009 meet were her floor routine, a lilting waltz performed like no other gymnast there- even the most impeccably drilled-at-the-ballet bar Russian or Chinese girls.

Another memory is of seeing her standing in the food area being hounded for autographs by legions of new young fans. The then-head coach Nicolae Forminte was standing patiently for a few minutes while she signed programs. Eventually he placed a tender, fatherly arm around her and led her away, telling the disappointed fans that she needed her sleep. This man already knew what precious cargo he had in this gymnast. …

read more on Couch Gymnast – Giving Thanks for Ana Porgras

The first official announcement I saw from the Romanian Gymnastics Federation was terse:

Ana Porgras, world champion on beam, decided to retire at the age of 18 years, 6 months before the Olympic Games in London.

One of my favourite teams again off to a good start.

Associate Head Women’s Gymnastics Coach (Michael Chaplin) talks about last week’s exciting win over Oklahoma and the upcoming meet at Arizona.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

related – Couch Gymnast – Ten Reasons Why you should follow Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics

The compulsory routine for beginner girls in the Emerald Isle. Kids compete only Floor and Vault (flat back) at this level.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Host – Renmore Gymnastics, Galway

Update from Full Twist:

We have Level 1A, B and C. 1A is floor only, 1B and C are floor and vault. The competition structure introduced some changes for 2012 – 2013 to allow for more progression in the sport. …

Would love to see someone draw up comparisons between the different countries …

I hadn’t noticed at the time, but Daniel Keatings competed as 1st competitor on each apparatus at London Test Meet.

Did you have to do anything before the London Prepares event to try and overcome your nerves and prepare for the event?

After the disappointment at the World Championships in Tokyo we got some additional help from a psychologist who taught us some techniques to overcome nerves.

What did you think of your performance at the London Prepares event?

I was really pleased with my performance as I went clean on all apparatus, but more so because I was asked to do a specific job for the Team by performing first on every apparatus, to help settle the Team and hopefully get off to a good start. This is a lot more difficult than it sounds and is very uncommon in gymnastics, but it really shows how we have grown as a team since Tokyo as all of our focus was on the Team and the right result for the Team.

Did you and the rest of Team GB celebrate afterwards?

After the competition we were all physically and mentally drained, so we all celebrated by having an early night. I know it’s not rock star like, but we have an even bigger job to do now…

That’s from an interview by his sponsor, Opus Energy.

Daniel took more heat than anyone else in Tokyo after the disastrous 9th place team finish. So it was great to see him and Eddie take the podium at the Press Conference following their superb (near perfect) team performance in London. Both are fantastic media spokesmen, getting PLENTY of practice in the run-up to Olympics.

Eddie deflected my question deftly regarding whether his team could afford to carry an event specialist when team size drops to 5 men:

… Eddie van Hoof, the British Gymnastics technical director, said there was “a good chance” that the pommel specialist Louis Smith, who won a bronze medal at the Beijing Games, would have to cover other apparatus in the team competition. On Tuesday, he competed only in the pommel. “We will look at structure and look at Louis to cover other apparatus but also at our best medal chances. Louis is also good at parallel bars and, surprisingly, the rings as well,” said Van Hoof. …

Guardian

… I think they have to take him. Public outcry would be deafening if they don’t

Daniel Keatings – Latest News

The past few years he has been in Vet School at the University of Illinois but has taken a year off to train for the 2012 Olympics. He competed in the Windy City Invite which is his first competition since 2009. David talks about what brought him back to the sport, how his training is going, and how his first competition back went for him.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

http://www.gymnastike.org/embed/NzIxNTc0ODU5?related=1

He’s got a real shot at Olympics, especially for Rings.

Here’s the ART for his new vault. 18yr-old Yang Hak Seon (KOR) is World Champion 2011 from Tokyo.

see more MAG and WAG World Champions on Facebook. Komova’s Bars are up now.

This was the biggest new skill at the meet. An incredible 7.4 start score! Watch it again on YouTube.

Note that he uses a traditional preflight technique, not the flyspring style used by Alicia Sacramone. (Both work.)

Watch Alicia’s Vault on YouTube.

Of all tributes I’ve yet seen, I like best this one by The E Panel:

… Ana Porgras is and was a fantastic gymnast, and yesterday’s news of her retirement is incredibly saddening. Saddening for her, saddening for the fans, saddening for Romania and saddening for the entire sport.

Ana was one of the only gymnasts this quad who could truly be called artistic. …

… Ana Porgras becomes added to a list of fantastic, hugely talented and widely loved athletes who never quite managed to reach their true potential. …

read the entire post on E Panel – The untimely departure of Ana Porgras

… we still have Kohei.

Director Diane Paulus and Director of Creation Fernand Rainville, talk about the name for Cirque du Soleil’s 32nd production. Catch “Amaluna” as it World-Premieres in Montréal in April 2012. Tickets & Show Information.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

related – Canadian Trampoline athlete Alex Seifert has his first contract with Cirque. Congratulations.

Sergio Ricardo Silva Lucas sends us this well edited series of on-bed spotting techniques.

See what you think.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I prefer not to “catch” if not necessary, so would only use some of these for FUN or as a DEMO.

Leave a comment if you have an opinion.

I dropped in on a training camp for the National Irish Super Squad for under 10s. Kids & coaches get together as often as once a month to train together at Excel Gymnastics near Dublin.

They showed some particularly good basics on Bars. 🙂

Head Coach Stanislav Sevostyanov organizing and leading a WARM-DOWN DANCE!

He tries to keep it FUN for the wee ones. 🙂