Month: January 2012

… 2008 Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin will lead an impressive cast, including members of the men’s and women’s 2011 World Championships and 2012 Olympic teams. …

USAG

(via Nastia on Facebook)

They are training for London.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (Cheng Fei)

… Alicia Sacramone, Beijing 2008 Olympic Games silver medalist, will serve as an ambassador for P&G beauty brands including COVERGIRL®, Olay®, Pantene® and Secret®. Sacramone’s involvement is in addition to P&G’s partnership with USA Gymnastics and its global marketing partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in support of the Olympic Movement, which will reach through the next five Olympic Games from London 2012 through the 2020 Olympic Games. …

“Our goal is to inspire young women with the message that when you believe in yourself, anything is possible,” said Gina Drosos, Group President, P&G Beauty. …

read more – P&G Beauty Partners with Alicia Sacramone, Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Silver Medalist
Sponsorship Expands on USA Gymnastics Partnership

(via Full Twist)

Click to see the original on Facebook.

via Donald Glenn Anweiler and Trish Quinney on Facebook

For the top nations, gymnasts are under intense scrutiny.

Jonathan Horton knows the routine. First comes the injury, then comes the speculation, then comes the doubters.

The two-time Olympic medalist understands. Rip up your left foot the way he did in the world gymnastics championships last October and there’s no stopping the whispers.

“You get hurt 10 months before the Olympic games and people start questioning, `is he going to lose a lot of skills?'” Horton said. …

AP – Injured left foot not deterring gymnast Jon Horton

… Horton plans to compete on pommel horse and still rings at the Winter Cup in Las Vegas early next month even though a pair of screws in his injured foot will likely prevent him from completing full routines….

Smart.

Inconsistent Pommel Horse is the only thing that will stop a healthy Horton from qualifying for London.

I think Jon’ll be there. And I’ll be cheering.

(via Full Twist)

@CarlyPatterson

Congratulations.

Though the Hamm blog is down, 2004 Olympic Champion Paul Hamm is still hoping to contend for 2012.

… Hamm has kept a low profile since being arrested in Upper Arlington, Ohio, last summer on charges of kicking a cab driver, damaging a cab window and refusing to pay a $23 fare.

Olympic Games News

Idiot. … Did I say that out loud?

Andy Thornton has compiled Paul’s potential routines based mostly on Facebook video clips. Andy thinks he’s still in the mix for the USA team, especially for Pommel Horse.

He’s a long shot, I’d say. But don’t count Paul out. Not yet.

There’s a chance that he might even make an appearance at Winter Cup in February. I’d love to see him compete a couple of apparatus there.

Here’s Paul’s Facebook Wall. Not everyone is able to watch those video clips, be warned.

Gymnastike visited Brestyan’s to check in with USA Gymnastics 2012 olympic team hopeful Aly Raisman. The 17-year-old gymnast is coming off a fantastic 2011 season, leading team USA to the World Championships gold medal and winning an individual bronze medal on floor. Raisman has even bigger skills and high aspirations for 2012. She talks about her upgrades, her decision to turn professional, and training to make the Olympic team.

Click PLAY or watch the interview and training footage on Gymnastike.

http://www.gymnastike.org/embed/ODg1NTc1Mzk2?related=1

Watch more video of Brestyan’s Gymnastics on gymnastike.org

She’s planning on Amanar. Near the end of the video she shows an excellent double Arabian punch layout.

It’s that time in the quadrennial when sad stories like this appear:

Examiner – Israeli requirement puts Olympics in jeopardy for Maksyuta, Aronovich

Telegraph – London 2012 Olympics: qualification dream over for Great Britain’s rhythmic gymnastics group

Even if FIG approves your athlete for Olympics, most nations have additional requirements. “Evidence that the athlete will finish top half of the field”, for example.

In the case of GBR Rhythmic, it’s British Gymnastics that is refusing to nominate the team to the British Olympic Association.

I was involved in one of these dramas in 1999, the Canadian Olympic Committee initially unwilling to approve Kyle Shewfelt for the 2000 Olympics. (He was the youngest competitor.)

Kyle nearly qualified for Finals in Sydney and went on to be the most successful Canadian in history. It’s examples like this that coaches should cite as a reason to approve athletes / teams for Olympics.

It’s crazy that the host nation won’t approve their Rhythmics Team. Imagine what kind of boost the sport would have in the U.K. with all that Olympic exposure, regardless of result.

Leave a comment if you know of other athletes who made the Olympic qualification standard, but were denied participation by their own nation.

May 21st – June 12th, 2012.

Gymnastics fans are in for a treat this year, with the 2012 MG, WG, RG, TRP & ACR National Championships all combined into one massive event at Sydney Olympic Park.

Having qualified a full team at the 2011 Artistic World Championships, Australia will look to select a full women’s team to compete at the Games. …

GA – 2012 National Championships to Play a Big Role in Olympic Selection

Anyone else heard the rumour that Peggy Liddick was considering NCAA coaching opportunities after this cycle?