Europeans – Smith vs Berki

At the 2012 Men‘s European Apparatus Finals.

Click PLAY or watch Smith on YouTube. (15.775)

Louis’ never had great extension. And he’s not got superior toe point nor split.

Click PLAY or watch Berki on YouTube. (15.958)

I much prefer Berki of those two great routines. It’s nice to see flared spindle, for one thing. He’s got the best pendular swing in the world, too.

Surprisingly, Smith took the media to complain that Berki’s start score was 0.2 too high.

Both were given start values of 6.9.

… I’m not sure whether Louis is correct. Weigh in, if you’ve an opinion on their start scores.

Update: Did Berki not complete his “full spindle in flair”? Top coaches say he didn’t. …

Louis Smith will be one of the biggest media darlings of the host team in London. This controversy is only going to generate interest in Men’s Gymnastics — and Pommels in particular. Love it.

We can use the attention even if it’s only once every 4yrs. 🙂

related – Europeans – BBC – How GB beat Russia at gymnastics