Helen Maroulis’ Olympic story

Somehow I missed this. Until now.

Helen Maroulis (born September 19, 1991) is an American freestyle wrestler who competes in the women’s 55-kg and 53-kg categories.

Click PLAY or watch her inspirational story on Facebook.

Women’s Wrestling is a BIG sport where I live. But I assume women feel themselves a minority in the sport, much as men do in Artistic Gymnastics.

spotting Pommel Mushroom

Yep.

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.

That’s Frank Szabo who recently relocated from Vancouver to take over the Men’s Program at Manjak’s Gymnastics in Toronto.

Paralympic Games opening ceremonies

Aaron ‘Wheelz’ Fotheringham … opened the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in badass style — with a death-defying, fireworks-accompanied stunt. …

Mashable

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

Full Out – the movie

Full Out is now on Netflix. And on DVD.

I saw it on an airplane.

It’s great for kids.

Jennifer Beals was excellent as a tough Miss ValAna Golja and stunt double Victoria Moors were quite believable.

The cameos are fun: Alicia Sacramone, Sam Peszek, Jordyn Wieber, etc.

Click PLAY or watch a trailer on YouTube.

Ariana Berlin’s comeback story was made for Hollywood: Nearly-fatal car accident ends a young girl’s Olympic gymnastics aspirations. Girl turns to dance but does not give up her other dream of competing for the UCLA Gymnastics team. Girl gets an opportunity to make the team at UCLA and ends up becoming an All-American.

This wasn’t an inspirational movie plot, though; this was real life. …

Sadly Director Sean Cisterna did not bother keeping the Gymnastics accurate. With very little extra cost they could have made the film far more realistic. Wrong Gymnastics will turn off a number of gymnasts and fans. 😦

female Olympic gymnasts getting older

… Puberty was a difficult period of transition for the gymnasts in Kerr’s study, but not the end of the line. If there were more awareness of that light at the end of the tunnel, fewer gymnasts might opt to retire—or be retired—when they hit that point.

Sometimes, gymnasts who push through find their adult bodies are capable of better gymnastics. American Anna Li’s elite career was a nonstarter when she was a teenager. It was only after doing NCAA gymnastics and returning to the elite scene in her 20s that she broke through. She competed one of the hardest bars routines in the world in 2012 and was named an alternate to the Olympic team. …

Kerr sees a shift in coaching philosophies as one of the biggest factors in the rise of older gymnasts. …

Despite being the youngest sport in Rio, age of gymnasts is going up

medalswon2

top D-scores from Rio

1. Simone Biles 25.90
2. Aly Raisman 25.20
3. Gabby Douglas 24.70
4. Seda Tutkhalian 24.20
4. Shang Chunsong 24.20
4. Claudia Fragapane 24.20
7. Asuka Teramoto 24.10
7. Angelina Melnikova 24.10
9. Rebeca Andrade 24.00
9. Wang Yan 24.00
9. Ellie Black 24.00

See the entire list on FloGymnastics.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 07:  Simone Biles of the United States competes on the floor during Women's qualification for Artistic Gymnastics on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on August 7, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil  (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 07: Simone Biles of the United States competes on the floor during Women’s qualification for Artistic Gymnastics on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on August 7, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

arm action on forward aerial?

What technique do you like?

Leave a comment.

Click PLAY or watch a dancer on Instagram.

Kovacs in series

Heart this on Twitter.