Month: March 2019

Handstand on elevated surfaces

Gymnasts will eventually need to do their handstands at height.

A great way to start is in a safe place with legs resting on a Bar.

Kids can concentrate on shape rather than worrying about falling.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks Bermuda Gymnastics Association.

rules for transgender athletes

A number of prominent athletes have been speaking out on this issue of late.

Marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe:

“Absolutely, any transgender men or women should be able to access sport – it just depends which category.

“We need to protect female sport but we also need to protect transgender women and their rights.

“For all this to advance fairly to everybody, we have to accept it might take a while, work together and stop attacking the other side.”

Paula Radcliffe says tighter transgender rules are needed to avoid ‘manipulation’

Certainly more research needs be done on this important but rarely problematic issue.

The current level of testosterone allowed by the IOC will drop from 10 nanomoles per litre to five for the 2020 Olympics.

MOSTLY this issue is a talking point for right wing extremists who jump on every opportunity to attack minorities. The rhetoric is similar to their attacks on transgender people using public bathrooms.

related – Transgender Minnesotan powerlifter JayCee Cooper was barred from competing at a state championship due to the International Olympics Committee’s ( IOC ) guidelines.

myth of the ‘self-made man’

Click PLAY or watch Arnold on Facebook.

“None of us can make it alone.”

– Arnold Schwarzenegger

related – Arnold Sports Festival

Emma Nedov – Beam

Silver medal at the World Cup at home in Australia.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Emma’s looking one hard athlete in this new ad for Activewear brand Running Bare.

Part of their ‘This One’s For Me’ campaign.

“the importance of physical mindfulness and self-belief”

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.

(via Blythe Lawrence)

Vanessa Ferrari – new Floor routine

Jess loves it.

Surprisingly retro in terms of music and balletic dance.

I’d say Vanessa is the favourite to earn the ONE Olympic specialist spot available for Floor. Especially if she keeps getting credit for those advanced leaps.

Or will Jade Carey get it?

Click PLAY or watch it (prelims Melbourne) on YouTube.

Coming back from injury, I expect we’ll see the double double back soon.

P.S. I’m still irked Vanessa was ripped off in the 2010 Worlds Floor Final. She clearly should have won that gold.

Stella Umeh – Floor

One of Miss Val’s favourite UCLA Floor Routines*.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Stella Umeh went on to a great career with Cirque du Soleil.

how to Giant tap OVER the low Bar

Very, very few adult gymnasts can do it without deduction.

Click PLAY or watch Cintia on Twitter.

Don’t teach that technique unless you are the world’s greatest Bar coach. It’s a near guaranteed deduction.