Author: Rick Mc

Career gymnastics coach who loves the outdoors, and the internet.

Gabby Douglas Story – review

Slate’s culture critic Meghan O’Rourke, a former gymnast, posted the best review I’ve seen so far in The New Yorker:

“The Gabby Douglas Story” is not a good movie, but its flaws suggest what a great gymnastics movie would be. …

There is a great film to be made about the special challenges that élite female gymnasts face today, when the sport is continuing to evolve at lightning speed. Women’s gymnastics continues to be a sport of incredible paradoxes—a crucible for both sheer athleticism and delicate grace, in which gymnasts who can do full-twisting double-backs can also be penalized for having messy hair. …

… a better movie than “The Gabby Douglas Story” would have gotten at more of the texture of the everyday, the draw of the sport itself. There’s disappointingly little footage of Douglas learning new moves, practicing or perfecting routines, being given the small corrections that lead to mastering a big new skill like an Amanar vault. Anyone who has done gymnastics seriously, at any level—any girl who once had the bug—knows that the delights of competitive gymnastics are unmatched. Nothing approximates the discipline, control, clarity, grace, and focused play that gymnastics can bring into your life when it’s going well. One can dream of a film about an Olympic gymnast that captures some of the focus it took for her to realize her dream.

WHAT A GREAT GYMNASTICS MOVIE SHOULD BE

Gabby

related – Variety – TV Review: ‘The Gabby Douglas Story’

If those strike you as too serious, check @SpannyTampson’s hilarious and profane recap – The Gabby Douglas Story.

Thanks @a_picazo

Canadian MAG Physical Ability

Canada put a big push on strength and flexibility. Starting NOW physical ability testing will count towards results in competition.

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Moors, Yu, Black

Élite Canada 2014 day 1 AA results are up. (PDF)

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Men’s day 1 results are available, too. Start scores on the individual apparatus are highest priority, not the AA.

related – Gymnastics Canada – Nation’s top gymnasts converge on Ottawa-Gatineau for Elite Canada

Georgia at Alabama

… the big meet on Friday is Georgia visiting Alabama, which should be fascinating as always. It doesn’t have the same bite as in the Suzanne v. Sarah years, but it’s still a treat gymnastically.

Based on overall quality shown so far this season, the meet should be a toss-up. Except, it’s Alabama at home. It’s been what, 1150 years since they lost at home? …

Balance Beam Situation – The Weekend Ahead – February 7th-9th

Click PLAY or watch a preview on YouTube.

related – Lauren Hopkins – NCAA Week 5 Recap

Jazmyn Foberg – upgrades

Jazzy is Laurie Hernandez’ teammate at MG Elite in New Jersey. Looks to be progressing very, very well. 🙂

Post by Maggie's Girls.
Post by Maggie's Girls.

Congrats to coach Maggie Haney.

via GymFever