Rick Mc

Chow for now

Thanks to the coach of Olympic Beam Champion Shawn Johnson for welcoming me to his beautiful gyms.

Here’s his old gym, the one flooded before the 2008 Olympics.

And here’s his new gym, built late 2010.

I was there delivering new Tumbl Trak equipment. And interviewing Chow about his life in America. His coaching philosophy.

Needless to say, he’s a busy man in the lead-up to Olympic Trials San Jose. Media is at his gym in Iowa non-stop.

Sadly for me, the gymnasts had the morning off on the day I was there, Easter Monday.

Gymnastics Adventure Conditioning

Trampoline & Tumbling Conditioning circuit

coach – Dennis Oppenlander

more photos

Uchimura JPN Champion

Here’s a better version of our World Champion’s routines winning Japanese Championships 2012.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

(via The All Around Gymnastics News on Facebook)

judge Diana Gallagher

What we most need on the internet is more insight into the trials and tribulations of the Gymnastics Judge.

We need a blog called – Fake Nellie Kim. (You up for that, Spanny?)

photo by GraceClick.ca

In the meantime, here’s an entertaining and informative post by new judge Diana Gallagher:

First girl stands on the springboard in front of the low bar, fidgeting, ready to paste on that big nervous smile as soon as you raise your hand and mispronounce her name. You didn’t see her warm up, but you hope that her routine has all of the requirements and all of the value parts. If not, that’s more math for you …

…

Let us speak, you and I, on the question of bias. The parents of the gymnastics I coach ask me if there’s any advantage in being younger, or cuter, or having better scores from the previous events on your scorecard.

Another new judge summed it up well: “I’m too busy making sure I don’t miss anything to be biased.” …

read the guest post on Couch Gymnast

get out of that wheelchair

Another miracle of medical technology.

Click PLAY or watch it on Break.

http://embed.break.com/MjMxMTQ2Ng==/ai/0/zi/0/ds/1/st/embed
The Wheelchair Replacement

Oklahoma faves for NCAAs

Ono points out there are men competing NCAA Gymnastics. Too. 🙂

Top ranked for most of the season, and most assuredly will now be going into the NCAA Championships, Oklahoma won the MPSF team title as expected.

With their awesome mix of veterans and talented freshmen, the Sooners (355.60) held off surging Stanford (352.10), Cal (345.95) and Air Force (335.95). Once again, the Sooners were led by junior Jake Dalton, who won his 2nd straight AA title (89.25), and added three more titles on SR (15.30), PB (15.30) and HB (15.20). Ironically, he did not win titles on his signature events, FX and VT.

Losing only three seniors to graduation (Mike Heredia, Pat Piscitelli & Chad Crumley), Dalton will be back next season to lead a seasoned group of veterans and another batch of talented freshmen. Quite frankly, the Sooners will be loaded. But first, the Sooners will have some business to take care of when they have the enviable task of hosting next week’s NCAA Championships (April 19-21). …

read more on Stick It Media

Who might defeat the Sooners?

… Stanford will likely be a formidable obstacle to the Sooners’ designs, as the defending champs appear to be peaking at the right time. The nation’s top-ranked vaulter, Eddie Penev, came through with an MPSF title on that event (15.30), and also took home the top prize on FX (15.85). He also again carried a lot of the team’s burden by competing in the AA (87.05), placing 2nd to Dalton. …

Click PLAY or watch “the Penev” (Tamayo 1/2 twist) on YouTube.