Author: Rick Mc

The Kyle Shewfelt Gym Fest goes March 22-25th at the University of Calgary. He’s got about 800 attending this year, the second annual.

China is sending a Men’s team again this year.

Check the new Facebook page for the meet. Click over and LIKE that.

Kyle was inspired by another competition, the Great West Gym Fest in Idaho.

What’s the value of this SWING combination to dismount?

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks Kayleigh.

Rachel Potee by email:

Three-time Olympian Dominique Dawes and 2012 Olympic hopeful Danell Leyva were announced today as members of “Team Citi” in advance of the upcoming London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. …

… athletes were selected because they exemplify an unwavering commitment to excellence and demonstrate what it is possible to achieve when you reach for a dream. …

details on CitiGroup

Demo at the Konami Sportsclub, Japan.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

That’s the most Tkachev releases in series I’ve seen. Sharipov did 5 in a row, as I recall, at a demo in Australia.

Former Olympian Chainey Umphrey once did 10 in a row, his brother Eddie recalls. No video, though.

Nor is there video of when Chainey caught Tkachev front.

Eddie’s coach, who once coached Yang Wei, said only two things ever impressed him: Sherbo on floor & Chainey’s Tkatchevs.

(via The All Around Gymnastics News on Facebook)

Octavian Bellu:

… We still have the same problem, which is bars, and only one clear detail Catalina Ponor will not be doing bars.

Basically, the team for London is already clear: young Larisa Iordache, Sandra Izba?a, Diana Bulimar, Diana Chelaru and Ponor.

The qualification system is 5-4-3: 5 gymnasts will be there, 4 will compete and only the best 3 scores will count. We will take to London the oldest team in the last 8 years, the average age is 20.” …

Romanian Gymnastics Fans is surprised to hear him name the team in March.

I’m surprised too. It’s the very last thing Marta Karolyi would do.

Byron Knox, head Women’s coach at University of Bridgeport CT:

We are on the verge of doing the un thinkable… Creating a men’s program here at the University of Bridgeport and possibly moving our fast growing women’s program to division 1!

I saw that on GYM MOMENTUM.

That would be fantastic news.

THE ALL AROUND:

Ukranian gymnastics is in a crucial moment for its future.

While the men’s team qualified to this summer’s Olympic Games, the women’s team didn’t even qualify for the Test Event and will be in London with only one gymnast. This year and the next quadrennium will be important to see if the Ukrainian can recover its golden past or follows in the steps of Belarus. …

Women’s All Around
1. Kristina Sankova 56.400
2. Mariya Livchikova 55.500
3. Irina Romanchuk 53.900

Men’s All Around
1. Vitaliy Nakonenchyi 89.200
2. Oleg Vernayiev 88.400
3. Oleg Stepko 87.200

full report

“NEWT: The Father of Michigan Men’s Gymnastics”

Loken was the head coach for the (Michigan) Wolverines men’s gymnastics program for 36 seasons (1948-83). He compiled a 240-71-1 (.771) record during his career …

His teams claimed four national championships, winning the team title in 1963 and 1970 and claiming trampoline championships in 1969 and 1970. …

details – $17.95

I don’t see it on Amazon. But you can order it directly from the Publisher.

Thanks Ono.

(via Niclaes Jerkeholt on Facebook)

Except Grace Chiu at Gymnix. She loved shooting into the dark background.

more photos on Grace Chiu GraceClick’s Facebook

Check her high resolution Gymnix photos on graceclick.ca