Author: Rick Mc

Fierce. I’ve loved the Ferrari since she unexpectedly won Worlds in 2006.

Height 143 centimetres (4 ft 8 in)
Weight 36 kilograms (79 lb 6 oz)

Tough as nails.

With nicknames like “Tiny Dynamo” and “The Cannibal“, I shouldn’t have been so surprised — even shocked — by this interview:

Translated for Couch Gymnast by Giulia Holzer:

I wanted to share with readers an interview with Vanessa Ferrari. It was recently released in an Italian newspaper.

… it shows a sad, uncaring and even rude Vanessa, but also … some interesting content about her life and career.

As you might already know, Vanessa’s relationship with journalists has never been the best. …

Q. Do you feel in a prison?

A. Yes. If I could be born again, knowing things, I would no more do this life. I do not know what to choose, but not this one. The sacrifices were too many, lasted too long.

It’s bleak. But fascinating. She’s one of the most unique characters in our sport.

Vanessa vs. The Press Part One
Vanessa vs. The Press Part two

Vanessa finished 11th AA at 2010 Worlds, robbed of a medal on Floor.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

She finished 12th AA at 2011 Worlds.

At the 2012 Test Meet she was 1st AA and did win Floor.

Good luck at the London Olympics Vanessa!

In January I traveled to London for the Olympic Test Meet, a “dress rehearsal” of the Olympics.

From there I visited 10 gyms, some of my travel expenses covered by the Tumbl Trak Ambassador’s program:

Ireland: Excel, Renmore, Trojan, Janz and Sugarloaf.
Belgium: Melsele, St-Niklaas, Bazel and Gymclub Apollo.
England: Europa Gymnastics Centre

Gymnastics is gymnastics, the clubs in Europe not all that different than in America. Coaches all seek best ways to keep their kids happy, healthy and improving.

Thanks so much to my host in Belgium, Lieven Vercruyssen, the inspirational founder of Eurogym Belgium and EuroTumble.

A short version of my report is now posted via Rec Gymnastics – Tumbl Trak’s March Newsletter. Or you can read a longer version as a PDF.

On trampoline.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

First win ever for the Huskers at Utah. That’s their sixth-highest score in school history.

Sophomore Jamie Schleppenbach won two event titles and took home the all-around crown while leading the No. 6 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team to victory over the No. 7 Utah Utes, 197.600-197.450, on Friday night in Salt Lake City Utah. …

“I’m so proud of this group,” Head Coach Dan Kendig said after the meet. “They were so awesome tonight. They were relaxed, focused, and ready to go from the get-go. What a total team win. They competed so hard and I couldn’t be prouder of them. Utah was very good tonight, and we had to be better than good, and we were.” …

Schleppenbach Leads NU Past No. 7 Utah

… how about a complement for the judges (yes a complement) even as a biased Ute fan I was glad to see that the judges both rewarded Nebraska and didn’t give Utah a lot of “cheap Senior Night scores.”

Vegas Ute on College Gymnastics Board

Nebraska again competed 5 all-arounders. That’s not supposed to work, Coach Kendig. 🙂

Jason Burnett, Sam Sendel, and Jake Cranham demonstrate the wonderful game of Add On.

Add On is a trampoline game where athletes try to best one another by continually adding to a sequence of skills. Check out the video to see who wins.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

We appreciate your interest in the 2012 Kellogg’s Pacific Rim Championships, but unfortunately, we are unable to approve your media credential request. We have limited media space and used our media accreditation policy to allocate the available space. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Amanda L. Robinson
Media & Public Relations Coordinator
USAG

I’ll be interested to see who does get in. 🙂

1. Christine Lee 57.875
2. Ellie Black 54.375
3. Ashleigh Brennan 53.675
4. Jessica Savona 53.550
5. Stefanie Merkle 53.200
6. Georgia-Rose Brown 52.750

full results (PDF)

All around medalists beaming from the International Gymnix 2012 Challenge competition

Thanks Grace!

Blythe:

… … hands down, the highlight of the last rotation was Peng Peng Lee on beam. A standing full AND a front half? It was wow. Really wow. …

Peng Peng Lee, floor: Love this classy tango…1.5 to double Arabian, STUCK. Big smile. Double layout second pass! Teeny tiny hop, looked great in the air. Wow. Wow. Switch to switch full. She is performing incredibly well, and smiling and living it up out there. Double full side pass, basically. Double pike to end and a huge ovation for Peng, extremely well deserved. Magnificent routine.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Quick hits: Gymnix Challenge, flight two

Nice girls finish first. Christine Lee is a sweetheart. Congratulations.

She’ll want to compete those upgrades at Pacific Rim now.

Nice.

Double pike Yurchenko in training.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

via Gymnastics Planet

Canada’s Nathan Gafuik attempted to compete it at the recent Elite Canada competition.

Grace Chiu GraceClick on Facebook:

Did you know … Kaitlyn Hofland, competing for Team Canada at l’International Gymnix in the Senior Cup, was in a milk commercial this year?

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Gymnasts know how to fall safely.

Wow.

This VISA TV promo is superbly edited. In Olympic Gold hues.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

What are her odds of qualifying for the American Team?

Marta Karolyi interview:

Q: For Nastia, do you want to see her focus on two events or add floor?

Karolyi: “No, I don’t think she should do floor. I think if she would be excellent on two events, that would give her a good chance, just because bars, we can use one more nice routine done well technically and with a good start value. And beam she was always beautiful and had correct execution. So I think if she is excellent on two, that would give her a good chance.”

Q: As far as training goes, is she on the right track to peak at the right time?

Karolyi: “Well, I have to see her in about 10 days because she missed the last training camp, so I don’t really know exactly where her training is. In 10 days or two weeks I will know exactly.

Examiner.com Q and A: Martha Karolyi’s state of American gymnastics