Author: Rick Mc

Stick it Media has a detailed wrap-up on Winter Cup:

… Assuming Jonathan Horton heals up just fine, which is expected, he should get one of the five spots, along with Orozco and Leyva. It will be an outright barroom brawl for the other two …

John Orozco Owns Winter Cup, Posts 91.35 to Best Field

Site editor Ron Noe tracks the up-and-coming guys:

… Several juniors made great impressions at this meet. Perhaps the biggest one was made by Chandler Eggleston, whose 2nd place (tied with Sender) finish on VT made the highlight reel. …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

… Another crowd favorite was Yul Moldauer, who shined on FX, PH, PB and HB. He is one of four juniors competing in the 14-15 age division this season who clearly represent the bright future of the U.S. program. The other three juniors, Akash Modi, Marvin Kimble and Hunter Justus, each placed in the top 20 AA. …

Click PLAY or watch Akash Modi’s Pommels on YouTube.

Depth.

Brigid bemoans boring mounts. And identifies a few terrific ones:

… Peng Peng Lee’s awesome Homma-variation mount, Dorina Boczogo’s high rated Rankin mount, Ana Porgras’s jump to split and Vanessa Ferrari’s traditional show of brute strength with her planche mount …

read more – Interesting Beam Mounts

Click PLAY or watch Dorina on YouTube.

She’s gorgeous. Watch her Olympics 2008 Beam here. Or a montage titled … How come I have never heard of this incredible gymnast before??!! … here.

On Couch Gymnast’s Facebook, Simone Alexander linked to Sarah Lauren’s “side somi” mount on Beam at the 2001 Aussie Nationals.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Slovenia’s Maja Hribar may have competed that in 2001, as well. Here’s a training video.

Leave a comment if you’ve seen other gymnasts compete anything like a side somi mount.

via Niclaes Jerkeholt on Facebook.

Dean Potter:

“I am completely confident with my ability to catch the line if I were to fall.

Highlining at Cathedral Peak, Yosemite, California
Photograph by Mikey Schaefer

This shot is just one spectacular scene from “The Man Who Can Fly,” an episode of Explorer airing Sunday, February 12, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the National Geographic Channel. The show captures Potter’s quest for true human flight, with first feats in free soloing and wing suit flying in Yosemite, California, and British Columbia, Canada. …

source

The host Rhythmic team made the minimum FIG standard, but not the (higher) British Gymnastics qualifying score. They’ve appealed to be allowed to compete in the Olympics.

I agree with Nadia:

… the host nation should have a rhythmic gymnastic presence at the Olympics to inspire the next generation of young women.

“It is important,” said Comaneci, noting that this was a rare opportunity for the sport to promote rhythmic gymnastics at the highest competitive level.

“How many times are the Games in your home country …

Telegraph

Even if they finish last, it would be be a good news story. And a finish in second last place would be a win.

Nadia’s in London for the Laureus World sports awards.

First issue in the 4th year of publication.

Ivan Cuk
Editorial

PUBLIC SPORTS POLICY: THE IMPACT OF THE ATHLETE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ON BRAZILIAN MEN’S ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS

BODY COMPOSITION PROFILE OF ELITE GROUP RHYTHMIC GYMNASTS

SELF-ESTEEM AND TRAIT ANXIETY IN GIRLS PRACTICING COMPETITIVE AND RECREATIONAL GYMNASTICS

CHANGES IN GYMNASTS MOTOR ABILITIES DURING THE NINE MONTH TRAINING PROCESS OF FEMALE GYMNASTS 5-6 YEARS OF AGE

THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT TEACHING SYSTEMS IN LEARNING RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS APPARATUS

JUDGING PERFORMANCE IN GYMNASTICS:A MATTER OF MOTOR OR VISUAL EXPERIENCE?

MODELING THE FINAL SCORE IN ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS BY DIFFERENT WEIGHTS OF DIFFICULTY AND EXECUTION

read it free here

Alabama gymnastics sophomore Diandra Milliner (from Folger’s) scores a 10.0 on the vault against Florida on Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 in Coleman Coliseum. The Crimson Tide beat the Gators 197.725-196.900.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I’m not happy with so many “perfect” 10 vaults so early this season. That was a superb vault, but not nearly “perfect”.

Either the judges should be more judicious, … or Yurchenko 1/1 should start out of 9.9.

That way Diandra would still get this 10, but there would be fewer total. AND it would encourage more variety on that apparatus.

A 22 year old Australian tourist miraculously survives after her cord snapped during a bungee jump ….

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

That’s Erin Langworthy jumping off the 111m-high Victoria Falls Bridge in Zimbabwe.

Over 70,000 people have jumped off that bridge. Bungee jumping is statistically quite safe. 🙂

I’m cheering for David.

Blythe posted a recap of the end of his (first) career in 2009:

… The Olympic dream had crashed down on him the year before, when in spite of being the U.S. champion and petitioning directly onto the team after spraining his ankle jumping down from high bar before the Olympic Trials, the men’s selection committee not only not named him to the team, it did not even made him an alternate. (Meanwhile, in spite of his broken hand, Paul Hamm was named to the team and given every opportunity to prove that he was fit for competition before the U.S. men left for Beijing.)

… Three years later, here we are — Sender finished sixth all-around at Winter Cup, earning a place on the national team and signaling that he’s a threat to make the U.S. men’s five-member Olympic team. …

Examiner – Flashback: David Sender, circa 2009

Click PLAY or watch his Yurchenko double back on YouTube.

He was an excellent, artistic and tough all-arounder. With some excellent difficulty, especially on Rings. Though he looked a bit loose at Winter Cup, David’s got a real shot at London.

A washboard stomach thanks to this new product recommended by George Thomas:

Tired of crunches, planks and leg lifts? Well, now you can intimidate the competition at your next meet with none of the sweat. Coming to an infomercial on your TV soon!