Author: Rick Mc

FIG has posted the list of nations qualifying bouncers. CONGRATULATIONS

See you in London.

Sixteen spots are available for men and sixteen for women, with gymnasts having qualified their NOCs at the 2011 World Championships in Birmingham (GBR) and the Visa International Gymnastics in January 2012 in London (GBR).

One nominative invitation place either for a man or a women is set aside for the Tripartite Commission. This place will be nominated in due course by the Tripartite Commission.

official list (PDF)

HE Wenna from China is defending Olympic Trampoline Champion. She had the highest “flight time” (time in the air) of all competitors at the Test Meet, despite being more petite than most.

At the very END of her Finals routine she unexpectedly flew off the Tramp! CONGRATULATIONS and THANKS to the two spotters who jumped to the rescue.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The coach said she had a couple of very minor injuries from that incident. She’ll be looking for redemption in the same arena come July!

Here’s the FIG wrap-up on Women’s Tramp.

Thanks Shani.

Why condition and diet?

Instead use Fotoshop by Adobé.

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.

(via Kottke)

Begins this weekend.

CGA Parents Club Coaches Spectacular, Covington, Ky., Jan. 13-15
Lady Luck Invitational, Las Vegas, Nev., Jan. 20-22
The Atlanta Crown Invitational, Duluth, Ga., Jan. 20-22
Circle of Stars Gymnastics Invitational, Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. 20-22
San Diego Classic, San Diego, Calif., Jan. 20-22
Wisconsin Dells Gymnastics Vacation Classic, Wisconsin Dells, Wis., Jan. 27-29
Parkettes Invitational, Allentown, Pa., Jan. 27-29
Pikes Peak Cup, Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 3-5
The Long Beach Open, Long Beach, Calif., Feb. 3-5
The 38th Annual Fiesta Bowl, Chandler, Ariz., Feb. 3-5
Charity Choice Invitational, Tacoma, Wash., Feb. 10-12
IGI Chicago Style, Chicago, Ill., Feb. 10-12
Glider Invitational, Ontario, Calif., Feb. 11-12
The Magical Classic, Orlando, Fla., Feb. 17-18
Buckeye Classic, Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 17-19
Presidential Classic, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Feb. 17-19
WOGA Classic, Frisco, Texas, Feb. 17-19
Arizona Sunrays Classic Rock Invitational, Phoenix, Ariz., Feb. 17-19

The 2012 Nastia Liukin Cup will be televised live on Universal Sports. …

I love this program. Now in the 3rd year, it’s a great addition to the American calendar.

A small welcoming party of family and friends greeted gymnast Lim Heem Wei at Changi Airport last night on her return from London, where the 22-year-old carved her name in the Republic’s sporting annals.

Competing at the Visa International Gymnastics this week, a test event and final qualifier for the London 2012 Olympic Games, Lim clinched one of the spots for the top 30 individual finishers from countries that have not already qualified for the Games.

This meant that Lim became the first gymnast from Singapore to qualify for the Olympic Games and only one of two from South-east Asia who have confirmed their places in London. …

Today Online

I’m happy for Lim Heem Wei and Singapore, but be aware that London — under the new selection criteria — will be a much weaker field of athletes than was Beijing. Let’s (after the fact) do a statistical comparison of the range in scores from lowest to highest between a number of Olympics, including London.

WANG (CHN) – WAG coach

On the venue:

“I think that the colours in the stadium are depressing. We see the Olympics as a celebration so I don’t like the black background. I also think the lights aren’t bright enough. In China, we train with brighter lighting. The girls also found the apparatus very hard as they are not used to the new French apparatus being used here.”

What’s the Mandarin translation of “sour grapes”?

China and Russia — right now — both wish they’d stayed home like Romania and U.S.A.

Avril Enslow is one of the best and most experienced of the FIG judges. She called the Floor Final tonight perhaps the best she’d seen.

We’ll be arguing about this podium result for some time …

Women’s Floor
1. Vanessa Ferrari 14.400
2. Victoria Moors 14.200
3. Daiane dos Santos 14.066
3. Marine Brevet 14.066

Normally any one of those 4 routines would have won this meet. The big story, I think, is newcomer Victoria from Canada — this routine is beloved by many. She’s the best medal hope Canada has for London. (routine from podium training here)

Victoria is coached by Elvira Saadi.

OFFICIAL Day 2 FINALS RESULTS are posted

That’s it for Artistic and Trampoline. The Olympic Test meet has ended (though Rhythmic continues tomorrow).

But we’ll all be back at the O2 arena for Olympics 2012. I can hardly wait. It’s going to be epic.

1 DONG Dong CHN 110.479 Q
2 LU Chunlong CHN 109.270 Q
3 ITO Masaki JPN 108.790 Q

But who qualified one place for their nation to the Olympics today?

The places qualifying the NOCs for the Games are led by Canada’s Jason Burnett in fourth rank, followed by Diogo Ganchinho of Portugal, Blake Gaudry (AUS) and Henrik Stehlik (GER). The list of qualifiers will be officially confirmed shortly.

I heard GLUCKSTEIN will have earned one for USA. And assume that CANNONE will earn one for Italy.

details and link to results on FIG – Trampoline Gymnastics – Men’s Competition

Download the start list (PDF) for the last session for Artistic in London.

FIG again is providing a LIVE stream on YouTube.

London has put on a great meet. I’ve heard very few complaints or issues. There have been injuries, but fewer than in the past (I think). … I’d like to see the FIG statistics on falls. There have been fewer than in the past, is my feeling.

Thanks to GYMNOVA for the excellent equipment.

CONGRATULATIONS to all the organizers.