Author: Rick Mc

Great Britain is great on every apparatus, but Pommels may be the best of all.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

15.400 (Difficulty : 6.50, Execution : 8.900)

Louis Smith is the poster boy. He’s everywhere in this town. Gymnast / bad boy — a very compelling image.

That’s got to be frustrating to his GBR teammates that need to carry the AA scores qualifying the team to Olympics. Louis’ pretty much got only one apparatus.

The last of 3 flights of MAG prelims is just beginning …

The host will qualify. The bigger question is whether Spain and Puerto Rico will finish top 4 teams.

It’s a loud and raucous house. Announcers are encouraging the audience to bring the noise.

Yeesh.

This is distressful.

Brazil had a fantastic meet but still didn’t beat Canada when you added the numbers up.

France 350.659
Italy 346.334
Canada 345.892
Brazil 345.152
Belarus 335.824

Three teams left to compete including favourite GBR. Top 4 qualify for Olympics. Puerto Rico and Spain are both strong, too.

Respect. #FIGTest12

Though Brazil lost their biggest name — Diego Hypolito — to injury, they’ve fought passionately to qualify as a team.

Click PLAY or watch the Worlds 2011 Silver medalist on YouTube.

… just as I published Arthur sat down a tumbling line. Then over-rotated dismount out-of-bounds. They do miss Diego on Floor.

FIG did not promise LIVE video until Finals. But they did hint that it was possible.

Here’s the clarification via @officialFIG:

ART and TRA #FIGTest12 FINALS only will be live on youtube.com/figchannel on January 12 and 13 – no qualifications!

The near immediate posting of routines on this YouTube playlist was pretty cool, though. And much appreciated.

Click PLAY or watch Cyril TOMMASONE (FRA) Pommels on YouTube.

Not a sell out. But a good crowd for Men’s gymnastics.

photo via FIG on Facebook

Of the 40,000+ tickets available for the Test Event, most have been sold. It’s still possible to get one, though. Take advantage of this — the next best thing to the Olympics.

The O2 Arena is a 23,000 capacity venue, primarily used for live music. It is located at the centre of The O2 and is the first American-style, multi-purpose arena in London. It is the joint largest indoor arena in Europe. …

Click PLAY or watch a feature on Entertainment Avenue at The O2 on YouTube.

it’s like a small city surrounding the arena.

As much as I’d like to see fewer roll-out skills on Men’s Floor — and an option to get a high score with none — Brandon does them as well as anyone.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

14.266 (Difficulty : 5.300; Execution : 8.966).

Fact is he had a problem learning these as a young gymnast. His problem? … Intelligence. Why should we deliberately try to land on our heads?

Update: Bob notes that Brandon missed his front layout 2/1 twist dismount. Therefore gets no dismount and no skill as he had done front layout 1 1/2 twist earlier in the routine. Merde.

France 350.659
Canada 345.892
Belarus 335.824

I’m thinking France will finish top 4, for sure. Belarus is out for sure. Canada will be close. … It’s going to be a long day waiting to find out.

For Canada, Casey Sandy’s Floor score was raised after appeal. The D-panel had him 0.8 too low!

Canada also appealed Kevin Lytwin’s Ring start score. But it was not upheld.

Four of the eight teams advance to the London Olympics. The team ranking 5th will be very unhappy. 😦

Examiner – Quick hits: Men’s team/individual qualifications at the London Test Event

THE ALL AROUND – Test Event: MAG Qualification Subdivision 1

Likely a finalist.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

15.000 (Difficulty : 6.500; Execution : 8.500).

Love that Victorian Cross. And I’m glad he’s only doing one of them, not two as he’s used in the past.

That’s from the FIG Olympic Qualifications London 2012 (Visa Gymnastics 2012) playlist on YouTube.

What’s your excuse? 🙂 … what’s MY excuse?

He’s getting BIG applause in London.

IG: How many hours a day do you train? Do you train consistently year round, or do you take breaks for weeks/months at a time?

JJ: No, I don’t train the entire year. For the most part I prepare a few weeks before the big championships, like Europeans, worlds, etc. I don’t really go to World Cup events anymore either. At my position I really can’t afford to train full year around. There is a lot of administrative work with the federation and of course at my age I have to be careful and rest my body too. I train when I find time… many times at the end of the business day, on weekends, with my busy schedule that is the only way!

IG Online Interview: Jordan Jovtchev (Bulgaria) (Sept. 2011)