Most of the arguments pro and con are included. Here’s my opinion:
Since there is no way to medically confirm chronological age, I’m against any minimum age rule for the Olympics.
If there were a way to confirm age, I’d still be against any minimum age requirement (though not quite so strongly). I’m not convinced the current rule has done much to protect younger children from over training. Younger athletes are often actually safer doing high difficulty routines than they are when old.
… Those of us baby boomer divers will fondly remember ABC’s Wide World of Sports annual presentation of high diving competitions, especially the shows from the cliffs of Acapulco where daredevil divers had to launch themselves out far off slippery slopes in order to clear the jagged mountainside. The event favorite Mexican team divers always selected the classic ‘arched’ swan dive to the raucous applause of the home crowd.
Now fast forward 35 years later to an event that is in its’ third season and makes the cliffs of Acapulco look like a novice event. It’s the Red Bull Cliff Diving Series now taking place in exotic locales all over the world. …
Gary’s pushing the world’s greatest Cliff Diver, Orlando Duque from Colombia, by trying new dives like quintuple front barani out. And multiple twisting quad back somersaults.
Needless to say, it hurts when you miss from 27m – or 88.5ft.
Upon the initiative of FIG President Professor Bruno Grandi (ITA), a symposium on Artistic and Trampoline Gymnastics was held in Zurich on June 17 – 19, 2011. Eighty technicians, judges and coaches from five continents participated, focusing their attention on the codes of points that will govern the two disciplines throughout the 2013 – 2016 Olympic cycle.
At the centre of the symposium, a President’s solemn warning; Professor Grandi invited his troops to fulfill their responsibilities in terms of innovation and creativity. “Artistic Gymnastics needs to be reinvented and simplified. Our athletes must learn to better wield the potential and personality of each apparatus!”
With regard to judging, President Grandi emphasized transparency, without which the credibility of gymnastics is at serious risk, particularly in the eyes of the IOC. He informed judges that an educational training programme will soon be made available. Finally and directly addressing Trampoline, the President invited the discipline’s leaders to promote universality and the number of countries practicing the sport. …
On a personal side note, I was hoping that Canadian Jessica Dowling would have a good showing, despite weeks of travel away from home and home gym. In the midst of final school exams.
She did quite well, finishing 4th AA and 3rd on Bars.
In addition, she did many media interviews including this TV spot.
This week 10 gymnasts will be named to the next stage of qualifications to World Championships. (Some girls were not competing due to injury, including Yvette Moshage, Marlies Rijken and Sanne Wevers. So it remains to be seen if Jessica will move on.)
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… Reigning national champion Jeffrey Wammes opted to skip the competition, telling De Telegraaf he was focusing on the World Championships in October. …
In the absence of Wammes and up-and-comer Bart Deurloo, van Assche, 22, captured the men’s all-around title (82.95) over newcomers Melvin Ornek (80.15) and Glenn Smink (79.4). …
I’m not sure why, but adult gymnastics is BIG right now. And Chelsea Piers, NYC is the Mecca of adult gymnastics worldwide.
NBC TODAY Show
More and more adults are signing up for gymnastic classes to get fit. TODAY’s Amy Robach, a former gymnast, returns to her root to find out why people as old as 70 are jumping up on the balance beam.
As admin of the GymChina Fackbook, Yizhou will be joined by Ed Zhang. I will also be contributing. …
Related:
Chinese gymnastics Association names the WAG & MAG teams for 2011 Japan Cup. Cheng Fei headlines the 5-women Chinese squad that will compete in the meet, July 2-3. Joining Cheng Fei on the team are: Sui Lu, Yao Jinnan, Yang Yilin and Huang Qiushuang.
Cheng Fei 2005 World Championships
On the MAG side, team members are Liang Fuliang, Liao Qiuhua, Huang Yuguo, Tong Yingjie and Dong Zhendong. …
Gymnastics Coaching.com 