Rick Mc

weird back handspring machine

Rosamond and Yeadon at Loughborough University, U.K. created this …

… study was carried out to design, construct and assess a training aid to assist in the learning of a backward handspring. …

Though they consulted many expert coaches, I doubt any of those experts would ever use this machine.

To see how it worked, download that 2009 research study – The biomechanical design of a training aid for a backward handspring in gymnastics (PDF)

Adult Gymnastics Competition – Whistler

WHISTLER GYMNASTICS presents the “High on Gymnastics” Adult competition in beautiful Whistler, British Columbia, site of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Saturday June 11th, 2011.

details on Rec Gymnastics

confirmed – J.O. Nationals

I’ll be attending …

• Men’s Junior Olympic National Championships, May 4-8th, Long Beach

• Level 9 WAG Western Championships (PDF), May 5-8, San Diego

• Women’s Junior Olympic National Championships, May 12-15, Long Beach

• J.O. National Invitational Tournament (PDF), May 14-15, Long Beach

First stop …

… 5 day event will be held in Long Beach California at the Long Beach Arena. The competition is a USA Gymnastics sanctioned event and will feature the top 700 male gymnasts in the country ages 12-18. Most, if not all of the 2016 USA Olympic Team will be competing here at this event …

official website

From the left coast I’ll carry on to the Canadian National Championships in PEI. The start of a really long road trip, actually.

Grandi: Code mutated to a TIME BOMB

Bruno Grandi is not happy.

As quoted in Gymnastics Examiner:

“Originally created to serve the development of our sport, the Code has mutated into a time bomb that we are wholly unable to contain,” Grandi wrote. “Worse, it is a pitfall to judges and gymnasts alike, and creates situations that are often impossible to navigate. Remember Athens!”

Continue reading on Examiner.com

Grandi remembers Athens.

He remembers the Men’s Judges under Adrian Stoica bringing scandal and dishonour to our sport. More than anything else, the controversies of Athens resulted in our current open-ended Code of Points.

In Artistic Gymnastics, it’s not working. Here’s my Report Card:

The new Codes in each discipline were brought in under Grandi. I admire that he’s willing to admit there are problems. Serious problems.

The TIME BOMB looming (in my opinion) is that gymnasts and coaches are being forced to do more and more difficulty to win. When the inevitable catastrophic injury happens on TV, the general public will be asking why that athlete was doing such a difficult routine.

Almost everyone agrees that the Code has swung too far in rewarding difficulty.

Is it possible to swing back to rewarding excellence and artistry?

I’m not so sure.

But we should all back Bruno Grandi in this cause:

… In a dramatic and almost emotional letter to the gymnastics community at large Sunday, the FIG President evoked Roman law and the Athens Olympics judging scandals and called for “the technicians, judges and leaders in sport, to gather round a single table and revisit the Code; to re-equip our discipline with the structure and spirit originally inherent to it.” …

No major improvements will be made until after London, I’m afraid.

Komova to see German doctors

Amanda Turner:

Faced with an ankle injury that has failed to heal, Russian superstar Viktoria Komova is leaving Sunday for the same German clinic where teammate Aliya Mustafina underwent knee surgery this month. …

Komova, who performed three events at the Russian championships in February, is going to Munich for examination of her right ankle.

… read more on IG – Father: Patience Key in Komova’s Recovery

They are hopeful that no surgery is necessary.

… At this rate Anna Pavlova will be on the Russian team at Worlds in October.

Click PLAY or watch her Floor on YouTube.

That would make many fans happy.

related – Stoi – Russia Minus Mustafina.

IRIS – Cirque du Soleil – L.A.

Here’s a glimpse of the new permanent show in Los Angeles – A Journey through the World of Cinema.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

… Bringing together dance, acrobatics, live video, filmed sequences and animation, the show takes spectators on a fantastic voyage through the history of cinema and its genres …

details – cirquedusoleil.com/iris

The Atherton twins from GBR are blogging Creation in Montreal.

Tkatchev, Milosovici, Arkayev, Kraeker

HALL OF FAME

The Class of 2011 honorees includes:
OKLAHOMA CITY – Five international gymnastics legends will be honored at the 15th annual International Gymnastics Hall of Fame Ceremony to be held on Saturday, May 14, 2011, at the Petroleum Club in Oklahoma City.

* Alexander Tkatchev (RUS) – Winner of 12 World and Olympic medals from 1978-1981
* Lavinia Milosovici (ROM) – Winner of 19 World and Olympic medals from 1991-1996
* Leonid Arkayev (RUS) – Legendary coach of the Soviet and Russian Olympic teams from 1972-2004
* Steffi Kraeker (GER) – Winner of 10 World and Olympic medals between 1976 and 1981
* Michel Leglise (FRA) will be awarded the International Order of Merit for his contributions as the lead medical advisor for the International Gymnastics Federation for 30 years.

USAG