Author: Rick Mc

When the 2011 FIG Artistic Gymnastics Challenge Cup series started off last weekend in Cottbus (GER), spectators enjoyed a diverse line-up of former world champions and internationally experienced gymnasts as well as a palette of newcomers debuting as seniors at the Lausitz Arena. The tournament featured … a record participation of some 230 gymnasts.

The medal table reflects a blend of young stars seasoned with the more experienced, titled athletes.

Horizontal Bar
1. Aliaksandr Tsarevich (BLR) – 15.350
2. Fabian Leimlehner (AUT) – 14.675
3. Gael Da Silva (FRA) – 14.350

read more on the official FIG press release – Cottbus crowns newcomers and world champions

I’m hoping to link to highlight routines.

World Figure Skating Championships in Tokyo postponed

Washington Post

As of March 14th via GymInfo.

Sharaya Musser is again #1 in the all-around.

… Mustafina skipped the Russian championships in favor of last weekend’s American Cup, the first all-around World Cup of the year. Mustafina fell on floor exercise to lose the title to first-year senior Jordyn Wieber (U.S.), a controversial last-minute entrant. …

It was a last minute FIG decision to allow the host nation to choose a replacement athlete, not USAG.

… Perhaps we shouldn’t read too much into one throw away (translated) quote:

Valentina Rodionenko:

… Well, America is America. We expected that they would spare no effort to win. But everyone saw that Aliya’s upgraded routines are good. Before leaving for America she was a little unwell, which is also important to note. I think that in a week she will be at her peak. It is too early. The World Cup for us is not as important as the Europeans.” …

via IG

Spanny Tampson has done the most detailed analysis Mustafina vs Wieber I’ve seen. She concludes:

… despite an American winning in a last minute upset, there was no SCAM this year. If judges threw anyone favors, they were given to the world champion. All she needed to do was not fall, and the title was hers. She failed …

The most interesting part of her routine-by-routine comparison regards leaps. Mustafina is gorgeous:

But Jordyn’s are not bad, certainly far better than Shawn Johnson:

For larger images and much more click over to Big Fake Smile.

The girl who many believe to be the best gymnast in the world will not be at Jesolo. Nor Europeans.

This confirmed via Rewriting Russian Gymnastics.

Recall she was injured earlier this season, tripping over a mat. 😦

The Russian team for the European championships, April 4-10 in Berlin, will be world all-around champion Aliya Mustafina, Anna Dementyeva, Tatiana Nabiyeva and Yulia Belokobylskaya. …

Russia’s men’s team for Europeans will be Anton Golotsutskov, Maxim Devyatovsky, Nikita Ignatyev, Alexander Balandin, Emin Garibov and Denis Ablyazin. …

via IG

Couch Gymnast:

Next week the annual Trofeo Di Citta De Jesolo will be competed.

For those of you who don’t remember last year, it was a great competition, purely and simply because it boasted an incredible field of athletes. Functioning as both a junior and senior competition, the nations slated to compete this year are Italy, Japan, USA and Russia.

You can either bring entire teams of seniors and juniors, or just a few. Last year the US only took two juniors, for example. This year they are bringing a whole lot more! …

Seniors
Bridgette Caquatto, Naperville, Ill., Legacy Elite Gymnastics
Gabriella Douglas, Virginia Beach, Va., Chow’s Gymnastics
Amanda Jetter, Milford, Ohio, Cincinnati Gymnastics
McKayla Maroney, Laguna Niguel, Calif., All Olympia
Alexandra Raisman, Needham, Mass., Brestyan’s American Gymnastics
Sabrina Vega, Manhattan, N.Y., Dynamic Gymnastics
Jordyn Wieber, DeWitt, Mich., Twistars USA

Juniors
Ericha Fassbender, Katy, Texas, Stars Gymnastics
Sarah Finnegan, Lake Latawanna, Mo., GAGE
Madison Kocian, Dallas, WOGA
Katelyn Ohashi, Newcastle, Wash., WOGA
Elizabeth Price, Coopersburg, Pa., Parkettes
Alexis Priessman, Cincinnati, Ohio, Cincinnati Gymnastics
Kyla Ross, Aliso Viejo, Calif., Gym-Max

USAG

… I’m guessing Nastia and Shawn will be there as reserves. 🙂

Even with some of the top Russians competing, I’m predicting we’ll be hearing the Star Spangled Banner a lot in Italy.

… Normally the American girls are reluctant to compete in Europe. They fear getting underscored. (Or fair scores, depending on who you talk to.) But they are taking no chances time.

Was her son Alisher there to cheer?

Click PLAY or watch her Finals vaults on YouTube.

Oksana Chusovitina vt champion Cottbus 2011 gymnastic
v1 5.9/14/4
v2 5.5
v avg14.312 (5.90/5.50)

Oksana was the eldest female gymnast in Beijing. And looks to be in great shape to compete again in 2012 London, her 6th Olympics.

That despite an Achilles tendon tear in 2009.

She’s 35yrs-young.

Has anyone read this book?

It sounds terrific.

Cost is only $12.76 direct, or $19.36 from Amazon. Plus shipping.

HOW THE FALL OF THE IRON CURTAIN CHANGED THE WORLD OF GYMNASTICS

During the heyday of Soviet gymnastics, Vladimir Zaglada coached Olympic gymnasts at the famous Moscow-Dynamo gymnastics school (he was head coach of this club for 20 years) …

In his book he attempts to …

Explain the Soviet system for training coaches and gymnasts, including in-depth explanations of some of the pedagogical approaches used …

it also contains stories from the world of gymnastics that will be of interest to any fan, particularly those intrigued by the international aspect of Olympic sports. …

For example, the book includes a special profile of gymnastics World Champion Olga Mostepanova (Russia), now the mother of 5 young children.

It also takes the reader inside the Moscow-Dynamo Gymnastics Club, which produced many other champions beside Olga. …

CoachZaglada.com

Layout Garrison mount. (G difficulty)

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Interesting choreography. Remember the name.

2011 Gymnix Junior Cup AA Angel Romaeo GBR

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.