Author: Rick Mc

Roll Tide.

Alabama moves up to #2 in the NCAA Women’s Team rankings.

Congratulations to Sharaya Musser from Penn State who’s now #1 in the All-around.

… The real drama over the next two weekends will be for the teams jockeying for the Top 12, 18 and 36 spot. Because the teams are seeded by rank into the post-season, these “break points” are critical.

The top 36 qualify for the Regional meet, and several teams are battling for the top spots.

For the Top 18, the Regional seeding format assigns teams according to a specific protocol. The remaining 18 are assigned primarily by geographical proximity. Certain Regionals are nevertheless considered “tough” Regionals, and this assignment could impact the chances of a team to make the National meet. …

College Gym Fans

TP detailed the The Obvious Decline of Quality in modern women’s Artistic Gymnastics.

That’s a fact.

My pick as best gymnast at the 2004 Olympics, Courtney McCool, had virtually perfect form, even on 2 1/2 twist.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

… There looks to be a slight crossing on 3/1 twist.

By 2008, after the introduction, of Grandi’s open ended code, here’s our Olympic Champion.

And here’s the 2010 World Champion.

Taller gymnasts like these two often rely on more twisting than somersaulting elements. It’s difficult to keep the feet together past double twist. And there may even be a slight biomechanical advantage in both the scissoring action and increasing rotation.

That said, both Nastia and Aliya are gorgeous and virtuous on most elements they compete. You can only deduct so much for this form error.

(via It’s About Artistic Gymnastics)

____

Update. There are some interesting comments on this post.

The feet are crossed partly as a result of the ‘torque’ takeoff. The same thing happens in figure skating.

But in Artistic gymnastics we’ve always deducted that as an ‘error’, not called it a ‘technique’.

Personally, I’d rather continue to discourage crossed feet with deduction. If we allow it, we’ll likely increase the number and severity of landing injuries.

Click PLAY or watch Meghan Bergman’s story on Gymnastike.

http://www.gymnastike.org/embed/NDMyNDczNzMz

Watch more video of 2011 Northern Lights Classic on gymnastike.org

Meghan was injured landing lock legged on Handspring Front vault. And came back to compete just Bars, still hoping to be a College gymnast on one apparatus.

… But for every encouraging comeback story like this, there are hundreds of gymnasts you never hear about.

Courtney, for example, who eloquently documented her career’s decline. And end. Her last meet (Excalibur Cup). And her failed recruiting trip to University of Washington.

Click PLAY or watch Courtney’s Bars on YouTube.

Just because you’ve got this level of skill on Bars, doesn’t mean you’re going to make it to the NCAA.

Thanks for taking the time to document your story, Courtney.

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The Huskers posted their first score of 197.00 or better since competing at Kentucky in 2007. Today’s score is their eighth highest home total in school history.

“I’m just so proud of the whole team and what we’re doing,” Head Coach Dan Kendig said. “It’s fun to see what they’ve done in practice pay off. They made it look easy today, and we went 26 for 26 on our routines. I am very happy.”

Erin Davis posted a perfect 10.0 on vault to take the event title. It marked the second such score of her career, previously receiving it against Minnesota and Illinois in 2010. Until today, she had hit four scores of 9.925 and has posted two 9.95s on vault. Ranked No. 1 on the event nationally, she earned her sixth vault title of the season with today’s score …

Huskers

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

http://www.gymnastike.org/embed/MjEzNDczNjAz

Watch more video of 2011 Northern Lights Classic on gymnastike.org

Commentary and more links on Between the Olympics – Cool New Skill From Aja Monet-Sims

One of my coaches was Heinz Weiler, brother of Willie Weiler of Weiler fame. So I’ve always been fond of the forward free hip. I like it so much that I’ll not complain it’s overvalued as a D-part.

Of course I love the Comaneci release.

Universal seemed to do a good job this year. I heard far fewer complaints than usual.

Universal

It’s archived here on USAG. But my wifi connection is not fast enough, it seems.

Or you can watch clips here on Universal.

Three Huang Quishang routines are posted here. … The three without 2 falls.

Leave a comment if you’ve more links to archived video coverage.

Michigan Gymnastics:

Crisler Arena is transformed from a basketball facility into one of the top gymnastics venues in the country in this timelapse video.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Looks like those volunteers are a little more organized than Pete and the boys, here setting up the new bleachers at the Great West Gym Fest. 🙂

Actually, this crew pulled off a MIRACLE getting the bleachers on to one trailer at about 2am post-meet.

On sportgymrus.ru.

(via GymNiceTic)

The best routine at the American Cup. Wow.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Wieber Fever … as Spanny says.