Author: Rick Mc

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

She swings “big”, like a guy. … Hmm, she’s coached by Ed Burch, who coached 1992 Olympic gold horizontal bar medalist Trent Dimas.

I’m sorry to see it end.

The greatest emotional moment for me was the reaction of Frederic when his brother won Moguls.

Canada’s first gold medal winner ALEX BILODEAU greets fans with his brother FREDERIC BILODEAU and sister JENNIFER BILODEAU outside the Pan Pacific hotel Tuesday evening during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

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… His older brother, Frédéric, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at a young age and told that he would be unable to walk by the time he was 10. Frédéric is now age 28 and still has the ability to walk. …

Frédéric inspires Alex as much as Alex inspires Frédéric.

Some feel that American Bronze medallist Bryon Wilson, a former gymnast, had a better second run than Alex. Wilson was brilliant. Look for him in the coming years.

Front page of the Globe and Mail February 27th:

It had one of the most calamitous beginnings in Olympic history. Now, as the 2010 Winter Olympics head into their final weekend, they are on their way to being celebrated as one of the best in history. …

That’s how most Canadians are feeling right now. Even the taxpayers from Vancouver … and they normally complain about everything.

Most of the hate I’m seeing online is directed towards NBC TV, especially their decision to tape delay coverage. People want real time live video in 2010. On the other hand, ratings have been far better than expected. The American Brian Williams left Canada a nice thank-you note.

related:

• Kumaritashvili’s body arrives in Georgia

• Why the Olympics Have Been Bad for Canada

February 26-28, 2010, Gatineau, Quebec. Nathan Gafuik of the U of Calgary put together a good all-around meet for 88.40.

full results all age divisions (PDF)

UPDATE: Kyle Shewfelt points out this would have been one of the highest AA scores at the last World Championships. Nathan, after some problems day 2, did go on to claim the Elite Canada Championships crown.

There’s been controversy in Canada over the Own The Podium program, a 5yr, $120 million supplimentary investment in high performance Olympic sport. Much was copied from programs in Australia and the U.S.A.

Personally I agree with Olympic great Ken Reed:

… The intent of Canada’s Own The Podium program has become lost – or perhaps obscured – with the focus on the medal count. Yes, it was always about trying to win more medals than anyone in 2010. But from the get-go, it was clearly stated that this was a stretch goal – an ambitious target intended to galvanize our nation, inspire our athletes, focus our funding and build a foundation of partnership. …

… OTP is an overwhelming success. We have delivered funding, coaching resources, technology, preparation and team unity to build an environment for success. Regardless of the medal count, this is a fact. Canada’s team was prepared. …

OTP’s about more than medal count

On the other hand, decisions have already been made to change leadership, perhaps shift the focus of Own the Podium, and possibly even changing the much mocked name.

details – Baumann to take over Own the Podium

related – Should Own the Podium have been branded differently?

UPDATE: The U.S.A. owned the podium at this Olympics. Germany was fantastic, too. Congratulations. But Canadians are not disappointed with our results, overall. And once we defeat the States today in Men’s Hockey, we’ll have the most Gold medals for any host nation in Olympic history.

… Most of my friends are convinced that the upstart Americans will win Hockey. But I’m not worried.

I always think of 2004 Olympian Jason Gatson as an often injured Ring Man.

But his PBars were incredible. And unique. I’d long forgotten this routine until reminded by Body Rhythm.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

What a weekend. Scores are escalating.

There were two “perfect 10” vaults on Friday night.

Boise State scored 196.1 this weekend against SUU. (Elise Wheeler broke the SUU school record in the AA with a 39.55.)

The highest score of all time is, I think, UCLA 198.875 in 2004. That record score may have been tied by Stanford in 2004.

(In 2004 judges were drugged even more than usual.)

related – College Gymnastics Board – Best score ever recorded in NCAA gymnastics

Surprise, surprise.

China did exactly the opposite of what I expected. And exactly the wrong thing.

Blythe updates us in this post: Gymnastics Examiner – Chinese officials remain defiant about Dong Fangxiao’s age in 2000

Now … the IOC is in a much easier position to pull the Team and Individual medal from Sydney. IOC must choose to support either China or the International Gymnastics Federation. They’ll back FIG.

China has no influence over Dong Fangxiao because she lives in New Zealand. She and her husband have admitted she was underage. How can China think they can sustain this lie now?

Obviously the correct response for Beijing would have been to fire the coaches and administrators from 2000. And apologize. Since that didn’t happen, … I’m guessing China has more skeletons in the closet.

Let’s assume one of the “fall guys” they would have fired got angry and decides to reveal other rules violations. Age of athletes in 2008, Beijing, for example. …

This is getting interestinger and interestinger.

Recall Brian McKeever, the legally blind skier who qualified for the Canadian Men’s Olympic Cross Country Ski Team?

As of this morning, he’s been dropped from the Team.

… Canadian cross-country ski coaches met Friday night to consider their lineup for Sunday’s final event, the men’s 50-kilometres. The decision was made to go with Ivan Babikov, Alex Harvey, George Grey and Devon Kershaw. Since no nation is allowed to field more than four racers in a cross-country event that means McKeever will not become the first winter athlete to compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Team manager Dave Wood along with head coach Inge Braten were unavailable for comment Friday night. Earlier in the day, Braten spoke to the Canadian Press and said he had to be professional “and choose the guys who are the best for the 50-km. Normally, sorry to say, all four are faster than Brian. And I think they can fight for a medal, all four of them. And then I have to pick out one who has a medal chance and put in Brian? That’s the situation. I don’t like it.” …

Globe and Mail – Blind skier denied chance to make history

Tough call. This decision is not going to be popular.

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Brian McKeever will still race in the Paralympics, a big favourite.

emma asks a good question:

How will the qualification process work? How is USAG going to choose gymnasts?

The first annual YOG (Youth Olympic Games) will be hosted in Singapore between 14 and 26 August 14-26th, 2010. That’s 3,600 athletes between 14 and 18 years of age from 205 National Olympic Committees.

Only 1 male and 1 female athlete will compete for each country in individual disciplines. All 26 sports on the London 2012 Olympic Games programme will be hosted.

Surprisingly, Michael Phelps was name official ambassador for YOG by the IOC. An effort to rehabilitate his tarnished reputation.

official website

Here’s the American selection criteria:

Women: born between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 1995

Athletes who have participated at FIG Senior competitions or multisport games (including continental championships and world cup events) may not participate …

The athlete selected to represent the US at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games will be determined from among the age eligible athletes by the selection committee immediately following the conclusion of the US Classic competition in July 2010.

The following criteria will be used to determine the YOG athlete and replacement athletes.

• All Around rank order at the 2010 US Classic Meet
• All Around Rank order using the YOG competition rules
May 2009 3
• Past International Results …

read more (PDF)

Selection procedures for U.S. WAG, MAG, Rhythmic and Trampoline.

So … which gymnast born 1995 should be picked? Leave a comment if you’ve a suggestion.