Author: Rick Mc

I’ve been a big fan of Penn State’s Brandi Personett since I first saw her compete full twisting double layout on Floor in College.

RESPECT.

Brandi’s scored 10 twice on vault already this season.

Click PLAY or watch the most recent on Gymnastike.

Gymnastics Videos on Gymnastike

… Penn State coach Steve … Shephard said he thought this perfect 10 was about the same as the one earlier this season, and still said he has seen the senior do it even better.

After watching it on video, Personett said she thought the perfect score from this past Saturday was better. She added, however, that a couple of her friends in the stands said the Feb. 23 vault routine was better.

Beam Me Up

Leave a comment if you know of a better quality video of either 10.0 vault.

Watch her Gymnastike interview.

Hey, Penn State went 196.450 last meet. They are perhaps the most underrated team in the NCAA.

UPDATE: Penn State posted a better angle. Click through to their YouTube channel to watch Brandi’s second 10 vault of the season.

Kellie Mizoguchi teach hand positioning for backward handspring.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks GymSmarts for the many, many Gymnastic Minutes. (Tom must edit these just about every day!)

I’ve not been a fan of controversial British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

I find him strident. And not all that amusing.

But I’m thrilled he won the prestigious TED prize for 2010.

At the heart of Oliver’s work is an assault on the obesity epidemic: The CDC states that one in four Americans are considered obese. It is estimated that 43 percent of Americans, or 103 million people, will be obese by 2018. The cost of this epidemic is anticipated to reach $344 billion per year. It currently accounts for almost 10 percent of the yearly US health care costs, and that rate will rise to 21 percent by 2018. WHO’s latest projections indicate that, globally in 2005, approximately 1.6 billion adults were overweight and projects that by 2015, that figure will rise to 2.3 billion.” …

2010 TED Prize goes to Jamie Oliver

God knows he’s passionate. If interested, click over to TED to watch his scary 18min presentation.

Season 21, Episode 13 Boy Meets Curl.

… The episode saw Homer and Marge Simpson compete in mixed curling. It aired during the Olympics, which began February 12, 2010. Sportscaster Bob Costas guest starred in the episode as himself. …

Wikipedia

Click through to watch that episode on CH131.

It skewers Canadians very effectively.

Superb Nike TV commercial: Human Chain.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

… Watching X Country skiing at the Olympics. Brutal tough.

Somewhat random WAG clips. It kept me going right to the end.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

(via Quitters Try)

Comedian Stephen Colbert is at the Winter Olympics as “Assistant Sports Psychologist” to the U.S. Speed Skating Team. As well as a colour commentator for NBC.

Stephen’s personal philsophy is clearly stated on his personal poster.

Where I live in Canada there’s controversy regarding our “OWN THE PODIUM” program.

That’s a 5yr, $120 million fund created to put Canada first in medals won at the Vancouver Olympics. And in the top 3 in Paralympics.

Canadian athletes in the past, famously, have been gracious in defeat. Garnering more than our share of 4th and 5th place finishes. It’s about time we made it clear that our athletes are not “tourists”, as Dick Pound once called them.

Canadian athletes praise Own The Podium. And so do I.

I disagree with most of the complaints I’ve heard against Own The Podium. The only serious accusation is that the organizing committee scheduled too little practice time for foreign athletes at the competition venues. The Canadians got a lot more time, I hear. If so, the IOC needs change the rules.

GEM posted a couple of links relative to the story of the luger who died on a training run. Here’s one:

Kumaritashvili had just 26 practice runs, as opposed to the 200 for the Canadians

Be sure to read all the details before jumping to any conclusion.

I finally saw this low budget Romanian documentary.

… famous for the legendary gymnast Nadia Comaneci, and its boarding school, which for decades has trained world class gymnasts.

Pitic and Malina might be two of its future stars, but the long road to the podium is full of deprivation. They are eight and nine years old and have been at the school in Deva since they were six. They train for four hours every day and spend the rest of their time in school.

This documentary follows the girls … leading up to their first and most important competition, capturing an intimate and moving insight into the contrast between their dreams, and the often harsh reality.

Teachers.tv

I’ve got mixed feelings. Perhaps that’s not surprising. I’ve got mixed feelings about Romanian gymnastics.

On the one hand, with a population only about as large as Texas, one of the poorest nations in Europe consistently bested Russia, China and the U.S.A.

Their girls were incredibly tough on Floor and Beam. For decades after Nadia.

On the other hand, I’ve heard more nonsense coaching theory from Romanians than any place else in the world. What kind of coach education system have they had there? None? I’m told there’s an intensive program. I’d love to see the curriculum.

The 3 coaches highlighted in this film are excellent examples of how not to coach.

Yes I realize I’m imposing Western values on Romania. Aside from ethics, what’s shown in the documentary is simply not the best way to develop elite gymnasts.

I do get the impression that things have improved there since Nicolae Forminte took over as National Coach.

Leave a comment if you know where people can download or stream The Secret of Deva.

Related posts:

• remember Adriana Giurca (1982-1993)

• allegations of gymnast abuse in Romania

Romanian-Gymnastics.com posts a Wall of Shame naming coaches who have been accused of being abusive.

(via Stephthemagicdragon on IG forum)

To their moms, Team USA athletes will always be their kids.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

THANKS Sports Girls Play. What a beautiful message.

And thanks Proctor and Gamble.

From Gymnastics Australia President Ken Williamson:

I wish to advise that Jane Allen, Chief Executive Officer of Gymnastics Australia, tendered her resignation as of 1st February 2010. Jane has accepted the position of CEO of British Gymnastics and subject to visa approval will commence in her new position in April 2010. …

What a move. To the nation hosting the next Olympics. Congratulations Jane.

Thanks David.