Author: Rick Mc

The new iPod Nano is also one of the world’s smallest video cameras. We think it could be a game changer. As it turns out, it could also create a new kind of privacy problem. A fitness chain in Minnesota has banned the new Nano from locker rooms in an effort to protect members from the possibility of photos or videos being taken with it. …

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Are you worried about cameras in your gym?

Recall coach John Valdez, who coached Justin Spring at the Beijing Olympics?

Jon Valdez, a former gymnastics coach in Illinois, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of unauthorized videotaping. Valdez set up a camera to film a gymnast removing his clothes.

Valdez was captured on a camera positioning his video cam in an open locker in Kenney Gym. Valdez’s camera taped a male gymnast stripping and appearing nude in the locker room. The victim was unaware he was being filmed. This incident happened on September 25, 2008.

Valdez pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 24 months probation.

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Gymnastics Saskatchewan in Canada has opened registration for their 2009 Coaching Congress. This event is held only every 3yrs.

Guest speakers are invited in different disciplines. This year the Keynote Speaker is Camille Martins. The closing speaker is Keith Russell. Other presenters include Michel Arsenault, Bev Dickenson, Gord Bennett and Tanya Van Drunen.

Schedule and Details

by site editor Rick McCharles

VTB is the largest Russian bank, by capital, about 77% owned by the Russian government.

September 28, 2009: The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and Russian bank VTB recently signed a partnership agreement. The agreement seals VTB’s commitment to financially supporting FIG development programmes on all five continents.

The partnership is a manifestation of the bank’s objectives; VTB already sponsors national sport federations such as gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, athletics (IAAF) and the partnership is evidence of its international vision for the sport of gymnastics, which enjoys a strong, long-standing tradition within the Russian Federation. …

VTB President and Chairman of the Management Board Andrei L. Kostin, says he is proud and honoured to have this opportunity to contribute to the development of the FIG and gymnastics worldwide, a discipline that is closely tied to the cultural and sporting heritage of the Russian Federation. Mr Kostin also sits at the head of the Russian Gymnastics Federation. …

FIG

Sounds like great news. In fact, I’m (tentatively) booked to do clinics in Asia this Fall on behalf of FIG and IOC. These funds may help partially support those.

… But does this put the Russians in a position of greater influence with the International Gymnastics Federation?

How about stoop shoot immediate hop to undergrip? (I’ve seen that one, actually.)

And Shaposhnikova 1/1 !!

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

From the most experienced meet scorer in Canada, Stu Cram, the latest version of his program for Women’s Artistic Gymnastics:

GymScoreLite-2010 is now available for the coming gymnastics competitive season. This is an Excel program aimed to help produce results and related forms at inter-club gymnastics meets.

New features include support for these items…
• 2 ways to compute ties (skipping places or not)
• team scores based on N best scores per event.
• improved options to create rotations & order of competitors
• 1 or 2 byes for WAG meets
• better options for meets with awards for achievement
• improved layouts and help
• several other minor improvements

A detailed User’s Guide for the new version is also available

As before, GymScoreLite is free to download and test out. If you find it useful for your club meets, please consider making a contribution to support future development and other aspects of the Gym-Score-Depot project.

Go to Gym-Score-Depot.ca to download your copy. Then click on the link to the software section.

The MAG version should be available around Oct. 30th.

high resolution October calendar available from Gymnastics Training Tips

I saw this first on Nastia’s twitter feed. It was expected.

President Barack Obama will travel to Denmark this week to support Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to the president, told The Associated Press Monday morning that Obama will leave Thursday and join his wife, Michelle, in Copenhagen, where they’ll make the pitch to the International Olympic Committee. Obama would be the first U.S. president to take on such a direct role in lobbying for an Olympics event.

The International Olympic Committee is meeting in Copenhagen to select a host city for the 2016 Summer Games. Chicago faces tough competition from Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and Tokyo. …

They join a Chicago contingent already packed with more star power than a Hollywood red carpet. The first lady is one of the few people who rivals her husband in visibility, and she’ll be joined by talk show host Oprah Winfrey, who trails only Angelina Jolie on Forbes’ annual Celebrity 100 list, a ranking of the rich and famous’ most powerful.

Chicago is also bringing 14 Olympic and two Paralympic gold medalists, including Michael Johnson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Nadia Comaneci and Nastia Liukin.

AP

Chicago will win the vote.

Everyone who has met 2007 American National Gymnastics Champion Dave Durante admires him.

But what gymnasts does David look up to?

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

http://www.gymnastike.org/assets/portal/add_ons/mediaplayer-4.2/player.swf

David is a former member of the men’s US Senior National team and was named an alternate for the 2008 Beijing Olympic team. Dave also competed collegiately for Stanford University. After graduating, Dave moved to Colorado Springs to live and train at the USOTC.

His main accomplishments include: 2007 US National All-Around Champion; 2007 US National parallel bars champion; 2007 Pan American Games team bronze medalist; 2006 Winter Cup Challenge all-around & pommel horse champion; and 2005 Winter Cup Challenge all-around champion & parallel bars silver medalist.

Dave is now in Rome. Check his new blog: JOURNEY THROUGH EUROPE

more posts tagged Durante

The latest in a series of video tutorials from Jay Thornton.

… These Protec Gymnastics Grips actually have a palm that is made up of 2 pieces of leather with a Kevlar bond sandwiched in-between.

Because of this chemical bond, the grips are stronger than some other styles and they don’t stretch as much as normal grips. Since they stretch less than other dowel grips, it can take a little bit of time to get used to the way that they feel.

We generally recommend this style of grips to higher level optional girls (Levels 9, 10 & Elite) that are breaking other styles of grips more frequently than they should. We sell a lot of the Protec grips to womens collegiate gymnastics teams. …

Click PLAY or watch it on American Gymnast.

The previous 2 videos in this series – choosing handguards for gymnasts

I’ve not bought Protecs. Leave a comment if you have an opinion on them.

Solid routine from one of the 2008 Olympic Team members, Deng Linlin.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Guan Wenli competed aerial walkover to Arabian front. (big wobble)

(via About.com Gymnastics)

Deng Linlin is the AA Champion for 2009, as well.

A truly superb edit from 17yr-old gymnastdory.

Highlights of the 2008 Olympics, it brought tears to my eyes.

If you have a high speed internet connection, it’s well worth clicking through to watch it on YouTube, a larger version than what’s embedded below.

Thanks Faith.