Author: Rick Mc

SURREY, B.C. – Casey Sandy of Burlington, Ont., posted the best scores on floor and rings en route to the gold medal in the all around event Thursday at the Elite Canada men’s gymnastics competition …

The meet was the second and final phase in the national team selection. Last season’s national championships were the first phase.

The gymnasts did all around competitions both Wednesday and Thursday evening and the combined score from both days determined the final standings. Sandy totalled 175.300 points with Ken Ikeda of Abbotsford, B.C., second at 174.100 and Jared Walls of Edmonton third at 168.000. …

Ikeda was tops on pommel horse and parallel bars and Olympic team member Nathan Gafuik of Calgary earned the best marks on vault and high bar.

In junior competition, Jackson Payne of Edmonton was the all around champ with 165.000 points placing first on parallel bars and high bar. …

The other all around champions were Justin Karstadt of Mississauga in the Argo age group and Tariq Dowers of Mississauga in the Tyro division.

Gymnastics Canada – Casey Sandy wins all around title at Elite Canada

Casey Sandy – photo – International Gymnast

A personal shout out to Colton Tuffs (7th) and Ben Ulmer (9th) Argo in their first Elite Canada.

full results – Gym Score Depot

Eliminated by the International Gymnastics Federation.

But why?

… the FIG technical committee went in the direction of seeking a more rational and objective way to judge gymnastics. The first target was to eliminate certain articles that may have caused confusion or uncertainty in judging such as eliminating bonus awards for virtuosity and originality….

This from a 2000 article written by Japanese gymnastics coach Harumi Minusa. His article, 9yrs-ago, is called How We Must Develop the Sport of Gymnastics for the Future.

Well Professor. Things are much worse today than in 2000.

Gymblog had a revealing look at the state of international gymnastics – Bad form at the American Cup. It includes photos of some of the best gymnasts in the world.

Most international pommel horse routines are a string of poorly executed difficulty parts. Little girls are forced to throw every BIG skill they’ve ever learned on beam.

Is there no way to bring back virtuosity?

VIRTUOSITY is the highest demonstration of athletic ability. Virtuosity may be given for individual element and connections but also for the total exercise.

Virtuosity … may appear anywhere, regardless of the degree of difficulty, and may be seen in the most simple or the most difficult movement. …

In lower level age-group routines we had a simple definition of the virtuosity bonus. If any skill or routine and any given level made the judge go “Wow”, we could award an extra 0.1 …

The quality of the movement had to be conspicuously superior to similar movements from other competitors at that meet.

original article – Technique – How We Must Develop the Sport of Gymnastics for the Future

Our Olympic Champion get a surprising amount of criticism.

Fact is, it’s astonishing how much she’s done. And how much adversity she’s overcome.

This video rings true to me.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Congratulations Nastia. You deserve every success you’ve achieved.

Via Brett MacAulay on Facebook.

1976 British Olympian Barbara Slater has been named BBC Director of Sport, a very important and influential post.

… “Her passion, commitment and skill as a supreme sports producer clinched the role. She will now lead teams who will play a major role in broadcasting the London 2012 Olympics and who already have an exciting roster of sports rights already in the locker – huge events that are at the heart of the BBC’s relationship with its audiences. …

Photograph: Jeff Overs/BBC

Guardian – BBC names Barbara Slater first female director of sport

Another good news story for gymnastics in the UK.

Trivia – She played a gymnast in the British TV series Out of Bounds (1977).

Coach Laurie Gallus is promoting an intriguing new book, her first in a series of three.

It’s called Flip Outside the Box

She’s selected and illustrated “unique and creative gymnastics elements … which are not yet included in the JO Code of Points”.

Here’s one sample:

dismount – butterfly with double twist

… Actually, it looks more like 1 3/4 twist.

But I must admit, I’ve never seen or dreamed of this dismount. It is unique.

I’m not yet prepared to order the book for myself. But if you get a copy, please send us a review.

$25.00 plus $4.95 shipping and handling – details

(via Perfect 10)

UPDATE: Gail McGann, the judging director for Vermont, has reviewed the book and gives a positive reaction in an article called Off the mats, on to the page.

Results Day 1 Men’s National Team Selection Meet

Nathan Gafuik won Vault with a 16.20 and was 3rd on Horizontal Bar, but did not compete all-around.

It’s great to see Casey Sandy (#1 in the NCAA) made time to come up for this competition.

Brandon O’Neill is training for 2012, but was not ready for this meet as yet.

No official word yet on the other veterans: Shewfelt, Golding, Kikuchi, Golding, Wong. Leave a comment if you know more.

GUILDFORD RECREATION CENTER
SURREY, BC,
FEBRUARY 24 – 26, 2009

more information and full results – Gym Score Depot – Senior, Junior and Age Group

Related – Gymnastics Canada – Olympian Nathan Gafuik headlines men’s Elite Canada February 25-26 in Surrey, B.C.

Interesting interview with coach Chris Burdette of Texas Dreams.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

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

Gymnastics Videos on Gymnastike

Anne Phillips captured this highlight of the 2009 WOGA Classic.

Jordan Moore (Texas Dreams) dropping from the roof on her reverse hecht.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.
http://www.gymnastike.org/assets/portal/add_ons/mediaplayer-4.2/player.swf

Gymnastics Videos on Gymnastike

(via About.com Gymnastics)

Charles Lakes did the highest and most unique Tkachev I’ve ever seen. He was the first black American gymnast to compete in the Olympics and was also the top American finisher in 1988 Seoul, Korea. HIs Jaeger was also the highest and most unique I’ve ever seen.

Jordan’s Tkachev does look slightly higher than Anna Li from UCLA.

Who competed the highest Reverse Hecht you’ve ever seen.

Leave a comment.

A well edited highlight reel from the 2007 NCAA season.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

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

Gymnastics Videos on Gymnastike

Cal Berkeley was my favourite Men’s College team in both 2007 and 2008. It’s obvious to everyone that this team puts a higher priority on style, technique and execution than any other.

That starts with the respected Head Coach Barry Weiner.

Before you recommend your gymnastics club to the MTV television crew, check out a similar MTV documentary featuring a cheer team.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks Michael Francesconi from Fanscape.