tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports … and more
Australian athletes based in WA (Western Australia) – Dasha Joura, Lauren Mitchell (gymnasts), Todd Skipworth (rower), Kobi McGurk (hockey). Rear: Reece Baker (kayak), Paul Burgess (pole vault), Kim Mickel (javelin), Steve Hooker (pole vault).
original – Picture: THEO FAKOS
Makes you realize just how small gymnasts are.
Starting on Gymblog. Continuing on the Australian Gymnastics Blog is a discussion of the best Australian gymnasts of all time.
What do you think?
1. Longevity – Lisa Skinner
2. Most Decorated – Allana Slater
3. Highest Achiever – Philippe Rizzo
4. Innovator – Tie. Trudy McIntosh and Dasha Joura
news.com.au
Click through to add your comments.
related: 10 things that should have happened during the Olympics… and didn’t – Gymblog
For an Artistic sport, where competitors look great, I’m always surprised at how slovenly some coaches look on the Floor.
Here are a few of the photos of coaches I took at major competitions in the States last year:
Are bandanas and ball caps acceptable dress for a coach at a competition? (I really want to know this answer.)
What about shorts? I recall several times one coach being asked to leave the competition Floor at National Championships because shorts were not allowed.
Most contentious of all, I think, are jeans. Last season many young female coaches wore jeans to coach. Appropriate?
At Elite Canada last year there were many complaints about appearance and behavior of Men’s coaches, as well.
Every team has dress requirements of varying specificity. Some competitions specify coaching attire.
My own bias is that coaches should wear “athletic” clothing. Apropos of “sport”.
What do you think? … Leave a comment.
P.S.
I still find it amusing to see NCAA coaches in evening wear. And heels. Or men in suit and tie.
Last year NCAA Championships were hosted by Georgia. They opened their fantastic facility to the general public. I took 57 photos (flickr).
The best piece of apparatus at Georgia is their Forster Sliding Platform for Bars.
Two years ago Utah hosted the NCAA Championships. But their facility was locked down for the duration of the meet. Though I tried several times, I could not get a visit.
Happily Utah posts videos on YouTube (54 so far).
In this one Kristina Baskett and Jamie Deetscreek give a tour of gymnastics and support facilities.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Fantastic. But I would say Georgia’s gym is even better. It’s newer.
Charming Kristina could easily be a TV commentator after she retires. I can hardly wait to see her compete again this season.
This was news to me.
GymnastTV talks with 2008 Olympic Silver and Bronze Medalist Jonathan Horton and Bronze Medalist Sasha Artemev at the 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars.
Click through to Gymnast TV for the video interview.
The Women’s Sports Foundation has announced Nastia as their Individual Sportswoman of the Year. …
“It is an honor to be recognized by the Women’s Sports Foundation. Their mission promotes healthy living and progression in athletics for women. This award stands for so many things I believe in.†…
Congratulations!
Mary Lou Retton was the last gymnast to win this prize.
College Gymnastics Board has a good thread on this topic:
Which freshmen will have the most impact on NCAA’s?
Some of the athletes mentioned:
UCLA – Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs, Aisha Gerber and Vanessa Zamarippa
Florida – Kailey Tissue, Elizabeth Mahlich
Oklahoma – Natasha Kelley
LSU – Gloria Johnson
Georgia – Amber Trani, Gina Nuccio
UNC – Morgan Evans
Alabama – Geralen Stack-Eaton, Ashley Priess
Yale – Monica Shoji
Utah – Stephanie McAllister
… To name just a few.
I like this comment too:
I think it is often the unknowns who make the most impact. In many instances (not all – Carly Janiga for example) the highly touted recruits either fail to break into the line-ups of the top teams at any meaningful level, are not healthy or fail to live up to the hype, especially the elites. … I am always more excited by seeing girls who were not the known quantities step up and become real performers (I love the underdog!).
read more – College Gymnastics Board – Which freshmen will have the most impact on NCAA’s?
Ashley Priess joins her sister Courtney at Alabama – GymTide.com
University of Oklahoma men’s gymnastics sophomore Steven Legendre has been selected to the U.S. Senior National team as announced by USA Gymnastics.
Many were disappointed that Steven was not picked for the Olympic Selection squad. He’s certainly one of the most dynamic tumblers and vaulters in the world.
USA Gymnastics has done something smart here. He’s a strong candidate for the 2012 Olympics.
related post: Steven Legendre – NCAA Floor champion (video)
There’s a detailed article in the Guardian on Olympic Pommel Silver medalist Louis Smith from England.
One section caught my eye:
… Smith is as revealing when he details the lack of financial support offered to elite gymnasts in this country. “All the top gymnasts here work really hard and deserve something decent. But they get peanuts. There’s a talented guy on our senior squad called Luke Folwell and he’s on £200 a month. He trains twice a day, Monday to Saturday, but that’s all he gets. At the age of 21 it’s almost impossible to live off that.”
The king of the pommel horse does not blink when asked to discuss the state of his own meagre finances. “A year ago I was also on £200 a month. I only started getting a little more money this January. I now get £1,400 a month from UK Sport. It’s tough when you see what other sportsmen earn – and don’t talk to me about footballers. I get so frustrated when I hear that some of them are on £90,000 a week and they’re rolling around on the pitch after a tap on the leg.” …
Photograph: Tom Jenkins
Normally, when your nation is scheduled to next host the Olympics, financial support comes flooding. Especially for an Olympic medalist. (Yes, I know that Louis’ medal was controversial.)
Louis trains at a regular club, not the National Training Centre (Lilleshall):
… “We’ve got a brilliant coach in Paul (Hall) but at Huntingdon we’ll be trying to do double somersaults and a tiny kid will suddenly run into our path and we have to shout ‘Stop!’ in case you kill them. The gym is a quarter the size of Lilleshall and the runway is 18 rather than 25 metres long. And we still made two Olympic finals.” …
