Author: Rick Mc

This confirms we have a favourite for the Olympics. That score is HUGE. 7.70 A-score.

For more early news on Cottbus World Cup, Germany:

HOLY MOTHER He Kexin got a 16.800 in uneven bars qualifications …

Difficulty Plus Execution

What is Nastia’s highest A-score so far? (7.5, I believe.) Also 7.7 at Pacific Rim. (Thanks Fay.)

Related post: Nastia v He Kexin – bars

UPDATE:

… Calgary will welcome over 600 gymnasts and 300 coaches and officials to the Olympic Oval where Canada’s young athletes in artistic gymnastics, tumbling, and trampoline will compete for National titles. This will be a gymnastics competition of unprecedented size in Calgary requiring the support of over 500 volunteers. Over 5,000 spectators are expected during the week of events. …

official home page

Thanks Stu.

I’ll be there for every session working as a consultant for Cirque du Soleil. It’s going to be a GREAT meet. Canada has some serious medal Olympic medal contenders, especially in Trampoline.

by Rick McCharles

I will be coordinating a week long advanced coaching course (June 8-15th, 2008) at Calgary Gymnastics Centre after Canadian Nationals 2008, also hosted in Calgary.

This is Canada’s Level 3 Artistic Gymnastics Technical (Men and Women). Over 40hrs of course content directed to those who want to prepare gymnasts for National competition.

Experts pencilled in to lead sessions include David Kenwright, Bin Fan, and Tammy Andreotti. Others are still to be confirmed.

Concurrently, that cranky Curmudgeon coach Keith Russell will be coordinating a Level 4 Technical over at the University.

Entry to both courses is by application only. Both are filled already, I understand, as there are too few advanced coaching courses available in Canada.

Photos, videos and presentations, from both courses, will be posted on this site in June.

NCCP Coaching Certification – Gymnastics Alberta

Still no official home page for Gymnastics Nationals in Calgary (Olympic Oval June 2-7, 2008)

More good things to say about the Russian team. (I’m still reviewing videos from European Championships.)

Anna Pavlova has come back with a vengance. … Her floor routine is just amazing to watch, if she could just add a little bit more difficulty it would be one of the best ever in my opinion. …

Live.Breath.Love.Gymnastics (new blog)

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

It is a great routine. Good tumbling. Yet still very artistic.

I believe I am a new Anna Pavlova fan.

Now … Can Anna Pavlova challenge for the all-around in Beijing?

She needs an Amanar on vault, if so. Since Anna tried it repeatedly at Europeans — and landed none — I expect she wants to to contend. The Olympic Champion 2008 must compete Amanar. The higher start score in the all-around from just that vault, is too difficult to overcome on the other apparatus.

I still feel that the Olympic title is Shawn Johnson’s to lose. There is no other strong AA contender now competing Amanar consistently.

Gymblog agrees. As do most of us self-declared pundits online. Something would have to happen for Shawn to lose.

Flexible, stylish Olivia signs with one of the top teams. And one of my favourite coaching teams.

The Oregon State gymnastics program added another talented gymnast to an already impressive recruiting class, head coach Tanya Chaplin announced Wednesday.

Vivian, a member of the Australian National Team, is currently training for the Australian Olympic Trials. A veteran of national and international competition, Vivian represented her country at the 2005 and 2006 world championships. …

“I’m very excited to join the gymnastics program at Oregon State,” Vivian said. “I appreciate the extra effort made by Tanya to come and meet me and my parents here in Australia. I really enjoyed my visit to OSU, everyone seemed so nice and the team is full of awesome people.”

OSU Beavers

YouTube Olivia Vivian montage.

Most top Canadian female gymnasts dream of going to the NCAA one day. But that’s not so true in other countries around the world. Even Australia.

I’d like to see more International representation in future.

UPDATE: One other Aussie headed to America:

Gymnastics
by Lia Bradley (Level 9)

Run, flip, vault
Flip, vault, land
Vault, land, bars
Land, bars, swing
Bars, swing, beam
Swing, beam, jump
Beam, jump, balance
Jump, balance, floor
Balance, floor, tumble
Floor, tumble, dance
Tumble, dance, fun

Lia is from Chelsea Piers Gymnastics in NYC.

Level 9 gymnasts:

original

Right on.

This commercial called Supermarket from the Canadian Hockey Association does a great job of turning the tables on us as parents!

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Sports Girls Play – What if Kids Pressured Us the Way We Pressure Them?

That’s the question posed on the always astute Difficulty Plus Execution blog.

Ksenia Semyonova (RUS) Bars Event Finals – European Championships 2008

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube:

She’s improved. But I still can’t get excited about this routine. I am not a great fan of that dismount. What else in the routine could make you go WOW?

It’s “stock” … if there is such a thing as “stock” when trying to jam 10 value parts into one routine.

On the island of Kauai, Hawaii, we found one of the great playgrounds of the world.

It’s dubbed the “Adventure Bridge” (for obvious reasons) and can be found in Lydgate State Park. We had great fun scrambling the many faces and playing tag.

larger photo – flickr

a few more photos of Lydgate Park and Beach

Tickets are still available for the Women’s NCAA Championships in Athens, Georgia. But they are almost certainly going to sell out.

My weekend pass cost about $60 including a processing fee. A BARGAIN, for sure. Olympic Trials tickets cost $100-$500.

For some reason I could not buy online. Booking by phone worked well: University of Georgia Ticket Office

All nearby hotels are long ago booked.

details – competition website