Author: Rick Mc

fluffythefluffkeeper reworked footage from the TV gymnastics movie Perfect Body, adding the song Lucy at the Gym by Jill Sobule as a soundtrack.

It works for me. Commentary on the risk of disordered eating. Amy Jo Johnson is the actor playing the gymnast.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The old scale in the old gym is really starting to look dated. Coaches threw those out many years ago.

Perfect Body originally aired on NBC in 1997.

I have to add my usual disclaimer. I feel Artistic gymnasts are at less risk of eating disorders than their non-gymnast peers. The movie drama is an exaggeration. But the issues it raises regarding body image vis-a-vis sport are super important. We want girls and women to value function over form. A “good” body is one that can get the job done. Not the body type promoted in fashion magazines.

(via pink ranger on Chalk Bucket)

A real life version of the legend of Milon of Croton. (Principle of Progressive Resistance.)

… strongman Herbert “H.E.” Mann, famous back in the 1930s, noted for lifting full grown bulls. This photo is from Mann’s personal scrapbook which was obtained from his nephew. …

Bodybuilding Memorabilia

(via Straight to the Bar)

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has notified USA Gymnastics that the USA was awarded a berth in men’s trampoline for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, because the International Olympic Committee’s Tripartite Commission determined no National Olympic Committee was eligible to use trampoline’s tripartite slot and the USA was first on the reserve list. The USA will now send athletes to the Olympic Games in men’s and women’s gymnastics and men’s and women’s trampoline.

“Qualifying both a man and a woman in trampoline for the 2008 Olympics has been an important goal,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “The hard work and dedication of our athletes and coaches is paying off, and we look forward to sending our top male and female trampolinists to Beijing.” …

USA Gymnastics

in photo – Chris Estrada

(via Tramp and Tumble)

Job opportunity in the Eastern USA for gymnastics coaches:

Camp Walt Witman – Staff

(via Gym Chat)

Leave a comment if you know of other camp jobs still open.

We’ve been looking for vaults as good or better than NCAA #1 Ashley Postell who scored 10 recently from one judge.

Another excellent version, and different. Jana Komrskova (CZE) Vault Finals Worlds 2007. (second vault) Thanks blogomment for this link.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

There are so many great Yurchenko 1/1s, I’d best stop posting them. UNLESS I find one that is unquestionably undeductable. (That means feet together on the beatboard.)

GymPress editor Valentin Uzunov likes the incredible technique and execution of Courtney McCool. (My pick for 2004 Olympic champion. … Who won again? Oh right, Carly Patterson.)

Here’s her 2004 USA Championships Yurchenko 3/2. (no stick)

The GAGE gymnasts, including McCool, coached by Al Fong and Armine Barutyan-Fong invariably have superb form.

Site editor Rick McCharles is hiking the Kalalau Trail in Hawaii. Back online Monday.

You have to admire those gymnast who can keep form during difficult tumbling passes, especially twisting.

Another photo from an excellent gallery posted on About.com Gymnastics.

Daisuke Nakano (Japan) competes on floor

© Ezra Shaw / Getty

larger original available

As a coach I emphasize the importance, especially, of keeping feet together on round-off.

Has anyone seen Beth Tweddle from England do this NEW release?

I assume she does half turn into under grip (or more likely mixed grip) just before regrasp. Great idea.

It was mentioned in an International Gymnast online piece:

British Team Preview, Women’s European Championships

official website

I watched the sychro artists in the Cirque du Soleil water show “O” last summer during a training session. The things the girls (and one guy) do acrobatically are much under appreciated.

Here’s another team:

more photos in this series – Freaky Martin

2008 European Championships – April 3, Clermond-Ferrand, France

Team Qualification round:

1. Romania 181.350 … hmmm
2. Russia 176.425
3. Italy 175.450
4. France 174.600
5. Great Britain 174.050
6. Germany 173.650
7. Ukraine 173.375
8. Netherlands 165.425
9. Greece 163.150
10. Czech Republic 159.850

Vault Finalists
1. Oksana Chusovitina (Oksana Tschussowitina) GER 15.000
2. Carlotta Giovannini ITA 14.837
3. Anna Pavlova RUS 14.712
4. Francesca Benolli ITA 14.462
5. Ariella Käslin SUI 14.325
6. Becky Downie GBR 14.275
7. Enikoe Korcsmaros HUN 14.087
8. Anastasia Marachkovskaya BLR 14.075
R1. Verona van de Leur NED 14.050
R2. Marissa King GBR 14.050
R3. Valeria Maksyuta ISR 13.762

Oksana Tschussowitina and coach Shanna Poljakowa: heading foward toward the finals on vault and floor! – GYMmedia

Uneven Bar Finalists
1. Beth Tweddle GBR 15.925
2. Ksenia Semyonova RUS 15.875
3. Anastasia Koval UKR 15.575
4. Becky Downie GBR 15.425
5. Steliana Nistor ROM 15.400
6. Daria Zgoba UKR 15.375
7. Lia Parolari ITA 15.250
8. Karina Myasnikova RUS 15.125
R1. Marie-Sophie Hindermann GER 14.850
R2. Kristina Palesova CZE 14.800
R3. Lichelle Wong NED 14.775

Balance Beam Finalists
1. Sandra Izbasa ROM 15.875
2. Steliana Nistor ROM 15.800
3. Pauline Morel FRA 15.475
4. Marina Proskurina UKR 15.300
5. Vanessa Ferrari ITA 15.225
6. Lenika de Simone ESP 15.200
7. Alina Kozich UKR 15.100
8. Ksenia Semyonova RUS 15.025
R1. Oksana Chusovitina GER 14.975
R2. Laura Jones GBR 14.900
R3. Marta Pihan POL 14.825

Floor Exercise Finalists
1. Sandra Izbasa ROM 15.700
2. Beth Tweddle GBR 15.475
3. Cassy Vericel FRA 15.325
4. Anamaria Tamarjan ROM 15.125
5. Oksana Chusovitina GER 15.000
6. Alina Kozich UKR 14.900
7. Anna Pavlova RUS 14.875
8. Marine Petit FRA 14.875
R1. Vanessa Ferrari ITA 14.850
R2. Lia Parolari ITA 14.750
R3. Suzanne Harmes NED 14.650

Coverage:

Sadly, much of the talk is about the number of injuries. More evidence we need to reduce the number of counting skills from 10 to 8 or 6.

Oddly, there is no all-around competition this year. Why is that?