Author: Rick Mc

difficulty plus execution posted a singularly terrible photo of Steliana Nistor and some interesting commentary:

… Yes, her vault and her uneven bars are gross, and her floor is boring, and her beam not OMGYAY, and she didn’t deserve the scores she got. …

So, even with her crappy ugly form, and everything gymnastics purists dislike her for, I’m still going to keep cheering for Miss Nistor. Of course, I really, really hope she cleans up and upgrades and all that nice stuff, but overall, I’m pulling for her to do well in Beijing because she’s a sweet girl and she deserves more support. …

difficulty plus execution – My All-Around Dilemma

I went back to look at some video of Steliana to see if she was really this bad.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube:

OK, her form and line are bad. Not terrible, but bad.

Still, I’ve stopped predicting the collapse of the Romanian Women’s Gymnastics Team, having been proven wrong so many times in the past.

Romania will be competitive in Beijing. Likely with Steliana Nistor contributing. They are a proud gymnastics nation.

I love opening the gym for parents with their preschoolers.

Here, for example, is one happy customer:

… A friend suggested meeting for a play date at Funtastics, our local gymnasium. Every Wednesday and Friday morning, from 9:30-11:30 AM, Funtastics opens their 11,000 square foot gymnasium for open play, known as “Indoor Playground.” What a treat! My 1-1/2 year old daughter had a blast, and played so hard she fell asleep in the car driving home. And I loved, well, pretty much everything…

… Cost to use the Indoor Playground is $6.00 per family for up to 3 children, $10.00 per family for 4 or more children. $5.00 additional charge for non-members. Membership is $30.00 per year. Believe you me, I got a membership, as we will for sure be returning to Funtastics Indoor Playground frequently.

Funtastics Indoor Playground – 1K to do

The main problem is getting insurance coverage for this type of class.

Having coached girls in both systems, I find the American model far superior.

Not perfect. But better than the overly-complex, too frequently-revised Canadian judging regulations.

The biggest advantage of the American system is that more girls can get into competitions in the U.S.A. — the entry levels far more welcoming.

Every grandmother of every child understands the scoring and advancement process.

Here are the Level 5 girls from just one medium sized club. We would never have so many girls of this ability level competing in Canada.

Click PLAY or watch Funtastics Level 5 girls team on YouTube.

2008 Great West Gym Fest

Only 4 Canadians competed in this competition of 1500+ athletes. It’s very difficult to train Canadian routines, then travel to the States for competition under American rules. I wish Canada would adopt the American system.

At 1000 Singapore dollars (US $716 / year), this service looks expensive to me. It’s geared for Colleges and Universities, I think.

I won’t be subscribing.

There are some interesting video demos posted for free, however.

We are glad to announce the launch of Sports Science in Sporting Successâ„¢ (SSSSâ„¢). Developed by a team of sport specialists from the National Institute of Education, Singapore, SSSSâ„¢ is a scientific and holistic approach to understanding and practising the principles of science during training and competition. …

To subscribe to SSSS or to register for a 1-week free trial, please log on … Submit your details at Subscription Form and select 1 year subscription. Since this is a free trial, we will not bill you. The subscription fee is S$1000 per year for unlimited access. Maximum 50 users (concurrent access) allowed at any one time.

Dr Michael Chia
National Institute of Education
Singapore
Nanyang Technological University
Singapore

Sports Science in Sporting Successâ„¢

by Rick McCharles, site editor

UPDATE

After talking to John Carney from Gym East, I changed my travel schedule to include his brand new competition March 1-2 at the Seattle Convention Center.

The competition is full and closed. They’ve posted a list of participating teams (900+ athletes).

One highlight will be ladies white Harley Davidson leather jackets given as awards.

Battle in Seattle – home page

I am a big fan of Gym East gymnastics and John’s coaching style. Some examples:

“Wall of Death” – flyaway video

free hip circle drills on bars

Ritchie Foam & Mattress Co. from North Carolina contacted us. Compare their product if you are shopping for foam cubes. They are very competitive.

Ritchie Foam & Mattress Co.

Seems the most often spotted skill in competition in 2008 is this one — sometimes called “shoot half” on Bars.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

This is not really a “safety” spot.

Most often, I think, the gymnast is more confident IF the coach stands in. She has a better chance of catching closer to handstand with the spotter there.

(I did not get the name of this coach at the Chicago Style competition 2008, unfortunately.)

Anna Marie Niemeir, 14, of Missoula, performs her floor routine before judges at the 2008 Great West Gym Fest at the Coeur d’Alene Resort Convention Center on Saturday.

SEAN GARMIRE/Press

… Dani Crane, 15, said she also enjoys meeting other gymnasts, as well as meeting some of the Olympic athletes who attended the event.

“They share their stories with us about training and stuff. It’s really cool,” Crane said.

Among those attending were gold winning Olympians like Shannon Miller, the most decorated gymnast – male or female – in the U.S.; Stoyan Deltchev, for whom the impossibly difficult Deltchev maneuver on the uneven bars was named; and Carly Patterson, the all-around gold-winner in the 2004 summer Olympics.

“The kids really love it,” Deltchev said waiting in a Coeur d’Alene penthouse suite for the next event.

Deltchev said the young athletes don’t remember his 1980 Olympic win or recognize his face, but when they hear his name “they say ‘oh that’s the guy the move is named after.'”

This is Deltchev’s third year attending the event. He said he continues to return because of the quality of the meet.

“Everything here is at a super high level,” he said.

Miller, a gymnastics ambassador who hosts her own extended cable network television show, “Gymnastics 360 with Shannon Miller,” agreed with Deltchev.

“It’s exciting and fun for the athletes, and it’s one of the most well organized invitationals in the U.S.,” she said.

Gym Fest gets rolling – CDAPress.com

Note – The photo of Deltchev shows him doing “Spagat” (splits) on rings, not the Deltchev release.

Great West Gym Fest – official website

Nice ad.

gym divas leos