tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports … and more
Check this post on the Beijing Olympic Games 2008 blog:
Getting to Beijing Getting around Beijing Accommodation Eating Olympic tickets How to save money on a trip to the Olympics » Beijing Olympic Games 2008
Related: Can you still get a hotel room for the Beijing Olympics?
… Throughout her elite career she has been trained by former Russian acrobat Evgeny Marchenko. Her teammates at WOGA have included 2004 Olympic champion Carly Patterson and two-time U.S. national champion Nastia Liukin.
Vise is best remembered for her gold medals at the 2003 World Championships in the team and uneven bars events.
Hollie Vise – Wikipedia
I loved Hollie’s bars and beam from the first time I saw her compete as a Junior in Canada. Though she won Worlds 2003 on bars, she sadly did not qualify for the 2004 Olympics.
Last year Hollie competed only beam for Oklahoma. I’m hearing rumours she may compete beam and bars this season. I hope so.
I was reminded of her by a video clip from around 2000 when she was an up-and-coming talent. Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Sooners bio.
Hollie’s official website.
Event Final Worlds 2003more photos – Gymbox.net
An excellent, original, detailed article with great graphics and video animations. It’s posted on the useful Skills and Drills website.
I’ve linked to it before. And will again.
Steve Bonham, Georgia Southern University, lays out “Body Awareness Drills” that build a strong foundation for skill development.
It’s long. I’ve summarized the major headings:
THE DRILLS:
Drills for Body Segment Stabilization
Pressure Stand Standing Tips Kneeling Handstand Candle Wall Handstand Half-Wall Handstand PullMe-PullYou Drills for Sensitizing Learners to Basic Movement Patterns
Rock’n’Roll Inchworm PushAway Push-up&Away
I spent a fair bit of time trying to follow his logic.
I conclude: there are some excellent drills included. But many more and better drills could be added. This list is by no means comprehensive.
I’ll be very disappointed if Alicia doesn’t qualify for the Olympics. She is the perfect captain for the US Team.
I don’t normally post gymnastics meet promos unless we are attending them. But this one caught my eye.
I love GYMNOVA equipment, but it’s so bloody expensive in Canada, most clubs cannot afford it. At this competition in Ontario, Canada, they will be selling at a 30% reduction. That might just possibly bring it in your price range.
The competition entry fees are — $85 / gymnast, $20 / coach — so it should be good. Complain if it is not a good meet, at those prices. (Compare what you get in the USA for the same entry fee.)
Contact All Star Gymnastics in Brampton, Ontario for details on the competition.
John Andrews details what you might not know about fast food “healthy choices”:
The movie Supersize Me has probably had more of an effect than the producers anticipated. Since then, in the fast food industry, there has been a market trend promoting menu items that appear to be healthy. But most of these menu items have ingredients that health conscious consumers would prefer to avoid. …
Bad “healthy” choices revealed from:
Burger King Taco Bell Wendy’s Subway KFC
Surprise Ingredients In Fast Food
ALL WE NEED IS EXERCISE – on Flickr by Way of Living
No one I know liked the effeminate style of the first modern Olympic gymnastics medallist from Greece, but you must admit his routine in Atlanta was as “clean” as any ever shown.
Click PLAY or watch the gold medal set on YouTube.
Melissanidis was astonishingly talented on Floor and Vault, but terribly inconsistent. You’d never guess after seeing his routine in Atlanta.
… Melissanidis began training gymnastics and classical ballet at the age of 9 and a half. His parents were not originally supportive of the idea, and, according to Melissanidis, only relented and took him to the Spartakos Thessaloniki gymnastics club after he refused to eat for two days. …
Melissanidis continued competing after 1996, winning the vault title at the 1998 European Championships in St. Petersburg. He represented Greece at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, but, struggling with injury, competed only on vault and high bar. …
Melissanidis has two vaults named after him in the Code of Points; both are variations of the Yurchenko double back. …
In recent years, Melissanidis has been active in various social and athletic causes. He is a member of Greenpeace, and, in 2003, publicly supported the Melina Mercouri Foundation’s campaign to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece. He was also one of the torchbearers in the 2004 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony in Athens.
In 2004, Melissanidis graduated from Aristotle University in Thessaloniki with a degree in medical science.
Ioannis Melissanidis – Wikipedia
I was reminded of his tumbling after watching a montage of some of the best combination tumbling being done in men’s gymnastics on Gymblog.
Tumble Tots is the “biggest mobile gym franchise” in the UK.
It’s worth looking at this successful business model which does reach out internationally:
Tumble Tots has been operating a successful Franchise Network since 1979 and many franchisees have benefited from the opportunity. To see what they have to say about Tumble Tots and the difference being a Tumble Tots Franchisee has made to their lives, read on…
Franchise Opportunities
Recommended from the Tumble Tots shop are the Sing-a-Long Action Song CDs.
(via Preschool Gymnastics)
Consider giving a week of gymnastics camp as a gift to that special someone. One of three Camp Woodward locations, for example. It’s a great motivator for athletes and coaches.
I plan to be back for my 4th year at Woodward West in 2008. That’s a gym camp in paradise.
Most of the videos I’ve posted have been of incredible Charlie Tamayo, but Woodward is for all levels of ability.
Coach Don Eckert posted a clip tagged: “A little bit of everything about Woodward West …”
Click PLAY or watch the Saltocafe video on YouTube.
Tip:
I love single leg squats. But there is a slight risk of injury to the supporting knee. Better to balance with one or two hands when you train them from stand.
… Lift one leg directly in front of you, parallel with the floor (leg should be straight). Bend the supporting leg 90 degrees and press back up. Hands should be used only for balance and NOT for assistance in returning to a standing position. Repeat the exercise on the other leg.
From the GymSports New Zealand November 2007 newsletter (PDF) – Coaching | NZ Gymnastics
Gymnastics Coaching.com 