Author: Rick Mc

I was a big fan of sole circle swings on bars. But recently I am seeing far too many of them.

Can’t we do more to penalize overuse of similar skills? Or, better, reward gymnasts who show a wide variety of skills?

For example, check the loaded routine of Ksenia Semyonova at the 2007 WOGA Classic.

Too many sole circle elements “piked inverted swing” elements for you?

CLICK PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Semyonova, current Russian Champion, who turns 15 in October, was not eligible for the Senior competition at Europeans. She will be eligible for the world championships in Stuttgart, because 2007 is a qualifying year for the Olympics.

It feels like she has the right timing and momentum to challenge for the Olympic AA title in 2008.

Shawn Johnson led a U.S. sweep of the women’s all-around medals at the Pan Am Games, held Monday afternoon in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The 15-year-old Iowan scored 61.725 to claim the title over teammates Rebecca Bross (61.050) and Ivana Hong (59.375).

Johnson and Bross, who each scored 15.100 on floor exercise in the first rotation, clinched their respective medals on beam in the final rotation. Johnson nailed her routine for the highest mark of the day, 16.175, with Bross earning the second-highest mark (15.925).

After three rotations, Brazil’s own Jade Barbosa led Johnson by .1 after her Yurchenko 2 1/2 vault earned a 15.850. Barbosa fell out of the medals with a missed routine on her final event, uneven bars. Hong, who also suffered a fall on bars in the fourth rotation, managed to earn the bronze over Barbosa by .050.

2007 Pan American Games
July 16, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Women’s All-Around Final
1. Shawn Johnson USA 61.725
2. Rebecca Bross USA 61.050
3. Ivana Hong USA 59.375
4. Jade Barbosa BRA 59.325
5. Peng Peng Lee CAN 57.300
5. Daniele Hypolito BRA 57.300

International GYMNAST Magazine Online

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil: Venezuela’s Jose Luis Fuentes won the all-around men’s gymnastics on Sunday, giving his nation the second Pan American Games gold medal of the day.

Fuentes finished with a total of 90.450 points, edging Colombia’s Jorge Hugo Giraldo (89.450) and American Guillermo Alvarez (87.900) at the Rio Multisport Arena.

Fuentes won four of the six apparatus — pommel horse, rings, parallel bar and the high bar.

… Cuba’s Eric Lopez Rios had won gold in the previous three Pan American Games.

International Herald Tribune

(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Jose Luis Fuentes of Venezuela reacts after sticking his landing in the still ring competition during the individual all-around gymnastic finals in the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, July 15, 2007.

ESPN – Gymnastics Photo Wire

Seems there is far less media coverage than in the past. But thanks to ESPN for carrying it.

…ESPN will provide unmatched, daily coverage of the 15th edition of the Pan American Games live from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 13–29. Coverage of the Pan American Games will be featured on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN360.com, ESPN Deportes Radio, ESPNdeportes.com and ESPN Deportes La Revista. …

ESPN Deportes, the company’s Spanish-language network in the United States, will offer at least 10 hours of daily coverage starting with Opening Ceremonies …

News: ESPN will provide multimedia coverage of 2007 Pan American Games

(via Gym Chat)

I visited NICA in Melbourne last January and was VERY impressed:

What We Do

NICA provides professional training through a three-year Bachelor of Circus Arts, preparing students from across Australia and around the world for exciting careers in all facets of the circus industry.

Based at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, NICA is the only training institution of its kind in Australia.

Our students graduate with awe-inspiring circus and performance skills and are equipped to work nationally and internationally. …

NICA offers short courses for children, teenagers and adults, and supports the circus industry with professional development and master classes.

about NICA

Auditioning for one of the top Circus schools is still the best way to pursue a career in circus. Staying strong and injury-free is highest priority.

Many high level artistic gymnasts find the work load easier at Circus school than at their clubs.

Men’s Gymnastics Team Competition is VERY competitive around the World.

I am not all that surprised that tiny Puerto Rico (pop. 4million) knocked off the USA (300 million) and Brazil (190 million).

Under the new FIG code of points, your team score can drop by several points for a single error.

But this is a fantastic result for Puerto Rico. Congratulations to everyone in gymnastics on the island!

“It’s a historic medal,” gymnast Tommy Ramos said. “I’m not surprised because we have worked hard for this and always believed we would succeed.”

Puerto Rico wins historic gold in men’s team gymnastics at Pan Ams – International Herald Tribune

GymnasticsResults.com

Favourites USA had problems early on. But I still have faith they will rank in the top 12 at Worlds 2007. The team is definitely on the upswing. Details on the American performance:
U.S. men win bronze at Pan Am Games – WCSN

I’ve been twice to Gymnastrada in the past. And certainly wish I could have been there in Austria. Looks like this was the best ever.

Photos from the FIG Gala:

Esthetics from SCHWEDEN… light, playful, but with total assurance!

Precision and elegance from JAPAN…

GymFamily.Com FIG Gala

GYMmedia.com has a section of their website dedicated to coverage of the event which wrapped up July 14th.

GYMNAESTRADA 2007

ORLANDO, Fla. — An Alabama woman died after she fell 15 feet from an apartment balcony, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Jessica Ashley Hawkins, 20, asked two friends to take her to the hospital after she struck the ground headfirst Thursday evening. …

Hawkins lost consciousness in the car on the way to the hospital, according to a sheriff’s incident report. …

The investigation revealed nothing had gotten out of hand,” Solomons said. “By all appearances, this is just a very, very tragic accident.”

FOXNews.com – Woman Dies Doing Handstand on Balcony – Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

Thanks Jacob Small.

Keeping up a great tradition of success in acrobatic sports, the fans in Rio had much to cheer about.

Members of the women’s Brazilian gymnastics national team salute the crowd after winning the silver medal in the team competition of the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, July 14, 2007. The US took the gold, and Mexico took the bronze.

(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

ESPN – Gymnastics Photo Wire

Canada’s Jared Walls performs on the high bar during the men’s qualifying round and team competition of the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, July 14, 2007. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

ESPN – Gymnastics Photo Wire (Click NEXT or PREVIOUS to see more gymnastics photos from Brazil.)

Jared was married in June, by the way. Congratulations!

And he qualified for the Final on horizontal bar.