Author: Rick Mc

UPDATE – Olympic torch burned well on the highest mountain in the world.

(via The Adventure Blog)

==== original post Nov. 5, 2006:

Beijing is planning to take the Olympic Flame to Mount Everest as a stage on the Olympic Torch Relay to Beijing, an event of major symbolic importance starting by March, 2008. CTMA stated there will be a trial run of the torch ceremony on the mountain next spring.

Everest – Mount Everest by climbers, news

This is a gutsy move for China considering the amount of world media HEAT they will be taking over their invasion of Tibet in 1951.

And especially in light of the defenseless Tibetan refugees shot by the Chinese army recently, close to Everest.

Beijing had best plan for some good publicity, as well. Perhaps have goodwill envoy Jackie Chan carry it to base camp.

(via The Adventure Blog)

2007 Induction Ceremony, May 11, 2007, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.

… We will conduct our 11th annual induction dinner. The Class of 2007 all represent the highest possible achievement in our sport, and are so deserving of this recognition. The Board is pleased to announce the names of those to be honored:

The Class of 2007:

• Simona Amanar (Romania)
• Eberhard Gienger (Germany)
• Yelena Davydova (Russia)
• Shigeru Kasamatsu (Japan)

Gymbrooke Sports News » International Gymnastics Hall of Fame

Eberhard Gienger, Nadia Comaneci, Simona Amanar, and Yelena Davydova
ESPN

The names of Gienger and Kasamatsu are particularly well-remembered for important skills named after them.

Eberhard Gienger has had a most eventful life, eventually becoming a member of the German Parliament (CDU).

Statue in downtown Salt Lake City.

Leave a comment if you know of other good acrobatic statues we might post on this site.

I wonder how secure the cable anchors on the cliff edge were attached.

And who is this nut?

Click PLAY or watch the mad man do a hecht dismount from horizontal bar into the abyss on YouTube.

(via Chalk Bucket)

We’ve all seen kids who can put their knees into extreme flexion.

No damage done.

I still don’t like it. And try not to let the other kids encourage them to “practice” it.

larger original – flickr

larger original – flickr

Tungalag wrote:

I am interested to find a job as a contortion coach. I have experience since 1978. Used to work together with Angelic from the “O” show coach.

I am now in Las Vegas.

Peace, Tunga

mongoliancontortion @ yahoo.com

History of Mongolian Contortions

Karen Habegger posted on the Chalk Bucket forum. Here’s her company:

To assist you in the selection process, we invite you to visit our Song List page where you can listen to samples of our gymnastics music. Secure, online ordering is available 24/7 and in most cases, your competition CDs are mailed out the next business day.

Gymnastics Floor Music from Musical Designs

Leave a comment if you have other sites you like for gymnastics music.

One of the many things I like about NCAA gymnastics is that I get to see plenty of straddled casts to handstand. I’d estimate more than 90% of the casts at the 2007 Championships were straddled.

Small animation is Amanda Borden on ShanFan.com.

This flies in the face of the philosophy of many (most?) elite coaches who insist on legs together casts.

Q. Why do College gymnasts end up doing straddle-up?

A. Because it is too difficult to hit precise handstand consistently without form breaks on straight body.

Straight body cast is a frustrating skill.

I recall watching double Olympian Kate Richardson, one of the best gymnasts in the world at that time, working on doing straight body cast perfectly. She could not do it consistently in routine. (Look for the form breaks next time you watch an international FIG meet on TV.)

Straight body casting is only a target skill for me for very small, light kids.

The smart coach teaches both techniques: straight body and straddle up. (And does not allow straight body with feet apart.)

Carolina Star98 is a happy gym Mom.

She posted photos of her daughter’s successful camp summer of 2006 on the Chalk Bucket forum.

And she plans to send her daughter to flipfest again this year.

That’s the camp founded by Olympians John Macready and John Roethlisberger. Many of their international gymnast friends come to coach.

flipfest camp – official website

campers with coach Carly Patterson 2006

Does anyone know where this was taken?

If so, leave a comment below.

Thanks George.