Category: ethics

proposed changes in Vault values

From this list I’d say Rudi looks the most over-valued. (Smart to train.)

It’s very similar to Kasamatsu + 1/1 (what WAG calls Tsuk double twist) yet that vault is worth 0.2 less.

– Produnova (7.0 > 6.4)
– Rudi (6.2 > 5.8)
– Tsukahara full (5.2 > 4.8)
– Tsukahara 1.5 (5.5 > 5.2)
– Tsukahara double full (6.0 > 5.6)
– Tsukahara 2.5 (6.5 > 6.0)
– FTY (5.0 > 4.6)
– 1.5 Yurchenko (5.3 > 5.0)
– DTY (5.8 > 5.4)
– Amanar (6.3 > 5.8)
– Lopez (5.6 > 5.2)
– “Mustafina” (6.0 > 5.6)
– Cheng (6.4 > 6.0)

… The vault devaluations are to account for the gymnasts losing 0.5 in requirements on the other three apparatuses. Requirements are worth 2.0 instead of 2.5.

papaliukin

Personally I’d prefer the Produnova be banned rather than count on FIG WTC to massage the rules to the point where dangerous ones are no longer attempted.

Click PLAY or watch some Rudis on YouTube. (2013)

What woman competed the best Rudi all time? Alicia?

Leave a comment if you have an opinion.

female Olympic gymnasts getting older

… Puberty was a difficult period of transition for the gymnasts in Kerr’s study, but not the end of the line. If there were more awareness of that light at the end of the tunnel, fewer gymnasts might opt to retire—or be retired—when they hit that point.

Sometimes, gymnasts who push through find their adult bodies are capable of better gymnastics. American Anna Li’s elite career was a nonstarter when she was a teenager. It was only after doing NCAA gymnastics and returning to the elite scene in her 20s that she broke through. She competed one of the hardest bars routines in the world in 2012 and was named an alternate to the Olympic team. …

Kerr sees a shift in coaching philosophies as one of the biggest factors in the rise of older gymnasts. …

Despite being the youngest sport in Rio, age of gymnasts is going up

medalswon2

Produnova downgraded from 7.0 to 6.4

I’d be happy if FIG WTC banned the Handspring double front vault for WAG (for now). And that Handspring triple front for MAG (for now).

Both are far too dangerous.

Oksana

Alternatively the vault must be better evaluated to the point where there is ZERO chance of making a vault final for a very dangerous performance. Will FIG’s proposed changes fix the problem?

Beyond Rio: Skills’ Difficulty Values Changed, Will the Produnova Craze End?

I’m not so sure. 😦

via papaliukin – 2017-2020 COP Drafts

The Olympic Movement – where does the money go?

Its members call it, with an almost religious conviction, “the Olympic Movement,” or “the Movement” for short, always capitalized.

At the very top of “the Movement” sits the International Olympic Committee, a nonprofit run by a “volunteer” president who gets an annual “allowance” of $251,000 and lives rent-free in a five-star hotel and spa in Switzerland.

At the very bottom of “the Movement” — beneath the IOC members who travel first-class and get paid thousands of dollars just to attend the Olympics, beneath the executives who make hundreds of thousands to organize the Games, beneath the international sports federations, the national sport federations and the national Olympic committees and all of their employees — are the actual athletes …

“The athletes are the very bottom of a trickle-down system, and there’s just not much left for us,” said Cyrus Hostetler, 29, a Team USA javelin thrower and two-time Olympian who said the most he’s ever made in one year in his career, after expenses, is about $3,000. “They take care of themselves first, and us last.” …

USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus makes $854,000, and national swim team director Frank Busch makes $346,000; their swimmers competing in Rio next month can make monthly stipends that cap at $42,000 per year. USA Triathlon CEO Rob Urbach makes $362,000 while Team USA triathletes compete for stipends that range from about $20,000 to $40,000 a year. The coach of the USA Rowing women’s team makes $237,000 while his rowers vie for stipends that max out at about $20,000 per year. (U.S. Olympic athletes are given an additional stipend if they win a gold, silver or bronze medal.) …

Washington Post – Olympic executives cash in on a ‘Movement’ that keeps athletes poor (July 30, 2016)

Olympic budget

The IOC does many good things, of course. But as one of their frequent volunteers, I do feel remuneration for administrators is far too high.

Tumble Tots and Teens needs help

Tumble Tots and Teens is a recreational gymnastics gym in Crowley, Louisiana run by Debbie Jabusch since 1981.

The gym was under water by two feet during the recent flooding and they have lost most of their equipment. 😦

They are trying to raise money to help get the club back operational. Spread the word.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

diversity can be unifying

Miss Val:

… (UCLA) is like the United Nations.”

Danusia: Jamaican and Polish, looks Black but has blond hair.
Sadiqua: Black with a mohawk.
Sophina: Puerta Rican and Black with died blue hair.
Peng: Chinese Canadian with her traditional elegant bun.
Angi: Hispanic
Mikaela: One of the few blond Anglo-Saxons.

He said, “I’m not talking about how they look. I’m talking about how you encourage them to develop and celebrate their own personal style.”

“Your team proves that celebrating diversity can actually be unifying versus divisive.” …

The Power of a Mohawk

SadiquaBynum

UCLA was the most entertaining team for me last season. I believe they’ll be even stronger this year.

Hamblin & D’Agostino Olympic sportsmanship medals

I love Olympic stories like these. 🙂

They have been awarded the Pierre de Coubertin medal, which has only been awarded previously 17 times in Olympic history.

Hamblin tripped and fell during the semi-final race and brought D’Agostino crashing down behind her.

D’Agostino was quickly up on her feet, but then stopped and helped Hamblin up and encouraged her to run with her. But the American then realised she had injured her knee – in fact she had torn her anterior cruciate ligament – and urged Hamblin to race on. But the Kiwi refused to leave her side and they completed the race together.

Nikki Hamblin and Abbey D’Agostino awarded Olympic medals for sportsmanship

hamblin-fall-rio
VIDEO

Thanks Jeremy.

1st Iranian woman to win Olympic medal

One goal of the Olympics is to break down barriers. Here’s some history for us. 🙂

Bronze medal in Taekwondo 57kg.

kezia-iran-getty
‘I am so happy for Iranian girls’

Rio 2016: Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin becomes first Iranian woman to win Olympic medal