Category: Gymnastics

Larrissa Miller to Rio

Emily Little and Lauren Mitchell will be alternates.

Gaudry, Miller and Prince to leap, fly and twist in Rio

After years of training and dedication three Australian gymnasts have been named to compete at the Rio Olympic Park in August. Rhythmic gymnast Danielle Prince will make her Olympic debut, while trampolinist Blake Gaudry and artistic gymnast Larrissa Miller get the chance to build on their London 2012 performances. …

related – Japanese Olympic Team has been named | 2016 All-Japan Event Championships Results

Catalina Ponor to Rio?

Romania will send either Cata or Larisa Iordache. Both wonderful. Either would have a good chance for finals.

Larisa is the better gymnast. And I assumed Larisa would end up being the Olympian.

But Larisa is not competing. (Hand injury.) Cata is. And very successfully.

Click PLAY or watch her Floor on YouTube.

Click PLAY or watch her Beam on YouTube.

I recently heard a great Ponor story. While training in Puerto Rico, she climbed on to the Beam. Did not fall or jump down for 55 minutes. 🙂

bias against Chinese gymnasts?

The Art of Gymnastics blog posted a thoughtful overview on the perception of Chinese gymnasts in Western media and general gymnastics fans.

Coaches and judges love Chinese gymnastics, especially Bars & Beam. Every insider I know feels China will be amongst the top 3 teams in Rio.

But I would agree that popular western media a bit unbalanced in coverage.

Read the post for yourself – Body Bias and Micro-Aggression: A Case Study in Lopsided Scrutiny

Shang Chunsong is used as an example. Shang is listed at 1.40m (4 ft 7 in), 35kg (77 lb).

There are many Chinese women this small. Shang’s not underage.

mass of Olympians

If Bela Karolyi or anyone else hints that she’s underage, he should be called out.

That said, China has deliberately cheated in the past. I’m more suspicious of that nation than others. (I’m more suspicious of Russia as a nation than others when it comes to doping, as well.)

Trust, but verify. 🙂

Thanks Cordelia.

meet gymnast John Willis

John tried Artistic at Huntingdon Gymnastics Club.

Adam

John Willis, founder and Power2Inspire’s CEO (born without forearms or lower legs) is participating in all Olympic and Paralympic events in the run up to the 2016 Games in Rio.

(via Rec Gymnastics)

Ashton Locklear – 9.450 E-score Bars

Some are complaining that score is too high. Close to perfect is 9.1 E-score, according to the good ladies of FIG.

But I’m alright with this evaluation. This routine is extremely clean.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Eddie Penev – 9.8 E-score Vault

Awesome. But I wouldn’t go as high as 9.8.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I wouldn’t go 9.7 for Paul Ruggeri.

Compare with Sam’s much more realistic 9.35 E-score.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Sam Peszek interview

The Skating Lesson:

Sam Peszek is a gymnastics success story. The 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist, 2007 World Champion, 17-time All-American and 3-time NCAA Champion graduated from UCLA with honors in 2015 and embarked on a commentary career. Peszek’s outgoing personality is coupled with a driven, Type-A personality. The Olympian has quickly excelled at commentary and has even started an Instagram account, TheGympire, with former teammate Alicia Sacramone, aimed at promoting physical fitness and specific exercise challenges.

We caught up with Sam Peszek about her career, her workout tips and her predictions for the upcoming Olympic Trials.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (1hr)

Brittany Rogers “proudly still functioning”

How’s that simultaneous NCAA & Elite thing working out? 🙂

She’s very much in the running for Canada’s Olympic team.