Category: Gymnastics

Carlos Yulo – Podium Floor

My biggest highlight of Men’s podium training  for me was some kid in baggy shorts and t-shirt on Floor.

Hey, that’s Carlos Yulo, the 2018 Bronze medalist.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. He’s looking even BETTER this year.

Max Whitlock – Podium Pommel

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

Daria SPIRIDONOVA – Qualification Bars

Great competition for Russia. Especially Floor and Bars.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/Pamchenkova/status/1180495839489413122

China the favourite in Men’s team

Coming into Stuttgart I was thinking that this is Russia’s year. So much difficulty. And Russia has been quite consistent.

Then I watched China in podium training. They have a big advantage over Russia on Pommels and P Bars. Can RUS make up that difference on the other 4 apparatus?

Click PLAY or watch some China training on YouTube.

 

Ellie Downie – Cheng

Ellie had a surprising bad day in preliminaries. But leads Vault qualification so far with DTY and this awesome Cheng.

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

watch the Netherlands march-in

Click PLAY or see it on Twitter

Men’s podium training photos

Day 2.

You can see why gymnasts need to condition lateral flexion. It’s essential for twisting.

Click over to Inside Gymnastics to see more photos like this.

LIN Chaopan, CHN

World Championships WAG – day 2

Officially, here are  the 12 teams qualified to Tokyo 2020.

From 2018
1. USA
2. Russia
3. China

In Stuttgart:

1. United States 174.205
2. China 169.161
3. Russia 168.080 

Belgium!

4. France
5. Canada
6. Netherlands
7. Great Britain
8. Italy
9. Germany
10. Belgium
11. Japan
12. Spain

13. Australia

Down under they’ll be complaining that a draw in the first session cost them a team spot in the Olympics. I believe the Aussies are right. Scores DID escalate over the two days.

Brazil will be even more disappointed. Jade Barbosa was injured during the competition. They ended up finishing 14th.

Spain is the happiest nation. Roxana Popa made it back, her first Worlds since 2015. AND she qualified for Tokyo. All that rehab and training paid off.

  • Though it will be some weeks before FIG publishes the medical report from Stuttgart, I’m quite sure there have been fewer injuries on the competition floor (so far) than at past Worlds. Vault remains the most dangerous apparatus; competition landing mats the greatest risk.
  • biggest story of the day was Russia competing well with no falls after DRAMA, DRAMA, DRAMA leading up to this competition.

https://twitter.com/russiangymstan/status/1180506088199921669

  • a bigger story would have been Japan not qualifying to their own Olympics after not naming Worlds #2 2018 Mai Murakami to Stuttgart. Happily, the team did a great job and did qualify. Whew.
  • Melnikova was the single biggest AA performance up to the USA. Looks great.

  • Argentina the fastest rising team in 2019. Respect for those athletes and coaches.
  • GBR did have a bad meet. They are relieved to have qualified. Ellie Downie killed it as last Vault for the team, qualifying to the apparatus final.
  • many nations around the world had no legal way to watch the competition. Some tried watching the FIG YouTube stream using a VPN and logging in from places that had no purchased broadcast rights. Egypt, for example. We continue to do a crappy job of marketing this wonderful sport.
  • NED made Netherlands and the rest of the world nervous after a shaky start on Beam. They finished strong to get to Tokyo. One of the most entertaining and artistic competitors.
  • Giulia Steingruber (age 25) is back too. So much leg power. Impressive. But neither her Swiss team nor Hungary could break into the top 12 for Olympic qualification.
  • Eythora Thorsdottir was my favourite Floor routine, so far. Zero deduction for Artistry. I felt her score was too low.
  • Make no mistake. Italy could be top 3. Soon. Soon. So much potential. But it didn’t happen today.

Finally, I’m happy for the home crowd that Germany did qualify a full team to Tokyo.