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Just outside the competition venue at Worlds is a luxury hotel in the shape of an Olympic torch. It has air conditioned access to a luxury shopping mall.
Japan, China and USA are staying there amongst others.
Aspire Tower, also known as The Torch Doha, is a 300-metre-tall (980 ft) skyscraper hotel located in the Aspire Zone complex in Doha, Qatar. …
… the focal point for the 15th Asian Games hosted by Qatar in December 2006. …
Like every other arriving visitor, I was wondering about the back story.
That’s a representation of the current Amir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani by Qatari artist Ahmed al-Maadheed.
It’s become symbolic of Qatar’s position in the 2017–18 diplomatic crisis. Qatar has been boycotted by a Saudi-led coalition.
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani became the 8th Amir of Qatar on 25 June 2013 after his father’s abdication. He’s only age-38 now.
A taxi driver told me he was a great and popular leader. But the Amir has his critics too.
I loved Nastia’s 10 skill routines for variety. But I might rank Nina’s 8 skill routine as even better.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
The third routine that jumps to mind is Beth Tweddle’s 2010 World Championships set.
Nina Derwael is European champion 2017, 2018. And 2017 Worlds Bronze medalist.
In the past podium has been a poor predictor of competition performance.
That said, here are my impressions for the team meet.
Strategy for the qualification round should be to GO CLEAN / EASY to meet your team rank goal … aside from those individuals trying for AA or Apparatus final. They must do enough difficulty to qualify.
If you make the final, consider upping difficulty.
After 2 days of non-stop MAG podium training, China is the team to beat. None of their guys has his ankles taped. They look strong. Clean. Ready. AND of course they are used to the TaiShan equipment.
Still … any of the top 5 teams could end up on the podium in the team final. Automatic qualification to Tokyo 2020 the prize for finishing top 3.
Kohei is only doing 4 apparatus. And Japan has other problems. But it would be a surprise if they miss top 3.
Russia should be the other qualifier. But they take more risks than any other team.
Either USA or GBR could be top 3 on a consistent, hit day. With Nile Wilson out, I’d give the edge to the Americans. They have a lot of NCAA experience in team / pressure situations.
As an aside, USA has long been known as a team with plenty of bulky muscle. This is the lightest American team I can recall.
Other nations have a goal of top 8. Some top 24 so they qualify a team to Worlds 2019.
Men’s gymnastics is always exciting. ANY team could be undone by a bad Pommel rotation 3-up, 3-count.
Twitter is the best way to follow the action LIVE. Especially Scott Bregman who is covering the meet for the Olympic Channel. Watch some of their VIDEOS.
Scott will be switching to OlympicChannel.com during the competition.
Congratulations to Doha for hosting the first Worlds in the Middle East despite the current Saudi-led coalition embargo against Qatar.
Israel is here. That’s a step in the right direction for World Peace. The Israeli anthem will be played if an Israeli gymnast wins gold. Sport can bring nations together.
Read the FIG wrap-up post –
Click PLAY or watch a preview edit on Twitter.
Most of the athletes have never used TaiShan apparatus before. It’s a test of who can adjust quickly.
For the most part the apparatus and the TaiShan crew looks to be good. A pommel broke today when European Champ Rhys McClenaghan was training. That’s odd.
Some of the guys told me the vault is hard. Landing mats hard.
Most of the discussion has been about Floor. Kenzo seemed to have trouble during podium training. Max and Dom seemed to be OK with it. Both Russians made triple back look easy.
Sam Oldham notes that the Senoh floor in Japan is soft. It has a bigger margin for error on take-off. Timing has to be more precise on the TaiShan.
I’m more worried for WAG — starting tomorrow — than MAG.
Heart this on Rene’s Instagram.
The Canadian women want matching leos. 😀
His right ankle has not recovered sufficiently to compete FX or Vault.
During podium training he deliberately rolled out of landings to protect the ankle as much as possible.
I finally saw the 2018 team in the training Gym.They radiate greatness.
It reminds me of the time I met Magic Johnson at UCLA. He seemed a God amongst men.
Alicia Sacramone impressed me that way. Peng Peng Lee, as well.
On the way to the training hall they stopped by to support their men’s team on podium at the competition venue.
Despite the pressure, happier and healthier than ever.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (15min)
Mary Wright on Facebook from Doha training:
Watching this beautiful young lady today is such an honor. She continues to grow and represent our sport and our athletes with class and dignity. Today, as I watched the Biles on Vault, the Double Twisting Double Layout on Floor and the
Double Double dismount off beam, I looked around at the absolute awe from the athletes and coaches from other countries. We all knew that what we were watching was an historical moment in gymnastics history. The greatest women’s gymnast of all time, IS JUST BEING
(via Fluff)
Simone’s been training the new Beam dismount. But will not do it at Worlds, I understand.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 