Category: Gymnastics

U.S. Men underdogs at Worlds

Anyone with money to wager would pick CHN, JAP, RUS (not necessarily in that order) as the likely teams to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics from Worlds.

After listening to an interview with new Oklahoma assistant coach Chris Brooks (and others), I’m even more convinced USA could upset. If they hit. … If they hit H Bar.

The Americans will have lower difficulty potential but could finish top 3 by hitting more routines. The guys all have NCAA team experience and might benefit from past meets where they had to hit no matter what. They are very familiar with that pressure.

Note – the top 3 qualification is from prelims, not the Team final.

Update – Joel Gagnon corrected this.

Top 3 from the 2018 Worlds team final will qualify to Tokyo. 

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.

related – Yul Moldauer, Allan Bower Ready for World Championships

Yul Moldauer, Allan Bower Ready for World Championships

Max training Pommels in advance of Worlds

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

Alexander Dityatin interview

Aleksandr Dityatin won eight medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.

Gymnovosti translated a new interview where he reflects on his career, judging and prospects for the current Russian teams.

ALEXANDER DITYATIN: THE EXPERTS SAID I’D NEVER BECOME A GYMNAST

He was a tall, elegant and consistent competitor.

Click PLAY or watch some Rings on YouTube. (1980)

USAG names interim CEO

1. USAG needs a full-time CEO immediately.

2. The interim CEO is a former Republican Congresswoman who instantly ignited backlash from everyone I’ve seen on Twitter.

Including Simone Biles.

This is yet another poor decision in a long series of poor decisions. Needless to say, they needn’t bother approaching Nike for U.S. National team sponsorship. Ever.

Mary Bono.

training breathing for Beam

Interesting. Miss Val talks about breathing for Beam in her new book.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

(via Nick Ruddock)

hire Alicia Sacramone for a workshop

day 1 – VAULT LIKE A CHAMP, TUMBLE LIKE A CHAMP
day 2 – COMPETE LIKE A CHAMP, PLANNING

details

Alicia Sacramone 2008

Komova – full twisting Jaeger attempt

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Boi67x9BKCb/?igshid=1opyeu7raajl4

Vika is supposedly no longer training. But with Russia, you never know.

Worlds 2019 tickets on sale

Expen$ive. Stuttgart, Germany Oct. 4-13.

Qualification: € 30 (no differentiation between categories)

Team and All Around Finals: € 80 (Cat. I), € 65 (Cat. II), € 50 (Cat. III)

Apparatus Finals: € 90 (Cat. I), € 75 (Cat. II), € 60 (Cat. III)

Season ticket: € 620 (Cat. I)

*Children:
– 6-14 years (with valid ID): 25% discount (except on discount promotions)
– Children up to the age of 6 have free admission without seat entitlement

details

Anna Li’s 1,950 Beam series in a row

The great Anna Li is a new mom. Busy, busy.

Miss Val in her new book notes that Anna hit 1,950 Beam series without a fall near the end of her career. That’s consistency. Mental toughness. It was something she learned in College.

Ted St Martin hit 5,221 basketball free throws in a row. I reckon Anna’s feat is more impressive.

When UCLA won the 2010 NCAA National Championships, I gave greatest credit to Anna starting Beam every meet. Her teammates so confident she’d get the line-up rolling.