Russia’s seven-time Olympic medallist in artistic gymnastics, Aliyá Mustáfina calls herself “unbreakable”.
Why? “Because I absolutely don’t care who thinks what about me,” she told Olympic Channel in an exclusive interview.
Since her country’s COVID-19 quarantine was lifted, Mustáfina is back to full-time training during the week and spending her weekends with her three-year-old daughter Alisa. …
The 25-year-old is the subject of an Olympic Channel film entitled ‘Life in the Day of Aliyá Mustáfina’ where she talks about how she always enjoyed competing against Aly Raisman and now Simone Biles. …
EXCLUSIVE! ALIYÁ MUSTÁFINA: “I’M PROBABLY THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE TO MYSELF.”
Category: history
Female FIG MAG judges
KENSLEY BEHEL:
… Where are all the female judges in Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG)?
With 852 MAG Brevet level judges worldwide, only 13 are female. …
… It wasn’t until 2013 when Great Britian’s Nikki Hanley became the first woman to judge men’s gymnastics at the World Championships …
While Nikki was the first female MAG Brevet judge to judge at a world championships, Australia’s Kath Graham was the first known woman to pass the MAG Brevet exam. After passing the exam in 1989, and each successive 4 years after that, she was repeatedly denied accreditation by the International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG). The FIG was contacted for comment and noted that they had no records regarding the first female Brevet judges.
Finally, in 2001, Kath was approved to begin judging, however, it wasn’t until 2005 that she became the first Brevet-level female to judge MAG internationally. Kath’s first assignment was the University Games in Izmir. The following year, she became the first female to judge the Commonwealth Games. …
History of Female Brevet Judges in Men’s Artistic Gymnastics
In my experience in Canada, females have always been welcome to judge boys.
I recall writing the FIG exam with Joanie Fortin from Quebec, one of the best judges in the room. Joanie got lots of respect from the old boys club there, most of whom scored lower.
NEW Simone Biles TV feature
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
1978 Gymnastics competition in China
The first competition in China where western nations were invited: Romania, Japan and Canada included.
A Friendly Gathering of Gymnasts: 1978 Shanghai International Gymnastics Friendship Invitation Tournament
Friendship first. Competition second.
Nadia was there. Elfie Schlegel.
Philip Delesalle showing Flair on Pommels.
It’s a typical Communist film of the era. Well edited. Airport arrivals. Banquet. Dancing. And a few competition highlights.
Google translates the video below as Melody of Beauty (Xinying 1978 Documentary).
Watch it on Youku, a Chinese video site.
Click PLAY or watch some Chinese highlights on YouTube.
British Columbia Gymnastics history
One anecdote from the great Willy Weiler who was with the Canadian Military:
In the spring of 1963, after arriving as champion of the Pan Am Games in Sao Paulo, I was transferred to Chilliwack, BC.
The base had no equipment for me to train on for the upcoming 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. I traveled 3 times a week to UBC to train …
So that I could do more practicing at the base, I purchased a horizontal bar and built the uprights for it. My previous experience in Rastatt, Germany of digging a 4 foot trench outside the gym and padding it with sawdust came in handy. …
That comes from a document celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Gymnastics B.C.
History buffs can download a copy for themselves:
British Columbia Gymnastics history (pdf)
University of Calgary drops competitive Gymnastics
Bad news.
The last Canadian University with an elite competitive program is no more.
Head Coach Tony Smith:
On June 30, 2020 the University of Calgary ended its relationship with the Competitive Gymnastics program.
With severe budget cuts from the Provincial government and the subsequent Covid 19 crisis, it became impossible to financially continue operating the program.
The U of C have developed competitive gymnasts since 1967, and produced CWUAA, CIAU, Canadian, Pan Am, FISU Games, Pacific Rim, Commonwealth, and World medalists. In 2008, half of the men’s Olympic team came from the U of C.
Many of the parents and coaches of the existing program are looking into a new facility, and hope to continue the tradition with a new club. It will never be the University of Calgary, but what we all learned from our time there can certainly be taught to future generations.
(I’ll stick around to help this one get started)
I feel like the luckiest Dino of all time, I spent 37 years at the U of C gym, and was privileged to train with, work with, and coach some incredible people.
There were so many individuals that influenced, inspired, and supported me to live my dream, and if you’re reading this, you’re probably one of them.
Die for the Dino,
Tony Smith
U of C coach
1989-2020
Boris Verkhovsky on the origin of Trampoline Wall Acts
It started in Vegas.
Cirque du Soleil Mystère.
YES many Gyms had trampolines beside walls. Taiso Saskatoon, for example.
But it was Cirque who first popularized and professionalized trampoline wall acts. Each of their shows evolved variations of the act.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. Boris is one of the Head Coaches.
R.I.P. Lu Shanzhen
Former Chinese gymnastics team head coach Lu Shanzhen died of a heart attack at home in Beijing on Saturday, according to the Chinese Gymnastics Association (CGA).
Lu, 63, was well known for his excellence as a coach and for leading Team China to historical heights, including the first women’s World Championship team title in 2006 and first women’s Olympic team gold in 2008. …
Kurt Thomas documentary
Kurt died unexpectedly of a stroke at age-64. What a shame.
If you don’t know his story, watch this entertaining new documentary. He was a cocky kid from a poor background.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (24min)
Tatiana Groshkova – double full-in, back-out
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 