Valeri Liukin replaces Martha Karolyi

As expected. Congratulations Valeri.

“We are at the highest level there is,” said Liukin. “It’s not going to be easy – it shouldn’t be – but I have been a part of this team for many years in one way or another. I have been at The Ranch since 1999 and have coached several generations of national team members. I know the drill. I grew up in that system as a gymnast, and I’ve raised my athletes in that same system, too.” …

Valeri will oversee his first national team camp at the Karolyi Ranch in Texas starting Sept. 28. While Nastia said that many of the athletes will have to get used to seeing a new face in charge at camp, Valeri said it will be business as usual as the 2020 quad officially kicks off. …

USAG

Elena Davydova interview

Davydova, owner and head coach of the renowned gymnastics club in Oshawa, recently returned from her third trip to an Olympic Games for the sport, this time in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

That in itself is not unprecedented, but what may be is the fact she’s now gone in three entirely different capacities: as an athlete at the Moscow 1980 Games, where she won the overall gold medal while representing the Soviet Union; as a coach for the London 2012 Games, where she helped the Canadian women’s team to an historic fifth-place finish; and now as judge in 2016. …

Oshawa’s Elena Davydova an Olympian in every sense of the word

OSHAWA -- Elena Davydova, is a head coach at Genini Gymnastics, has just returned from the Olympic Games in Rio where she served as a judge for gymnastics. She has also been to the Olympics as an athlete (champion for USSR in 1980, and coach. August 19, 2016.

Elena is currently in Bolivia. She has two girls at the PanAm meet. And may be judging, as well. 🙂

She’s running for FIG WTC in the upcoming election to be held in Tokyo. I’d vote for her.

Canada in Rio

Even though they missed the team final, the Canadian women still had reason to celebrate. In fact, the 171.761 that got them to ninth place in Rio surpassed any other Canadian team score under this code of points, including the score they posted when they placed fifth at the Games four years ago. The depth among the teams fighting for this year’s final was so great, it didn’t matter that this was Canada’s strongest Olympic team ever. But the fact remains that it was their best squad, and even if the ranking wasn’t their highest, they still showed a tremendous improvement from any year in the past.

The team also had some great individual success …

Devastated Canadians Still Make History

Camp-a-Sarnia---Michel-Charron

best Olympic Gymnastics results

One sample:

Ukraine

4th team (2004)
1st all-around (Lilia Podkopayeva, 1996)
6th vault (Alona Kvasha, 2004)
4th bars (Viktoria Karpenko, 2000)
2nd beam (Lilia Podkopayeva, 1996)
1st floor (Lilia Podkopayeva, 1996)
First appearance: 1996
Most recent: 2016
Total appearances: 6 (1996-2016)

Every Country’s Best Olympic Finishes in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics

Lilia
Lilia

Elise Ray reflects on her career

The good and the bad.

UW gymnastics coach Elise Ray in good place after overcoming Olympic disappointment

Elise Ray

Elise is one of my favourite Bar workers all time. And I think of her frequently – every time we talk “Ray” on Bars during workout. 🙂