Category: judging

Riley McCusker on Arizona Sunrays

Recall Riley injured her ankle at the U.S. Classic. On competition Vault landing mats, where so many major injuries happen.

… I want to thank Brian from the bottom of my heart for showing me what it was like to be treated with kindness and respect everyday.

Because of this I will never let anyone treat or abuse me the way I was for years, he has helped me become a whole person.

He is also an incredible coach and before I hurt my ankle at classics I was doing things on floor and vault that I never thought possible for me.

My main motivation for this last year and a half while training with Brian Carey was to show all of the little gymnasts and athletes out there that you can still become the best athlete that you can be in a healthy environment. …

I didn’t have a vote. But my pick for the +one U.S. Olympic team would have been Riley. She hit 5/6 Bars routines this season and would have been a favourite for the Bars final, if not the podium.

If you want a deep dive into WHY the USA didn’t pick Riley as an alternate, listen to the June 30th GymCastic episode – Olympic Trials Party and Postmortem.

Zapata II?

In general, MAG MTC has been more lenient on layout positions than WAG.

I’m guessing Ray will have this skill named in the Code.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

Simone’s Beam double double

Also — screw the FIG WTC. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

USAG WAG approves competition shorts

Good decision.

I predict leo and shorts will become increasingly popular as that’s what many wear in training.

Nina’s Nabieva to cross grip

In reality, catching in cross grip should be the same skill.

Still — this is a cool combination and a very smart routine. Fewer skills to deduct.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

At a domestic meet, Sanne competed the same skill — but from Free Hip, much more difficult.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

2021 EU STICKS compilation

NOTE that backward salto landings typically result in chest position in a range between horizontal and 45%.

That’s mechanical, medically and physically a good way to absorb those huge impact forces.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Suni – Bars

One of the hardest routines in the world — yet Sunisa is so confident she doesn’t have her coach spotting.

Amazing. But I’d say 8.5 E-score is too high.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Oliveira – Arabian pike 1/2 out

It’s always problematic to call a full twisting double back a NEW skill, if the timing of the twist changes.

That said, I expect this will go into the Code named for Lorrane Oliveira.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

Yurchenko on Simone

I was lucky enough to see Natalia Yurchenko compete in person. She instantly became one of my favourite gymnasts.

Natalia was the first woman to compete her eponymous vault, at 1982 Moscow News.

The element was controversial at first, Yurchenko explained. Another parallel to Biles’ daring innovations.

“There were a lot of debates to allow it or not to allow it,” Yurchenko recalls. “I performed it in America, and the American judges, some of them, were really against it because it seemed way too dangerous …

A boycott of the 1984 Games in Los Angeles meant Yurchenko never got the chance to compete her element at the Olympics.

Natalia Yurchenko on Simone Biles’ feat: “I was dreaming about seeing it”