DTB Pokal Team Challenge MAG

USA wins the team competition in both JR and SR.

1. United States 258.800
2. Japan 253.950
3. Turkey 247.350
4. Italy 245.750
5. Switzerland 243.900
6. France 243.250
7. Great Britain 240.550
8. Canada 240.000
9. Brazil 239.600
10. Germany II 239.250
11. Israel 234.400
12. Germany I 231.550

Though this is an invitational, many of the best gymnasts in the world were there.

Only CHN, JPN, and GBR have qualified for the Paris Olympics. Nine more teams will be selected at Worlds 2023.

Read Lauren’s LIVE blog.

Asian Championships 2023 Singapore

Asian Artistic Championships WAG and MAG will go June 10-18, 2023 in Singapore.  It’s a qualifier to Worlds 2023 in Belgium (Sept 30-Oct 8th).  

Full list of participating nations to be announced April 6th.  

Gymnastics: Singapore will host the Asian Artistic C’ships in June

related – official press release

Valeriy Goncharov interview

In 2004, Valeriy Goncharov became Ukraine’s second-ever male gymnast to earn Olympic gold, capturing the top spot on parallel bars in Athens. …

Just 15 when the Soviet Union crumbled, Goncharov represented Ukraine at three Olympic Games (2000-08), winning seven Olympic, World and World Cup medals in a senior career that began at the 1997 World Championships and spanned more than a decade. …

Oklahoma assistant coach Valeriy Goncharov:

One day (Rustam Sharipov) called me and said, ‘Listen, there is an open position in Oklahoma, and I think it’s a really good opportunity. It’s one of the best places I’ve worked. I’m going to text you a phone number and you should call Mark (Williams) right away.’ …

You still have a large contingent of family and friends in Ukraine, how difficult has that been this past year?

Every day it’s like half of me is here, and half of me is there, worrying about all the people I know, I care about. Nothing has really changed since the beginning, and things don’t seem to be getting better, unfortunately.

I’ve had the same routine every day for a year now. I wake up, call my friends, call my family, to know what’s going on. It is very difficult. …

Do you have any thoughts about the IOC saying it could be possible for Russian and Belarussian athletes could compete in the 2024 Olympics under a neutral flag?

You know, a recent case I just saw, Ukrainian and Russian soccer teams met by accident in Turkey, and it was a huge fight. A physical fight. Just because they saw each other in a hotel.

I think it’s difficult to imagine, in the situation we are in now, how we could compete together. How we could share the Olympic dream. I don’t know, maybe it could happen, but right now I have a lot of doubts. …

Inside Gymnastics – FROM UKRAINE WITH LOVE, PART TWO: VALERIY GONCHAROV

Rustam Sharipov interview

A member of the gold-medal-winning Unified Team in 1992, Rustam Sharipov returned in 1996 to claim Ukraine’s first men’s gymnastics gold, with a parallel bars win in Atlanta, where the Ukrainian men’s team also claimed bronze. …

Ohio State head coach Rustam Sharipov:

You became a U.S. citizen in 2008 and have lived in the United States for more than 20 years now, but you have family still living in Ukraine.

Yes, my parents are still there, my brother is still there, my nephew. I’m glad they are fine so far, but it’s hard every day …

The IOC recently said they’d consider letting athletes from Belarus and Russia compete under a neutral flag in 2024. As a Ukrainian Olympian, what are your feelings about that?

When this war first began, I sort of agreed about keeping politics and sports separate, but then I saw Russian athletes start actively supporting the war, supplying stuff for the war, and creating young military kids who are going to ‘protect’ their country…That’s when I completely changed. 

This idea that letting Russia and Belarus compete will help bring the war to an end? That’s, excuse me, B.S.  …

The other thing that really bothers me is that the Russians, their life didn’t change. They have everything they need to prepare for competitions, while Ukraine athletes…Some are dying, and most don’t have a place to practice, no coach, no gym. But the IOC says they should compete on the same field? That’s not fair. …

Inside Gymnastics – FROM UKRAINE WITH LOVE, PART ONE: RUSTAM SHARIPOV

no decision on RUS at Europeans 2023

FIG decided to wait until 28-30 March to hear from the Executive Committee of the IOC — before making any changes to the current ban on gymnasts from Russian and Belarusian gymnasts.

That makes it even less likely that the ban will be removed in time for Europeans 11-16 April 2023 in Turkey.

Gallardo & Fletcher to CAN WAG Team

With the 2024 Paris Olympic Games less than 18 months away and buoyed by the Olympic qualification performance from the Women’s team at the 2022 World Championships, Gymnastics Canada is pleased to announce the establishment of the technical leadership team for the national women’s artistic gymnastics (WAG) high performance program leading into the Games. 

Mr. Christian Gallardo and Ms. Kyna Fletcher will lead the overall strategic and operational planning for the program …

Christian Gallardo – National Team Lead (Technical)

  • Athlete/Coach Technical Support and Mentorship
  • Major competition technical leadership
  • In conjunction with the team, provides High Performance Program planning and leadership

Kyna Fletcher – National Team Lead (Operations)

  • Leads strategic planning and oversite for HP and NT program
  • Provides support in the development of the overall program goals and objectives
  • Works closely with the Program Manager in the development and implementation of technical and operational program plans. …

Kyna Fletcher was WAG National Team Director from 2011-2014, leading CAN to a best ever team finish at the 2012 Olympics.

Christian Gallardo coached Nia Dennis, Shania Adams, and Shilese Jones, as well as Gabby Douglas.

There was a complaint against Christian that was dismissed by the Ohio State government agency in April 2021. I’ve seen the documentation and he was found innocent of all charges.

Personally, I’m happy Canada has a clear National Team coaching structure leading up to Paris. With no need to qualify at Worlds 2023, the team can use a Paris focused training plan.

Podkopayeva donates to Ukraine

The great Lilia Podkopayeva, 1996 Olympic all-around champion, donated winter gear + medical supplies to the Ukrainian military. In person. #respect

This is the Olympic spirit. Supporting the victims.

Russian Rhythmic not eligible for Paris … IMHO

Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation President Irina Viner has been videoed directing the rehearsal of a military parade for Putin’s big speech celebrating the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Tribuna also reports that Russia’s national rhythmic gymnastics team are expected to perform in the “celebratory concert”. …

Viner was married to Uzbek-born Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov for 30 years before their divorce in May last year.

Usmanov agreed to step aside as President of the International Fencing Federation following the European Union’s decision to impose economic sanctions on him over Russia’s military assault on Ukraine.

The 69-year-old businessman has also been sanctioned by the United States and the United Kingdom. …

Inside the Games

I ASSuME this means the RUS Rhythmic team will not be eligible for Olympic qualification under the stupid compromise idea recommended by the IOC.

Irina Viner is pictured with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2015 ©Getty Images

looming IOC PR disaster Paris

The International Olympic Committee floated the worst possible solution to a real dilemma. Allowing some RUS athletes to compete in the Paris Olympics — but not those who support Putin’s attack on Ukraine.

Allow them all. Or ban them all. Simple.

… the IOC knows it will have a PR disaster on its hands if it allows Russians en masse into the Games. …

Insiders suggest that the IOC will instead place multiple conditions on entry, including banning the Russian flag and anthem and requiring its athletes to wear all-white uniforms.

More significantly, anyone with links to the Russian military is also likely to be barred – which could result in 75% of their team and officials being declared ineligible. …

Guardian – So Mr Bach, will nothing ever be enough to ban Russia from the Olympics?

Putin has been bombing civilian targets including Bakhmut’s stadium which is used as a training facility for Ukraine’s Olympic athletes.

RUS Gymnastics invited to Asian Games

This event does not qualify anyone to the Paris Olympics.

Russia’s gymnastics and wrestling federations said on Tuesday they had been invited to take part in this year’s Asian Games …

Organisers of the Asian Games — scheduled to take place in Hangzhou, China, from Sep. 23 to Oct. 8 — did not immediately respond to a request for comment. …

reuters

I doubt any of the Asian nations will boycott in protest, but hope they do.