Sounds good to me.
Tony Retrosi:
Category: planning
Simone’s podium Bars
So improved!
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
USA will put Simone up last on this apparatus. Rock solid Morgan Hurd will lead off on Bars, Beam and Floor. It’s critical that your first competitor hit. They obviously trust Morgan.
I’d put her up first on those 3 apparatus in the team final as well.
Tom Forster on USA preparation
… People might be very surprised how much of our conversations, at every meal time, are about protecting the athletes versus working them harder. There is tremendous attention devoted to balancing their mental and physical rest with the work needed for them to be their best. …
Men’s team podium training concludes
In the past podium has been a poor predictor of competition performance.
That said, here are my impressions for the team meet.
Strategy for the qualification round should be to GO CLEAN / EASY to meet your team rank goal … aside from those individuals trying for AA or Apparatus final. They must do enough difficulty to qualify.
If you make the final, consider upping difficulty.
After 2 days of non-stop MAG podium training, China is the team to beat. None of their guys has his ankles taped. They look strong. Clean. Ready. AND of course they are used to the TaiShan equipment.
Still … any of the top 5 teams could end up on the podium in the team final. Automatic qualification to Tokyo 2020 the prize for finishing top 3.
Kohei is only doing 4 apparatus. And Japan has other problems. But it would be a surprise if they miss top 3.
Russia should be the other qualifier. But they take more risks than any other team.
Either USA or GBR could be top 3 on a consistent, hit day. With Nile Wilson out, I’d give the edge to the Americans. They have a lot of NCAA experience in team / pressure situations.
As an aside, USA has long been known as a team with plenty of bulky muscle. This is the lightest American team I can recall.
Other nations have a goal of top 8. Some top 24 so they qualify a team to Worlds 2019.
Men’s gymnastics is always exciting. ANY team could be undone by a bad Pommel rotation 3-up, 3-count.
Twitter is the best way to follow the action LIVE. Especially Scott Bregman who is covering the meet for the Olympic Channel. Watch some of their VIDEOS.
Scott will be switching to OlympicChannel.com during the competition.
Congratulations to Doha for hosting the first Worlds in the Middle East despite the current Saudi-led coalition embargo against Qatar.
Israel is here. That’s a step in the right direction for World Peace. The Israeli anthem will be played if an Israeli gymnast wins gold. Sport can bring nations together.
Read the FIG wrap-up post –
Men’s podium training concludes at Doha Worlds
Click PLAY or watch a preview edit on Twitter.
Lieke Wevers – recharge and recover
Lieke Wevers is taking some time off in order to recharge and recover. She talked to Lisa Deen for The Force is Grace blog about her break and her plans for a comeback. …
… My body was empty. I could no longer do those things that were necessary to do what I wanted, which was extremely frustrating …
Q: Why did you choose to go to Tenerife?
… On Tenerife, I am working on my recovery, without have any obligations or things on my agenda. I am completely focusing on myself and my health. After three weeks on the island, I am already noticing a difference. I slept a lot, around 10 hours each night for these first weeks. …
… I am starting to build up my physical training. I go running on the beach or running track, or I am swimming. In the gym, I do my strength exercises …
My goal is to again become the strong Lieke, the best version of myself. Of course, you always need some future goals to motivate you, for me that is Tokyo 2020. …
feedback (a) usagym.org
If you have recommendations for the Board of Directors of USA Gymnastics, they invite you to forward it.
I did send my own recommendations.
feedback (a) usagym.org
GymCastic on Mary Bono
If you blinked and happened to miss the 5-day tenure of interim USAG President Mary Bono, listen to GymCastic to catch up.
328: The US Worlds Team & CEO Dumpster Fire
Even if she hadn’t bothered to tweet her distaste for Nike, there are another dozen reasons she NEVER should have been put on a short list for that job.
Who thought Bono was a good candidate?
Mary Bono resigns
Mary Bono was a terrible hire. Many red flags.
Best would be for USAG to name a permanent CEO. And not one who is a former Republican or Democratic politician.
USA Gymnastics Board of Directors via email:
The USA Gymnastics Board of Directors accepted the resignation of Mary Bono as interim president and CEO. Despite her commitment to the sport of gymnastics and helping the organization move forward, we believe this is in the best interest of the organization. We, as a Board, are committed to taking action when we believe a change of course is necessary and to being responsive to our gymnastics community.
While we continue the search for a permanent president and CEO and are currently seeking input from key stakeholders on that search, we remain steadfast in our efforts to fundamentally transform the organization at all levels to ensure athlete safety and well-being is at the heart of everything we do. We are also committed to making sure that the focus remains on the athletes – including this week as our men and women head to Doha to compete in the World Championships. While we have made progress, we have much more work to do. This board is determined to take the necessary steps to support a safe, inclusive and competitive environment where all our athletes and members can grow, have fun and achieve their goals.
(via Sarah)
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.
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.
Kathy Johnson on USAG
The captain of the 1984 Olympic team has been outspoken for decades on what changes are needed in Gymnastics USA.
… They need someone who is an expert in child safety.
Who is that? Well, it’s not some gymnastics person they’ve just put into a position of overseeing safety. …
INSIDE PERSPECTIVE: KATHY JOHNSON-CLARKE | IN SEARCH OF SOLUTIONS FOR THE NEXT ERA OF USA GYMNASTICS
Gymnastics Coaching.com 