Category: Uncategorized

Reporter SCOTT M. REID of the Orange County Register is again breaking a story about a top gymnastics coach charged with sexual crimes against children.

Last week it was former U.S. Olympic team coach Don Peters.

This week it’s trampoline coach Doug Boger, already placed on the USA Gymnastics ‘permanently ineligible’ for membership list June 2010.

He’s still coaching at Art Sports World, the huge trampoline gym in Colorado Springs. (Doug’s name is still listed on the club website, unlike Don Peters who is no longer on the SCATS website.)

The article is damning. Ten former gymnasts have come forward, years after the crimes: Whitman, Carnes, Gallion, Fleming, Jewitt, Mar, Moran, Stevenson, Lenches and Wilson — detailing the charges they made to USAG.

Read it and decide for yourself – Banned after accusations of abuse, some gymnastics coaches continue to teach

Another preview of Worlds from ButterflyGymnastics.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Alicia’s Rudi is the best of the best, in a league of her own still.

McKayla Maroney will win, though.

Read an overview of the Spanish speaking nations competing WAG in Tokyo from Gimnasia Latina:

Predictions Latino gymnasts in the World Tokyo

… in Tokyo, women’s teams from Spain, Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela will seek Olympic qualifying — top 8 — or pre-olípmico (top 16). Spain and Brazil are the two teams with the potential to finish in runner-up position, but Venezuela and Mexico are in continuous progress and improvement. …

Google Translate

Elsa Garcia is just one of the Latina stars. She told told IG that she’s “fully operational” following hand surgery last December.

IG Online Interview: Elsa Garcia (Mexico)

Interpreting signage in Japan is a bit of an art form.

Some are in Kanji, some in romaji, and some in Japlish. And then there are the variations of Kana.

It’s pretty much all Greek to me.

The Japlish blog is a good starting point for visitors.

Thanks Bieche.

For some reason Anna Li did not podium train Bars today. That leaves USA with only one routine of what I’d call “contemporary” composition and good amplitude.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

http://www.gymnastike.org/embed/OTE1NTA4MjQ3?related=1

Watch more video of World Gymnastics Championships Tokyo 2011 on gymnastike.org

Gabrielle Douglas is the Excalibur gymnast who only moved to Chow’s Gymnastics for financial reasons, so far as I know. And has thrived there. Chow is a great coach.

Marta and coaches are demonstratively supportive of the new young American star.

I should add that the American routines, while not comparable to Russia or China, are still good enough to win Team. Solid and consistent.

Media were accredited 10am Tokyo time. The only person ahead of us in line was Tim Daggett, a great guy.

Look for the best stuff LIVE via the QUICK LINKS atop the home page.

Couch Gymnast, Examiner and Gymnastike are all here. We’re watching USA and Brazil WAG. The American girls look lean and ready. Very disciplined.

Photo via Brigid (Couch Gymnast) McCarthy on Facebook.

The only podium training LIVE blog is Examiner.

GBR MAG look sharp. I’m still thinking they’ll be the surprise Bronze medal team.

My RSS reader gave me this headline:

Mitchell injury puts Australia in difficult spot

… Drew Mitchell is out of the Rugby World Cup.

There are other sports besides gymnastics? 🙂

Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium was … the venue for gymnastics events at the 1964 Summer Olympics. …

The arena holds 10,000 people (6,000 fixed, 4,000 temporary). …

Here’s how it looked last week. Hundreds of workers buzzed like bees.

Smaller than venues past, I’m hoping the atmosphere will be as electric as an NCAA Women’s Championship.

500 accredited media, including this “power blogger”, get access starting in about 12hrs.

Note the big green park close to the venue.

ButterflyGymnastics posted many of the top Bar routines in advance of World Championships.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Seitz and Tweddle do the most interesting and most “difficult” routines. I’ll be cheering for Beth.

Komova and He Kexin are the favourites, I reckon.

It’s hard to argue that the Code of Points “doesn’t work” on Bars. Those routines are fantastic. (Yet Pak to kip really is starting to look like a “let down”.)

(via Full Twist)

Recall Thelma Williams?

Couch Gymnast has been following her career: here, here and here.

It’s time for a follow-up chat in Tokyo:

T&T’s highest ranking gymnast, Thelma Williams, will make history as the only female gymnast to represent the country in a world championship next week. …

She has trained with her current coaches, Mc Dowell and Garcia since she was six years old. …

Guardian

She’s a fan favourite, for sure. Like her Facebook page.

(via Couch Gymnast)

T&T have a male gymnast, as well, named … a little bird told me … William ALBERT. He’s from Gymnastics Mississauga and competed at Commonwealth Games for Trinidad & Tobago.