Category: Uncategorized

spannytampson:

Perhaps a preview of who is set to impress in Japan.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

… I’m picking up my Japan Rail Pass this week.

(via Full Twist on Facebook)

Gymnastics Examiner:

The artistic and innovative Valeriia Maksyuta, who moved to train and compete for Israel when Ukrainian gymnastics’ financial situation deteriorated a few years ago, now seems at the height of her abilities.

At the recent Ghent World Cup, Makayuta also unveiled a brand new, never-seen-before bars dismount — a double front with a full twist …

read more with links to VIDEOS

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

related – IG – Maksyuta, Likhovitsky Shine at Scherbo Cup

The first I’ve ever seen.

Québec gymnastics judging recruiting 30-sec commercial vidéo

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks Grace.

Another dream routine edited together by RedNasvw.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Ri Jong Song G (Miller)
Backwards 5/2 twist D
Forward 2/1 twist D
Van Roon D
Backwards 3/2 twist C
Forward 5/2 twist E
Fedorchenko C
Korobchynski E
Double Arabian piked 1/2 out E
Layout Double Double F

The best mini tramp padding I’ve ever seen.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

details

A lot of the cool equipment sold by PE-Redskaber was designed for Team Gym, a super popular acrobatic sport in northern Europe. It includes Floor, tumbling and Mini Tramp.

by site editor Rick McCharles

This post was inspired by the angst I’ve heard regarding the Canadian WAG selection for Worlds. Actually, the process was carefully done, from what I’ve heard.

The one valid criticism is that not enough gymnasts were invited to trials for Worlds / Pan-Ams (10 competed of 15 invited). For one reason or another, these strong gymnasts were not there: Silvia Colussi-Pelaez, Jessica Dowling, Sarah Flett, Taylor Ricci. (… who else?)

True or not, people suspect that the complex and confusing selection process protects the girls already on the National Team. (I don’t think anyone would deny that Silvia should be on the Canadian team in Tokyo if we truly want to qualify for the Olympics.)

Communication of what was happening at Canadian trials was poor too.

In recent years we’ve seen FIG and USAG improve their messaging online. In fact, I’d call both organizations superb in social media.

First Romania, then Russia and now even China have vastly improved their presence online.

Canada has not yet made much of a leap to the age of social media. In fact, I’d call us one of the least communicative gymnastics nations. I have no idea, for example, why we did not send a WAG Team to the Commonwealth Youth Games, normally one of our highest priorities. There may be a good reason — but it was not communicated widely.

Part of the problem is the top down, socialist infrastructure imposed on organizations by Sports Canada. Decisions often need to be ratified by committee. (Know that a camel is a horse built by committee.)

When Americans complain about Marta Karolyi, my first response is to wish Canada had a Marta — someone who wants to win and who can make decisions.

People ask me what’s happening with Gymnastics Canada. Normally I don’t know. I have no official relationship with Gymnastics Canada other than as a member and coaching course clinician.

An information vacuum often leads to speculation and misinformation. Here’s one example.

Yet there are a few good places to get information online.

The Gymnastics Canada website is quite attractive, actually. Featured news is right on the home page.

It’s not updated as often as I’d like. Getting posts done up in both official languages sometimes causes delays.

GymCan even has a blog linked to the official site. Though it was not updated in over 2 months, last time I checked.

The email news updates are good, but infrequent. Click on the GYMCAN E-NEWS button on the home page to subscribe.

Gymnastics Canada does have a twitter account.
@CANGymnastics
But only 119 followers, 84 tweets. Following 3.

And a Facebook page. It’s not all that active yet with only 224 LIKES.

The Gymnastics Canada YouTube channel is good. Subscribe.

TV coverage of Canadian gymnastics is surprisingly good.

Nationals is not always broadcast, but the meet was streamed online in 2009. And there are ambitious plans to stream every routine for Nationals 2011.

____

Unofficial sources of information are often more timely:

Blythe Lawrence, the Gymnastics Examiner, has attended the past 2 Canadian Championships. International Gymnast and Inside Gymnastics magazines do give Canadians their fair share of coverage.

• Gymn.ca … the most popular Canadian blog edited by Jenn Isbister

• Grace Chiu on Facebook. Grace is official Canadian photographer and IMHO the best gymnastics photographer working today.

• For competitions and scores, Stu Cram’s Gym Score Depot site is excellent.

• Kyle Shewfelt is an unofficial ambassador.

… Leave a comment if I’m forgetting any WAG or MAG links of national interest.

____

Information online as to what’s happening with T&T Canada is less problematic, mainly due to coach Brett MacAulay. I get updates near daily on his Facebook page.

He has over 2200 T&T vídeos posted to his CGC TV YouTube channel.

Larry Goodhue is an Arizona coach who edits the The Ultimate Guide to Girls Gymnastics Leotards site:

They buy and sell both new and used leos.

girlsgymnasticsleotards.com

The Commonwealth Youth Games 2011 Artistic Gymnastics competition has ended.

All results are posted.

Full Twist has been following this meet most closely:

• WAG Apparatus Finals Results
• MAG Apparatus Finals Results

England won 7 of the 18 available Men’s medals. And 5 of the 12 Women’s medals.

Personal shout out to Curtis Graves from Taiso, Saskatoon, Canada who walked away with silver on H Bar and bronze medals on P Bars and Rings. Also a team Silver medal with Zachary Clay and Kal Nemier (bronze H Bar).

… “I came here hoping for one individual medal, but coming away with three wasn’t something I was expecting at all,” said Graves, who just missed the gold medal in the high bar event after getting bumped to second in a tie break with Dominick Cunningham of England. …

read more – Gymnastics Canada

related – Couch Gymnast – Commonwealth Youth Games Event Finals

A career retrospective. The editor, his brother Morgan, asks that you link to the video if you support Paul Hamm.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Comments are disabled on YouTube. Instead comment on a Chalk Bucket forum thread. Or a Chalk Bucket blog post.

… Some feel Paul made a mistake. And that he should be given a chance to move on.

I’d feel that way too if he apologized, and accepted his punishment. He hasn’t done so yet. And it won’t happen until he fights the court case.

… “We will fight the criminal charges vigorously,” said Michael J. Smith, Hamm’s attorney. …

Regardless of what happens in court, his reputation will be further tarnished. Instead of being remembered as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, it’s the scandals we’ll recall.

What a shame.

_____ Update:

… In light of all the controversy that surrounds the Ohio State football team’s NCAA compliance issues, the decision to fire Hamm was understandable. …

Many of his fans are expecting a contrite public apology soon, and they are also hoping that Hamm will use this unfortunate experience to launch into a vengeant training mode, wherever that might be. …

Stick It Media

I’d heard the rumour. Our Olympic Floor Champion is training Bars again. (She had dropped that apparatus after 2008.)

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Izbasa unveiled the routine at the SUI vs ROM vs GER friendly.

Carolowa on the IG forum via Gymwatcher:

… Sandra finally competed on bars (13.20) and wasn’t too bad (all though her coach might have touched her on her dismount) but she didn’t compete floor and only did a FTY, but I think Belu is just saving her for worlds. …

Even Izbasa feels she needs to be able to do all apparatus before the rules change to teams of only 5 in 2012.

Ponor is still not competing Bars.

(via Couch Gymnast)