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Breaking news … 6 new events to be added to the Sochi 2014 Winter Games programme: ski half-pipe (men and women), women’s ski jumping, biathlon mixed relay, figure skating team event and luge team relay

(via The Olympic Games on Facebook)

Gymnastike:

University of Michigan senior gymnast Ian Makowske debuted a new skill on high bar thanks to the help of new Michigan assistant coach and former US National team gymnast Geoff Corrigan. Ian talks about his new skill, how it was received by the FIG, and plans of getting the skill officially named after him.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

http://www.gymnastike.org/embed/NDM1NDgyODI1

Watch more video of University of Michigan 2011 on gymnastike.org

E to mixed grip, F to el-grip.

I post this just before the start of the European Championships.

Bea Gheorghisor from Romania has a terrific, insightful perspective on what’s changed since the return of Bellu and Bitang to the National Team:

… B&B seem to be pushing the gymnasts in front of the camera. Maybe they have learnt that fame is not all that bad and that after all it’s an unavoidable thing for a member of the Romanian gymnastics team. …

It all started in June 2010 when the Romanian national team was moved to Izvorani. The reasons were the proximity to Bucharest (where the two new coordinators still had some previous engagements) and the fact that the gym was newer and better than the one in Deva. But it also had a side effect: suddenly the national team was very easy to reach all year long.

… the gates of the National team were flung wide open. …

Bellu and Bitang also seem to have learnt that maybe there exists a good kind of exposure …

read more on Couch Gymnast – “Audentes Fortuna Juvat!” Fortune Favours the Brave……

I’ve always been critical of the program under Bellu and Bitang. Until now. Something really has changed.

When can I friend Bellu on Facebook?

Between The Olympics has done some analysis:

Aliya Mustafina is, barring a couple major disasters, a lock for the all around final and the clear favorite for gold. Her extremely difficult routines are not executed perfectly, but they are nearly impossible to beat. …

All Around

… Despite some recent trouble on beam, the overwhelming favorite has to be the 2010 world champion, Ana Porgras.

Beam

Beth Tweddle and Aliya Mustafina have been easily the two best uneven bars workers in Europe since last year, with Tweddle always winning out. It is certainly possible that with a new routine with the potential for 7.3 difficulty, Tweddle will continue to dominate. But Mustafina has potential for a 7.1 set, and has been spectacular on bars all season. If they hit, they will easily go 1-2. …

Bars

Aliya Mustafina has to be the favorite to take this title. …

Vault

I post this immediately before the start of the competition.

IG is reporting that “Moscow has offered to play host to the 2011 World Gymnastics Championships, in case the FIG decides to move the competition from Tokyo“.

The 2011 Figure Skating World Championships, scheduled for Tokyo, were moved to Moscow in April.

On Aunt Joyce commenters joked about Vladamir Putin BUYING Worlds. How could the ISU refuse when he offered to cover all costs of staging the event?

Several countries, including Canada, Italy, Finland and the United States, had also submitted bids.

When FIG decides in May whether or not to keep Worlds in Tokyo, … I wonder if Russia will have offered to cover all costs for moving them to Moscow?

… having Worlds in Russia would certainly improve the Russian team’s chances to dominate in 2011 the way they did in 2010.

Gymnastics Examiner

Personally I hope the radiation danger is brought under control in Japan. And that Worlds stays in Tokyo.

Update: Boston would be interested in hosting, … if the dates can be changed. (unlikely)

This is incredible.

Former gymnast Heather Dorniden is the most respected and decorated Gopher women’s track athlete ever.

Click PLAY or watch why on YouTube.

That’s the 600m at the Big 10 Indoor Track Championships. Gradated, Heather is a today a professional runner.

“Suburban War” by Arcade Fire.

Thanks Dave Adlard for the link.

The best site for Men’s College gymnastics is Stick It Media.

Here’s an update on the big meet this past weekend and a preview of Championships in two weeks:

The nation’s top two teams, Oklahoma and Stanford, duked it out at the MPSF championships hosted by Air Force. The Cardinal got the best of the Sooners this time 362.25 to 360.70, behind their strong performances on rings and high bar.

Stanford put up an astounding four scores of 15-plus on rings, led by Tim Gentry’s 16.05, and they also pounded Oklahoma by 3 points on high bar behind Alex Buscaglia’s meet-high 15.60.

The combined scores on those two events provided Stanford with a comfortable margin of 4.75 points, which more than made up for Oklahoma’s 3-point advantage on floor and vault. The Sooners blew the doors off the Air Force Academy’s gym on vault with a school record 65.35, led by Jake Dalton’s 16.65 and Steven Legendre’s 16.55. …

read more – Stanford & Illinois Take Conference Men’s Gymnastics Titles

Click PLAY or watch Alex (from Winter Cup) on YouTube.

Great form. Big difficulty. LOVE that Liukin.

I once asked Steph to come back to her home gym and explain to the younger girls what NCAA gymnastics is all about. She’s a real College success story.

This season she’s been leading off on vault, bars and floor.

… Coach Tanya Chaplin looks for people who are consistent, don’t get rattled easily and manage their warmups better than others to lead off.

Gymnasts have a timed warmup before every event and whoever goes first must be ready when the judges are ready. The rest of the lineup has time to prepare as McGregor competes.

“She is someone the coaches trust, and that means a lot to her,” Chaplin said. “She knows how important her role is.” …

Gazette Times

Click PLAY or watch Steph on YouTube.

Thanks Tammy.

Good luck to the Beavers at Championships. They are ranked #1 as a team on Bars. That despite being coached by my old friend John Carney. 🙂

After reading LIVE accounts of pre-competition training on Gymnastics Examiner and THE ALL AROUND, … it sounds like podium training was rough.

One gymnast is gaining high praise from Blythe:

Killer full floor set from Dementyeva, with that showmanship in that wonderfully choreographed routine, capped with a stuck double pike to end. Someone has come to play in Berlin. …

GymNiceTic is there and is posting photos.

Couch Gymnast has commentary and makes a few predictions.

A 13-year old Connecticut girl is bringing the serious issue of bullying to the forefront once again through a stark video she put on the Internet two weeks ago that’s quickly gaining attention.

Her name is Alye Pollack. …

… Without ever speaking, Alye describes her pain and the insults she says she endures every day.

CBS News Correspondent Elaine Quijano reported the video has struck a chord. It has thousands of hits, and an outpouring of sympathetic comments. “Be strong, Alye,” reads one message, and, “Always know how special you are.” …

CBS News

Click PLAY or watch her on YouTube.

Thank you Alye.

You can show support on her Facebook page.