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Russia buried memories of their nightmare outing at last year’s world championships by retaining the team title at the men’s European gymnastics championships on Saturday.

Last (Fall), the Russian men drew a blank in Stuttgart and their confidence hit an all-time low less than a year ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

“Stuttgart was like a horrible dream and that made us even more motivated to do well here,” Russian coach Andrey Rodionenko told Reuters.

… When asked if Russia could go for gold in Beijing, Rodionenko responded with an enthusiastic: “Why not?”

However, he was quick to add: “China, Japan and South Korea are very strong and will be the favourites but we will fight them all the way for every medal.”

Gymnastics-Russia bury memories of Stuttgart nightmare – Reuters

Rodionenko knows that anything can happen in Olympic Finals. Teams will put up 18 routines total — all count towards final score. Any team that hits 18 / 18 has a good chance for a team medal.

original – flickr – Fispace

More commentary:

… Led by 2007 European all-around champion Maxim Devyatovsky, Russia scored 272.450 to defeat Germany (269.575) and Romania (268.950) in the team final.

Russia Defends European Title – IG

2008 Junior European Championships
May 11, Lausanne, Switzerland

Floor Exercise
1. Eleftherios Kosmidis GRE 15.525
2. Christian Bazan ESP 15.100
3. Daniel Keatings GBR 15.000

Pommel Horse
1. Daniel Keatings GBR 15.650
2. Matvei Petrov RUS 15.075
3. Viktor Stepanenko UKR 14.850

Still Rings
1. Christian Bazan ESP 15.150
2. Gustavo Simoes POR 14.975
3. Matvei Petrov RUS 14.500

Vault
1. Mathieu Jordan FRA 15.837
2. David Belyavsky RUS 15.812
3. Christian Bazan ESP 15.550

Parallel Bars
1. Daniel Keatings GBR 15.300
2. Amin Garibov RUS 15.025
3. Christian Bazan ESP 14.575

High Bar
1. Amin Garibov RUS 14.625
2. Max Wittenbergvoges GER 14.375
3. Kirill Ignatenkov RUS 14.325

Keatings … is favored to win one of Britain’s two qualification spots to the Olympics in August. His clubmate Louis Smith is favored to earn the other spot.

“Daniel has shown he is not simply a specialist, he is a great all-arounder!” said his personal coach, Paul Hall. “From here everything is about the Olympic Games, Grand Prix in Moscow and Barcelona, and then the final finishing touches and lots of confidence for Beijing. And my hope for Huntingdon Olympic Gym Club is for Daniel, Louis and Marissa [King] to represent Great Britain in Beijing!”

Keatings Claims More Gold – IG

photo – Brett Draper – Dan and Paul – British Gymnastics

Great Britain won the Team championships for the first time.

The rider negotiates man-made and natural obstacles without their feet touching the ground. It originated in Spain …

Bike trials – Wikipedia

http://www.glumbert.com/embed/trialbike

more videos – Tarty Bikes, UK

Thanks Dave Copeland.

In Orlando, Florida, Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba includes amazing BMX and bike trial stunts.

I’ve only seen La Nouba once. But am booked again to visit during Level 10 Jr. Olympics and College Bound. It’s an awesome show, one of my favourites.

I find horses dangerous enough when I rent an old nag for a trail ride.

Acrobatics on a horse?

That’s just CRAZY.

original – flickr – amandine299

Equestrian vaulting is most often described as gymnastics and dance on horseback, and like these disciplines, it is both an art and a highly competitive sport. It is one of ten competitive equestrian events recognized by the International Federation of Equestrian Sport …

… The German vaulting squads are highly ranked and very competitive on the world stage. Vaulting is also especially well established in France (where it is known as Voltige), Sweden, the UK, and the Netherlands. Enthusiasm for the sport is also growing in Brazil, Australia, and in the United States. …

Equestrian vaulting – Wikipedia

video – American Team at FEI World Equestrian Games 2006, Germany

The latest gymnastics calendar month, distributed by Rik Feeney, is available. Here’s a small version:

Available FREE online – GymnasticsTrainingTips.com

While you are there, check out Rik’s Gymnastics Journal & Meet Survival Guide, a new book for competitive gymnasts.

Final results:

1. Russia 272.450
2. Germany 269.575
3. Romania 268.950
4. Belarus 266.450
5. France 266.350
6. Ukraine 265.875
7. Switzerland 264.900
8. Italy 263.475

France qualified 7th. But led for much of the competition — until they got to Pommel Horse. Legend Dmitry Karbanenko will compete for the last time in this meet. His first European’s were 16-years-ago.

Russia is European Team Champion, Germany wins silver – GYMmedia

gymnast Meredith Vieira – coach World Champion Shawn Johnson

I’m off to grab a Diet Coke.

Thanks Peter Korman.

Wow. Impressive All-Around scores. Higher than I would have guessed.

1. Jiang Yuyuan (63.300)
2. Yang Yilin (62.550)
3. Deng Linlin (61.600)

By comparison, the current World Champion Shawn Johnston won in 2007 with 61.875.

Now that Jiang Yuyuan is competing Yurchenko 5/2, she joins the group of possible AA winners. In fact, she may now be the favourite.

Click PLAY or watch her vault on YouTube.

I saw these scores on International Gymnast.

NCAA Women’s Championships, elevating the prestige of the event, wants to host their annual showcase event on podium.

That’s terrific in many ways. It provides a much better “show” for the audience and TV.

On the other hand, you don’t want to be volunteering for the crew setting it up and down. That’s a LOT of work.

Athens, GA 2008

A parent new to Parkettes has some good feedback:

… I’ve watched the level 10’s and elites practice and there is no yelling or berating that I at least have witnessed. It is a good place and as a parent I will always keep my eyes open, but that goes for any gym. I just wanted to go on record with positive news from Parkettes, since they’ve suffered enough bad press. Bad press is only hurtful to the gymnasts that train at the gym being criticized.

So, bottom line, Parkettes has been a good thing for my daughter. She is flourishing there and has had very good experiences with the coaching staff there. …

Chalk Bucket

No program in North America has had as much bad P.R. as Parkettes. Nice to hear the other side of the story.

I doubt Jennifer Sey will be attending their 40th anniversary reunion.

Related:

bad ‘press’ for elite gymnastics

is ex-gymnast author Jennifer Sey a liar?

Chalked Up: Inside Elite Gymnastics’ Merciless Coaching, Overzealous Parents, Eating Disorders, and Elusive Olympic Dreams