Category: Uncategorized

By NANCY ARMOUR – AP

NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Hamm showed the world he’s back while Nastia Liukin reminded everyone she’s still very much here. …

This was Hamm’s first international meet since he won the gold medal in Athens almost four years ago, and he dominated as if he’d never been away. He scored 94.4 despite a fall off pommel horse, and finished more than three points ahead of fellow American Sasha Artemev (91.150) and reigning world bronze medalist Hisashi Mizutori (90.950).

Liukin, who was upstaged by Shawn Johnson last year as she struggled with an ankle injury, rebounded in impressive form. She finished with 63.425 points while Johnson, the reigning world champion, scored 63.1 after a fall on a tough, new vault.

…

Johnson was her usual solid self. Her only trouble came on vault, her first event. She’s doing a new vault that only a few other people in the world do, and she landed it short, needing to take several steps back before sitting down on the mat.

She still scored a 15.175, the best score on vault of the day, and had the highest scores on floor and balance beam. But the fall was enough to put her behind Liukin.

read the entire story on AP – Hamm, Liukin Win American Cup

Nastia original – flickr – katakanadian

Valentin Uzunov has just posted his latest gymnastics coaching newsletter:

This is by far the best issue, with many contributions, and with all the new bells and whistles.

Hope you enjoy, and please leave feedback for articles.

Content of March 2008 Issue

Using the “Understand Teach” model to coach a double layout dismount of the Asymmetrical Bars. By Rick McCharles

Stretching Scientifically Part II: Stretching methods, the pros and cons to each method. By Valentin Uzunov

Men’s Choreography – Its About Postural Alignment. By Nicholas Blanton

Coaching and the Ringelmann Effect. By Warren Milburn

DVD Review: Stall Bar Drills for Conditioning and Flexibility

Download the new issue (and past newsletters) from the right hand “Available Issues” panel on www.thegympress.net

… That Double Layout article looks GREAT. Valentin has added a link to a video of the dismount by Courtney McCool.

🙂

I’m not sure this is such a brilliant idea for the gymnasts themselves:

Under the Lights: Georgia Gymnastics chronicles the top-ranked University of Georgia gymnastics team’s preparation for the opening meets of the 2008 season and its five-day road trip to face powerhouses No. 2 Utah and No. 7 Stanford.

A SportSouth camera and sound crew were embedded with the Gym Dogs for the six weeks leading up to the two season-opening meets to cover intense practice and conditioning sessions, team meetings, classes on campus and the team’s celebration of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. SportSouth also followed the student-athletes through their typical day-of-meet routine, from the team breakfast through workouts, team meetings and a visit to the local mall.

Wireless microphones worn by legendary coach Suzanne Yoculan and assistants Jay Clark and Doug McAvinn during practice sessions and both meets provide unprecedented insight.

Georgia Dogs

No doubt it will be popular with the legions of Georgia fans, though. It debuts March 1st.

The editing of this teaser preview is not good. The sound is terrible.

Click PLAY or watch a preview of Under the Lights: Georgia Gym Dogs on YouTube.

The first annual Battle in Seattle hosted by Gym East begins early the morning of March 1st.

We stopped in to help and heckle during equipment set-up which did not begin until 9PM the night before. (The huge and beautiful Seattle Convention Center is expensive to rent.)

Four sets of equipment are going up right now. Harley Davidson is the title sponsor. Can you tell?

I expect to get some cute photos over the weekend of little gymnasts riding big hog bikes.

You may already have heard about “Dasha’s” weekly news column on PerthNow. She trains at the Western Australia Institute of Sport in Perth.

… Gymnastics has never had a large following in Australia, though I don’t understand why there is seemingly little interest in this great sport of ours.

It is repeatedly one of the most, if not the most, watched sports when Olympic and Commonwealth Games are broadcast.

I believe the ratings were also sky-high during the airing of the 2005 Melbourne World Gymnastics Championships. So it is definitely not a question of entertainment – speaking from experience, people never seem to tire of pleading for a demonstration of a back flip. …

Nothing says sports person like an early morning. Awake at 5.30am, the first training session starts at 6.45am – ending three hours and 15 minutes later at 10am.

We then strip off our hand grips and leotards, pull on the school uniform and rush off to school until 3pm. After we have filled our brains with all sorts, useful and completely trivial, it’s time to come back “home” for another three-and-a-half hour session. …

read the rest of her article – Daria ‘Dasha’ Joura joins PerthNow’s commentary team

(via difficulty plus execution and Australian Gymnastics)

At International Gymnastics Camp, we combine great gymnastics training and great recreation for the ultimate gymnastics camp experience.

IGC campers range in age from 8 to 17 and are from beginner to advanced gymnasts.

Our main concern is the further development of our campers as gymnasts and as people. Our gymnastics program and our recreational activities, such as the climbing wall and trapeze, allow campers to gain self confidence and feel positive about themselves and their accomplishments inside and outside of the gym.

I see they have a good circus set-up.

Check out the highlights video posted on the International Gymnastics Camp home page.

I’ve been reluctant to predict a winner in the All-around in Beijing.

With this vault, however, the reigning World Champion is IT.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Effortless Amanar (Yurchenko 5/2 twist) in podium training at American Cup. Whoever wins the Olympics will compete this vault. Shawn is the girl to beat in the all-around.

(via difficulty plus execution)

The FINALS at the GWGF competition in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho are called the BIG SHOW.

It’s a full competition with awards. But the emphasis is on making our typically boring spectator event FUN. Coaches are warned their gymnasts may not be able to hear instructions — this show is as loud as a big NCAA meet.

Competition Director Dave Adlard explains, “A competition is a competition. Same equipment. Same judges. Same rules. … It’s what happens AROUND the competition that makes a great event.”

To start, Dave hires a live band to play during warm-up and breaks.

A professional sound and light show makes the kids feel they’re in a professional sporting venue.

Next, have Olympic Champion Carly Patterson sing the National Anthem in a duet with a young gymnast “signing” the words for the deaf.

World Champion Shannon Miller stands up with some words of inspiration to the young gymnasts.

That’s a BIG SHOW.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Great West Gym Fest – official website

About.com Gymnastics recommends that fans of the Magnificent Seven go vote for that team in a contest against other American sports.

The first (and only) American women’s team to win Olympic gold is up for induction into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. The voting starts today and only one of the five finalists will make it. There’s tough competition with the ’92 men’s basketball team and the ’98 women’s ice hockey team. So go vote!

About.com Gymnastics

Shannon Miller, Dominique Dawes, Kerri Strug, Dominique Moceanu, Jaycie Phelps, Amy Chow, and Amanda Borden

voting page – U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame

I voted, of course.

In California:

2008 Pacific Alliance Gymnastics Championships, March 28-30. The three-day international event features the top gymnasts from 14 countries, including powerhouses China, Japan and the USA, competing in the Olympic disciplines of men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline.

Artistic gymnastics will be held at the San Jose State University Event Center, with rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline slated for the San Jose McEnery Convention Center.

USA Gymnastics

Australia, Canada, Chile, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Peru, Russia, and Singapore have indicated they will be sending athletes, as well.

schedule and tickets