At Nikon Expo in Bristol.
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visiting Nebraska Cornhuskers gymnastics
Lucky me.
Today I am invited to watch women’s training at Mabel Lee Hall, home gym of NCAA powerhouse Nebraska.
This team has been very popular with Canadians, men and women, over the years, including 2003 NCAA champion Richelle Simpson.
who are the Gymnasts of the Year 2007?
Kevin Mazeika again US Olympic Coach for Men
Kevin Mazeika of Houston was selected Friday as head coach of the USA Gymnastics men’s team that will compete at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Mazeika, who coaches at his family-owned Houston Gymnastics Academy, coached the 2004 silver medal team at the Athens Games and also coached U.S. teams that won silver medals at the 2001 and 2003 world championships.
“It’s a tremendous honor,” Mazeika said. “I look forward to going to Beijing with a strong team and contending for medal position.”
Mazeika was selected by the federation’s program committee meeting in Las Vegas, site of the annual Winter Cup Challenge meet.
HGA gymnast Raj Bhavsar was in second place in the all-around behind 2004 Olympic gold medalist Paul Hamm after the first day of competition in the event, which concludes today.
“We have tremendous depth in the U.S., and it’s going to be a battle to make the Olympic team,” Mazeika said. “This will push everybody to their highest potential.”
In addition to Bhavsar, a member of the two silver medal world championship teams, Mazeika also coaches former world parallel bars champion Sean Townsend and two-time world team member Sean Golden.
FlipFest Gymnastics Camp, Tennessee
John Roethlisberger and John Macready were in attendance, as usual, for Chicago Style. They really are the best of the American celebrity gymnasts. Talented, knowledgeable and FUNNY.
John Roethlisberger (left) – John was a member of six World Championship Teams and a member of the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic Teams. John is one of the most accomplished male gymnasts in American history.
John Macready (right) – John was a competitive gymnast and a member of the United States Senior National Team from 1993-2000. He was a member of the 1995 and 1997 World Championship Teams as well as the 1996 Olympic Team.
Macready told me registrations for their summer camp — FlipFest in Tennessee — are stronger than ever. (The same thing I’m hearing from many of the big gymnastics camps.) Get your registration in early if you want to go.
video – amazing long hang swing on parallel bars
Amplitude is no problem for this young Chinese gymnast.
Parallel bars is the best apparatus for China. You start to appreciate why when you see work like this shown by age group gymnasts.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
This was first shown to me by Canadian National Coach Edouard Iarov.
Canadian Olympic coaches at Seneca step down
The rumours are true.
Carol-Angela Orchard and Brian McVey will retire from Toronto’s Sports Seneca following the end of the 2008 season — concluding a coaching career that spanned 11 World Championships and four Olympic Games.
Orchard will be moving to Great Britain in September to be with fiancé Eddie Van Hoof, 1984 Olympian and men’s technical director at British Gymnastics, while McVey plans to move to Panama, Sport Seneca stated.
“For more than 31 years, Brian and Carol-Angela created a dynamic and incredibly successful coaching partnership that reflected the love and passion they both shared for the sport of gymnastics,” …
photo – Gymnastics Canada
I expect we’ll see CA back coaching somewhere. And commentating on Canadian TV.
All the best to both. And thanks for everything you’ve contributed to the sport.
Paul Hamm wins Gymnastics Winter Cup
It’s far too early to predict the final USA Gymnastics Team for Beijing, but here are many of the main contenders:
In his first all-around competition since being crowned Olympic Champion in 2004, Paul Hamm returned in style with a victory at the Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas. With a tally of 185.850, Hamm’s victory was by a margin of over seven points. Raj Bhavsar earned silver (178.600) and Alexander Artemev (178.100) earned bronze. …
Rounding out the top six at Winter Cup were David Durante, Joey Hagerty and David Sender. …
The Winter Cup Challenge also served as a re-ranking competition for the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team. Based on performance at the Winter Cup Challenge, seven gymnasts will earn National Team positions, with four based on point totals and three added by committee. Immediately named to the team based on points were Hamm, Bhavsar, Hagerty and Sean Townsend, who finished seventh overall. The final three should be added within the next 24 hours. The seven members of the 2007 World Championship Team, which placed fourth in the team standings, automatically retain their national team status. Those team members include Artemev, Durante, Guillermo Alvarez, Sean Golden, Jonathan Horton, Sho Nakamori and Kevin Tan. This newly formed U.S. Men’s Senior National Team of 14 will retain their positions until the 2008 Visa Championships in May.
International assignments will come from this group, with the Tyson American Cup up next in New York City on March 1st. Hamm, Horton and Bhavsar will represent the U.S. at that event. Hamm and Horton were previously assigned to the event while Bhavsar earned his spot based on his performance at the Winter Cup Challenge.
Only Paul would be considered a lock. There are a number of “specialists” who will get real consideration. Blaine Wilson, for example did far better than I expected, with top 10 finishes on floor (t-9th/29.0), rings (7th/30.25), vault (t-4/31.75) and high bar (6th/29.05).
Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken) – ESPN
Dana Brass from Cirque du Soleil was at the meet, as usual. She said Paul’s stuck double layout dismount on Floor punctuated his return.
Chicago Style gymnastics great for KIDS
One of the real secrets of the success of the world’s largest gymnastics meet is the venue — Navy Pier in Chicago.
It’s a paradise for kids.
I asked Level 7 competitor Amber from Idaho what she liked about this meet. “It’s HUGE”, she said.
I spoke to Amber in the public area after the competition. She and the other gymnasts were checking out the shops (especially “Build a Bear”), theatres, parks, restaurants, children’s attractions and a guy in a funny suit on the concert stage. He was surprisingly inflexible.
A $2billion expansion is planned for Navy Pier.
Not many girls leave Navy Pier unhappy.
gymast Amy Chow training rings?
difficulty plus execution linked to videos of Olympic gold medal gymnast Amy Chow doing drills for pole vault. (She did compete pole vault, but not in the NCAA.)
Many of the top female pole vaulters are former gymnasts.
Click PLAY or watch Amy swing Rings on YouTube.
more – difficulty plus execution
Wikipedia says Amy is currently a pediatrics resident at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 