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full results – World Artistic Gymnastics Championships 2007 – GymnasticsResults.com

It looked like a repeat of Worlds Team Finals last year. The favourites USA giving away the Championships after two unexpected errors by Liukin and Johnson on beam.

Then Russian Ekaterina Kramarenko balked on vault scoring ZERO in a 3-up, 3-count Finals.

And Li Shanshan from China over-rotated on Floor.

Here’s what happened:

The Americans finished with 184.4 points, beating defending champion China by .95 for their second world title, and the first they’ve won on foreign soil. Romania took the bronze after getting shut out of team medals last year for the first time since 1981.

Sacramone’s winning floor exercise was as clutch as any pass ever thrown by Peyton Manning or basket made by M.J.

Though in this case, the coup de grace was every bit as much a stage show as an athletic performance.

Sacramone powered through her flip combinations and landed without looking down, knowing she’d stayed inside the lines.

… The American comeback became necessary when Liukin, a former world champion on beam, couldn’t close out what had been shaping up as one of the best routines of her life on the sport’s most difficult event.

… The landing of her last flip resulted in an awkward thud. Later, she said she thought her foot slid halfway off the beam. So instead of poising herself for a flip with 2 1/2 twists on the dismount, she settled for a back tuck — the kind of thing you’d see at the kid’s meet down the street on Saturday mornings.

She scored a 15.175, losing about a point off her usual mark. She rattled the team, and national champion Shawn Johnson followed with an equally costly and unexpected mistake, a fall off the beam that knocked her score down about a point, as well.

That’s two misses out of 12 in a meet where scores from every routine count. Last year, two mistakes cost the Americans the gold, leaving them befuddled as they walked out of the gym in Denmark, feeling they were better than the Chinese team that won.

… The Chinese went into the last event leading but made a mistake on floor that brought the Americans right back into contention.

Li Shanshan put way too much power into her last tumbling pass, two piked somersaults. She stumbled backward, toppled onto her backside and ricocheted wildly out of bounds.

… About the same time Shanshan was falling, Russian vaulter Ekaterina Kramarenko flew down the runway and put her arms up to ready herself for a roundoff onto the springboard. But she suddenly cut her speed, stayed upright and touched the springboard then stopped.

She received a 0.0 for that unheard-of mistake. The sight of her weeping on the sidelines wasn’t as jarring as that of her teammate, Elena Zamolodchikova, heaving with sobs as she stood on the runway to prepare for her now-meaningless vault.

Russia led the meet halfway through, but finished in last place.

The United States finished in first, and Johnson, the national champion, also deserves heaps of credit.

Shawn Johnson

She had to recover from her error on beam to put together a floor routine that would give Sacramone a chance to win it. She came through.

Her floor routine was a perfectly steady, high-flying roam around the mat, her face always gleaming with a smile. She scored a 15.375, and when she strutted off, she stopped to hug Sacramone as if the Americans had already won.

“All the girls were like, ‘You can do it, it’s fine,'” Sacramone said. “I was like, ‘C’mon guys. I’m fine.’ I’m like ‘OK, I’ve done this routine so many times.'”

She did it once more with feeling. This time, it resulted in a team gold medal — the first in a competition this big since 2003.

The Associated Press: U.S. Golden Again at Gymnastics Worlds

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Another PowerPoint presentation from philosopher Dave Adlard, Head Coach of Funtastics, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, from USA Congress 2007 entitled:

>>> Myths and Legends

It’s an interesting, comic listing of typical wrong thinking that has permeated the culture of Artistic Gymnastics coaching.

I don’t always agree with Paul Ziert of International Gymnast. But I have to admit his Daily “Top 10” list from Stuttgart has been excellent, so far.

Here’s a sample, noting Paul’s 10 biggest impressions of the past 24 hours:

Tuesday, September 4

10. The Canadian team managed a top-12 finish without their two biggest names: Olympic champion Kyle Shewfelt (both knees broken last Monday in training) and Adam Wong (torn Achilles this past spring). It was hard to see Shewfelt faithfully follow the team around the arena in his wheelchair, with both his legs sticking straight out and in restraining bandages. This team had very smartly choreographed routines that made good use of the Code and their excellent execution. Casey Sandy, the original alternate, not only stepped in and did his job for the team but also qualified for the all-around final. Who knew Canada had such depth?

9. Congratulations to Slovenia’s Mitja Petkovsek (third qualifier on parallel bars) and Aljaz Pegan (second qualifier on high bar) who continue to motivate themselves to excel without a team to surround them. They are the crème de la crème of their events, and they have learned to perform consistently so that they can keep bringing home medals for their country. Slovenia didn’t qualify any gymnasts to the Olympics via the team competition, so for both these guys to go to Beijing, each will have to win an apparatus gold medal on Sunday.

8. North Korean Ri Jong Song on floor exercise performed the most insanely difficult routine of these entire championships with count them, SIX TUMBLING PASSES: triple-twisting double tuck; layout double-double; the requisite “Magic Pass” (1 and 1/2, front full, Rudi); layout Thomas; a whip 1 1/2, front layout, barani; tucked double-double dismount. He faced passes 5 and 6 and ended up with a headache and a score of 14.075 (A-Panel: 6.8) for 128th place. Can you imagine! This is the same guy who actually hit a routine similar to this at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and yet still didn’t make finals. I will still never forgive Hardy Fink (the head floor judge in Athens) who didn’t step in to make sure Ri got the score his routine merited. Trying to do even more here, it looks like Ri overestimated himself in a desperate attempt to be properly estimated.

7. 19-year-old Fabian Hambüchen is so good for our sport. He’s talented, well coached, comfortable in his own skin and looks like he loves what he’s doing. Most of his routines are magical, especially in the way he presents them. He is always a crowd favorite wherever he competes, but here in Germany he has reached rock star status!

6. The Romanian team did a wonderful job considering that they lost two gymnasts, notably their superstar Marion Dragulescu just before the competition started. Their vaulting without Marian was still the best of all the teams. We would all like to know how they develop that kind of explosive power!

5. I felt so sorry for the Ukrainian team. This group is a very talented one that just couldn’t do enough to make it to Beijing. I personally feel that the Ukrainians, competing without some of their best guys, were asked to do too much. Instead of concentrating on the goal of qualifying to the Olympics, they seem to be performing routines that might have been ready for the Olympics. These guys are talented, explosive and technically sound, but it seems they have no confidence that they can make their routines. The worst part is, I’m not sure that this country will continue to support a team that appears to be dropping out of sight.

4. The Spanish team was the biggest surprise for me. I have watched most of these guys over the past several years and they have many times not performed up to their abilities and/or expectations. Also stuck competing against the German crowd, they were obviously determined to get Spain to Beijing and did exactly what was needed to get the tickets booked. The wild man, Gervasio Deferr, dug deep and really extended himself by competing in four events here to help the cause.

3. The unlucky South Korean team drew the final qualifying session, normally a great round but in this case, one that had them competing against the German team AND the German audience. For a culture that is so quietly respectful of others, this must have been a very difficult environment for the Koreans. We even noticed that some of team members used cotton or ear plugs to help mute the noise. Nevertheless they held it together and qualified for Beijing and the team finals here. Maybe their experience tonight will help them in the finals. (And let’s see if any of the other teams borrow their idea and show up for team finals with ear plugs!)

2. The German team was lucky to draw the final qualifying session, and used that luck to perform very well, landing just ahead of the USA in 3rd place. With three up and all scores counting, plus a very loud and partial audience, they might get lucky yet again and walk away with a medal. They are a fun group of young men to watch—very focused, very determined and very good! Can you believe that this team has one 19 year old, three 20 year olds, one 26 year old and one 27 year old? If the young ones can stay healthy, they will be contenders for a very long time.

1. The American guys happily squashed all doubt that they were still a team to be dealt with. They produced a wonderful team performance with each member stepping up big time to do his job. They looked confident and performed that way. They finished in fourth place in the qualifying, but it’s a new game for the finals. But no matter what, the guys have really earned their tickets to Beijing. Congratulations Jonathan, Sasha, Kevin, Sean, David and Guillermo!

International Gymnast Magazine

Jonathan Horton of the United States – (AP Photo/Michael Probst) ESPN

Though he failed to defend his National Championships 2007 all-around title, I was more impressed with Artemev this year than in 2006 when he won.

Last year, I thought Sasha played it “safe”.

This year he was definitely preparing to be a contender at World Championships and Olympics.

The best example was on Vault. Though he does not have the build of a great vaulter, it was Sasha who competed the first triple twisting Yurchenko in competition. (Leave a comment if you know of other athletes who have competed this vault previously.)

He competed 3 triples over the 2 days of competition, not really landing any of them well. But I was very impressed with the effort. Sasha will stabilize that vault for sure.

Click PLAY or watch the blurry and illegal — no camcorders were allowed at the meet — triple twisting Yurchenko on YouTube.

Friend and contributor to GymnasticsCoaching.com Dave Adlard, Head Coach of Funtastics, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, made a presentation at USA Congress 2007 entitled:

>>> Things we have learned building and hosting a Mega-Meet

That competition is the Great West Gym Fest which I have attended several times. It’s one of the best meets I know.

If you host your own (competition of any size) I would highly recommend you check out Dave’s Powerpoint presentation. There are dozens of great ideas you might steal borrow.

What a dog fight.

There are far more contending teams in Men’s Gymnastics than in the women’s division.

Congratulations to those who pulled it together enough to earn a spot in the top 12.

German hero Fabian Hambuechen was the star of the meet as far as the fans were concerned.

… Germany passed the Americans in the final rotation of the day thanks to star Fabian Hambuechen, the reigning world bronze medalist in the all-around. Hambuechen was magnificent, posting the fourth-highest individual score.

The 16.025 he scored on high bar was more than a half-point ahead of anyone else, a ridiculous margin on a single event.

Romania and Canada both advanced to Beijing despite missing their best gymnasts. Romania, minus reigning world floor champ Marian Dragalescu, was sixth. Canada, which lost Olympic floor gold medalist Kyle Shewfelt to two broken legs last week, was 11th.

Italy finished 10th, clinching a spot with Igor Cassina’s acrobatic high bar routine. The reigning Olympic gold medalist in the event had the Italian fans shrieking with delight, and when his score was posted, it set off another celebration.

Ukraine, the silver medalist in 2000 and winner of the bronze in 1996, finished 13th and will miss the Olympics for the first time since declaring independence in the wake of the breakup of the Soviet Union. …

A Solid Day for U.S.A. at Worlds – Forbes.com

More on the Women’s Preliminary competition at Artistic Gymnastics World Championships:

China, which is also trying out some new gymnasts this year, figures to be America’s biggest challenger in the finals. Russia and Romania should also be there.

The Romanians were in third place in qualifying after a nice night of gymnastics Saturday highlighted by the comeback of their star, Catalina Ponor.

The Russians, meanwhile, gave the world its first glimpse of national champion Ksenia Semenova. The 14-year-old scored a 16.325 on uneven bars – tied for the best score of the meet – to leave Russia in fourth.

It looked like a good enough day for the rebuilding Russian squad, one not quite deserving of the dressing down the gymnasts received from coach Andrei Rodionenko in the hall behind the competition area moments after they finished.

“Completely everything,” Rodionenko said when asked what he didn’t like about the day. “They just did not do their program. I will analyze and I will make a decision.”

The Americans got a much different reception from national team coordinator Martha Karolyi.

Never one to hold back on her displeasure, she spent much of this night clapping with her hands above her head, shouting out words of encouragement from the stands.

The Americans opened on beam, normally the toughest apparatus on the floor, and after all five gymnasts made it through their routines without anyone falling off, Karolyi ran to the railing to show how excited she was.

“I’m just happy with the general atmosphere right now,” she said. “It’s a happy group of young ladies who are all trying to do their best.”

Americans Shine at World Gymnastics – Forbes.com

I had several.

You or one of your colleagues visited the JumpSport booth at the recent USA Gymnastics trade show in San Jose, California.

We’ve been advised by state and federal public health officials that some of the Jamba Juice smoothie drinks distributed from our booth on Thursday the 16th, and Friday the 17th, may have been prepared with the assistance of a Jamba employee who was unknowingly infected with the Hepatitis A virus. This employee did not work in the booth or attend the show. …

Draft – email subject line: Please read: Important Health Alert

The top 2 Floor competitors from the last Olympics are both out due to training injuries in Germany.

Romanian superstar fractures back in training

September 2, 2007 – Romanian superstar Marian Dragulescu, the defending world champion on both vault and floor exercise, will not compete in Stuttgart after fracturing his vertebra in training on Saturday.

Adrian Stoica of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation told IG that during Saturday’s practice, Dragulescu landed normally during training and felt pain.

“Apparently the muscles pulled bone away from one of the vertebra,” Stoica said.

Dragulescu was treated for pain on Saturday night, but by Sunday evening was unable to move. X-rays revealed a cracked lumbar vertebra.

International GYMNAST Online | 2007 World Championships

Training mishap knocks Kyle Shewfelt out of World Artistic Gymnastics Championships

Olympic champion Kyle Shewfelt of Calgary has been knocked out of the upcoming artistic gymnastics world championships after sustaining injuries to both knees during a training session Monday in the host city of Stuttgart, Germany.

Shewfelt, expected to lead the Canadian men’s team to an Olympic berth at the competition next week, sustained small fractures to both knees after a hard landing while practising his floor routine.

Surgery will not be required, but the gold medal winner in the men’s floor event at the 2004 Olympics in Athens is expected to be out of action for six to eight weeks during his recovery, says Gymnastics Canada president and CEO Jean-Paul Caron of Ottawa.

Gymnastics Canada