Category: Uncategorized

Billy Bentley, Greg Chartier, Warren Long, Keith Russell, Doug Taylor and Kelly Thompson.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Keith Russell was founder of Taiso Saskatoon, 35yrs-ago.

Ribbon ceremony. That’s the mayor with the big scissors.

Taiso‘s Open House was a big success. Everyone’s gone home … all but the serious drinkers. 🙂

One of those serious drinkers is Doug Taylor, an original Taiso gymnast some 35-years-ago.

1. Germany, 220.00
2. Romania, 219.05
3. Switzerland, 212.40

1. Larisa Iordache 58.950
2. Giulia Steingruber 56.700
3. Pauline Schafer 55.600

Larisa Iordache performed wonderfully, winning the all-around, vault, beam, and floor titles. But she will have to keep up consistent all-around performances in Nanning, putting the bulk of this team’s weight on her tiny shoulders, which could be too much pressure for her.

The team didn’t perform horribly, exactly, and had this been a three count situation like it will be at Worlds (it was four count here), Romania would have defeated Germany by three tenths. That doesn’t inspire much confidence, as two years ago Romania had ten full points over Germany. …

Germany defeats Romania in Friendly Meet

Larisa is competing a lot. And very consistently. 🙂

You might be able to watch Larisa’s Bars here.

After watching the Russia Cup, Sara Dorrien is quite optimistic regarding their chances for a team medal at Worlds. Not that they selected her team …

With the conclusion of the Russian Cup last Sunday, Andrei and Valentina Rodionenko didn’t miss a beat announcing the provisional team for the 2014 World Championships: Maria Kharenkova, Ekaterina Kramarenko, Aliya Mustafina, Maria Paseka, Alla Sosnitskaya, and Daria Spiridonova.

Without belaboring the point, I will simply state that this is not the team most of us imagined as the competition proceeded last week, nor is it the one I would have chosen. Ultimately, I believe Russia’s highest scoring potential puts Paseka, Mustafina, and Sosnitskaya on vault; Mustafina, Komova, and Spiridonova on bars; Mustafina, Kharenkova, and Spiridonova on beam; and Mustafina, Paseka, and Sosnitskaya on floor exercise. …

Needless to say, the federation didn’t ask for my opinion …

To me, it seems that the Kramarenko selection betrays a bit of anxiety among the federation. It’s a rather conservative approach, choosing to take someone who probably won’t deliver the highest scores but who can fill in virtually anywhere she might be needed. …

Russia: the Road to Nanning

Eileen Langsley:

I am pleased to announce the publication of my latest book:-

A Family Affair – The Gymnastics Competitions of the 2014 Glasgow World Championships

This commemorative, souvenir photographic celebratory book is available in print form and as an e book for iPad …

Where Sport Meets Art

My favourite new skill of recent years, Tatiana’s Nabieva is being trained by Rebeca Andrade from Brazil.

It looks very good.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

the original Nabieva 🙂

related – Jessica Lopez is training whip to 3 1/2 twist

(via Arabian Punch Front)

Click through to read an excellent summary by Jessica Rzeszut and Melissa Darcey

THE HISTORY OF CHEERLEADING

At the beginning of this clip, former gymnast from Texas Woman’s University, stuntwoman Luci Romberg becomes the first female Ninja to get through the Jumping Spider obstacle.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The Jumping Spider is the challenge that took Kacy Catanzaro out of the “American Ninja Warrior” National Finals. It disadvantages short competitors.

Thanks Kristin.

😦

Tony Retrosi and friends have rushed to help.

… it “looks to be a total loss,” said Rob Murray, who started the gymnastics center there in 2000. …

Fire rages in gymnastics center in downtown Winona

Rob’s the coach of U.S. Elite Lexy Ramler.

She’s training at Winona State University gym today.

Both The Liukin and RRG linked to a suddenly unearthed translation of a 2011 interview with the current Jr National Coach of Russia, the 1999 World Champion Nikolay Kryukov.

It is superb.

Nikolay Kryukov:

— Who was at Round Lake then, do you remember?

It was 1989. I saw Dima Bilozerchev, Valeriy Liukin, Vitaliy Marinich … and Sergey Kharkov — all the workhorses in gymnastics. They showed great class in their work. I’ll never forget how I watched Igor Korobchinskiy and Vitaliy Shcherbo train. They were competing in routines. Korobchinskiy would get on the apparatus and Leonid Arkayev would give him a 9.75. And Shcherbo would respond: “That’s kind of weak. I’ll do a 9.8”. And Igor would say, “go ahead, try!” And Shcherbo would get up and do it. Perfectly. I was struck by that — how sure people could be of their own work and be sort of playing around, but so good! That was the pinnacle of class.

… In the regions for example, coaches working at high levels still have to have beginner groups to make a normal living. A lot of them don’t even want to be in the national team. They coach kids up to that level and that’s it. I ask them, “Are you coming to training camp?” “No.” “Why not?” “Because I have two other groups and I’d lose the money.” And I ask, “So what are you working for then?” I know you can’t feed a family on your enthusiasm. Let’s come up with a solution with the directors of sports schools, so that they help talented coaches with initiative. …

— The head coach also has to be a good teacher. Do you feel “lucky” to get to work with the junior team that is the hardest age to work with (13-18 years old)? Are you strict with the guys at camp?

I give them a bit more freedom then we had. …

On Pommels:

… Without fear. Without any fear of falling. And do your routine with soul. …

Nikolay Kryukov: Character and principles

Wow.

related – Inside Gymnastics – PACIFIC RIM QUICK CHAT: NIKOLAI KRYUKOV