South African Games

Slow start. But this is a terrific video showing the relationship between play and sport.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The SA Gym Games features an array of gymnastics. … Artistic Men & Women, Trampoline & Tumbling, Acrobatic Gymnastics & Ropeskipping; with Rhythmic Gymnastics … The week long competition also features a Gymnastics Gala Evening showcasing each discipline. …

comedy mini-tramp early ’80s

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.

Taiso Saskatoon is OPEN

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

click for larger image photo - Alynn Brischuk
click for larger image
photo – Alynn Brischuk

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.

Germany over Romania

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.

will Russia medal at Worlds?

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

Russian Cup

Eileen Langsley – Commonwealth photos

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

Book cover

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

Where Sport Meets Art

Rebeca Andrade – Nabieva release

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.

Nabieva
the original Nabieva 🙂

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

(via Arabian Punch Front)

Luci Romberg – Jumping Spider

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.

Rob Murray’s Gym burned

😦

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.