Category: Uncategorized

Beam Dreams:

… At the current state of competition readiness and health, Marta would most likely send Kyla Ross (AA, UB), Simone Biles (AA?, V, FX), McKayla Maroney (V, Fx?) and Lexie Priessman (Fx, AA?).

If Katelyn comes back healthy and ready to compete, she could definitely take one of those slots (FX, BB, UB?). Though there are a number of other talented girls that could come into the mix (Peyton Ernst, Brenna Dowell, Abigail Milliet, MyKayla Skinner, and Elizabeth Price) all of them would have to put up higher all-around scores or a much higher event score than they have currently.

P&G US National Championships will shed more light on the team selection. But as there is likely to be another selection camp in September after Nationals, it definitely won’t tell the final story …

Breaking Down the 2013 World Championships (Plus US Team Predictions)

VIDEOS via that link.

Medals are the goal. Kyla might make the Bar final, but her chances of getting on the podium are slight.

Marta loves consistency. Aly was not pretty on Bars, but she could hit 7 routines a day prior to London. Every day.

The two top healthy, consistent AAs will go. Both will have chance to medal if they hit in Belgium. I expect Kyla will be one of them. She’s been healthy and consistent.

Assuming Katelyn’s not back, the two specialists will be selected for Vault and Floor. Maroney #1, I expect. She’d have to fall (again) to not win the Gold.

Team USA has good Beam, of course. But Floor is stronger.

I could easily see Brenna Dowell getting the call. She’s tough and consistent in training.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Double Mini Tramp Finals

1st) Svetlana Balandina RUSSIA – 69.4
2nd) Corissa Boychuk CANADA – 68.6
3rd) Silvia Saiote PORTUGAL – 68.2

1st) Bruno Martini BRAZIL – 75.4
2nd) Mikhail Zalomin RUSSIA – 75.2
3rd) Andre Lico PORTUGAL – 73.9

McKayla Maroney and Cheryl Hamilton discuss “The Vault”

Cheryl:

“It was the most wonderful athletic feat ever.”

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

… Fans have to remember that the Classic is usually the first major competitive elite experience in months – or in some cases, a year or more – for these athletes. Most are trying out new skills while others are debuting brand new routines. …

Despite the spills, bumps, and bruises along the way, we did see lots of promise from both junior and senior athletes at the Classic, athletes who will now spend the next few weeks polishing and fine-tuning in order to make their case for inclusion on the U.S. National Team at the P&G Championships in a couple of weeks. I loved the immense difficulty attempted by these athletes, even if the results were a bit messy …

Our first order of business is definitely the competitive return of Maroney …

Maroney also competed on floor, where she went for a big double layout (a little too big, as it landed out of bounds), a 2.5 to punch front, a gorgeous stuck double arabian, and a double pike.

It was a great, sassy routine where she truly made the statement that she’s back and here to stay. I talked to her for a bit about her goals and whether 2016 was on her mind or, like every other stock gymnast answer, if she was “taking it one day at a time.” Maroney’s no “stock answer” gal, though, and answered,

“Not only is Rio on my mind, it’s the only thing on my mind. It’s the password on my phone.” …

Couch Gymnast – 2013 Secret U.S. Classic: The Seniors

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Lauren is on GymCastic this week. Episode 42: The 2013 Secret US Classic from Chicago

Gymnastics Australia:

… International Development Program (IDP) Clinic …

100 of our best young gymnasts and their personal coaches attended the clinic representing 16 different High Performance programs from around the country.

The clinic was led by National Junior Development Co-ordinator Jo Richards along with a team of experienced coaches:

– Peggy Liddick, Women’s Artistic Gymnastics National Coach;
– Tim Lees, Uneven Bars specialist coach;
– Mark Calton, specialist coach across Tumbling, Vaulting and Trampoline; and
– Stacey Umeh, Choreographer.

All of the participating gymnasts actively compete in the IDP and were selected from their performances and ranking on the National IDEAL Skills test. …

The next IDP clinic will be held in Melbourne, from November 23 – 25 following the National Club Championships in Geelong.

read more …

Gymnastics Australia posted some video clips from the clinic.

Click PLAY or watch one of those on YouTube.

An interesting edit. Black and white.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

(via Tsuk the Pain)

Men’s Tumbling

1T. Zhang Luo
1T. Viktor Kyforenko

3. Kristof Willerton

Women’s Tumbling

1. Jia Fangfang
2. Rachael Letsche
3. Emily Smith

results via FIG – Russia’s women take Group Gold as Cali savours night of Acro and Tumbling

I cannot imagine what coach Denis Vachon is telling Emily Smith. 🙂

USA and Germany withdrew from most of the Gymnastics disciplines due to problems with the venue.

related – Trampoline Pundit – Tumbling Tie

Sweet.

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=10201827285223290

Interesting idea for a simple dismount. Prep for over bar release.

Linked by Blanton’s Gymnastics Consultancy.

Last week at Camp I met with some of the parents and kids from this Gym. They are very keen. Very well funded.

This is a great opportunity for an experienced WAG coach willing to move.

The economy is booming in Alberta, Canada. Especially up north.

Full-time coach needed immediately.

Lakeland Gymnastics Club offers classes to more than 300 children. Our competitive team consists of 25 athletes currently competing at Provincial levels.

Salary: negotiable based on experience/certification

Cold Lake is located about 3 hours N.E. of Edmonton, 1 hour from Lloydminster.

… boating, swimming, fishing and camping. Through our winter months we enjoy all outdoor winter sports.

Please send resume via email to: lakelandgymclub (a) hotmail.com

Attention Krista Ramsay

Bad news from Canada. A couple of years ago the excellent Wild Rose competition was stopped.

Now this.

Kyle Shewfelt:

Dear friends,

It is with great difficulty that I must inform you that the Kyle Shewfelt Gymnastics Festival (KSGF) is on hiatus for the foreseeable future…

As you may or may not know, I am opening my own gymnastics facility in South Calgary this Fall called Kyle Shewfelt Gymnastics. The University of Calgary Gymnastics Centre feels, quite understandably, that this presents a conflict of interest as they were the host club of KSGF. I have been respectfully asked by The U of C Administration, UnoCalGym Parents Association and the U of C Gymnastics Centre coaching team to step away from their annual event and I accept those wishes. …

I am so very proud of what the Festival became in just 3 short years. The event gave thousands of participants a space where they could show off their hard work and have some fun. It raised more than $15,000 for Right To Play. It redefined what an invitational gymnastics competition in Canada could be. And there were hundreds of incredible people behind the scenes who helped it get to that point…

Thank you to the sponsors and media partners. Your support truly brought the event to a higher level.

Thank you to all of the volunteers, especially the meet directors and team leads. Your dedication of time and energy was inspiring. Without you, the event could not have happened.

Thank you to the U of C, UnoCalGym Parents Association and U of C Gymnastics coaching team. I appreciate you giving me a stage to share my passion for gymnastics.

Most importantly, Thank You to the supporters, athletes, coaches and judges. Thank you for choosing to come to the KSGF. Thank you for embracing the concept. Thank you for bringing your best.

It is with a very heavy heart that I say farewell for now. Who knows what the future holds – I envision the KSGF taking on a new life somehow, somewhere, sometime. When that happens, I would love for you all to join once again.

In the meantime, I look forward to staying connected. As a gymnastics family, let’s continue to collaborate and showcase our great sport. I encourage you to support the U of C’s new annual gymnastics event as they move forward. I know I’ll be there cheering on our great athletes.

Thanks for the memories. KSGF Rocked!

via Kyle’s blog

KSGF was a big improvement over the previous incarnation, the Jurassic Classic.

Let’s wait and see.

UPDATE – U of C International Cup

The University of Calgary Gymnastics Club announced today the creation of a new international gymnastics competition …

The University of Calgary International Cup will feature gymnasts of all ages and levels competing in a multitude of disciplines, culminating with a showcase competition of some of the world’s best gymnasts. …

The University of Calgary International Cup runs March 21 – 23, 2014 at the Jack Simpson Gymnasium. The competition builds on the momentum created by the Kyle Shewfelt Gymnastics Festival, which was held in conjunction with the University of Calgary club for the last three years. …

read more on Facebook

Tony’s done a terrific job in the past bringing in some of the best gymnasts in the world. All the best.