EYOF: Russia, GBR, Romania

Great Britain was the biggest happy surprise at the European Youth Olympic Festival finishing 2nd in Team.

Top AA gymnasts from prelims:

Tyesha Mattis (GBR) 54.700
Maria Kharenkova (RUS) 54.600
Laura Jurca (ROU) 54.400
Ellie Downie (GBR) 54.300
Louise Vanhille (FRA) 54.200
Maria Bondareva (RUS) 53.850

Results & Videos: EYOF 2013 WAG EF & AA qualifiers

Click PLAY or watch Maria Kharenkova’s Floor on YouTube.

Check the dismount – double pike punch Sheep attempt.

Noa Kadosh walkover basket

YouTube viewers are flipping over a video of Israeli rhythmic gymnast Noa Kadosh showing off her amazing basketball skills. The video, which has gone viral and has been picked up by major media outlets like ESPN and CNN, shows Kadosh performing a successful free throw while simultaneously doing a walkover at Camp Ramah in the Poconos. …

From the courts of Camp Ramah

Israeli rhythmic gymnast Noa Kadosh makes the basket of a lifetime

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

First time I saw it, assumed it had been faked. 🙂

Dvora Meyers confirms the video is REAL.

Victoria Moors, Elvira Saadi

EXCELLENT interview.

TSN and Powerade are teaming up to showcase 24 of Canada’s future stars today.

This week, the spotlight is on gymnast Victoria Moors.

The 17-year-old, who was born in Surrey, BC and lives in Cambridge, ON, won the all-around championship at the 2012 Canadian Gymnastics Championships and represented Canada at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England. …

Click here to see SportsCentre’s Powerade 24 video profile of Victoria Moors.

Victoria age-6
Victoria age-6

related – Examiner – Victoria Moors: The new confidence

Afanasyeva’s Floor underscored

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Andy Thornton:

D-score: Either 6.3 or 6.4 (I believe this should be a 6.4, but she received a 6.3 in the team and event finals and also at the European Championships – see my D-score analysis below)

E-score: 8.6 or 8.7!

Final score: 15.0

Did you catch that? She received an E-score of 8.6 or 8.7 (depending on what D-score they gave) for that beautiful, nearly flawless routine. I’d say a 9.6 would be way more accurate.

This score perfectly represents the biggest problem in judging these daysfailure to properly reward near perfect routines with high execution scores. …

read more on American GymnastShould We Call Them “Sketchecution Scores?” A Look At Afanasyeva’s Floor Routine

The Men’s judges are almost as bad. I feel, sadly, that FIG Executive should step in and insist that MTC and WTC start producing a greater range in Execution scores between worst and first.

When Nellie Kim got perfect 10s in 1976, she “deserved” them. Nellie and Nadia were that much better than the rest.

MAG FISU prelims – a review

Uncle Tim made me laugh out loud once or twice:

2013 Universiades Qualifications Recapped: Where Do We Send Our Hate Mail?

Rings Planche

Andy Thornton actually loved the Men’s FISU Games competition. But like me, he’s baffled by current Execution judging.

Gabby Douglas worth $3 million

But she’s back training anyway. 🙂

Gabby Douglas Net Worth Won’t Deter Gymnastics Dreams [VIDEO]: Rio 2016 Training Underway According To Twitter

Here’s what she had to say on the topic back immediately after the Olympics. Click PLAY or watch an interview on the topic on Gymnastike.

http://www.gymnastike.org/embed/MzY4NjU1NjQ4?related=1&autoplay=false

Watch more video of 2012 London Olympics on gymnastike.org

(via Couch Gymnast)

Zarkana – the Chocolate Sculpture

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Zarkana is a Cirque du Soleil stage production … It began as a touring show in 2011 and was converted to a permanent show in Las Vegas in late 2012. …

related …

… Cirque du Soleil has announced that performances of Ka in Las Vegas will resume Tuesday, July 16, at 7 p.m.

The Tuesday night show will be dedicated to the memory of Sarah Guillot-Guyard (a.k.a. Sasoun) the 31-year-old performer who fell more than 25 metres to her death during a performance of Ka on June 29.

For the time being, Ka will be presented without the Battle Scene act during which Guillot-Guyard lost her life. …

😦