Gymnix Sr / Jr Cup results

Another competition in the confusing line-up of Gymnix events featured Australia’s Lauren Mitchell. She did not compete the AA, however.

Senior Cup AA:
1. Emily Little
2. Kaitlyn Hofland
3. Bianca Dancose-Giambattisto

Dominique Pegg was 4th.

Junior Cup AA:
1. Maria Bondareva
2. Charlie Fellows
3. Casey Carvalho.

Full results should be up on this page soon.

Maria

5/2 twist punch double front

Kieran Behan (Ireland) has one of the cleanest Floor routines in the world. But to qualify to the Olympic final, he’ll need more difficulty. One possibility …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

(via Gymnastics Planet)

Christine Lee – Floor

I’m seeing an Olympic finalist. This is one of the best routines in the world. Lovely artistry and interesting choreography.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Recall that Peng is still recovering from a dislocated patella. She’s still improving. 🙂

OUCH – Vanessa Ferrari interview

Fierce. I’ve loved the Ferrari since she unexpectedly won Worlds in 2006.

Height 143 centimetres (4 ft 8 in)
Weight 36 kilograms (79 lb 6 oz)

Tough as nails.

With nicknames like “Tiny Dynamo” and “The Cannibal“, I shouldn’t have been so surprised — even shocked — by this interview:

Translated for Couch Gymnast by Giulia Holzer:

I wanted to share with readers an interview with Vanessa Ferrari. It was recently released in an Italian newspaper.

… it shows a sad, uncaring and even rude Vanessa, but also … some interesting content about her life and career.

As you might already know, Vanessa’s relationship with journalists has never been the best. …

Q. Do you feel in a prison?

A. Yes. If I could be born again, knowing things, I would no more do this life. I do not know what to choose, but not this one. The sacrifices were too many, lasted too long.

It’s bleak. But fascinating. She’s one of the most unique characters in our sport.

Vanessa vs. The Press Part One
Vanessa vs. The Press Part two

Vanessa finished 11th AA at 2010 Worlds, robbed of a medal on Floor.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

She finished 12th AA at 2011 Worlds.

At the 2012 Test Meet she was 1st AA and did win Floor.

Good luck at the London Olympics Vanessa!

visiting 10 gyms in Europe

In January I traveled to London for the Olympic Test Meet, a “dress rehearsal” of the Olympics.

From there I visited 10 gyms, some of my travel expenses covered by the Tumbl Trak Ambassador’s program:

Ireland: Excel, Renmore, Trojan, Janz and Sugarloaf.
Belgium: Melsele, St-Niklaas, Bazel and Gymclub Apollo.
England: Europa Gymnastics Centre

Gymnastics is gymnastics, the clubs in Europe not all that different than in America. Coaches all seek best ways to keep their kids happy, healthy and improving.

Thanks so much to my host in Belgium, Lieven Vercruyssen, the inspirational founder of Eurogym Belgium and EuroTumble.

A short version of my report is now posted via Rec Gymnastics – Tumbl Trak’s March Newsletter. Or you can read a longer version as a PDF.

Nebraska 197.6 – Utah 197.45

First win ever for the Huskers at Utah. That’s their sixth-highest score in school history.

Sophomore Jamie Schleppenbach won two event titles and took home the all-around crown while leading the No. 6 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team to victory over the No. 7 Utah Utes, 197.600-197.450, on Friday night in Salt Lake City Utah. …

“I’m so proud of this group,” Head Coach Dan Kendig said after the meet. “They were so awesome tonight. They were relaxed, focused, and ready to go from the get-go. What a total team win. They competed so hard and I couldn’t be prouder of them. Utah was very good tonight, and we had to be better than good, and we were.” …

Schleppenbach Leads NU Past No. 7 Utah

… how about a complement for the judges (yes a complement) even as a biased Ute fan I was glad to see that the judges both rewarded Nebraska and didn’t give Utah a lot of “cheap Senior Night scores.”

Vegas Ute on College Gymnastics Board

Nebraska again competed 5 all-arounders. That’s not supposed to work, Coach Kendig. 🙂

Xtreme Tramp Add On

Jason Burnett, Sam Sendel, and Jake Cranham demonstrate the wonderful game of Add On.

Add On is a trampoline game where athletes try to best one another by continually adding to a sequence of skills. Check out the video to see who wins.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.