LIU Lingling wins Tramp Olympic Test Meet

Rio-Mascots1. Lingling Liu CHN 55.485
2. Yana Pavlova RUS 54.160
3. Tatsiana Piatrenia BLR 53.540

LI Dan from China led in the prelims. And I expected her to win the optional Final. But she was all over the tramp on her final set.

Teammate Lingling takes it. China is the team to beat at the Rio Olympics.

Rosie MacLennan was the winner of Test Event 4yrs ago. Went on to win Gold in London.

Olympic problems

Security is good. Hundreds of military in and around the Olympic arena look very capable.

Rio-security
security drill at the Gymnastics venue

But there are many problems.

… International sports federations expressed concern Tuesday over problems with venues for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, including power failures at the gymnastics arena this week. …

FIG official Ron Froehlich cited power outages, putting at risk athletes’ safety and the scoring system, plus missing equipment at an underfunded temporary training venue. …

Sports federations concerned about venues for Rio Games

Power is still being produced by generators. 😦 Generators fail.

Still, the Artistic competition was a success. We only had one major injury over the 3 days – Achilles rupture tumbling for one of the Austrian gymnasts. 😦 Injury rate is normally higher at these biggest meets.

The purpose of the Test Event is to test all aspects. FIX the problems in time for the Olympics.

The venues should be ready.

Click PLAY or watch a Cidade Olimpica promo video on YouTube.

Yet as I walk the Olympic City during break, there are very few workmen to be seen. You’d expect they’d still be working 24/7.

I’m worried.

(via Lauren Hopkins)

Epke Zonderland – Gold in Rio

Our defending Olympic champion at the Rio Test Meet.

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.

where did Romania go wrong?

Bea Gheorghisor compiled first shocked reactions from Adrian Stoica, Octavian Bellu, Mariana Bitang, Daniela Silivas and others.

I’m quoted in a Guardian article by Dvora Meyers – Romania’s Olympic gymnastics failure: where did it all go wrong?

One positive note. It sounds like Catalina Ponor will try to continue through the 2017 European Championships hosted by Romania.

Dipa Karmakar – 1st female Olympian from India

Dipa Karmakar, who became India’s first woman gymnast to qualify for Olympics, will receive the sports ministry’s funding of up to Rs.30 lakh under the Target Olympic Scheme (TOPS), it was announced on Monday. …

The ministry of youth affairs and sports (Department of Sports) has formulated the TOP scheme for identifying and supporting potential medal prospects for the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games. …

Besides being the first Indian woman, Dipa will also be an Indian gymnast qualifying for the quadrennial extravaganza after 52 long years.

The last time Indians participated in gymnastics at Olympics was way back in 1964, but during that time there was no qualification system in place. Six men competed at Tokyo 1964 in the artistic individual all-around category.

Till date, 11 Indian men gymnasts have competed in the Olympics –two in 1952, three in 1956 and six in 1964. …

F. Sports

The Federation in India has been a disaster over recent years. Happily the Department of Sports will ensure she has training funds to prepare safely for the Olympics.

I saw 3 Produnovas in Rio, her best during podium training. Here’s the highest quality video I’ve seen of those.

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.

USA Olympic psychology

I’ve always admired the ability of American athletes to rise to peak performance for important events. They are motivated.

Click PLAY or watch the new NBC TV promo on YouTube.

UCLA my most entertaining team

What a season. Though I was cheering LSU to win, UCLA was the team that I enjoyed following most 2015-16. One of Miss Val’s most memorable teams. 🙂