#WCHNanning2014 WAG podium – 1st session CAN, BEL, EGY, RUS
Russia looked pretty good overall. Destined for 3rd place as a team, I reckon, behind USA and CHN.
Aliya made some small mistakes, as she normally does in training. No doubt she’ll hit everything when it counts. The leg up triple turn on FX is perhaps her greatest risk of a stumble.
Canada has a young but enthusiastic team gaining great experience here. Without Victoria Moors, however, they won’t have much of a chance to qualify to the Team Final.
Ellie Black is one impressive athlete. She was under-rotating her Rudi on Vault. But I expect, like Aliya, she’ll hit when it counts.
I’ve seen Egypt twice now and have not seen a Handspring double front. Perhaps I missed it. Perhaps Fadwa only chucks it for competition.
On 22 January 2014, The BBC reported that the organisers of the Commonwealth Games were concerned about the future of the event, after no member country had expressed serious interest in hosting the 2022 edition with only two months to go before the March 2014 deadline for applicant cities. …
Happily, two cities are prepared to take on the Games:
• Edmonton, Canada
• Durban, South Africa
Edmonton has hosted CWG in the past and did a great job. I know, as I was there as a volunteer. 🙂
It’s Africa’s turn. Let’s hope the Games go to South Africa when announced September 2015.
Everything shown in that video is true. (Aside from the boast about internet connectivity. It’s crappy throughout South Africa.)
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In a related story, two Durban gymnasts are struggling.
Siphamandla Ngcobo and Siphesihle Biyase are quality guys just arriving at an international FIG level. Both competed Commonwealth Games Glasgow. They are trying to raise $5000 in donations to support their full-time training with coach Jesse Kitzen-Abelson, former Temple co-captain.
It’s not much to ask. These are young men trying to live Mandela’s dream for them.
Many name Max Whitlock as the contender with the best chance to upset the greatest gymnast of all time.
Donald McRae:
Whitlock is honoured to compete against Uchimura but can he actually beat the world and Olympic champion?
“I really don’t know,” he says, with a laugh. “I’d have to have a perfect day but that’s my target. I’d love to be close to the best gymnast in the world. That would be a massive achievement.”
…
“Last year at the worlds [in Antwerp] I was just a few tenths from a medal [in the all-around competition]. It’s been a massive target of mine and Scott’s to hit the 90-point mark, and to have finally done it twice at the Commonwealths means I’m well happy. I got 90.6 on one of those days – so I only need 4/10ths to get to 91, which is my next goal. If I’d got that 90.6 mark last year I’d have been second at the worlds.” …