Yao Jinnan competes Mo

Gutsy routine. The most “difficult” (regardless of start score) in the world today, I’d say.

Two falls.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Not sure it’s worth competing Mo at Worlds. She could medal without it.

(via Gymnastics Examiner)

2013 Japan Junior

Shaping up to be one of the most interesting competitions of the year.

Aleeza Yu Canada
Tingting Liu China
Yan Wang China
Georgia-Mae Fenton Great Britain
Catherine Lyons Great Britain
Kim Janas Germany
Pauline Tratz Germany
Sau Chung Kwan Hong Kong
Tsz Sum Chan Hong Kong
Andreea Munteanu Romania
Andreea Iridon Romania

Andreea

Maria Kharenkova Russia
Maria Bondareva Russia
Bailie Key USA
Lauren Hernandez USA
Sae Miyakama JPN
Aiko Sugihara JPN

demo
Wakana Yasui JPN
Minami Honda JPN

participants (PDF)

Like Worlds, those nominative gymnasts must verify fitness immediately before the competition. Certainly they’ll be changes to the final line-up.

via GymFever

Russia – what’s next?

Queen Elizabeth:

I have tried to allow a little time for people to digest Alexander’s interview. It is still early days. There has been some frantic discussion on the gymternet. Most it has characterised the ‘story’ as an argument between Alexandrov and the Rodionenkos: who was right, and who was wrong? …

In my opinion, the most important parts of Alexandrov’s interview are part 2, where he discusses the power relationships in Russian gymnastics, and part 4, where he describes his initiatives to encourage gymnastics participation and improve coach retention…

read more – Rewriting Russian Gymnastics – Russia – what is next? Some analysis, and more evidence

This part is new:

QE:

Before I go, however, I did want to share one more thing with you. It’s another piece of primary evidence in the developing picture of how Russian gymnastics works under the leadership of the Rodionenkos: a letter from former Junior National WAG coach Oleg Ostapenko to Andrei Rodionenko. Oleg is one of the five coaches whom Alexandrov mentions in his interview as having been rapidly ‘despatched’ by the Rodionenkos …

To: Rodionenko A.F.

From: Ostapenko O.V. head coach of the junior team

Dear Andrei Fiodorovitch.

I would like to express my total disagreement with the working methods that you and Valentina Alexandrovna use. You decide about everything. You don’t consider it necessary to agree with me matters that are mentioned in my contract and belong to my competencies (2.1.2 and 2.1.3). …

Valentina Russia

I wish the dispute between the Rodionenkos and Alexandrov had been handled as neatly as was Ostapenko’s resignation. Professionally.

The soap opera does a disservice to the great and proud Russian gymnastics tradition.

Tan Jiaxin prelim Bars

BIG routine. Fall on dismount. 😦

Click PLAY or watch it on Youku.

Succinct commentary on prelims vis-a-vis Worlds on Beautiful Gymnastics. Follow that site if you are not already. 🙂

via GymFever

Terin Humphrey interview

Cop, coach, USAG athlete rep.

Terin feels she has real input in the selection of Worlds and Olympic teams. She’ll throw a tantrum in front of Marta, if necessary.

Production of Metro Sports — A Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

She competed American Ninja Warrior. Cool.

rest in peace Jim Gault

Jim Gault

.…Jim Gault served 18 seasons between 1980 and 1998 as Head Women’s Gymnastic Coach at the University of Arizona compiling a record of 344-153-1. He coached his teams to the NCAA Championships eight times and Arizona University finished as high as 5th during his reign.

His coaching prowess led him to serve as the U.S. National Coach with teams that participated in England, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, the Soviet Union, Hungary, Germany, Yugoslavia, and Israel. .…

U.S. Gymnastics Hall of Fame

via Tony Retrosi and Scott Crouse