Gymnastics Coaching.com

Russian officials said … athletes who win gold on Feb. 15, 2014 at the Sochi Olympics will receive medals that include meteorite fragments …

Select gold medals at Sochi Olympics will include meteorite fragments to commemorate Russian meteor strike

Chellsie Memmel:

I’m so excited to finally announce that I’m officially back in the gym training with the goal of being able to join the Senior Elite U.S. T&T Team to compete for Team USA & USA Gymnastics in power tumbling!!

My ultimate goal is to qualify to be named to the USA Gymnastics Senior Elite Trampoline and Tumbling Team and be able to compete at the World Cup and World Championships this fall.

Shocked?

Yea, so am I! I never imagined that at 25 years old I’d be working towards making another World team …

read more …

Click PLAY or watch her on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=148405392025927

You might fear that an older tumbler is risking Achilles injury. Happily, Power Tumblers suffer far fewer than do Artistic gymnasts.

Watch her backward handspring in 1992. VIDEO Age 3 1/2.

LIKE Chellsie on Facebook.

via Doug Davis

Grace Chiu on Facebook:

Rockin’ final night of Trampo & Acro at World Games in Cali. …

The most remarkable ovation/encore/they-brought-the-house-DOWN in any gymnastics event I’ve ever seen was for the Chinese men’s Acro group. There were flairs, Great Big Throws, and they nailed Everything!

The audience were on their feet before the final pose. … They did an encore on the tumbling run where they jump- roped their boy flyer AND threw him in a quintuple corkscrew AND caught him. Then, in the kiss ‘n cry, the arena did the Wave THREE times around! It was awesome! …

read more …

FIG:

… Top qualifiers China and Russia played in a league of their own, boasting massive difficulty and thrilling the audience with their spectacular pyramids and moves.

The final was free of penalties for all groups, but it was again China and Russia that produced the most stunning performances. In the end, a .21 margin was the difference between Gold and Silver, with the Chinese having the advantage. Ukraine outscored Belgium to proudly take the Bronze. …

The Gymnastics events at The World Games 2013 Cali continue with the Aerobics competitions on Friday and Saturday.

China’s dazzling acrobats edge out Russia for Group Gold

That link has results for Synchronised Trampoline, Double Mini and Acrobatic.

I can’t find a video of China, Russia or Belgium online. Leave a comment if you’ve seen one.

The Pennsylvania State University and college athletics mourns the passing of former men’s gymnastics head coach Gene Wettstone, a legend in the sport of gymnastics and the record-holder for most NCAA men’s team championships by a single coach in the sport.

Wettstone, who celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this month, passed away on Tuesday …

A member of the Penn State coaching staff for 36 seasons, Wettstone led the Nittany Lions to an astonishing nine NCAA team championships and 13 Eastern Intercollegiate Gymnastics League (EIGL) crowns. He compiled over 200 dual meet victories, coached his student-athletes to 35 individual national titles and produced 13 Olympians before retiring from coaching. …

Penn State Athletics

Click PLAY or see some Gene Wettstone photos on YouTube.

Of course he’ll be remembered in the U.S. Hall of Fame.

If you listen to the entire 90 minute GymCastics episode 42 you’ll hear a big announcement at the end. They’ve scheduled the first lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender gymnastics forum. Ever.

Episode 43 (next week) will feature a panel to discuss the issue vis-a-vis Gymnastics sports. Three athletes, one coach and GymCastic moderators.

Adding STAR power to the mix will be Alica Sacramone, an ally.

Timing is right.

BBC:

… For U.S. gay rights advocates, it’s been a good summer.

In June the Supreme Court allowed for federal recognition of same-sex marriages in states where such unions are legal. They also declined to challenge a lower court decision invalidating California’s ban on same-sex marriage.

But the fight for marriage equity is far from over. In the aftermath of the court decisions, battles have raged on a state level as advocates for gay marriage try to push ahead, while those who oppose it try to stand their ground.

“Thirty-seven states still have marriage restrictions …

States deal with gay marriage aftermath

It seems the tide has turned. A majority in the USA now support Gay marriage. American politicians, even Republicans, even are flip flopping as fast as they can. Trying to get ahead of the issue before coming elections.

Congratulations to LGBT advocates who feel their voice is finally being heard.

That said, I also support the rights of those who campaign against Gay marriage. Peter Vidmar included.

This is Democracy. The worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.

I’m assuming Stanford’s Josh Dixon will be one of the athletes.

related – Toronto Star – Olympic boycott isn’t the answer to Russia’s anti-gay policies by Ann Peel and former gymnast Kris Burley

Thanks Dave.

There’s an interesting thread on Facebook started by Jeremy Waters.

After watching video overlays of Biles v Maroney on Vault, Jeremy wonders why gymnastics judging is still done by humans rather than computers?

Nick Blanton noted FIG’s IRCOS video analysis system.

A baby step.

John Carney wants to build a giant Microsoft Kinect device to more precisely measure things like handstand angles on Bars.

Nike+ Kinect is the most advanced technology I’ve seen working towards that goal.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I hope I live long enough to see final judging scores at least partially decided by computer algorithm. 🙂

Beam Dreams:

… At the current state of competition readiness and health, Marta would most likely send Kyla Ross (AA, UB), Simone Biles (AA?, V, FX), McKayla Maroney (V, Fx?) and Lexie Priessman (Fx, AA?).

If Katelyn comes back healthy and ready to compete, she could definitely take one of those slots (FX, BB, UB?). Though there are a number of other talented girls that could come into the mix (Peyton Ernst, Brenna Dowell, Abigail Milliet, MyKayla Skinner, and Elizabeth Price) all of them would have to put up higher all-around scores or a much higher event score than they have currently.

P&G US National Championships will shed more light on the team selection. But as there is likely to be another selection camp in September after Nationals, it definitely won’t tell the final story …

Breaking Down the 2013 World Championships (Plus US Team Predictions)

VIDEOS via that link.

Medals are the goal. Kyla might make the Bar final, but her chances of getting on the podium are slight.

Marta loves consistency. Aly was not pretty on Bars, but she could hit 7 routines a day prior to London. Every day.

The two top healthy, consistent AAs will go. Both will have chance to medal if they hit in Belgium. I expect Kyla will be one of them. She’s been healthy and consistent.

Assuming Katelyn’s not back, the two specialists will be selected for Vault and Floor. Maroney #1, I expect. She’d have to fall (again) to not win the Gold.

Team USA has good Beam, of course. But Floor is stronger.

I could easily see Brenna Dowell getting the call. She’s tough and consistent in training.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Double Mini Tramp Finals

1st) Svetlana Balandina RUSSIA – 69.4
2nd) Corissa Boychuk CANADA – 68.6
3rd) Silvia Saiote PORTUGAL – 68.2

1st) Bruno Martini BRAZIL – 75.4
2nd) Mikhail Zalomin RUSSIA – 75.2
3rd) Andre Lico PORTUGAL – 73.9

McKayla Maroney and Cheryl Hamilton discuss “The Vault”

Cheryl:

“It was the most wonderful athletic feat ever.”

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

… Fans have to remember that the Classic is usually the first major competitive elite experience in months – or in some cases, a year or more – for these athletes. Most are trying out new skills while others are debuting brand new routines. …

Despite the spills, bumps, and bruises along the way, we did see lots of promise from both junior and senior athletes at the Classic, athletes who will now spend the next few weeks polishing and fine-tuning in order to make their case for inclusion on the U.S. National Team at the P&G Championships in a couple of weeks. I loved the immense difficulty attempted by these athletes, even if the results were a bit messy …

Our first order of business is definitely the competitive return of Maroney …

Maroney also competed on floor, where she went for a big double layout (a little too big, as it landed out of bounds), a 2.5 to punch front, a gorgeous stuck double arabian, and a double pike.

It was a great, sassy routine where she truly made the statement that she’s back and here to stay. I talked to her for a bit about her goals and whether 2016 was on her mind or, like every other stock gymnast answer, if she was “taking it one day at a time.” Maroney’s no “stock answer” gal, though, and answered,

“Not only is Rio on my mind, it’s the only thing on my mind. It’s the password on my phone.” …

Couch Gymnast – 2013 Secret U.S. Classic: The Seniors

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Lauren is on GymCastic this week. Episode 42: The 2013 Secret US Classic from Chicago