Michelle’s death not in vain

Ann Maitland, mother of a gymnast killed after hitting her head … says she’s disappointed an inquest into the death didn’t include any independent expert witnesses and wouldn’t recommend any criminal charges be laid.

Michelle Maitland (age 19) died June 18, 2009 after falling from a tumbling trampoline, hitting concrete. She was in an Adult Class at Gymnastics Townsville, Australia.

Gymnastics Townsville was fined $70,000 in 2010.

… Nothing is going to begin Michelle back. 😦

But Ann is hopeful that Workplace Health and Safety and Gymnastics Australia have made some improvements so that something like this NEVER happens again.

Obviously, there should be no exposed concrete or metal anywhere near a trampoline device or pit.

You might be able to see a newspaper article on that court ruling here.

Wales Watching

Anyone who has been paying even the slightest attention to the host of talented juniors representing Great Britain will be aware that there is quite a talented crop of gymnast being raised over there in the junior and espoir levels. And if they watched GBR’s European Championships junior team in action might have noticed something interesting over half that team, Angel Romaeo, Raer Theaker, and Georgina Hockenhull are Welsh-born gymnasts.

These girls, as well as some others like Keira Brennan and Jessica Hogg have been very busy this year making a name for Welsh gymnastics. In the past twelve months they have had significant success at meets like the 2012 Junior European Championships, the 2012 Northern European Championships and the 2011 Youth Commonwealth Games, where they took second place as a team.

The most recent triumph is the team win at the Northern European Championships in Wales. …

Couch Gymnast – Wales Watching Part One – Part Two

Congratulations to coach Tracey Skirton and everyone in the program.

Here’s a feature on Angel from Dec. 2011.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

say hello to Vanessa Ferrari

Coach Enrico Casella Skypes in from Doha, Qatar to check up on former World Gymnastics Champion Vanessa Ferrari in Italy

We all said HELLO.

… Ferrari who tied with Russia’s Aliya Mustafina on floor exercise in London, lost the bronze medal due to having a lower execution score than her competitor Mustafina. Had Ferrari won the bronze medal, she would have been the first Italian artistic gymnast to win an Olympic medal.

Ferrari told La Gazzetta dello Sport that although she is not someone who usually cries when facing disappointment, placing fourth at the Olympics is perhaps the greatest sorrow of her life. Ferrari added that if the results were at the Worlds or Europeans, she would have won that medal …

WOGymnastike

Alex Seifert Retirement Video

Includes a long list of those who coached Alex to international prominence in Power Tumbling and DMT.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Alex is now enjoying working for Cirque du Soleil.

Ellie Black is back

Dave Kikuchi:

Healed up and back in action. Trying some new stuff, dreaming about a beam routine, and a little something that should help in the artistry department

Click PLAY or watch some recent training on YouTube.

Ellie Black was one of 2 Canadian Olympic Vault finalists on the best Canuck team ever — 5th in London.

(via Brigid on Facebook)

Toyota Invitational

The first day of competition at the 2012 Toyota International Gymnastics Invitational has been completed. …

WOMEN’S VAULT:
PHAN Thi Ha Thanh (VIE) (14.850, 15.000) 14.925
Mai Murakami (JPN) (14.850, 14.100) 14.475
Wakiko Ryu (JPN) (14.625, 13.800) 14.212

WOMEN’S BARS:
Rie Tanaka (JPN) 12.975
Sabrina Gill (CAN) 12.875
Isabelle Marquard (GER) 12.500

MEN’S FLOOR EXERCISE:
Ryohei Kato (JPN) 15.675
Yusuke Tanaka (JPN) 15.075
Hugh Smith (CAN) 14.350

MEN’S POMMEL HORSE:
Ryohei Kato (JPN) 15.050
Kazuhito Tanaka (JPN) 14.775
Kenneth Ikeda (CAN) 14.200

MEN’S STILL RINGS:
Arthur Nabarrete Zanetti (BRA) 15.900
Yusuke Tanaka (JPN) 14.850
Yusuke Saito (JPN) 14.825

Miel