Gao Jian, Nellie Kim consult Malaysia

The Malaysian Gymnastics Federation (MGF) have engaged two experts – China’s Gao Jian and Russia’s Nellie Kim – to address the decline in standard of the national artistic gymnasts.

Gao Jian is the former chief coach of China, who reaped a golden harvest at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, while Nellie is a former Olympic champion and the current FIG women’s technical committee chairman.

MGF president Datuk Dr Zakaria Ahmad, fresh from his appointment as a council member of the world governing body (FIG), said: “Gao Jian and Nellie are willing to come in as consultants to revise our training programmes so that we will have a credible team for the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games.

“Gao Jian will focus on the men while Nellie will oversee the women. …

The Star

Jovtchev entertains at Mexican Gala

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Jordan Jovtchev (BUL) SR Gala de Estrellas Mexico 2012

This is supposed to be a retirement party for Jordan.

more videos from this fiesta

(via FIG on Google+)

best standing flipper?

Charlie Tamayo?

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks Brigid.

_____ Update from Scottish MAG National Coach Jim Holt:

I have huge respect for Charlie Tamayo, but the most amazing standing tumbler EVER was a guy named Waichiro Miki. Miki-san could do a standing double back salto from and land ON a one-inch wrestling mat. No springs (except in his legs), no pit, just a guy who could explode off the floor, wrap tight, and land with his feet under him. Unfortunately, no video is known to exist, but Dan Connelly and others who knew him can verify this.

Waichiro was coached at Nippon U. by Yukio Endo, and was Assistant Coach at Washington State University in the mid-70s. Prior to that, he worked with Hal Frey and Mas Watanabe at Cal, and subsequently had/worked at a gym in Santa Clara with US Jr. Boys…..can anybody out there in the blogosphere back me up on this?

Leave a comment if you’ve ever seen video of Miki-san.

Kohei Uchimura to wed

So says nikkansports (Japanese).

Word on Tumblr is she’s a girlfriend from his Nittaidai days who lives in Chiba. 🙂

Leave a comment if you can confirm. This could be another Ponor-Ramos wedding rumour.

USA WAG Junior Olympic 2013

The Women’s Levels 1–10 Junior Olympic Program will be restructured beginning August 1, 2013.

… there will be only five (5) compulsory levels as opposed to the current six (6) levels of compulsories. Therefore, there will be five (5) optional levels as opposed to the current four (4) optional levels. The complete set of rules and requirements for all the levels will be available in May of 2013. National workshops to present and teach the new Level 1–5 Compulsory exercises to coaches and judges will be conducted May 30–June 2 (Orlando, Florida) and June 6–9 (Reno, Nevada). …

details – Structure and Mobility chart (PDF)

Maria Livchikova 15.250 Beam

Who says Beam is boring in 2012? Two forward tumbling passes.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

15.250 (6.2, 9.05 Execution)

via @theallaround