Georgia, LSU, Lindenwood

Three College Gymnastics teams I’ll be following closely this season:

1) Georgia … with new coaches
2) LSU … with former Georgia Head Coach Jay Clark new assistant. And momentum.
3) Lindenwood University … the first NEW NCAA WAG team in 10yrs

Good luck to Head Coach Gretchen Goerlitz and assistants Ashley Lawson and Jen Kesler.

… No stranger to NCAA gymnastics, Goerlitz competed for a successful Denver program from 2005-07, advancing to the NCAA Championships with the Pioneers in her senior year. After graduation, she went on to coach as a graduate assistant at Texas Woman’s University for two years. From there, Goerlitz made the impressive jump to head coach at Centenary, a position she held for another two years, before being named Lindenwood’s first gymnastics coach.

“What I loved about it was starting from zero with no real standards,” she said. “I’d have to set those standards and really get to make it what I wanted it to be.” …

read more = Danny Sierra‘s comprehensive article on Gymnastike

can Louis Smith dance?

Rumours were true.

Louis Smith will be one of the favourite contestants, I would think, on the British TV reality show Strictly Come Dancing.

BBC – Our celebrity line up so far …

We need to see Shawn and Louis dance together. 🙂

@nrarmour:

This isn’t first go at reality TV for @louissmith1989. He tried out for “X Factor” after Beijing.

McKayla Maroney – FLY

McKayla and Aly Raisman were both injured on Bars, the second night of the Kellogg’s tour.

It sounds like Aly is going to be alright. But we’re still waiting on official prognosis of McKayla’s knee injury as I post.

Here’s a new tribute video from Chris.

McKayla Maroney – FLY from CSaccullo

If Vimeo streams too slowly on your connection, try watching it on YouTube. Far more reliable.

Aussie squad for 2016

Brigid linked to a far more informative than usual Gymnastics Australia report:

GA Women’s Junior Camp, Canberra, August 31 – September 4, 2012:

Last weekend, at the AIS in Canberra, Gymnastics Australia held the first training camp for the 2013-2016 Olympic Cycle.

Jo Richards, Gymnastics Australia’s Women’s National Junior Development Co-ordinator, provides a review …

24 of our best, keen, young female gymnasts and their coaches flew into Canberra for 5 days of everything gymnastics. It was a great few days filled with plenty of skill development, video education, mentoring, hot and cold spas, … everyone enthusiastically working together with a common goal – improving the standard of Australian Gymnastics.

There were plenty of great D dismounts off beam and bars – all forms of double backs were seen with all programs embracing the National direction of double rotations off beam and backwards landing dismounts off bars.

… they were all challenged but enjoyed working with choreographer Stacey Umeh on their beam and floor dance bonus.

A highlight of the camp was the exquisite quality and skill direction demonstrated by Peter Abbott and his young WAIS crew – many Adlers, Double layouts, Hindorfs and Shaps were on display. Way to go Pete! Brooke Callcott’s inside stalder and ‘L’ grip endos along with Molly McKenzie’s excellent bar form, including her sky high Hindorf and ‘true’ double layout bars dismount were great. Georgia Godwin (MBC) showed some new Weiler kips on bars – another great skill choice. Maddi Leydin’s (VWHPC) Markelov was huge! …

During the camp all girls participated in the Physical testing. Congratulations to:

• The ‘most physically prepared athlete’ Emma Curry (MLC/Waverley) – full credit to Emma’s long term coach Michelle De Highden. Emma also won the Press to handstands and Cast to handstands (13 each);

• Eden Tarvit (QAS) was best on the chin-ups with 19 performed under test conditions in 30 seconds. She also had the longest standing broad jump – 74.5 cm longer than her standing height;

• Emily Conran (QAS) won the leg lifts with 23 in 30 seconds;

• Karla Danelutti (Balance) was the fastest at the rope climb and can also jump a whopping 2m 32cm;

• Emma, Brooke Callcott and Darcy Norman (both WAIS) were the most proficient at the kip to handstands (11 good ones in a row);

read more on gymnastics.org.au

2016 Olympic Champion?

Is it too soon to speculate?

When Olympic Champion Kohei Uchimura was asked, he didn’t name the younger Tanaka brother, he named Ryohei Kato.

Ryohei: In London, I had promised myself to defeat Kohei Uchimura one day. As for the team competitions, I will work hard with the team to get the gold medal for Japan be it in the World Championships or the Olympics.

Host: What do you think about Kato saying that he wants to defeat you one day?

Kohei: In 4 years time, I think he will be the strongest competitor. If possible, I would like for us to compete for the same gold medal on the same stage. …

Supermura

Ryohei is the son of Hiroyuki Kato, the Japanese Olympic coach in London.

Ryohei turns age-19 today.

Gabby Douglas – book in time for Christmas

Examiner links to news that Gabby will have one book out in time for gift giving. And another in future.

… Gabby Douglas captured hearts and gold medals with her performances at the Summer Olympics. Now she’ll be telling her story (with the help of a co-writer) in a memoir due out by Christmas.

The book, titled “Grace, Gold and Glory: My Leap of Faith,” will be published by Zondervan, the predominantly Christian publishing arm of HarperCollins. …

… She said, “I want people to read my story and say, ‘If Gabby can do it, I can do it too. Anything is possible.'”

LA Times

Those will fly off the shelves. 🙂

inspired by Yin …

YESSOOO!

This is funny.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Coach Yin Alvarez is known worldwide after the Olympics. 🙂

I saw that video on Gymnast Crossing.

Uchimura – big tricks

Zach Liebler:

Just a quick montage I made of Kohei Uchimura’s unique/difficult skills and combinations. …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Check Zach’s 3 1/2 twist on Floor. (VIDEO).