female gymnast thumb around Bar

Male gymnast MUST ALWAYS have their thumbs around the Bar.

Female gymnast normally have thumbs around while in support (e.g. cast handstand) then flip the thumb back with the rest of the fingers during swings (e.g. giant, free hip, etc.)

Here’s an example — posted by Gymnastics Crossing — of a female gymnast who DOES sometimes keep her thumbs around on the swing. An exception to the norm.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Note the thumb tape. 🙂

rumour – Anna Li going home

Stacy St. Clair and Ted Gregory:
July 27, 2012

… Li, 23, fell while practicing a dismount on the uneven bars, tearing ligaments in her neck. …

From her hotel in London on Thursday, Li said most of the pain was emotional. She was in the top shape of her life, she said, when the injury occurred Tuesday. To have that taken away so suddenly “is a little bit difficult emotionally,” Li said.

“Physically I guess I’m OK,” she said, adding that she’s wearing a neck brace and enduring “a little bit” of pain. “Everything besides my neck is working.” …

Li said she’s planning on staying in London to support the team from the stands when competition occurs Sunday night.

Chicago Tribune

The rumour I’ve heard is that she’ll now be sent home rather than stay in London.

Leave a comment if you’ve heard anything more.

UPDATE from USAG on Facebook:

Anna will be traveling to London for the Olympic Games. She and her mother, who is her coach, have decided that spending a few days at the Games before heading back to Chicago will be a valuable experience. She will be seeing a local physician for follow up after her return.

Li said, “I’m excited to get to come to London and be at the Olympic Games and support my team. I want to enjoy the experience even though I am injured.”

Great news! 🙂

watching NBC Olympics online


My buddy Derek in Idaho is excited about the NBC Olympics Live Extra app. Free for iPad and iPhone.

There’s an Android app too, I’m told.

Reviews are mostly negative, sadly. It’s only available from the U.S. iTunes store, so don’t bother if you are from anywhere else.

NBC uses Adobe® Flash® not HTML5.

And is (mostly) not available outside the USA:

Q: Can we watch video on NBCOlympics.com outside of the United States?

A: Due to Olympic broadcasting regulations, NBC is only allowed to show Olympic content on the internet for the United States & U.S. Territories. Users outside of those locations will still have access to an extensive set of non-event video content on NBCOlympics.com.

…

Q: What is required for access to view “Live Streaming” video content?

A: With a cable, satellite or telco TV subscription that includes MSNBC and CNBC, you can access live streams of EVERY Olympic event at no additional charge.

Q: When is this Live Streaming content going to be available?

A: Live Coverage of Olympic Trials events to begin in June.
Live Olympic coverage and full event replays will be available starting July 25th, 2012.

NBC Olympics FAQ

Maroney Vault only

#london2012

@Gymnastike:

Maroney says that “as of right now” she’s only competing vault for USA.

Olympic Vault Champion in waiting

@AAinsworthNBC:

So the clarification on Maroney was that she didn’t break her toe here, but it was broken before Classic and she just aggravated that here

13shifter is posting WAG podium training on YouTube.

go Canada go

Ready to rock.

original photo on Facebook

And our lone male gymnast …

… Nathan Gafuik … will only compete on this event because his right hand still hurts too much on the other events after tearing a UCL in Slovenia on P Bars and having it surgically repaired in early June. His goal is to compete a 7.3-value routine, which he has hit once since arriving in London; otherwise, a 7.0/7.1 routine.

Grace Chiu GraceClick on Facebook

related – Addison’s disease makes Gafuik a fighter

Women’s Podium training

Twitter is the best way to follow the action live.

If you’re savvy enough to refuse twitter :, check these LIVE blogs:

Examiner:

The team everyone’s talking about that isn’t from the U.S., Russia, China or Great Britain will be training in the 02 Arena in less than half an hour. The Romanians have yet to set foot on the equipment inside the 02, and yet the team is already embroiled in drama.

Coach Mariana Bitang’s confirmation that young star Larisa Iordache will be limited to bars and possibly beam only due to plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the bottom of the foot) produced intense shockwaves around the team, which skipped its evening practice last night. We’ll see how the partial loss of Iordache is affecting the rest of the gymnasts very soon.

Examiner – Quick hits: Women’s podium training at the 2012 Olympic Games (Subdivision V)

Women’s Subdivision I notes
Women’s Subdivision II notes
Women’s Subdivison III notes
Women’s Subdivision IV notes

And Andy Thornton for NBC:

The U.S. had a good day, suffering very few major errors and successfully fielding the valuable vault of McKayla Maroney, who is world champion on the event but has not trained it at full strength for several days because of a broken right big toe. Her signature Amanar vaults soared higher than the rest today and confirmed that not only is Team USA ready to outscore the world on this event, but Maroney is still the favorite to win the individual vault gold.

… this team appears to have the difficulty and the consistency to win this Olympic team title. …

… Floor was a disaster for the Russians today …

… China had a very similar showing as the Russians, looking impressive on bars and beam but questionable on floor and vault. …

Women’s Gymnastics Podium Training Highlights

Russia could still win Team over 12 routines. But don’t bet the mortgage on it.

Yao Jinnan is not 100%.

USA is not only the strongest team. But may also be the fittest.

Update – “Replacement” athlete Anna Li fell on Bars and is in a neck brace, as a precaution.

Jovtchev to carry Flag

#london2012

Gymnastics elder statesman Jordan Jovtchev will kick off his record sixth Olympic appearance by carrying the flag for Bulgaria in Friday’s Opening Ceremonies at the Olympic Games in London.

“It will be an honor for me to carry the Bulgarian flag,” Jovtchev said on Wednesday in London.

Jovtchev, 39, will be the first male gymnast to compete in six Olympic Games. …

IG – Jovtchev to Carry Flag in Opening Ceremony

Great call.

An inspiration to every single gymnast in London.

… His 39-year-old body is “falling apart”, his back is “hurting” and his ankles are “killing” him but even if he has to be pushed out in a wheelchair, gymnastics’s elder statesman Iordan Iovtchev is determined to make one final hurrah …