Gymnastics Coaching.com

The anti-meme has begun.

See more things that impress McKayla on Gymnast Crossing.

It’s a clean sweep for Russia in rhythmic gymnastics, just as it’s been at the last three Olympics.

The Russians won their fourth straight Olympic gold medal in the group event Sunday, easily beating Belarus. With Evgeniya Kanaeva winning the individual all-around Saturday, Russia has now won both rhythmic titles at every Olympics since the 2000 Sydney Games.

… Russia finished a whopping 1.5 points ahead of Belarus with a total score of 57 points, delighting the big contingent of Russian fans in Wembley Arena.

Italy, which had hoped to break Russia’s stranglehold on the Olympic gold after winning the last three world titles, was third after appearing to make mistakes on both of its routines. …

CBC – Russia sweeps rhythmic gymnastics golds

… until proven guilty.

Two swimmers at this Olympics had suspiciously fantastical performances. One Chinese. One American.

In the past, with that kind of “smoke”, there’s sometimes been “fire”.

Both have been scrutinized as having (possibly) done something specifically for this competition, performance enhancing.

The Western media has been harder on Ye Shiwen than the American. Partly bias. Partly it reflects the reality that China is a totalitarian regime where a few at the top can decide that Ye Shiwen needs “vitamin injections”. She’d have no idea what’s in that needle. And no right to refuse.

When American athletes cheat, they know they are cheating.

Click PLAY or watch a detailed defense of Ye Shiwen on YouTube.

Better is this post on Swimming World:

In My Mind: American Bias – Fact or Fiction? Ye Shiwen vs. Katie Ledecky

I’m celebrating both athletes hitting career performances when it counted most. Peaking for the BIG meet is what every coach wants to see. 🙂

There’s not much new in this Russian TV interview. But I love the English translation.

Warm-ups for the Bar final did NOT go as planned.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

In September the Team will train in Spain. A working holiday, I predict.

Thanks for the link, Brigid.

McKayla Maroney’s brutally honest, unmoved reaction after winning the silver medal and not the gold in the Olympic individual vault competition earlier this week has spawned a hilarious Internet meme starring the American gymnast.

If you missed it, here’s McKayla’s expression:

source

That look is everywhere online right now.

She and her teammates made the best of it. McKayla posted this on twitter.

The pool is closed.. #notimpressed

See more on the mckayla is not impressed tumblr.

Precise and beautiful.

Viktoria Komova (RUS) FX AA Olympic Games London 2012

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I’m anticipating the Shawn-truly-won-in-Beijing arguments, all over again.

American High Jumper Chaunté Lowe is the most ripped. Of all women. AND men. 🙂

She’s a mother of two, by the way. Many of the top High Jumpers are Moms.

Chaunté finished 6th in London.

related – Glamour – 7 Female 2012 Summer Olympians Who Blow Our Minds

I saw this on Double Layout.

It’s only every 4yrs that I realize (again) just how incredible are the American sprinters.

The United States’ women’s 4 X 400-meter relay team from left, Francena McCorory, Allyson Felix, Sanya Richards-Ross and Deedee Trotter celebrate after winning the gold medal during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Aug. 11, 2012.

(AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Two controversial Olympians compete for South Africa. Oscar Pistorius. And their opening ceremonies flag bearer, Caster Semenya.

Caster Semenya knew she’d blown her first Olympic final by starting out too slowly.

She expected critical feedback from her coach and, based on her experience over the last three, difficult years, she expected some unkind speculation about her performance in the 800 metres.

She got both.

But she cherishes her Olympic silver medal all the same. Three years after being forced to undergo gender tests after winning the world title in a stunningly fast 1 minute, 55.45 seconds at age 18, Semenya is now an Olympic medallist, too. …

South Africa’s Caster Semenya ends up with Olympic silver in 800m

You see, the girl from a rural village was born with unusual sexual characteristics, resulting in an unfair competitive advantage. Some say.

Certainly she should be allowed to run against either Men or Women. She’s been tested and approved to run in the Women’s competition.

If you are interested in her unique case, check Science of Sport‘s detailed post – London 2012: Women’s 800m perplexity, analyzing Semenya’s race

Personally, I’d like to congratulate Caster on her Silver. And wish her well in future competition.

Get a better start. Next time.