tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports … and more
Josh Jefferis (MAG) and Janine Murray (Rhythmic) were … selected as the first two gymnasts on the 2012 Australian Olympic Team. …
Josh Jefferis’ goal is the AA, trying to finish higher than his best Worlds ranking — 12th.
related – Nathan Gafuik looks a lock for the sole Canadian Men’s Olympic berth. But that’s not been decided yet. The other Canucks have 2 more chances to better Nate’s ranking on H Bar at World Cups in Slovenia and Belgium
Aussie gymnast Luke Wiwatowski has a blog:
… Almost without fail every gymnast that will ever compete in a senior event will apply honey to the parallel bars. …
… one may find rows of honey bottles splayed across any given competition podium for parallel bars. …
… uses maple syrup but the concept is much the same. …
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I don’t like honey in the gym. It’s messy. And unsanitary.
Instead, microwave sugar water, boiling it for some seconds. Use that supersaturated solution to apply chalk. It works as well or better, and is much cleaner.
Their 32nd and newest production.
Amaluna is a touring show by Cirque du Soleil which premiered in Montréal, Canada, on April 19, 2012.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Amaluna invites the audience to a mysterious island governed by Goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon.
Montréal, QC – From 19 Apr 2012 to 17 Jun 2012
NA Québec, QC – From 26 Jul 2012 to 19 Aug 2012
NA Toronto, ON – From 6 Sep 2012 to 30 Sep 2012
NA Vancouver, BC – 23 Nov 2012 to 9 Dec 2012
Chalk Bucket – LiveLoveTumble:
… It was inspired by Shawn Johnson’s Champion poem….
Not Just a Sport
Late every night, you’re still in the gym
Perfecting your skills, so you can win
You’re there after everyone else has gone
Though it may seem tempting, you’re still pushing on
Though these countless routines seem to have no end
You’ll always get up to try them again
And whether you land on your feet or your face
Nothing could ever take you away
From this sport that you love with all of your heart
And you always have, from the very start
It means sacrificing time with family and friends
For practices that seem to have no end
For those early mornings and late, late nights
As you soar through the air, reaching new heights
But when you win the meet with a medal and a smile
It makes everything seem so worthwhile
As you stand on the podium amidst the cheers
Trying to hold back grateful tears
As you wave to the crowd, as you wave to the world
For a moment, it’s all focused on this one girl
It makes it all worth it, the struggles and pain
The times when your efforts seemed all in vain
The days when you thought that this might be it
The time had come when you decided to quit
When you thought that this sport was no longer for you
It was no longer fun, it was no longer new
But you had another good day, and you realized
That it’s this sport that helps you survive
That gymnastics alone is what gets you through
Because it’s not just a sport – it’s part of you
Leave comments here – Thread: Gymnastics Poem
beLIeve
Masters Gymnastics has a Café Press site offering various products including this t-shirt celebrating Anna Li. $33.99
“Making the bars her personal playground since 1988!”
see MORE product
Anna’s is the first routine of 32 shown on a video from Secret Classic.
via @AnnaLi_88
Incoming Georgia coach Danna Durante:
“I’m not intimidated,” Durante said during a teleconference call with reporters Wednesday evening. “There are very few gymnastics programs in the country that have the success and get the amount of coverage that Georgia does. But it’s not something that intimidates me. . . . It’s something I’ve been prepared for along the way and it’s exciting. I’m excited about being the face of that program and being able to promote women’s gymnastics.” …
Former coach Suzanne Yoculan:
. . . Danna is energetic and driven and not afraid of challenges or expectations. She is a go-getter and a perfect fit for the Gym Dog program. …
( via College Gymnastics Board)
Danna is eloquent. Watch an interview on Georgia Dogs. (VIDEO)
Chellsie Memmel was disallowed to compete in Visa Championships, the last chance she would have to qualify through to Olympic trials.
After 2 falls on her only routine at Secret, Marta Karolyi felt she hadn’t shown enough to be invited.
Marta’s the boss. Perhaps that’s her call. (Or her committee’s call.)
Dvora Meyers wrote up the controversy on Deadspin – U.S. Gymnastics Turns Its Back On Chellsie Memmel, Genuine Badass
After some intense criticism online, USA Gymnastics was forced to respond:
… Steve Penny, president and CEO of USA Gymnastics, said he understood the outpouring of support for Memmel given her accomplishments and popularity. She is the fifth-most decorated gymnast in U.S. history.
“First of all, I’d like to say I think everyone recognizes the incredible athlete Chellsie has been over the years,” Penny said. “She’s been an incredible athlete and role model for the sport and we all love her.” …
Steve Penny doesn’t love Chellsie enough to overrule Marta. And invite her to Visas.
In fact, in that article Andy Memmel says Steve Penny phoned his daughter and asked her to retire. Now. To take the heat off USAG.
She declined.
I actually support Marta’s right to decide which gymnasts to invite. And which to uninvite. But in this case, everyone I know loves Chellsie. And is criticizing Marta and USAG for how they’ve handled the issue.
Click PLAY or watch Chellsie training Bars at Secret.
Inside Gymnastics has a terrific new interview with Chellsie – QUEEN OF THE COMEBACK
related – Secret Classic on YouTube (2hrs) … Click in to find the start of the broadcast.
… According to a memorandum of understanding, obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution through state open records laws, (Danna) Durante agreed to a financial package worth more than $1.2 million dollars to coach the Gymdogs.Durante agreed to a six-year deal that will expire in June 2018 …
… Durante is in Athens this week looking for a house and meeting with her new staff. Georgia has yet to make an announcement but indications are she has hired Philip Ogletree from LSU and Jay Hogue from Denver. …
Good luck Danna.
Most feel this move is a bad one, however:
… Longtime assistant Doug McAvinn, a vault specialist, is expected to remain at UGA but in a different capacity. He has been with the program 27 years. …
Was Doug forced out?
Or did he take this opportunity to move on?
… Hungary’s Krisztian Berki has won the last two pommel horse world titles and beat Smith to European gold last week.
But Berki told BBC Sport that Smith’s hardest routine, if executed without errors, may be hard for him to match. …
“I’m just a 6.9 but I know Louis has a 7.1 or a 7.2,” he said, referring to the difficulty score assigned to each routine in gymnastics. …
BBC – London 2012: Louis Smith’s rival heaps praise on routine
Classy. Especially compared with Louis criticizing the judges in the British press.
GuinnessWorldRecords:
The most standing back somersaults in one minute was 36 and was achieved by Ziyi Zhang (China) on the set of Zheng Da Zong Yi – Guinness World Records Special in Beijing, China, on 17 December 2010.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
No doubt other acrobats have done more. Power Tumblers, most likely. Leave a comment if you’ve seen higher than 36.
Here’s Alicia Sacramone doing, I think, 31.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 