Gymnastics Coaching.com

Alexa Ainsworth:

… Men’s Qualifier in Colorado Springs on Saturday, where he posted an impressive 91.750 to top the field.

… Orozco appears to have rebounded from a difficult showing at the American Cup in March, where he finished a disappointing fifth. In addition to the highest all-around score in Colorado Springs, the 2011 U.S. bronze medalist also finished first on pommel horse, parallel bars and high bar and was top-4 on floor, rings, and vault. It is the 15.150 on pommel horse and his consistency across all six events that make him a near lock for the five-man London Olympic Team.

… The 19-year-old’s biggest domestic competition, Danell Leyva, competed on floor, vault, and parallel bars at the qualifier and was competitive with Orozco on those events – finishing first on vault, second on parallel bars and sixth on floor. …

read more on NBC

Aside from Europeans, the biggest topic online is the coaching situation at Georgia: Jay Clark‘s departure.

Aunt Joyce, back blogging for the Olympics, posted the most detailed analysis I’ve seen. His opinion:

… Jay was given enough time to prove himself as a coach and the results continually returned the same year after year. …

Whoever inherits the program will have to go big or go home. The boosters, the university and the gymnasts will be eager to make a big splash …

Was Jay Clark Given Enough Time?

I’d probably have given Jay one more year to qualify through to the Super 6. Georgia looked good this year.

I’m not at all sure they’ll get a better replacement, no matter how high the salary offered.

Suzanne Yoculan has said online that she’s not interested in coming back.

Reigning Olympic Rhythmic champion Yevgeniya Kanayeva is a superstar in Russia.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

(via Zhenya Kanaeva Gymnasium)

At the Western Canadian Gymnastics Championships technical meeting, B.C. proposed to host a future “Westerns” in Las Vegas.

• rejuvenate the competition
• average cost / participant could be lower
• insurance seems to be inexpensive (that surprises me)
• hotel rooms as inexpensive as $40 / night
• 3rd Level Consulting / Frank Sahlein would help organize. He’s a pro.

Many spoke against the proposal:

• Western Canadian Championships should be in Western Canada
… Tony Smith countered, suggesting a name change. American gymnasts could be invited.

• Passports and “letters from parents” would be required

• USAG membership might be required

Personally, I feel it’s worth exploring a more detailed proposal. I’d love to try it.

Many of the Western Canadian clubs already compete in the USA. In fact, the Great West Gym Fest two years ago hosted a “Canadian division”, exclusively Canadians at a competition in the USA.

Ontario has used a competition in Mexico as a “trial” for their Provincial team.

The proposal was pushed forward to the Gymnastics Canada Annual General Meeting in June.

Leave a comment if you have a strong opinion.

May 4-6th Burlington, Ontario.

Canada’s largest women’s gymnastics invitational, 1500 athletes, concluded this weekend.

More information on their Facebook page.

Big things are planned for next year, their 25th annual.

Thanks Jenna.

Our Team Saskatchewan had a good Western Canadian Championships.

original photo on Facebook

But the girls at my club concede that Team Alberta danced the most at the “Beat Board Bash”.

Alberta wins the Dance.

From Bea & Blythe. SURPRISES at podium training:

team: Sweden, so improved!

… Roxana Popa of Spain. I’d never heard of her before, but she’s one of five gymnasts I’d shortlist for the all-around title.

… Kim Singmuang‘s full twisting double layout off bars. And the prospect of her having a double double!

Click PLAY or watch Kim’s Bars on YouTube.

Kim’s improved greatly since 2011. (VIDEO)

Top three teams and why: Italy, Russia, Romania. Though maybe not in that order. …

Top three all-around and why: Maria Kharenkova (RUS), Roxana Popa (ESP), Elisa Meneghini (ITA). Not necessarily in that order. Honorable mention: Noemie Makra (HUN) and Enus Mariani (ITA). …

Coach of the day: Cristian Moldovan, ROM. Lovely to see him being a great mentor to the young Romanians, showing corrections with kindness, gently lifting spirits and demonstrating that he was there every step of the way.

Examiner – B & B’s Junior Europeans podium training summary

The 2004 Olympic Floor Champ signed on as a spokesperson with I’ve Been Bullied.

Kyle Shewfelt grew-up much smaller than the other boys.

‘WIMP’, ‘Pansy’, ‘Homo’..were all words he would hear regularly, causing him to cry on occasion. At six he began gymnastics and continued to receive name calling for his choice in athletic sports. This bullying only made Kyle push harder.

He refused to be known as a wimp, so he continued training in gymnastics and forced himself to become tougher. …

If you want to help eradicate bullying, click over to Facebook photo and SHARE.

Kyle’s not gay. But suffered bullying from homophobes.

Happily, I think things are changing for the better. At least in some parts of the world.

Josh Dixon came out publicly while competing for Stanford, I think. He’s now at the USOTC in Colorado Springs commenting:

… he has not had a single negative response “in any way, shape or form.” If anything, the only homophobia he has encountered has been from within himself. He acknowledges he once felt internal pressure about being a gay man in what some label the “gay sport” of gymnastics. He didn’t want to fall into a stereotype. But he’s come to embrace it, and he says his sexual orientation now makes him stand out more at the elite level. …

Out Sports

Victoria Moors is credited with linking to this photo.

I think so. They are certainly the favourites on the Men’s side. Check out the guys named alternates.

Kohei Uchimura
Kazuhito Tanaka
Koji Yamamuro
Ryohei Kato
Yusuke Tanaka

Surprisingly, missing from this team are Makoto Okiguchi, Kenya Kobayashi and Shogo Nonomura.

Full Twist – Kohei Uchimura leads Japans 2012 Olympic Team

Both Tanaka boys on the Team. Sister Rie will be in London, as well.