Developing the Handstand

Some good drills here from Will Banthorpe, Pipers Vale Gymnastics Club, UK. Thanks.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (7min)

JAO:

I appreciate the tip on using the mirror to get a better view of the gymnast … A very simple idea to solve the problem of spotting a kid but getting a bad perspective because you’re too close? ….

Viva ELVIS closing

The King is leaving the building. Surprisingly, Cirque du Soleil’s tribute show is closing. The final performance Aug 31st, 2012.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

… I wonder if they’d sell me that Trampo wall. 🙂

Mustafina, Komova, Afanasyeva

Lauren Hopkins posted 2012 Visa Championships – The Almighty Wrap-Up. A long, but worthwhile read.

She argues that the most likely Team to be announced in San Jose is Wieber, Douglas, Raisman, Ross, and Maroney.

That’s the default team, I think, too, at this point. But if any of those gymnasts are inconsistent — or are not able to recover from possible concussion 😦 — look for the most consistent alternate to step in, not necessarily the highest scoring.

I could see Marta calling up Elizabeth Price, for example. If she can hit FX, Vault and Bars over and over again in training.

A consistent meet may be all the USA needs.

Check the Qualifications scores at Russian Cup:

1.Aliya Mustafina 14.667 15.834 14.667 14.167 59.335
2.Viktoria Komova 14.800 16.134 14.000 14.300 59.234
3.Ksenia Afanasyeva 13.267 13.634 14.467 14.067 55.435

Sure Russia MIGHT peak in London. Add Paseka’s Amanar. … In a 3-up, 3-count competition they MIGHT beat the USA.

… But I wouldn’t bet the mortgage on it.

China might be secretly preparing another Gold medal team.

But I could equally see …

1. USA
2. Romania
3. Russia

Those scores via The All Around – Russian Cup: Moscow Wins, Mustafina Leads

Grishina did not compete due to injury. They certainly need her, Aliya and Vika healthy in London to have any chance to win Team.

Not much depth.

They’d be happy to award Russian citizenship to this girl …

Elizabeth Price - Photo: Stew Milne/US Presswire

Denis Vachon – Double Mini Tramp

A couple of passes from the Canadian National Champion 2012.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Anna Li – consistent Bars

Anna trains to hit 4 routines in sequence a day. I do believe she can hit a higher percentage of routines than anyone else on the Team … aside from, perhaps, Aly.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

http://www.gymnastike.org/embed/MTgyNjQxNTAy?related=1

Inspiring.

I still see the “old dog” as the best Bars specialist for London, IF they took a Bars specialist. Unlikely at this point.

Marta does love consistency, though …

How many routines does Nastia hit every day, by the way? 🙂