Canada missed qualifying a full team to Beijing. Only 2 gymnasts could be sent.
Kristina Vaculik and other candidates felt obliged to compete as often as possible in order to gain POINTS.
Kristina:
… that year leading up to the Olympics was really not good …
I competed every weekend up to the Olympics trying to gain points [to qualify]. By the time I was named as the reserve, my elbow was just not good. So I had to pull out and get surgery.” …
coach Elena Davidova - click for LARGER photo by simcatz13
related – Brittany Rogers, who broke her ankle on a Beam dismount at Pacific Rim Championships in 2010, was recently awarded an important “Comeback” award. Congratulations.
The Oregon State University grad is BACK at Elite Canada:
… Today was all about getting comfortable. Checking out the equipment, moving my body around after flight, adjusting to Gymnova equipment, and saying hi to coaches and gymnasts from across the country. It was pretty exciting to reunite …
Older and wiser.
… I want to be able to leave the competition arena tomorrow feeling satisfied, no matter how the results end. I want to be able to truly say that I did everything in my power to give a performance to the best of my ability. I am going to leave my heart out on that floor. The worst feeling is thinking to yourself, “If only I…” or “I wish I …” after a meet. Tomorrow, there will be no regrets. …
The Cirque du Soleil’s Asian invasion has just suffered another setback. Not long after pulling its ZED … out of Tokyo, the multinational entertainment company is about to shut down its Zaia, directed by Gilles Maheu, out of Macau, after three and half years, interrupting a 10-year contract.
Three and half years is a long run for any show. But with Cirque, a decade is the norm. In Japan, an earthquake and tsunami damaged the ZED box office take at Tokyo Disney.
Why Macau?
Apparently, unlike Las Vegas, where fine dining and entertainment are popular diversions, the people who visit casinos in Macau actually prefer gambling. And there is a bit of a world economic crisis. …
… It would be the first of Cirque’s seven Las Vegas titles to close since the opening of “Mystere” in 1993. …
“Viva Elvis” is produced in partnership with CKX Inc., owners of the Presley estate. The title, which drew mixed to negative reviews, was said to be more creatively restricted — by the estate — than Cirque’s “Love” venture with The Beatles. …
Catch Viva Elvis sometime this year. Ticket sales boomed at Zed after the announcement it would be closing. I’m guessing the same thing will happen with Elvis.
Most performers, but not all, will be relocating to other shows.
Vika and her coach decided to compete at the Moscow Championship in two events, the Beam and Bars.
During the All Around, Vika scored 15.6 on the Uneven Bars, and 15.1 on the Beam. Vika also dismounted the Beam with the Patterson. Although the results aren’t officially published and the full results aren’t available yet, I can confirm Yulia Belokobylskaya finished in 1’st in the AA final, with Anna Dementyeva finishing in second, only .05 points behind Yulia. Aliya only competed on the Uneven Bars.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 