Final standings: 1. Huang 2. Bui 3. Inshina 4. Mitchell 5. Steingruber 6. Rijken 7. Jarosch. 8. Little.
Quick Hits on Examiner
Results on IG. Full Twist has results linked to videos.
Nellie Kim speaks
A rare communication from our WTC. Quite interesting.
2011 World Championships – Tokyo, JPN
WAG General Report
A few highlights:
154 gymnasts competed in the All-Around and 62 gymnasts competed in 1 to 3 events
Average Age ’11 WC 18.72
Youngest Team – 16.20 (USA)
27 gymnasts ( 14,21 %) performed 2 vaults in Competition I.
… There was not much control on the access of the coaches to the Field of Play. Sometimes more than 2 coaches were in. Also, access was permitted to 2 male coaches into the competition area for UB. …
Being prohibited the use of IRCOS system, calculation of D-Score was more benevolent. It would have been very useful to have IRCOS and/or communication with Apparatus Supervisor in very specific cases. …
Following the decision of the FIG EC the TCs and D-Panels were not allowed to use IRCOS in case of doubts or disagreements.
Prior to the first competition’s day there were many discussions, clarifications regarding this new decision. It was not clear to the TCs how to operate, how to apply new ruling and at the same time to apply CoP (e.g. the video review is compulsory in case of “0” vault and etc.).
It was very stressful situation for the WTC and for the judges (in particular for the D-Panels). …
Last year in Rotterdam many felt the WTC was using video review too often.
The most interesting comment:
The individual judges’ E- scores should be eliminated from the result book.
I couldn’t disagree more. For one thing, I couldn’t find the individual judges’ E-scores in the result book I got. (Leave a comment if you did.)
Secondly, the biggest problem right now is that the E-judges are ‘boxing’ the scores. No wonder WTC wants to hide who threw what insanely unjust score. Their judges would be and should be lynched.
In Tokyo, only a few ladies were verbally warned. None were sanctioned.
Download the full report (PDF) including WAG NEW ELEMENTS.
Commentary on Couch Gymnast.
Damien Walters 2011
The latest edit from our most entertaining acrobat.
Professional stuntman, gymnastics coach and free runner Damien Walters returns with his annual video: Damien Walters 2011 Showreel.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Lots of new stuff there.
Shaposhnikova – Floor
Often I’ve listed Natalia Shaposhnikova my favourite gymnast, all time.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (1979)
I’d urge current gymnasts to steal everything they can from that choreography. 🙂
Like Yurchenko, Natalia was the total package: charismatic, artistic, flexible, strong … and yet still did big difficulty, for the day.
Happily we are reminded of her often due to the popularity of her Bar transfer.
Related – Whatever happened to Natalia Shaposhnikova (URS)
(via Vídeos de gimnasia)
NCAA WAG signing day
Examiner – NCAA signing day: Who’s headed where?
Click PLAY or watch a Utah TV spot on YouTube.
(via Greg Marsden on College Gymnastics Board)
Rose-Kalam Woo – double front pike Bars
Age-11.
… Canadian junior Rose Kalam Woo made a grand impression by winning the Hopes Division of the Combs-la-Ville Tournament that took place this week just south of Paris. On bars, Woo showed a dismount I can’t recall seeing before: a double front in the pike position. …
read more on Examiner
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
That’s the most extreme version of the “whippy technique” for low to high Bar transfer I can recall seeing. It’s used by very short kids on FIG setting or wider.
Australia to host Commonwealths 2018
… Australia was elected to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The Queensland bid defeated the only other candidate, Hambantota, Sri Lanka to win the honour. The vote count was 43 to 27.
read more on Games Bids
(via @ozgymblog)
USAG trys to better protect children
I don’t see this on the USA Gymnastics homepage, but it looks true.
USA Gymnastics tightens rules on banned coaches
USA Gymnastics, the sport’s national governing body, has adopted new rules designed to prevent coaches banned for sexual and physical abuse from remaining in the sport, the Orange County Register has learned.
USA Gymnastics will announce today a policy change requiring any organization or individual hosting or organizing USAG events to be in compliance with the rule prohibiting employment of people on the permanently ineligible list. …
… Boger was banned by USAG in 2010 but continued to coach at a Colorado Springs gym. His continued involvement in the sport spurred a number of former students to go public, for the first time, with accusations of abuse.
Boger has repeatedly denied the allegations …
Actually, it affects only about 300 more gyms than in the past. USAG can’t police non-affiliated businesses.
… “This is a start,” Vidmar said. “We’ve got more to do.” …
With the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal all over the news, I doubt they’ll be much discussion.
This rule change doesn’t much alter the biggest remaining issue — if you are innocent yet somehow placed on the ‘permanently ineligible list’, your coaching career is over.
I had a teacher friend wrongfully accused who spent years in prison. It’s a sore point with me.
Mustafina comeback delayed …
The 2010 world champion tried to compete Bars / Beam at DTB Cup this weekend. But had some knee pain. It was a no go.
As reported by Brigid McCarthy:
“The DTB ticker, after saying Mustafina had withdrawn, commented that as she helped her team prepare bars, she did not look happy at all. The crowds and many fans around the world are equally unhappy about this gymnast’s unfortunate luck of late. Let us hope we will see her soon.”
related – Examiner interview with Aliya
Russia finishes 3rd as a team without her, behind Australia and Germany – Couch Gymnast
via @Double_Front and @Full_Twist
Blythe had questioned whether or not it was too soon.
It looks that way. But I’ve seen astonishingly fast recovery from ACL from super fit, super motivated young gymnasts before.
Gymnastics Controversies blog
Just what we need … 🙂
… Actually this was just a school project for ex-gymnast Elizabeth Grimsley at University of Georgia.
Some good content: Code, Injuries, Age Limit, etc.
Check it out – Gymnastics Controversies blog
related article by Elizabeth – What If You Were the Best in the World, but Not Allowed to Compete?
Gymnastics Coaching.com 