Half the teams had the competition venue today. All chose to treat it as a “mock meet”, saluting the judges who were in all day too … in civies.
Inside Gymnastics has a nice overview of the first day of two:
Japan’s Kohei Uchimura, the defending World Champ, has become the poster child for these World Championships, and he is handling the fanfare with his signature class and grace. Team is his first priority and humility is the nature of his character (I don’t like to see the signs,” he joked of all of the billboards and signage around town with his image). Good natured and personable (he smiled, laughed and joked throughout the interview session following podium training), Uchimura lets his gymnastics do the talking. …
read more on IG2 – Daily 5 – October 5
Kohei, like last year, had some odd moments. Especially on Floor. But there’s no one that doubts he will win his 3rd World Championships in series.
I watched USA and GER closely to see which of the top teams would finish ahead of the other. It’s close to a draw. USA is weak on Rings. GER (surprisingly) weak on Floor.
They are close enough that the team that hits best in prelims should take it. Recall that Germany was about 3pts ahead last Worlds.
Both are keenly aware that GBR could beat them both. With Keatings back they are my pick to finish Bronze behind CHN and JAP.
We’ll see GBR and CHN on podium tomorrow to confirm my expectations.
I call GBR a surprise pick for a team medal. Gary over on Gymnastike did not include them as contenders on a MAG preview post.
A few other highlights of the day …
• Epke Zonderland connected Cassina Kolman as he did last year in Podium. Also Gaylord 2 piked. Perhaps 7.7 start.
In prelims last year he did an “easier” routine for team.
• Dragalescu is back. Again. But this year he looks in much better shape than his unretirement of 2010. He could win Vault if he can land both huge tricks.
• Hambuchen and Uchimura did the best Horizontal Bar routines I saw today. Zonderland’s is more difficult, but I just can’t abide his scissoring legs on Rybalko. Horton was excellent, too. All 4 should qualify to apparatus finals.
Hambuchen is not doing Pommels, unless needed by his team last minute.
• Leyva‘s P Bars was the best routine of the day, overall, though there were many great sets. In 2011 it’s smart to leave out the “double salto” tricks, if you can.
• Nguyen from Germany truly should be world Floor champion. He’s the best tumbler. But Kosmidis could easily win again. I’d be happy to see Tomás González from Chile on the podium.
Nguyen’s vault is superb. And he’s the only guy in the meet competing 1/1 twisting double back off P Bars.
• Most of the best Pommel routines are in day 2 podium training. Uchimura is silky smooth and consistent.
• an interesting Tippelt half on P Bars was shown by Wai Hung “Stone” Shek from Hong Kong AlDAYANI Ahmed From Qatar. Thanks for the correction, Essem.
• Ireland submitted a new skill on Floor — something like a backward butterfly with 1/1 twist (from ‘Tricking’, perhaps)
Compared with the women’s podium training the previous two days, the guys hit a higher percentage of full routines. Have fewer falls. And are generally less scarifying.
When a male gymnast crashes a vault landing, my heart rate does not accelerate. But when a tiny little girl crashes DTY, it hurts me.
The main story of Men’s gymnastics in 2011 is the depth of ability worldwide. Mohamed Srour from Egypt, for example, can challenge the best in the world on Floor and Vault.
It’s incredible how many fantastic male gymnasts there are in the world today.
This Code is not killing Men’s gymnastics.
Universal has a good photo gallery of the men.
I’ll be LIVE tweeting tomorrow @GymCoaching.
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Meanwhile, over at the WAG training gym:
Brigid McCarthy:
There have been way to many tears in the Yoyogi training stadium today for my liking.
… aggravated injuries, frustration, angry coaches. Just one of those days, I think!
The girls do too much in podium. They need to learn to taper.
The best place for more WAG photos is Brigid Couch Gymnast McCarthy on Facebook.
Don’t miss this Couch Gymnast post – Why Have You Been Ignoring Korea?
Though they finished only 20th at last Worlds, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them in the top 8 for Olympic team qualification.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 