Gymnastics Coaching.com

National Evenings are designed to give participating FIG member federations an opportunity to present a range of Gymnastics for All activities, featuring a blend of folkloric and culturally specific characteristics.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Of the 5 National Shows I’ve seen so far at the World Gymnaestrada, Portugal was easily the best. Congratulations.

Though Portugal has a population of less than 11 million, they are a Gymnaestrada super power having hosted the largest ever in 2003. They have the 3rd largest delegation in Lausanne.

The theme was Fado, originally the folk music of the Lisbon urban poor. The soundtrack was fantastic.

Even better was the accompanying video / photo slide show. It competed with the athletes at times. At other times it complimented perfectly, the comedy ladder act, for example.

The one clown act in this show was the best I’ve seen in many years. And Portugal includes more Acrobatic Gymnastics than any other nation, always entertaining.

It was conspicuously faster paced than most other performances. Smart.

Leave a comment if you know the name of the choreographer. I’d like to extend my congratulations personally.

Two reviews of the show:

° Portuguese pumped up by the sounds of fado
° Proud to be Portuguese

Great pic. I`m not sure what show this is from, however.
_____

Canada made me proud, opening the PAGU (Pan American nations) show. Nobody in the audience will forget the choreographed Mounties. Happily, the Dreamcatcher prop lost in transit to Switzerland was found in time. In fact, they had manufactured a second, just in case.

Chile was the other outstanding PAGU nation, closing the show.

Germany I missed, but they got a rave review, as well.

Over the coming weeks I will post specific show highlights over on RecGymnastics.com.

“Vika is training now, but not quite at full strength,” Alexandrov told Russian newspaper “Sport-Express.” “She does the general part with everyone, and then has an individual plan. We are hoping that she can compete at the world championships.” …

Next month’s Russian Cup will help determine the makeup of the women’s squad to Tokyo, where the Russian women will be the defending team champions from the 2010 Worlds in Rotterdam. The injuries to Komova and Mustafina — the two highest-scoring female gymnasts of 2010 — will make it difficult for Russia to win back-to-back team titles.

Of the other 2010 world team members, European champion Anna Dementyeva and 2008 Olympian Ksenia Afanasyeva are likely to be on the team. Tatiana Nabiyeva and Yekaterina Kurbatova have been struggling this year, but 2008 Olympian Ksenia Semyonova has reportedly dropped most of the excess weight she gained after Rotterdam. Olympic hopefuls Anastasia Grishina and Anastasia Sidorova are age-ineligible until 2012.

Just a months ago Russia looked near invincible for Worlds 2011 and Olympics. Not now.

“Unfortunately, I can say that we don’t really have anyone to choose from,” Alexandrov said of the team’s depth. “The lack of rivalry is a big minus. When there is a hard fight to get on the team, the girls train differently. You don’t have to talk anyone into working or force them to work.”

Those quotes are all from an excellent IG translation from the Russian by Amanda Turner – Komova Resumes Training; Mustafina Still in ‘Dreary’ Rehab Phase

Some nice landing injury prevention drills included …

In this week’s gymnastics workout video, coach Mary Lee Tracy of Cinicnnati Gymnastics Academy takes her elite gymnasts through (leg) conditioning, primarily plyometric exercises. Lexie Priessman and Amelia Hundley are doing the bulk of the workout, getting ready for the elite season just a couple months away. Kayla Williams was in the heart of her season with the Region 5 Championships just a few days away so Williams was doing a modified version of the workout. US Senior National team member Amanda Jetter was overcoming an ankle injury so you can also see how they modified the workout for her.

http://www.gymnastike.org/embed/Nzg3NTAwMDUx?related=1

Alison Arnold Ph.D.:

What is the Athlete Warrior? The Athlete Warrior is someone fully committed to sport and life. Someone willing to face every day and every workout with eyes open, heart open, and ready to push their body to the maximum. It is an athlete ready to do your sport with no regrets.

An Athlete Warrior practices fearlessness. Fearlessness in facing adversity, pushing themselves, and being a team leader. The Athlete Warrior does not back away from difficult situations. …

Alison discusses the concept under these headings:

• Intention
• Belief
• Awareness
• The Present
• Discipline

read more on Head Games – The Athlete Warrior: Part 1 of a series on Principles for Becoming a Champion

by site editor Rick McCharles

I am presenting for the second time ever at this excellent event hosted this year at Phoenix Gymnastics, Vancouver.

Aug. 26-28th, 2011

Four NEW presentations in the Gymnastics for All Stream:

~ Making a Career Out of Coaching
~ Building and Maximizing Adult Rec
~ Class Planning for Recreational Gymnastics
~ Bars and Beam – Making it Fun

Other presenters from away include Business guru Frank Sahlein and Steve Arkell, former US National Team Coach. One of my favourite gymnasts ever is presenting, Kate Richardson. Tumbling specialist Derek Hanson will be a big draw, as well.

I`ll post highlights on this site.

Check the Congress home page for details.

Weird Dairy Queen TV ad.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks Petter Daggett for the link.

related – Gymnastics Examiner – An encyclopedia of Mary Lou Retton commercials

Click PLAY or watch him on TED.

http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf

Born in 1910, Coach John Wooden was the first person to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame both as a player and coach, while ESPN ranks him as the greatest coach of all time, across all sports.

In his 40 years at UCLA, he mentored legends such as Bill Walton and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He has created a model, the Pyramid of Success, and authored several books to impart his insight on achievement to others.

Coach wanted his players to be victors in life and not just on the court, so he treated them as an extended family and emphasized that winning was more than scoring. Indeed, most of his inspiring theories were born from conversations with his father, as a boy on their farm in Indiana. One that sums up his ideology quite well is his often-quoted definition of success: “Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”

Thanks Brett MacAulay for the link.

July 13, 2011:

NEW YORK – Former Chinese gymnast Sang Lan, who was paralyzed in a fall at the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York, scored a major victory on Monday after reaching an agreement with three insurance companies and USA Gymnastics.

Under a confidential deal inked on Monday afternoon after a three-hour discussion, TIG Insurance Co, Riverstone Claims Management and TIG Specialty Insurance Solutions agreed to cover future medical and rehabilitation fees for Sang in both the United States and China.

The three insurance firms had previously paid Sang only for fees incurred in the US and not in China …

In the deal, the three insurers agreed to give an undisclosed amount of money to Sang in addition to the insurance she will receive. Both Sang and her lawyer Hai Ming were not allowed to disclose the exact sum.

But the total insurance Sang would be covered for could amount to $10 million …

Despite the deal, Sang implied on Monday that she was not done in her fight for her disability rights, saying that she achieved “half of the complete success” in protecting her rights. …

Hai told reporters on Monday that 12 lawsuits are still in progress against Mo, Liu Guosheng, Xie Xiaohong and 15 people who defamed Sang on the Internet. He said Sang is now seeking $1.2 billion.

read more on China Daily – Sang wins big victory in compensation battle

So, USAG settles out of court setting a precident for future multi-million dollar accident claims. The American way.

Not so. Later I read this on Forbes:

USA Gymnastics said in a statement: “USA Gymnastics was never served in the lawsuit and is being dismissed from the suit. This matter has been resolved through the insurance carriers, and we hope the settlement will assist Sang Lan in the coming years.”

_____ original post from April 29, 2011:

Update from Vanessa Atler who was competing in that meet:

It was 1998 Goodwill Games. One of the most important competitions of my life. I was to compete in the vault and floor finals against my favorite gymnasts in the world. One of them was Sang Lan. I loved that she always seemed happy and very calm.

We were in the beginning of warming up on the vault. Usually each gymnast warms-up some timers for each vault they were performing. Basically just the first half of the vault or the entry part. I know Sang Lan competed a fronthandspring front layout 1/2. She did it so well and beautiful. Usually when you warm-up you do a fronthandspring and over rotate landing on your feet to a forward roll. I saw her over rotate in the air and came off a little high. It looked like she was deciding in the air, should I tuck my head under or land on my face. She tucked her head under and there was just not enough time to make it. All of the coaches knew it right away. …

If anyone is looking for the video of her fall it does not exist. Jack Carter (Kristen Maloney’s coach) was the only one who had it on video. When the media found out they ran over to him and he deleted it right in before they got to him. Good for you Jack! I love that guy.
read more … – From Gymnast to Coach

Brigid McCarthy has the most detailed write-up of this bizarre story:

According to the Wall Street Journal, Chinese gymnast Sang Lan has sued Time Warner and US Gymnastics. After her neck injury, which occurred whilst warming up on vault at the 1998 Goodwill Games, Sang Lan has been paralysed and wheelchair-bound. …

… For those of you who remember the sad event, Lan was performing a timer when she fractured her C6 and C7 vertebrae, resulting in paralysis from the chest down. She stayed in the USA for one year, where she was treated in hospital and then returned to China. …

Couch Gymnast – Sang Lan Files Lawsuit

Certainly she has every right to sue. The amount and the number of years lapsed makes this appear frivolous, however.

I’ve never heard anyone hint that there was any fault on the part of meet organizers. Gymnastics is a dangerous sport.

I’m also surprised in that Sang Lan has been spun by the Chinese media as a ‘good news story’, a TV celebrity and an advocate for the disabled.

Likely her lawyers expect to settle out of court.

Newfoundland. Understand.

Cygnus Gymnastics Training Centre is seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Coach to join our coaching team. The successful candidate will coach our Pre-Competitive and Competitive Men’s Artistic Gymnastics athletes on a Part-Time or Full Time Basis.

Currently, the Men’s Team consists of a strong base of pre-competitive boys and small team of competitive Level 1-4 Boys. With the depth in the program already existing, this program requires a strong, consistent individual to further its development.

Details on cygnusgym.com

Salary is dependent on experience and qualifications. Interested individuals can submit a Coaching CV in confidence to angela@cygnusgym.com