wearing a helmet on Beam

Do we even want to know what she’s working? 🙂

I assume it’s a helmet cam.

Posted by Kazukuni Ohno on Facebook, the same coach who posts those quad turn videos.

World Gymnastics Champions predicted

Albert Minguillón i Colomer has crunched the numbers more exhaustively than anyone else. Here’s his forecast:

The United States is the team to beat according to scores. They finish in first position in any case studied …

THE ALL AROUND – 2011 Worlds Predictions: WAG Team

1.Top 8: direct qualification to the Olympics.
2.Top 16: qualification to the London Test Event as a team, where top four teams will qualify to the Olympics.

Here’s my own prediction of the top 4 teams from prelims (the Olympic qualifying round) without crunching any numbers at all:

USA
China
Romania

Russia

Without Moustafina, I see Russia 4th. The withdrawal of Sandra Izbasa will not hurt Romania, I predict. (Though I’m going to miss her.)

There are more predictions like that from Albert. Jordyn Wieber will win the AA.

McKayla Maroney wins Vault. Komova Bars. Lauren Mitchell Floor & Beam. Details.

Use those predictions as a starting point, especially if you disagree. 🙂

QUICK LINKS

Pan-Ams: LIVE video streams (multi-sport) | Artistic schedule | results (to come) | Grace Chiu photos
Coverage: Examiner | Full Twist

WORLDS Wrap-up: – wikipedia | Full Twist | Gymnastike | full results

Indian gymnast catastrophic injury

On a “roll out” skill on Floor.

It’s hard to watch. But the video is here. (1min 15s)

Long banned in Women’s Artistic gymnastics, we see more of these dangerous skills in 2011 than ever before. They should be devalued in the next Men’s Code of Points.

inflatable Yurchenko hand mat

What do you think?

Would you use a “Sweet Spot” as a hand mat for Vault?

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The first shown is the Jr. Sweet Spot. The second, the larger and thicker Sweet Spot.

I’d like to give it a try, inflating the mat tight.

Ryohei Kato – 3 1/2 twist PUNCH

Impressive twister.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (14.750)

Ryohei Kato won the Japanese Jr International Floor final with that routine.

trampoline ‘spring’ boards for Vault

I’ve never been much of a fan of trampoline takeoffs for Vault — they encourage too high preflight — but the older boys at Black Hills Gymnastics told me they LOVE their variation.

As Vaulting more and more approaches double-mini, the more we need landing mats like double-mini.