Gymnastics Coaching.com

It’s very, very rare that I disagree with Blythe Lawrence. (She’s a far more reputable and reliable blogger than I.)

But I disagree with the conclusion of her Universal post:

With Bross and Mustafina both out for the season after sustaining knee injuries on vault, the 2011 rivalry is likely to be between another Russian-American pair: Youth Olympic Games gold medalist Viktoria Komova and new American champion Jordyn Wieber.

Who has the advantage? …

Vault: Wieber
Bars: Komova
Beam: Wieber
Floor: Wieber
AA: Wieber

Difficulty score throwdown: Viktoria Komova vs. Jordyn Wieber

If both girls are healthy and HIT equally well in Tokyo, Komova will win. Vika’s composition, execution, amplitude, choice of skills and artistry are superior.

That said, I predict that Jordyn Wieber will win the World Championships. She’s far more likely to HIT than Komova, who will have a lot of pressure on her narrow shoulders. The spotlight in Tokyo is going to be bright. The advantage in psychological toughness I give to Jordyn.

Of the many excellent girls at Oakville Gymnastics near Toronto trying out, I felt Savona (@SavonaJessica) would be strongest at World Championships, Tokyo.

Sadly she injured her knee on Vault at Japan Cup in July. Here’s her Floor routine on YouTube from that meet, including huge double Arabian and Moonwalk.

Peng Peng Lee and Mikaela Gerber did qualify to the Canadian Worlds Team. Coach Sue Manjak will go this time, her first Worlds.

I’ve been astonished with the Spanish girls in their preparation for Worlds. Spain easily beat Italy last weekend. Silvia Colussi Palaez from Oakville was 5th AA, 3rd on bars with 14.0.

Obviously Spain plans to win one of the full team positions for Olympics 2012.

Jessica Dowling from Oakville is trying to do the same as Silvia, qualify for Tokyo with another nation — Netherlands.

Click PLAY or watch Jessica’s Beam routine vs Poland on YouTube. (LOVE the mount.) She was 5th around.

See results and more videos from the friendly on Couch Gymnast – The Dutch Defeat Poland

Netherlands will announce their team on Sept. 14th.

… Oakville has yet more gymnasts training towards Worlds London 2012 and the Olympics. It’s one of the best elite women’s gyms in the world.

25yr-old Jessica Lopez seems to compete more than any other international gymnast. She keeps getting better, too.

Her Bars (6.1 difficulty) is one of the most exciting sets in the world now. (Unfortunately she fell on dismount in Ghent prelims.)

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Brigid McCarthy posted an excellent interview with the fan favourite.

Bea Gheorghisor interviewed her coach Nilson Savage.

Bea posted some personal commentary from the meet too – Ghent: Seen and Heard

First days back can be intimidating. Many are happier at gym than they are at school.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

http://www.gymnastike.org/embed/Nzk0NTA2MDc5?related=1

Watch more video of Challenger Cup Ghent 2011 on gymnastike.org

via @theallaround

With four gold medals, the Chinese gymnasts dominated the the finals of the Challenger Cup, held Sunday in Ghent, Belgium.

Wu Liufang (balance beam), Zhang Hongtao (pommel horse), Wang Guanyin (parallel bars) and Zou Kai (high bar) each walked away with an event title. …

Wu was the most successful gymnast in Ghent with a complete set of medals, including the silver on floor exercise and bronze on uneven bars.

results and more on IG – Chinese Gymnasts Up to Challenge in Ghent

Many are talking about Maria Livchikova’s win on Floor.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

See more on GymNiceTic – The Best of Ghent – EF Videos

If you haven’t seen UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre doing gymnastics, here’s your chance to see him on the rings as he prepares to face the ex-Strikeforce champ Nick Diaz at UFC 137 in . Diaz surrendered his belt to get the chance to face GSP for the UFC title on October 27 in Las Vegas.

MMM Nation

GSP:

… This is the hardest sport I’ve done in my life.

“Gymnastics is going to make my career more long because it’s a good [on the] therapeutic point of view. It stretches my body. It gives me more range of motion, better coordination, and better athleticism.”

Coach: Patrick Beauchamp

Beth Tweddle works the Bar like a guy. Check the amount of rail deflection.

Click PLAY or watch her on YouTube.

related – South Yorkshire Times – Bend it like Beth!

A fun, easy, safe method. It prevents the dread problem of too early twist.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

That’s Prince George Gymnastics in northern B.C.

Weird.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.