Dutch Gymnastics Team 1928

For over 50 years, the fate of almost half of the Dutch ladies’ gymnastics team, which won the Olympic title in Amsterdam in 1928, was unknown.

The 1928 Games were the first in which women participated in gymnastics events, and the all-around competition was dominated by the hosts. …

Five of the gymnasts, as well as their coach Gerrit Kleerekoper, were Jewish.

Only one of those six survived the Holocaust. …

read more in the Jerusalem Post

(via Full Twist and IG)

Japanese robot gymnast doing Pak

Recall that Japanese robot gymnast catching Kovacs?

He was called #6.

… Turns out he has a little sister, #8, who catches Pak salto.

Click PLAY or watch her on YouTube.

(via Alexa Ainsworth on Universal Sports)

At this rate Japanese robot enthusiast Hinamitetu will create a mechanical gymnast for their National Team. … KP says he already has, Kohei Uchimura.

What will Kohei do next?

… after a stunning performance at the Japanese Nationals, where he marked the highest score of his still budding career, Kohei Uchimura can now turn to making his routines even more complex. 

Gymnastics bloggers from around the world were asked what the gymnast often called “Superman” would do next. Here’s what they had to say:

… read more on Gymnastics Examiner

Click PLAY or watch a montage on YouTube.

International Gymnastics Management Group

Yet another interesting innovation from International Gymnastics Camp CEO Brent Klaus and friends.

International Gymnastics Management Group is a boutique sports representation and management firm dedicated to building long term relationships and bringing value services to our clients. IGMG is a nonprofit full service company representing Olympians, World Champions, National Champions, NCAA Champions and Elite Gymnastics professionals worldwide. …

They represent:

Chellsie Memmel
Miles Avery
Justin Spring
Svetlana Boguinskaia

If you’d like one of those gymnastics celebrities to help advertising campaign or special event, contact IGMG.

IGMG is non-profit. But you’ll still need to pay to bring in Chellsie Memmel, for example, to your competition. 🙂


TheIGMG.com

Contact VIC RANDAZZO AT (570) 629-0382 if you want to get more information.

Men’s Gymnastics coaches meeting

I attended the precompetition meeting for J.O. Nationals in Long Beach. And there were no major issues to report.

Here are a few minor points that may be of interest.

Men’s Program Manager for USAG Dennis McIntyre asked coaches to treat Nationals as a “celebration“.

The weather, venue and organization all top notch. (Carpet rental alone costs $10,000.)

I’m very impressed.

• coaches are asked to give feedback on the draft 2013-2016 J.O. rules
• news that Cal was reinstated for NCAA is BIG news for USAG, as well
• big party Saturday night, a good chance to meet College coaches (recruiters) in person
• foreign athletes are welcome, but not eligible for awards
• specialists must scratch apparatus they don’t compete (record a 0.0)
• gymnasts must salute the correct judging panel (Jr or Sr)
• gymnasts must stand facing backwards to the Floor judges, and confirm athlete #
• coach dress requirements: collared shirt, no caps, etc.
• athlete dress requirement for awards were spelled out
• Medical supervised by Dr. David Kruse (former Cal gymnast)

USAG again is trying to push oft rejected Coach Certification, selling it this way:

“certification and documentation for the things you are already doing”

• watch for “USA Gymnastics University”

The USA is infamously the only major gymnastics nation that does not certify their coaches. What do they say when the judge in court asks for coaching ‘credentials’?

Results will not be updated LIVE, but will be posted on 2011jomen.com and later on MeetScoresOnline.com.

Samantha Shapiro montage

At the 2010 U.S. Classic.

LOVE her form. Especially her feet.

Click PLAY or watch her on YouTube.

I’m pretty sure Stanford is going to be my favourite team over the next few seasons.

USAG 2011 Hall of Fame

Five athletes and one coach comprise the 2011 class of inductees for the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame: 1972 Olympian Jim Culhane of Tomball, Texas (men’s gymnastics); six-time world tumbling champion Jill Hollembeak of Chicago; 1992 Olympian Tamara Levinson of Los Angeles (rhythmic gymnastics); 2000 Olympic team bronze-medalists Kristen Maloney of Dover, N.H., and Elise Ray of Reisterstown, Md., and 1988 Olympian Chelle Stack of Clermont, Fla. (women’s gymnastics); and coach Stacy Maloney of New Berlin, Wis., who coached 2004 Olympic all-around champion Paul Hamm and his twin brother Morgan, both of whom competed in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. …

read more on USAG

Congratulations to Stacy Maloney. This is well deserved recognition.

It’s timely to revisit Stacy’s opinion of the NEW Code … in 2005:

This new system will do three things:

>> First, it will encourage a proliferation of even more difficulty in an already brutal and dangerous sport— …

>> Secondly, it will disorientate a public whose only reference point for understanding what they see at a meet is how close the score comes up to a 10.0. …

>> Thirdly, think about how such a monumental change will affect your businesses—imagine trying to explain it all to the parents and kids. It will most likely impact our livelihoods in a very negative way. …

As quoted in IG magazine – Stretching out: Code Catastrophe!

I’d be interested to know his opinion today, all these years later.