Free Running Academy opens

April Fools?

Tempest Freerunning Academy is California’s first and only training facility solely dedicated to the growth and spread of freerunning and parkour.

Click PLAY or watch Jesse La Flair test out the facility on YouTube.

… Our professional staff is committed to offering the highest quality of instruction …

It opens to the general public April 2nd in Los Angeles.

April Fools Day

I don’t often link to Elite Gymnastics Stars because it’s so profane and over the top.

Sarah posts wild, lengthy The Onion style comedy pieces.

You truly need a sick sense of humour to enjoy them. Here’s a sample, written by a friend of the site, Michelle:

Why was Svetlana Khorkina truly bigger than the sport?

There was only one Khorkina, and there will never be another. …

Ah Svetlana Khorkina . . . I miss her. I wish we could borrow her to infuse some life into U.S. women’s gymnastics, which is sorely lacking in so much, in spite of the medal wins and numerical successes of the athletes under the current and recent Code of Points. …

You may have loved to hate her – after all, she had the absolute worst sportsmanship known to exist in the history of the sport, and she expressed it openly in the press and at competitions when she walked around yelling, pouting and otherwise crying and ripping silver medals from around her neck in disgust before she even got off the upper floor area. …

read on at peril to your mortal soul – We need another Khorkina!

greatest musical TALENT ever

Click PLAY or watch her on YouTube.

… If only Rebecca Black and Justin Bieber would wed …

Do not fear that Rebecca has ruined her life with this viral video. Turns out she’s … pretty awesome.

Russian Jr prelims – Grishina 60.025

… Anastasia Grishina seems to have put a couple of falls at Jesolo behind her, and scored 60.025 all around in the prelims of the junior championships. That is, of course, with somewhat inflated scores due to bonus in domestic competitions, which usually seems to add up to about a point …

Between The Olympics

Click PLAY or watch her Floor on YouTube

Aunt Joyce was one of the first 11 people to find that video.

1. Anastasia Grishina 60.025
2. Anastasia Sidorova 58.650
3. Kristina Sidorova 53.000

Those scores via her official website, formerly edited by Alan Owen.

Alan has decided to step back from editing his many sites for east block gymnasts. He’s talking to others about taking over that volunteer job. Including the athletes themselves in some cases.

Doha vids – Danielle Hypolito

26yr-old Danielle Hypolito looks to qualify for her 4th Olympics. Respect.

Click PLAY or watch her Floor on YouTube.

More from that competition are being posted on the NOURSALEHGYM YouTube channel.

Rhode Island College dropping gymnastics

Another Division III program is facing extinction.

The RIC Athletic Department has announced that they will be eliminating women’s gymnastics in favor of (women’s) golf and swimming. …

Facebook – Save Rhode Island College Gymnastics!

There’s a link to a petition on that page.

Thanks Matt Davis for getting the word out to the greater gymnastics community. Perhaps we can help.

NCAA Gymnastics Regionals

Gymnastike is hosting a super page for following the 2011 NCAA Women’s ‘playoffs’ on Saturday afternoon. It links to updates directly from the schools competing in each of 6 Regional meets.

Gymnastike – 2011 NCAA Gymnastics Regionals

I’ve added a quick link to that page.

Doha FINALS results

Vault PDF
1 Matias Hypolito, Daniele BRA 13.550
2 Pinto Adasme, Makarena CHILE 13.425
3 Prahara, Dewi INA

Bars (PDF)
1 Tan, Sixin CHN 509 6.30 14.800
2 Miller, Larrissa AUS 501 5.90 13.450
3 Yao, Jinnan CHN 510 6.40 13.350

Floor (PDF)
1 Zou, Kai CHN 109 6.60 15.250
2 Sasaki Junior, Sergio BRA 102 6.20 14.550
3 Liao, Qiuhua CHN 113 6.10 14.525

Pommel (PDF)
1 Sellathurai, Prashanth AUS 101 6.90 15.950
2 Bertoncelj, Saso SLO 148 6.50 15.175
3 Liao, Qiuhua CHN 113 6.40 15.05

Rings (PDF)
1 Al Asi, Ali JOR 127 6.90 15.800
2 Liao, Junlin CHN 110 6.80 15.775
3 Liao, Qiuhua CHN 113 6.70 15.550

will Worlds be moved from Tokyo?

I hope not. I’m planning to go and would love to be a tiny part of that nation getting back to normal.

… President Hidenori Futagi and the Japanese Federation have communicated their willingness to continue as planned the preparations and the running of these World Championships, which will take place October 7 – 16, 2011.

The FIG is sending its Directives and Appendices to all its affiliated federations, with the sincere hope that the World Championships can be held as foreseen without taking any risk for the health of the participants.

The FIG – in close cooperation with the Japan Gymnastics Association – shall follow the development of the nuclear catastrophe closely and shall reevaluate the situation by the end of May.

The FIG will reevaluate the situation by end of May

Note that FIG has kept the Suzuki Aerobic Gymnastics World Cup in Japan, same dates in June, but has switched the host city.

(via Full Twist)