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Bloggers weigh in on whether or not the world champion, Aliya Mustafina, can hold off Jordyn Wieber, Huang Qiushuang and the rest of the (small) field.

Examiner.com: The Discussion: Who’s going to win the American Cup?

Are 8 gymnasts enough for a proper all-around competition?

Andy Thornton:

Newly crowned world champion Aliya Mustafina was absolutely invincible less than five months ago at her first Worlds outing in Rotterdam, and was expected to dominate this weekend’s American Cup, particularly after fellow world medalists Jiang Yuyuan and Rebecca Bross declined invitations to compete.

Great Britain’s Nicole Hibbert, a solid all-arounder who placed 22nd overall at the 2010 world championships, was recently injured at the British nationals and forced to withdraw from this weekend’s competition. She’ll be replaced by a gymnast whom many consider to be one of only three women in the world capable of challenging the reigning queen from Russia – American sensation Jordyn Wieber. …

read more – Special to Universal Sports – Mustafina might need ‘A-game’ after all

In such a small field normally you compete conservative routines. But with Wieber looking good and getting stronger …, Aliya may need her full difficulty after all.

First up, however, is the the SuperNastia Cup.

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P.S. For your amusement, a history of the SCAmerican Cup on Big Fake Smile. It’s not always been a SCAm. That nickname picked up popularity starting 2002.

Garrison mount and two multiple turns. Cool.

Casey Magee from the Elite Qualifier, Session 2, on February 19, 2011, during the 2011 WOGA Classic in Frisco, TX.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The former Arkansas star has done good. It’s great to see former College gymnasts competing against Elite.

The best feature on the WOGA superstar I’ve yet seen.

read it on Couch Gymnast

Brigid and I both feel Rebecca will be fighting for an Olympic medal in the AA. She’s tough as nails.

Is Rebecca at American Cup watching? … Or home training? 🙂

Click PLAY or watch highlights on Gymnastike.

http://www.gymnastike.org/embed/Mjg5NDY4NjY0

Watch more video of Best of February 2011 on gymnastike.org

From Best of February 2011 photos and videos.

Dipa Karmakar:

… ‘If I get suitable equipments, I can easily beat Asian girls including those of China and Japan,’ said Dipa confidently on arriving here late Tuesday evening after setting a record in the National Games. …

I like her attitude.

After setting a record by bagging five golds in the 34th National Games in Jharkhand, Tripura girl Dipa Karmakar now dreams of becoming the best gymnast in Asia.

Sify

Click PLAY or watch her Vault on YouTube. (2010)

Canadian gymnast Ken Ikeda has one of the best Double Pike dismounts I’ve ever seen.

Click PLAY or watch his triple back on YouTube.

Gymnastics Examiner:

Ruslan Panteleymonov, GBR
Cyril Tommassone, FRA
Oleg Stepko, UKR
Daniel Keatings, GBR
Sam Oldham, GBR
Jonathan Horton, USA
Jake Dalton, USA
Kohei Uchimura, JPN
Teng Haibin, CHN
Chen Yibing, CHN
Yuri van Gelder, NED
Philipp Boy, GER
Marcel Nguyen, GER
Fabian Hambuechen, GER
Paul Hamm, USA
Feng Zhe, CHN
Denis Ablyuzin, RUS
David Belyavskiy, RUS
Daniel Purvis, GBR
Epke Zonderland, NED
Ali Al Asi, JOR

Details and linked videos on Gymnastics Examiner.

Here’s the #1 Arab Athlete of 2010 on his best apparatus.

Click PLAY or watch his Rings on YouTube.

USAG is posting photos.

… Mustafina was nearly in tears after some struggles in her jam-packed bars set. Always dramatic both in training and in competition! …

Inside Gymnastics LIVE on Facebook

Or @InsideGym.

Gymnastics Examiner is LIVE too:

… Mustafina and Alexandrov left without talking to any reporters. “They are not happy,” I was told. Mustafina’s bar workout certainly left something to be desired, but she did OK on beam, I thought. …

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Live blog: Women’s podium training at the American Cup

… The SCAM is an intense important meet, for a change. Cool.

Blythe has Men’s podium training LIVE, as well.

Already a member of the USA Gymnastics Men’s Senior National Team, U-M student Christopher Cameron sets his sights on the 2012 Olympics in London. …

LSA – Lord of the Rings

Click PLAY or watch his Rings on YouTube.

Chris Cameron is the defending N.C.A.A. all-around men’s gymnastics champion, a member of the University of Michigan’s defending N.C.A.A. championship team, and a rising star for the national squad.

His skill is even more remarkable given that he was born with hemihypertrophy, a congenital abnormality that causes one side of the body to grow faster than the other. At 12, Cameron had a growth plate removed from his fast-growing left leg to allow his right leg to catch up. …

NY Times – Champion Michigan Gymnast Rises Far Above a Disadvantage