update on Mike Outram

Here’s the official information from Gymnastics Ontario’s Ruth Simpson:

As reported to you by email message on Thursday, December 3rd, Windsor Vistas coach and NCCP Facilitator Michael Outram recently sustained serious neck injury while he was involved in a personal activity at a gymnastics club in Michigan.

Gymnastics Ontario has been in touch with Michael’s family and here is the latest update:

• Michael has been moved to Windsor’s Hotel Dieu Hospital

• CBC Windsor recently interviewed him …

• Members of Michael’s family are posting information on Facebook

• Michael’s family has opened an account in trust at TD Canada Trust if you would like to lend support: #0125 6321315

• According to his sister, Melynda, Michael has a bit of movement in one of his legs. They are very appreciative of the support they have been receiving.

• Cards can still be mailed to Michael:
c/o Windsor Vistas Gymnastics, 2996 Deziel Drive, Windsor, ON N8W 5H8

Our thoughts are with Michael and his family at this time.

Mike was interviewed again today on the A Channel at 6pm tonight.

In an article in the Windsor Star he explains exactly what happened:

… “I did a half-in, full-out, and I hit the bottom of the pit, which isn’t good, I’m about two inches shorter,” the 43-year-old with the heart of a kid joked during an interview from his bed at Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital Wednesday. He said he never lost consciousness. “I didn’t even lose my gum.” …

read more – Popular Windsor gymnastics teacher, Mr. Mike, paralyzed in accident

His spirits are high. And some movement has come back in both legs. Fight on, Mike.

people are awesome

A compilation of awesome people doing incredible things.

A few of the clips were faked … but which ones?

13 million hits since October.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Miss Val on Zamarripa

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Aunt Joyce posted one of his excellent NCAA projections – UCLA Preview – predicting line-ups on each apparatus with Zam out.

Khorkina – gainer 1/1 on Beam

Svetlana Khorkina gets a lot of flack for her many faults.

Yet she’s innovated more skills than anyone else. Eight skills in the Code are named after her.

Somehow they missed this one.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Camelia Voinea did it tucked (VIDEO) in 1985.

Karpenko amazing tumbling pass

How is this possible. She actually has room to spare on a 6 element line.

Ro, bhs, whip, bhs, arabian double front, punch front, by Viktoria Karpenko circa 1997.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Bronwyn loves the girl with big bangs.

online sport psych

Alison Arnold has a promotion on her Headgames Webcamp site:

Use promo code DB2AC at checkout to get your first month of Web Camp for only $59!

Your own mental toughness trainer. 30 minutes of training from The Athlete Warrior, 20 minutes of question and answer via IM. Four sessions LIVE every week.

The ability to download archived Web Camp sessions that meet your schedule. Watch your trainer whenever you’d like and multiple times!

The Athlete Warrior E-Book. A six month program that trains your mind so you can compete your best.

E-mail access to your mental toughness coach for individual questions and answers anytime!

Once a month LIVE Parent Web Camp session. Parents Web Camp is the first Monday of every month at 9:00 EST/6:00 PST.

This would be appropriate for either coach or athlete.

Zamarripa OUT for NCAA season

Rats.

On the UCLA site right now:

NCAA vault champion and U.S. National Team member Vanessa Zamarripa will miss the 2011 collegiate gymnastics season after tearing her left Achilles tendon in practice on Tuesday.

Let’s hope she pulls a Courtney Kupets and returns next season to win the all-around.

best playgrounds?

A theme on this blog is acrobats using free playgrounds for training. (I worked out myself at one today.)

Full Twist reports on a new one in the U.K. branded by Adidas:

… The “adiZone” or outdoor gym in Verulamium Park includes a basketball, football and tennis area, a climbing wall and a freestyle area to encourage dance, aerobics, martial arts and gymnastics.

Daniel Keatings was there for the launch.

Looks a contender for best playground in the world. Stacy tells that at least 40 adiZones will be available across England by the end of 2010.

(via St Albans City & District Council)