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I carefully refused to even mention the LIVE online video coverage of the World Gymnastics Championships provided by Universal for $14.99 or less.

When it works, it’s great. But too many paying customers have an experience like Full In Full Out.

By far the best write-up on the American silver medal at Worlds I’ve seen was posted by Aunt Joyce:

… There are competitions and then there are finals where medals are on the line. The 6-3-3 Team Final is similar to All-Around Finals and Event Finals in that those who wish to win gold medals need to not only ‘hit’ their routines or stay on, but they need to find the cojones to go for every handstand, take their releases higher and go after stuck landings. While going after the extra amplitude is daunting, most gymnasts tend to make mistakes when they hold back. …

… The European gymnasts are lucky to have the European Championships to experience a pressure situation similar to World Team Finals. Many other teams are not afforded the same opportunities for such experience. …

Canadian coach Dave Brubaker mentioned that some of his team had never been in an important Team meet. When the Canadian lead-off fell on Beam, and on Bars, it put even more pressure on the middle of the line-up.

… The difference between champions and talented elites other comes down to the ability to handle pressure. While Mattie is a charismatic performer and one of the most popular gymnasts around, she has not proven herself to be able to perform at a level that is necessary to win Team or Individual gold medals at international competitions. …

… Many will want to draw comparisons between Mattie and Alicia Sacramone. Ms, Alicia was once in a bit of a pickle when Martha announced that she was “through with her” after she fell at 2004 Nationals. After accepting an invitation to a World Cup event, Alicia earned herself an unlikely spot at the World Cup Finals, where she earned a gold medal and more importantly, respect in the eyes of Martha Karolyi. By the time Alicia reached the 2008 Olympics, she had only missed one routine of the twenty she had competed at World Championships. She was a proven medal winner and attacked her routines with the intensity of an individual event winner. …

This is nuanced, honest commentary from a real expert – Team Finals: A Reflection

More detail on the high tech camera being used at the World Gymnastics Championships.

… the “spidercam” has been tested over four days of podium training at the Ahoy Arena. The evaluation at the end of this trial period resulted in the unanimous decision of both FIG Technical Committee Presidents Adrian Stoica (MTC) and Nellie Kim (WTC), as well as FIG Secretary General André Gueisbuhler and FIG Television Manager Olivier Strebel to allow the use of the silent flying camera, which is attached to four Kevlar ropes over the Field of Play.

Feedback from coaches and gymnasts was taken into consideration, and since no serious concerns were expressed the green light was given. …

… read more on FIG – Spidercam cuts edge in Gymnastics

The fabulous one qualifies 3rd into H Bar finals with this routine.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

For trusting Mattie.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

http://videoplayer.flocasts.org/player.swf

What do you think? … Too severe? … Or does the BOSS need to be tough. And let the rest of the team be diplomatic and supportive.

Mattie did miss Floor two meets in a row.

Mattie’s Floor was by far the biggest reason why the USA did not win GOLD.

Alicia was trusted to compete Beam, again. … But I’m not sure we’ll see Mattie Larson on the Worlds team 2011. College gymnastics must be looking pretty inviting right now. Competing for UCLA is FUN.

Nobody but me seems to be griping about the American loss at the World Gymnastics Championships. The girls, including team leader Alicia, are taking it in stride.

Sacramone, who is competing in her fourth World Championships, said, “The silver feels good. Obviously we wanted gold – we always do – but the girls did a really good job. We had a little mistake here and there but I was happy we pulled it together. We went out there and did the best we could. …

…
“This was a very dramatic competition,” said Martha Karolyi, the women’s national team coordinator. “I think the girls did a good job. They were not quite as solid on the beam as they were the other day, but they stayed on. We hit bars and the vault was excellent so I feel good except we had a mistake on floor and we could not make up for that.” …

USAG via email

A touching highlight edit by FIG is already posted.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

… it was an honour to have cheered these amazing young women.

Russia had 3 falls. China 3 falls. USA 1 fall.

So how did Russia win? … It seemed impossible watching the meet that Russia could give up 2 pts in falls to the States. And still win.

Answer = FLOOR. … With the fall and tumbling connection miss of Mattie Larson, team USA gave up 2.333 on Floor.

Brigid posted this photo of Mustafina.

Do not think for a minute you will take my gold!!!

Bross is a tough competitor. But Mustafina is even tougher. … What kind of an all-around final are we going to see!

… I’m still not convinced that the USA lost. There are far too many phone calls from Nellie Kim to apparatus Head Judges for my liking. Is she intervening in evaluation?

I don’t like it. Slow motion review can reveal anything you want it to reveal.

I’ll await some video analysis before I concede that Russia did win the World Championships 2010.

… On the other hand, I don’t see how they can lose Worlds in 2011. Russia has far more talent than any other team today.

related:

• Andy Thornton – Crazy Women’s Team Final Ends In Historic Moment

• Blythe Lawrence – Rotterdam report: Russian women take 2010 World team title

Fantastic Gymnastics meet. Far more falls than I expected.

Somehow RUSSIA wins their first World Championships.

Russia 175.397
USA 175.196
China 174.781

In my opinion the USA was easily the best team tonight. … I need to see a detailed break down of the scores.

Show time.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.js

End of rotation #1 the top 4 teams all HIT. China looked quite good on Vault. (We cannot compare the team scores as the Vault number is so much higher than any other apparatus.)

… the bad news. Two of the Aussie girls fell on Beam. Laurne Mitchell … sob.

rotation 2 – two of the Chinese make mistakes on Bar warm-up, including He Kexin. They won’t miss in the meet.

Gak. Jiang misses Pak in the competition. China drops to 3rd, at this point. They can’t afford to count a fall.

Double Gak. Gymnast #2 for China, Huang, falls on kip after Pak. I can’t believe this. (Long conference with Nellie Kim and judges reviewing the video. )

As Romania hit bars, they just might move into the top 3. The Romanian Beam is so solid. Confident.

He Kexin HIT and STICK. … I held my breath during the Pak.

USA on Beam. Raisman solid. Aggressive. But nearly fell. Strong Patterson dismount.

Dementeyva FALLS on Yurchenko. Yikes.

Alicia hits front pike on Beam mount. Fantastic.  Redemption. … But later nearly falls on front pike. Whew.

Killer Bar routine from Mustafina. STICK. Second highest score after He Kexin. … Unfortunately it’s OVER for

Double Yikes. The ticking time bomb, Nabieva, fell twice on Bars. … Can Russia afford to keep her on the A team? … I swear Rodionenko and Alexandrov are getting greyer by the day.

Awesome. Mattie Larson HITS double layout after falling on it in warm-up. … Blast. Then missed the punch out of the backward layout 2 ½ … AND fell on double pike dismount. Disaster.

All of the top 3 teams have had falls now. Russia 3. China 2. USA 1. … If I haven’t lost count. … Those who HATE the sudden victory format are going to go on a rampage.

I still love it.

Raisman has so much POWER tumbling. It’s scary. HITS. … I don’t see how the USA can lose this thing now.

… I’ll QUIT this terribly erratic LIVE blogging and just watch the Finals …