Gymnastics Coaching.com

Gymnastics Examiner:

The logic of the two upcoming Swiss meets seems to be this: As long as everyone’s in Europe and everyone’s in shape, let’s have a fun boy-girl partner competition!

It’s good logic. The premier Swiss gymnastics events — the Arthur Gander Memorial and the Swiss Cup — are both happening this week. At Arthur Gander, to be held in Chiasso near the Italian border, men to choose four events to perform on, while the women compete on three. …

Many of the same competitors will then travel north to Zurich to compete in the Oct. 31 Swiss Cup, the most prestigious mixed pairs competition in gymnastics. …

It will be interesting to see the Chinese duo — 2008 triple Olympic gold medalist Zou Kai was held off China’s World team, and Zhang Yelinzi is one of the country’s young up and comers.

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For the lineup at Arthur Gander, click through to Gymnastics Examiner.

related – Keishlieta Gymnastique – 2010 Swiss Cup

UPDATE:

Results from Gander Memorial:

Women: 1 Ariella Kaeslin (Switzerland) 42,50. 2. Sandra Izbasa (Romania) 42.10. 3. Vanessa Ferrari (Italy) 41,95. 4. Yelinzi Zhang (China) 40.65. 5. Marine Brevet (France) 39.30. 6. Anastasiia Koval (Ukraine) 39.10. 7. Lisa Katharina (Germany) 38.55. 8. Marlies Rijken (Hollland) 38,50.

Men: 1 Flavius Koczi (Romania) 59.55. 2. Jeffrey Wammes (Holland) 59.40. 3. Deviatowskj Maxim (Russia) 58.80. 4. Matteo Morandi (Italy) 58,50. 5. Jordan Jovtchev (Bulgaria) 58.30. 6. Yuguo Huang (China) 57.75. 7. Phil Boy (Germany) 57.55. 8. Nikolay Kuksenkov (Ukraine) 56.85. 9. Yann Cucherat (France) 56.80. 10. Mark Ramseier (Switzerland) 52.60.

No Zou Kai? … It was Yuguo Huang, instead.

(stv-fsg.ch via THE ALL AROUND on Facebook)

Rie won the Longines Prize for Elegance, an excellent and surprising pick. After all, they once chose Shawn Johnson.

At 23yrs-old, she is a striking gymnast with great presence.

Click PLAY or watch her Bars on YouTube.

The Japanese women are under rated and under appreciated still. That’s going to change at Worlds in Tokyo next year under their intense media spotlight.

Full Twist links to all 4 of her routines.

Her brother Kazuhito is on the Men’s team in Rotterdam. And father Shoji was in Rotterdam, cheering his kids, and recalling his own days competing at Worlds.

In an All-Around competition the two time World Champion, Kohei Uchimura, would be many points ahead of YouTube phenom gymnast Charlie Tamayo.

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But what if we had them in the training gym together?

Charlie is a much more explosive vaulter and tumbler. Charlie would be better on any trampoline challenge.

Uchimura would love to be pushed. I heard he was quoted this week as saying gymnastics is so easy, he finds it boring at times.

Charlie Tamayo is still trying to get U.S. citizenship, by the way, training full-time for 2012:

… It is my dream to become a member of the US mens gymnastics team and compete in the 2012 Olympic Games.

Born in Havana, Cuba, I defected to the United states in 2003 during the World Championships feeling it was the best chance I had at making a better life for me and my family.

… I have trained in gymnastics for 26 years and now face my most important challenge, making the 2012 Olympic team.

Charlie had a bad meet at Winter Cup last year. But any of the guys who have trained with him know he’s an instant threat to win a Worlds or Olympic medal on Floor or Vault.

Show Charlie some love by clicking through to Tamayo 2012. He’s looking for financial support, too.

The USA is looking to build an Olympic Gold medal team around Hamm and Horton. That’s a combination even Team China will fear. Add the right routines in support of those two in a 3-up, 3-count final. … I could see Charlie Tamayo in that scenario.

On the other hand, the USA has more depth than an other nation. They’ll be all sorts of guys fighting to get on the team in London. I just wish Charlie was a Pommel specialist.

He’s impressed with the globalization of gymnastics.

GYMmedia exclusive interview with the former and again current Rumanian national coach Octavian BELU, one day before the beginning of the team competition of the 2010 World Championships …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

20 girls!

… Now that’s a tough line-up to make.

UCLA – roster

Expect to see one or two disappear before the start of season.

She’s stolen Nathan Gafuik’s jacket. … And his high heels?

Am I the first to notice that this girl has attitude?
🙂

From the Facebook album: … 2010 by Tanya Nabieva

Alexandrov warned her to be in shape for training after the post-worlds break. Good luck to him.

The old man of Soviet Gymnastics looks great. Has never been more verbose.

And at 5min 30sec he looks at the prototype J&F beam with a flaired end to facilitate dismounts.

GYMmedia exclusive interview with one of the worldwide most successful coach, the former Soviet and Russian men’s and women’s chief coach and long-time President of the Russian Gymnastics Federation Leonid Arkayev.

Of course Arkayev IS the world’s most successful coach, having won more World and Olympic medals than any other. But he hasn’t been at Worlds since 2003.

Click PLAY or watch a lengthy interview on GymMEDIA’s YouTube channel.

LADMMI, l’école de danse contemporaine, in Montreal, is making a Canadian tour, looking for students wanting to become professional dancers. The equivalent of a a 3-year college level education.

Vancouver, BC – October 30th
Toronto – November 2nd
Halifax – November 7th

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Did the World Vault Champion land …

… in the Corridor, but close to the corridor line.

If so, that’s a 0.1 deduction.

Screen grab from this video of her Rudi in Finals.

Personally, I think not. That 0.1 penalty has not often been taken in the past. Was not taken for other gymnasts in Rotterdam much more off line.

And the wording in English is vague. It should say “one foot on the line”, or something specific.

In that Final that Alicia Sacramone was easily best.

I’m sure we’ll hear other opinions.

related posts – … 0.1 penalty on Vault (compare Nabieva and Mustafina)

Remember the days when gymnasts from only a handful of nations would qualify to the Finals at the World Gymnastics Championships.

No more.

EIGHT different countries were represented in the men’s pommel horse final, and NONE of them were China or Japan?

In fact, none of the top four teams from the team final were represented in the pommel horse final, and this created a very unique and diversified field that included Hungary, Great Britain, Australia, France, Croatia, Armenia, Belgium, and Slovenia! All non-powerhouse countries, and what’s even better…it was one of the best pommel horse finals ever! Six guys scored above a 15, and we’re seeing some of the coolest and most stylish pommel horse routines ever done. …

Andrew Thornton – American Gymnast – Top Three Highlights of Event Finals Day 1

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How are gymnasts from Venezuela and Armenia finishing top 10 in the world?

The main reason, I feel, is the diaspora of coaches from the former Soviet Union. Skillful coaches find talent wherever they end up.

On the Men’s side, the emergence of specialists has really helped smaller nations compete.

It’s a great trend, in any case.