The Simone Biles show. 😀
Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.
Seojeong Yeo – Vault
Amazing. How does a human being that small generate so much power off a HARD FIG Spring Board?
The Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist.
Perhaps she’ll use her eponymous Yeo (5.8) — handspring layout double twist in the Final. I doubt she’d need it for the silver medal, however.
women’s Worlds qualification – day 1
Top 12 teams qualify to Paris.
Here’s where they stand with 30% of the competition complete.
Unlike the men’s competition where Canada finished 4th, WAG is much more predictable.
The U.S. score is about what Spencer predicted.
Italy and Netherlands are safe to qualify a full team.
Read Spencer’s LIVE blog. Though he’s got his feet up in California this year, it’s still one of the most insightful commentaries.
Day 1 was pretty much the Simone Biles show — with a supporting cast of other characters. Simone might qualify for all 6 Finals. Potentially adding to her 19 World titles and 25 medals overall from 2013 to 2019.
Shilese Jones and Jessica Gadirova were really fantastic, as well.
Korea had some terrific performances.
But personally I was most impressed with Panama. These ladies have some world class difficulty. Are they the most improved nation this quadrennial?
Here’s the official FIG write-up. I ASSuME these are the Canadian guys cheering the Biles 2 Vault. 😀
men’s teams qualified to Paris Olympics
Congratulations. There were at least 18 teams with a realistic shot of making the top 12 on any given day.
Kensley’s new site — Neutral Deductions — is the best source of information on Worlds:
2023 World Gymnastics Championships Qualifiers
We’re thrilled Ukraine was able to qualify in the final position.
Belgium, South Korea, and Brazil each earned 1 individual spot.
Click PLAY or watch a 1-minute highlights VIDEO on Instagram.
NCAA gymnasts in Antwerp
Of course there are many male former and current NCAA gymnasts, as well.
Hillary Heron from Panama
The first flight of women’s Gymnastics qualifications was wonderful. Italy. Netherlands.
But the biggest excitement was generated by a gymnast I didn’t know.
Her Rudi Vault was even better. Stuck.
Men’s Apparatus Olympic qualifiers
The TOP gymnast on each of the 6 apparatus will earn an individual spot in Paris.
But only those gymnasts whose team has not qualified are eligible. Individual AA qualified gymnasts are also not eligible. (Yulo took a zero on Vault so didn’t make it in the AA.)
IF all named gymnasts compete, there is only ONE eligible on Floor and Vault.
Here are Spencer’s predictions. It won’t be official until after the Apparatus Finals.
Floor: CARLOS YULO (Phillipines)
Horse: Whoever places best in the final among McClengaghan, Abu Al Soud, Lee CK, and Merdinyan
Rings: Whoever places best in the final among Petrounias, Simonov, Hoeck, Avetisyan, and V Davtyan
Vault: KEVIN PENEV (Bulgaria)
PBars: Carlos Yulo also ended up as the top non-qualified athlete here, so I’ll have to see whether they go down to Kuavita in 23rd on the list here, or Ryu Sunghyun in 20th on floor
High Bar: Whoever places best in the final between Srbic and Nory
NOTE ➙ Unlike the Tokyo Olympics, if Yulo qualifies from Floor, he can compete as many apparatus as he likes in Paris. He can do the AA. He could possibly medal in the AA.
Men’s Worlds Qualifications video
Antwerp Worlds AA Finalists
Diogo Soares is the final qualifier. He also earned an individual spot for Paris.
MAG Apparatus Finalists
Pommels is the strongest Final. Any of these guys could medal on the day.
You have to call Artur the favourite.
