Youth Olympic Games floating platform

… Following Singapore’s successful bid to host the inaugural 2010 Summer Youth Olympics, the floating stadium will be under the spotlight during the Games, having chosen as the venue for the Games’ opening and closing ceremonies

Wikipedia – The Float@Marina Bay

click image for larger version

It’s rated to support 9000 people.

Cool.

(via FIG and Inside the Games)

Update: Kerri Strug was in Singapore as part of “99 days until the 1st Youth Olympic Games begin“.

are gymnasts getting happier?

Since the F.I.G. abandoned the “perfect 10” scoring system, I’ve been very critical of women’s international gymnastics.

Perhaps I’m softening.

The elite girls competing last weekend looked … happier. Is it just my imagination?

Trying to compete all-around F.I.G. these days is nearly impossible.

gymnast: Annie Sheridan

European Floor Champions: 1967-2009

MostepanovaFan can add Beth Tweddle 2010 to this edit.

1969 – Olga Karasova (USSR)
1971 – Ludmilla Tourischeva (USSR)
1973 – Ludmilla Tourischeva (USSR)
1975 – Nelli Kim (USSR – footage from another competition)
1977 – Elena Mukhina (USSR) and Maria Filatova (USSR)
1979 – Nadia Comaneci (Romania)
1981 – Maxi Gnauck (GDR)
1983 – Olga Bicherova (USSR) and Ekaterina Szabo (Romania)
1985 – Elena Shushunova (USSR)
1987 – Daniela Silivas (Romania)
1989 – Svetlana Boginskaya (USSR) and Daniela Silivas (Romania)
1990 – Svetlana Boginskaya (USSR)
1992 – Gina Gogean (Romania)
1994 – Lilia Podkopayeva (Ukraine)
1996 – Lavinia Milosovici (Romania) and Lilia Podkopayeva (Ukraine)
1998 – Svetlana Khorkina (Russia) and Corina Ungureanu (Romania)
2000 – Ludivine Furnon (France)
2002 – Alona Kvasha (Ukraine)
2004 – Catalina Ponor (Romania)
2005 – Isabelle Severino (France)
2006 – Sandra Izbasa (Romania)
2007 – Vanessa Ferrari (Italy)
2008 – Sandra Izbasa (Romania)
2009 – Elizabeth Tweddle (Great Britain)

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

book review – Championship Gymnastics

Dwight Normile loves it:

Thirty years after the publication of his popular Biomechanics of Women’s Gymnastics, Dr. Gerald George has done it again, only better. Championship Gymnastics, which was released earlier this month, is more than just a textbook for women’s gymnastics technique, as the subtitle suggests. Its unique voice engages the reader through a seamless blend of instruction and inspiration. …

read the review – International Gymnast – Dr. Gerald George’s new book scores high marks

Order it instantly from the official website – Winning Gymnastics. Or phone 888-796-5229.

The doctor needs your $79.

coach Nicolae Forminte unhappy

Problems. Problems. Problems.

Will they never end for Romania?

Ana Porgras is in a cast for 3 weeks.

Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 2009 - Day Two

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js

Romanian Head Coach Nicolae Forminte is not happy, his team beaten soundly at European Championships by Great Britain.

Gymnastics, No Ceiling – translation of a Romanian news report – Prosport reports: Ana Porgras’s diagnosis; Forminte not satisfied with the EC results

… Bea, who edits No Ceiling, admires Forminte, saying he’s like a father to the Romanian girls.

Some are even “baying for the blood of Nicolae Forminte”, according to The Couch Gymnast.

Personally, I’m cheering for Nicolae. It’s not easy keeping Romania, a small and under-funded nation, competitive with the best in the World.

Why are Britain’s gymnasts suddenly so good?

Good question.

Great Britain Women’s team was only 1.425 points behind Russia at Europeans!

I’m impressed because this question comes from LOUD Channel 5 Action News sports correspondent and BlaccuWeather man Ollie Williams on Family Guy …

Wait a minute …

It’s the other Ollie Williams, young BBC reporter. I hear he’s become a total gymnastics nut.

… The GB team are leaving the European Championships with a total of 15 medals (senior boys: team silver, individual gold, silver and bronze; junior boys: team gold, four individual golds, a silver and two bronze; senior girls: team silver, two individual golds).

That total is unprecedented, particularly the success of both the junior and senior men’s teams, who have for decades toiled in the lower echelons of world gymnastics.

Why, though, is this all happening now? Who has flicked a switch to turn Britain from a gymnastics also-ran to a world power with an eye on medals at a home Olympics? Is it all down to money?

Actually, one reason for this success may be down to a lack of cash. …

an important read – BBC Sport – Why are Britain’s gymnasts suddenly so good?

Louis Smith, right, with coach Paul Hall

I’m sure if you ask Paul about how sudden their success is, … he’ll laugh.

(via Full Twist)

WAG J.O. Gymnastics Championships USA

It’s happening right now. In Dallas, Texas.

official website

Anne will be posting interviews on Gymnastike over the weekend.

Thanks MS.

MAG J.O. Gymnastics Championships USA

Competition is underway.

More than 700 of the USA’s top Level 9 and 10 gymnasts will compete in the 2010 U.S. Men’s Junior Olympic National Championships, May 6-9, at the Knoxville (Tenn.) Convention Center. The event features competition in regional team, all-around and individual apparatus. …

Knoxville set to host 2010 U.S. Men’s Junior Olympic National Championships

Follow the boys:

• Official Men’s J.O. Championships website
• commentary will be posted on Stick It Media

interview with gymnast Anastasia Grishina

This interview with Anastasia Grishina is charming and revealing.

… Do you have a role model in gymnastics or a favorite gymnast?

I very much like Svetlana Khorkina and Anastasia Liukin. But I would like to be Anastasia Grishina and become a model for younger gymnasts myself. …

Her coach is S.B. Zelikson.

A “late starter”, she feels she has yet to reach her full potential.

Scary talented. And she’s called “Nastia” in the gym. …

This calendar photo was provided by her family. Any significance to the American Eagle?

(via The Couch Gymnast magazine #3)