Gymnastics Coaching.com

Brandi is up to #2. Congratulations!

top 25

Now ranked by RQA …

see top 20

Update: Gymnastike rankings page with linked videos.

Here’s a great example of why Canada’s “Own The Podium” is the right program, with the wrong name.

One of the great success stories is this guy …

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He was shattered after finishing with a personal best, Canada’s best ever 5th place in the men’s 50KM Mass Start cross country ski race.

… “My goal was to stay with the leaders, conserve as much energy as I could,” Kershaw explained. “It’s a marathon. It takes over two hours. You have to be so calm and collected. I accomplished everything I hoped for, and more. But to be 1.5 seconds from the gold medal in a race so long …… when I see my technicians, it’s going to be really hard. It’s the best 50K of my life. But, at the same time, it’s really tough to place fifth.” …

Vancouver Sun

Devon Kershaw really believed he could beat Petter Northug of Norway, the reigning World Champion.

That’s the psychology you should have to compete at the Olympics.

Kershaw is pysically, technically and psychologically ready to win. That’s what Own The Podium is all about.

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That’s the same race, by the way, where coaches decided not to compete the alternate, blind skier Brian McKeever:

… Alex Harvey of St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., and Ivan Babikov of Canmore, Alta., were the last skiers on the course to cross the finish line.

Harvey was 32nd and Babikov 33rd, which called into question the decision to sit alternate Brian McKeever, the legally blind skier who was seeking to become the first winter athlete to compete in both the Olympics and Paralympics.

Harvey and Babikov didn’t appear to have anything left in the tank after a series of earlier races, whereas McKeever was fresh. The 50-km race would have been his only Olympic event. …

I’m not a figure skating fan. When I see Johnny Weir, I find it difficult to get past his appearance.

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It’s too extreme. My inclination is not to watch him skate. I assume he’s more flamboyant style than substance.

And his antics play into many of the stereotypes about male figure skaters. Even gay pundits are asking: Is Johnny Weir “Too Gay” For Figure Skating? (VIDEO)

My respect for Weir climbed a notch or two after hearing him fire back at broadcasters Claude Mailhot and Alain Goldberg of RDS, a French-language sports channel in Quebec. Here’s that interview.

U.S. men’s figure skater Johnny Weir says he was ‘frankly, pissed’ upon learning that the two French-language commentators questioned his gender and made other jibes during his Olympic skating performances last week. (Feb. 24)

Click PLAY or watch his interview on YouTube.

Still, I’m more inclined to cheer (or at least smirk at) the macho antics of Silver medalist, Russia’s Yevgeny Plushenko.

Plushenko and his coach want his competitors to man up and throw quad twists. I agree.

Comments? … Should I simply give up on Figure Skating completely?

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

She swings “big”, like a guy. … Hmm, she’s coached by Ed Burch, who coached 1992 Olympic gold horizontal bar medalist Trent Dimas.

I’m sorry to see it end.

The greatest emotional moment for me was the reaction of Frederic when his brother won Moguls.

Canada’s first gold medal winner ALEX BILODEAU greets fans with his brother FREDERIC BILODEAU and sister JENNIFER BILODEAU outside the Pan Pacific hotel Tuesday evening during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

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… His older brother, Frédéric, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at a young age and told that he would be unable to walk by the time he was 10. Frédéric is now age 28 and still has the ability to walk. …

Frédéric inspires Alex as much as Alex inspires Frédéric.

Some feel that American Bronze medallist Bryon Wilson, a former gymnast, had a better second run than Alex. Wilson was brilliant. Look for him in the coming years.

Front page of the Globe and Mail February 27th:

It had one of the most calamitous beginnings in Olympic history. Now, as the 2010 Winter Olympics head into their final weekend, they are on their way to being celebrated as one of the best in history. …

That’s how most Canadians are feeling right now. Even the taxpayers from Vancouver … and they normally complain about everything.

Most of the hate I’m seeing online is directed towards NBC TV, especially their decision to tape delay coverage. People want real time live video in 2010. On the other hand, ratings have been far better than expected. The American Brian Williams left Canada a nice thank-you note.

related:

• Kumaritashvili’s body arrives in Georgia

• Why the Olympics Have Been Bad for Canada

February 26-28, 2010, Gatineau, Quebec. Nathan Gafuik of the U of Calgary put together a good all-around meet for 88.40.

full results all age divisions (PDF)

UPDATE: Kyle Shewfelt points out this would have been one of the highest AA scores at the last World Championships. Nathan, after some problems day 2, did go on to claim the Elite Canada Championships crown.

There’s been controversy in Canada over the Own The Podium program, a 5yr, $120 million supplimentary investment in high performance Olympic sport. Much was copied from programs in Australia and the U.S.A.

Personally I agree with Olympic great Ken Reed:

… The intent of Canada’s Own The Podium program has become lost – or perhaps obscured – with the focus on the medal count. Yes, it was always about trying to win more medals than anyone in 2010. But from the get-go, it was clearly stated that this was a stretch goal – an ambitious target intended to galvanize our nation, inspire our athletes, focus our funding and build a foundation of partnership. …

… OTP is an overwhelming success. We have delivered funding, coaching resources, technology, preparation and team unity to build an environment for success. Regardless of the medal count, this is a fact. Canada’s team was prepared. …

OTP’s about more than medal count

On the other hand, decisions have already been made to change leadership, perhaps shift the focus of Own the Podium, and possibly even changing the much mocked name.

details – Baumann to take over Own the Podium

related – Should Own the Podium have been branded differently?

UPDATE: The U.S.A. owned the podium at this Olympics. Germany was fantastic, too. Congratulations. But Canadians are not disappointed with our results, overall. And once we defeat the States today in Men’s Hockey, we’ll have the most Gold medals for any host nation in Olympic history.

… Most of my friends are convinced that the upstart Americans will win Hockey. But I’m not worried.

I always think of 2004 Olympian Jason Gatson as an often injured Ring Man.

But his PBars were incredible. And unique. I’d long forgotten this routine until reminded by Body Rhythm.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.