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The Evian Water babies have improved their skate skillz.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks Brett MacAuley.

A big theme of gymnastics bloggers is the decline of Artistry in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics since the introduction of an open ended code.

Much less commented upon is the same trend in Men’s Gymnastics, especially Men’s Floor.

A good example is our current Olympic Floor Champion, Zou Kai. I agree with Andy Thornton who compares Kai against the artistry of past champions Artemev, Bilozerchev, Korolev, and Scherbo on his American Gymnast blog.

… Obviously Zou Kai’s tumbling is phenomenal, but I wanted to point out not only how great the Russians above were to watch, but also how TERRIBLE this presentation is from Zou Kai. He mopes around with no regard for how he looks in between his passes, and his jumps in the corner clearly scream, “I feel stupid and I’m only doing these because I have to.” Notice the lack of precision and unsteadiness in his transitions. …

Click PLAY or watch his routine in the Olympic Floor Final on YouTube.

Yes, I know Zou Kai deserved to win that day. But it’s a shame that gymnasts are rewarded now for a doing a maximum of difficulty while taking the minimum risk of deduction in non-tumbling elements.

I was even more disappointed with Zou Kai’s win at the Olympics on Horizontal Bar, by the way.

Workout Wednesday is my favourite feature on Gymnastike.

In this week’s gymnastics workout video, we visited the newest gym in North Texas, Elite Champion Gymnastics. Since opening their doors in January of 09, they’ve already won the Level 4 North State Championship, Level 5 North State Championship, and had a Level 10 Regional Champion in Sarie Morrison who has accepted a scholarship to compete for LSU next season.

This workout was filmed on December 1st. ECG Head Coach Marcus Harlin is preparing his girls for the upcoming season, now just a few weeks away. The ECG girls will open their season this year at the Cancun Classic.

Click PLAY or watch the work-out highlights on Gymnastike.

http://www.gymnastike.org/assets/portal/add_ons/mediaplayer-4.2/player.swf

… I still say Texas is the centre of the gymnastics world. How many strong clubs are there in that State?

Lark Pokladnik was at WOGA before moving to this gym.

This gymnast clearly will never win anything.

LilyPod on the IG forum started another great thread on the topic:

Can we go through the deductions for twisting form, and what is regarded as acceptable and what is not? (Not talking about height or landing here, just the leg form in the air). Where do the judges draw the line with deductions, and what deductions are given at each degree? I’m really just trying to understand …

She posted several photo examples. Click through to see them – Twisting Form and Today’s Code

Here’s my favourite funny man, Stephen Colbert, on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Can you believe it?

… “In November, devoted Colbert fans known as the Colbert Nation became the official primary sponsor of U.S. Speedskating. The team’s largest annual cash sponsor, DSB Bank NV, left the team in the lurch after it declared bankruptcy in October.

With contributions from fans, more than $250,000 has been raised. …

Examiner

What other celebrities can we approach to sponsor our sports?

Luan Peszek posted an entertaining write up for USAG.

The holiday season is upon us! USA Gymnastics asked members of the men’s and women’s national teams which holiday they celebrate, their traditions and memories, the best present they’ve ever received, and what they’re asking for this year. Here are their responses. …

Holiday Plans and Traditions

JORDYN WIEBER hopes to get a Juicy Couture outfit.

REBECCA BROSS is asking for a car!

The old rule-of-thumb was that female Artistic gymnasts would take no more than 3 days “break” from training over Christmas. These days some are taking a few more days than that.

Preview performances for Viva ELVIS, the newest Cirque show, will begin Friday, December 18, 2009.

Viva ELVIS, a harmonious fusion of dance, acrobatics and live music, is a tribute to the life and music of Elvis Presley. Nostalgia, modernity and raw emotion provide the backdrop for his immortal voice and the exhilaration and beauty of his music.

I’ve not seen any official trailer as yet, but here are some clips.

http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/mnr_lib/200910/players/player-multi.swf?job=41517

… Loving that latest trampoline act.

In related Cirque news, the Chinese government just announced a 50km bridge to be built connecting Hong Kong and Macao with the mainland. This will be good for Macao business, including the Cirque show Zaia.

There’s nothing confirmed regarding the future Cirque show to be fixed in Dubai. But Cirque du Soleil says it is unaffected by the recent financial crisis there.

In response to those speculating that Russia may be the team to beat for the London Olympics, medstudent24 on the IG forum posted <a href="http://www.intlgymnast.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6854&quot; best junior, by the numbers:

All this talk about Komova and Mustafina got me thinking how good they REALLY are compared to the rising American talent. I took the highest scores each gymnast received on each apparatus and combined them to come up with a total. The results are…

1. Jordyn Wieber. VT-15.75 UB-14.8 BB-15 FX-14.65 AA: 60.2
2. Viktoria Komova. VT-15.1 UB-15.45 BB-14.955 FX-14.3 AA: 59.805
3. Kyla Ross. VT-15.2 UB-14.15 BB-15 FX-14.2 AA: 58.55
4. Aliya Mustafina. VT-14.850 UB-14.825 BB-14.175 FX-14.650 AA: 58.5

LilyPod then linked to videos of all routines for the top 2 taken from their best AA competition. It’s an interesting comparison. Almost a Nastia – Shawn comparison.

See what you think.

Weiber had the better vault.

Komova had the better bars. (Superb dismount for Weiber, however.)

Hmm. I’d say Weiber won beam. But Komova is close.

Clearly Wieber won Floor.

Two completely different styles. Weiber powerful, routines jammed with difficulty. Komova more elegant. Better artistry and form.

It’s going to be a wonderful Olympics in 2012 with all this young talent (hopefully) peaking at that time.

UPDATE:

Almost everyone on the IG forum that commented likes Komova better. I think I’ll bet on Weiber. If she can stay healthy training all that difficulty, she’ll be tough to beat.

I still think you need an Amanar vault to win the Olympics 2012. (Nastia won 2008 with only a perfect Yurcheno 1 1/2.)

I’d like to see her defend her Scam American Cup title March 6, 2010. If the USA put up Rebecca Bross (confirmed) and Jordyn Weiber … that would be a potent duo.

How about a promise of a week’s training next summer at gym camp?

Click PLAY or watch the IGC Summer Gymnastics Camp promo on YouTube.

The U.K. is the most improved nation in recent years, especially on the Men’s side.

Brilliant timing with the Olympics coming up in London.

British Gymnastics superb achievements throughout 2009 have been recognised by the British press, who have awarded BG the prestigious Sports Journalist Association Committee Award recognising “the progress made by a sport which is now established as a medal-winning force on the world stage.”

Representing British Gymnastics at the 2009 Sports Journalists Association awards were Adrian Stan, Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Technical Director, along with Paul Hall Head coach of Huntingdon Olympic Gymnastics club with gymnasts Louis Smith and Daniel Keatings. …

Beth Tweddle, Britain’s World Floor Champion was voted in 2nd place in the SJA’s Sportswoman of the Year Award just behind Heptathlon World Champion, Jessica Ennis.

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