Australian Gymnastics Championships photos

From nade00.

Brittany Boffo
Brittany Boffo

see more on flickr.

(via Australian Gymnastics Blog)

Where are the results posted?

gymnast to beat at Worlds: Kohei Uchimura

New Japanese star Kohei Uchimura could be unbeatable at October’s world championships, reigning world and Olympic champion Yang Wei said this week.

Yang, who announced his retirement earlier this year, picked the 20-year-old Uchimura as the favorite to inherit his crown at the 2009 World Championships. …

uchimura_kohei_3

read the rest of this article – International Gymnast

Yang notes that Fabian Hambüchen will be the crowd favorite in London.

“He is at home in Europe and America,” he said.

Gene Sutton has died

Bad news.

One of the builders of Canadian Gymnastics, Dr. Gene Sutton, of Hamilton, Ontario, has died.

An unforgettable character.

Details to come.

Felge / Peach on Parallel Bars

blantonnick posted an excellent coaching tutorial on the (free membership) wwgym.com forum. Thread is called Undersomersault to Handstand on Parallel Bars.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The kids are from Notts School of Gymnastics in Nottingham, England. Except for the Chinese athlete, doing the very last Felge / Peach handstand series.

Note that the Chinese gymnast does what I call the “Stalder style Peach”, while all the progressions are for the easier, but less powerful, “Free hip style Peach”.

The difference is the amount of hip flexion / extension used.

Personally I like beginners to start quite straight body. (As in these excellent progressions.) … And later begin drills for the Stalder style. Eventually they’ll find the technique that works best for them.

Thanks Stu Cram for sending us the link.

Yurchenko Triple Twist?

I don’t think we are going to see a female gymnast competing Yurchenko double back in the near future.

Triple Twist is much easier. And safer.

Tatiana Nabiyeva is close. Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

That was from the AA Finals at the recent meet in Japan.

Andrew Thornton‘s take on it:

… Was she trying a Yurchenko triple full??!!! I don’t think so actually – in fact she stated after the meet that she was doing her 2 ½, and also indicated a 2 ½ with her vault number. If you slow-mo the vault, you’ll see that she does actually land past the half position – almost at a ¾ position. Why did she do that? I have no idea, but that was pretty amazing. …

See more videos and read Andy’s commentary on the American Gymnast blog – Japan Cup All-Around Finals

Andy notes that neither Tatiana Nabiyeva nor Aliya Mustafina will be competing for Russia at World’s in 2009 as neither are old enough. They are age eligible for the Olympics.

vault champion 2000 v 2004 v 2008

TSUK THE PAIN has an interesting new series of posts. Here’s the first:

Olympic Champions Faceoff: 2000s Vault

Introducing a new segment in which past Olympic champions face off in their respective events. First up is Vault 2000 vs 2004 vs 2008.

The 2000 Olympic Champion, with a double twisting yurchenko and a double twisting tsuk, Zamo!

vs.

2004 Olympic Champion, with an Amanar and a double twisting tsuk, Monica Rosu!

vs.

2008 Olympic Champion, with a Cheng and an Amanar, Hong Un Jong!

Who is the ultimate 2000s Olympic Vault Champion?

Click through to watch the videos and decide on the Champion.

tsukheaderusaglare

Olympic Champions Faceoff: 2000s Vault

Artemev iffy for USA Championships

Too bad.

From Inside Gymnastics:

… Just as he’d recovered from planned shoulder surgery (postponed last year to train for Beijing), Artemev suffered another setback, this time in form of a back fracture that is slowly starting to heal.

“I got back to really doing all my skills in late April,” Artemev recalls. “Then I hurt my back [about a month later]. I was doing too much I think, and this is what happened.

“I’ve been wearing a brace and just getting massage work, lots of massage,” Artemev adds of the treatment for his latest injury. “Other than that, it’s just staying careful. I haven’t tumbled or vaulted much yet.”

This latest injury has put Artemev’s entire season in question. Though he hopes to compete at least a few events at next month’s U.S. Championships, Artemev’s goals have shifted away from Worlds and moved solely to regaining his strength. …

548-artemev

read more – WORKING HIS WAY BACK

Chinese Taipei gymnast suspended by FIG

An aerobic gymnast, age-18, tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide. I have no idea why she would be taking what’s normally a blood pressure medication. It’s prohibited because it’s sometimes used as a masking agent for other banned substances.

Lausanne (SUI) FIG Office, July 18, 2009:

In reference to a case file submitted to the FIG Disciplinary Commission on March 18, 2009, the FIG Presidential Commission has rendered its decision.

Gymnast Shih-Hui Chiu (TPE) is suspended for a period of 24 months, starting from the day of the doping test on November 3, 2008 up to and including November 2, 2010.

Competing for Chinese Taipei, Mr CHIU Shih-Hui (18 years old) tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic included on the list of prohibited substances and methods established by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The FIG Presidential Commission’s decision may be appealed to the FIG Appeal Tribunal within 21 days of the date of this notification, or August 4, 2009 in this case.

Furthermore, the national gymnastics federation of Chinese Taipei was reprimanded with an accompanying heavy fine for repeatedly failing to communicate with the FIG and neglecting to assist its gymnast.

FIG

funny wedding dance video

If you have 5min to waste, watch the funny viral video called JK Wedding Entrance Dance. Millions have seen it already.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.


Like all viral videos, it’s spawned imitators.

In fact, College Humor put together a response called “Unexpected Divorce Intro” in the same style.

… The gymnastics in the second video is better.

(via LIVE.BREATHE.LOVE GYMNASTICS. The editor, Andrea, is getting married soon.)