Gymnastics Coaching.com

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Veronica Wagner is a Gymnast who competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics as a member of the Swedish Olympic team. …

Veronica is Sweden’s most successful gymnast, having won the national title 4 times (2002, 2004-2006) as well as representing her country at Olympic, World Championship and European Championship level. Veronica has also been a finalist at several World Cup events.

Click PLAY or watch the Veronica Wagner commercial for koenigsegg on YouTube.

… After winning the Swedish Championships in June 2008, Veronica was told that the Swedish Olympic Committee would not send her to the Beijing to compete in the Olympic Games. A fan-driven petition was created in protest.

Wikipedia – Veronica Wagner

Jennifer Isbister posted this link on Facebook.

Just another opinion is a thoughtful commenter on this site.

A recent observation:

… frankly, I find men’s floor routines a little silly as is. I’d much prefer them abandon the “floor” part of the routine and just use a strip. Tumble down, turn around, tumble back, repeat as necessary. I think it’s a little silly seeing them hitchkick and side-scale and prancey-hop to get into the corners. As is, it’s just a little too dancey for what I think they should be showing off. But that’s just my opinion.

Good point.

Men’s Floor exercise — in my opinion — was ruined by the Russian men. At one point in history Russia became the dominant gymnastics nation. A decision was made in Russia to minimize the connecting elements. What we traditionally called “the corner moves”.

The beginning of the end of artistry in Men’s Floor may well have been Andrianov.

Before that Floor was a very entertaining event. Menichelli from Italy, the 1964 Olympic champion, as one example.

Or even this guy …

Click PLAY or watch Kurt Thomas at the 1979 World Championships on YouTube.

In recent years only the occasional Floor routine offers much artistry, Shewfelt being the obvious example,

Instead of making Floor a tumbling competition — as acrobatic tumblers are far better — instead why don’t we deduct stops? Continuous motion required except for designated HOLD parts.

That’s what made Kurt Thomas so interesting to watch back in the day.

Kurt is a coach in Texas, now, of course.

Kurt Thomas Gymnastics

This from Inside Gymnastics on Twitter:

With area schools closed due to swine flu, some Dallas-area gyms have closed (not WOGA). Mexico canceled their National Olympiad in Tijuana.

AKA influenza A(H1N1).

It may be that the media panic about this terrible infection has peaked.

Several USA Gymnastics disciplines are hosting regional and national events during the next few weeks, and questions have been raised regarding the staging those events. USA Gymnastics is monitoring the current state of the swine flu pandemic along with the rest of the country. At this time, we are not recommending the cancellation of any events. The decision to cancel or reschedule an event should be in accordance with directives issued by the appropriate government agencies.

We ask that everyone make prudent decisions regarding their participation in events. .Our athletes, coaches, event organizers and officials have been working hard to achieve excellence in our sport and participate in the season’s culminating events. If you are experiencing flu like symptoms, please consult your physician and refrain from attending an event. …

USAG

I’ve not heard of any clubs closing or gymnastics events cancelled.

She’s no Shawn Johnson, but there’s some potential here.

Click PLAY or watch Polina Seminova on YouTube.

2 million views

Polina Semionova, “born in Moscow in 1984, is a classical ballet dancer and Principal with the Berlin Staatsoper Ballet. She is regarded as a Prima Ballerina and is one of the youngest dancers to achieve this particular kind of recognition. …”

Thanks Ed Louie for the link.

Andreas Uriarte posted the best edit I’ve ever seen on the trials for Beijing.

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4244849&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1
Gymnastics from Andreas Uriarte on Vimeo.

It’s part of some sports marketing project that’s still under development.

lifting me tells us that this footage was from the original NBC broadcasts. Oops.

(via TeamDad on Chalk Bucket)

Inspired by Nadia posted the details.

… Three Romanian sport legends, Nadia Comăneci, Ilie Năstase and Gheorghe Hagi will promote Romanian tourism for a year, as a result of a partnership between the Ministry of Tourism, represented by Elena Udrea – tourism minister, and BRD – Groupe Société Générale. …

The bear, the lynx, and the egret

Inspired by Nadia – short interview

For a dual “friendly” meet.

Martha Karolyi leads the warming up

… At the top of the US team is the 16 year old Bridget SLOAN from the “Sharp Gymnastics Academy” in Indianapolis, the only current participating member of the 2008 silver team of Beijing 2008.

She stood out today with her highly concentrated way of training and her efficiency.

All of the girls have their personal coaches with them – a team of seven coaches is accompanying the team of eight girls. …and what famous personalities are among these:

So for example Teodora UNGUREANU-Cepoi, who was once part of the legendary Rumanian Olympic team in Montreal 1976.

UNGUREANU-Cepoi is coaching the 14 year old Sabrina VEGA who will perform on Saturday at her first foreign competition as a member of the national team.

The Olympic bronze medal winner of the Chinese team on 1984 (Los Angeles), WU, Jiani is coaching the two sisters Mackenzie and Bridgette CAQUATTO. Their trainer at home in the Naperville Gymnastics Club is also a former Chinese Star Li, Yueji and he is the husband of WU, Jiani.

…and the former Soviet team and vault world champion from the early 80´s, Artur AKOPYAN is coaching one of the most talented girls on this tour: Matti LARSON, whose family name is from her Swedish father, an immigrant. ..

read more on GYMmedia

read more on the German girls competing

(via GymNiceTic)

Coach David Sykes recommends we get advice from a reputable source, the Harvard School of Public Health:

… the Healthy Eating Pyramid, built by the faculty in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. Based on the latest science, and unaffected by businesses and organizations with a stake in its messages, the Health Eating Pyramid is a simple, trustworthy guide to choosing a healthy diet. …

The Nutrition Source – Healthy Eating Pyramid

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