Gymnastics Coaching.com

If you, like me, miss the good old days of 2008 when Andrew Thornton was blogging for the still defunct Gymnast.com, good news.

Andy is back as a regular writer for the American-Gymnast.com blog.

He is posting about 3 times a week in a series called Andy’s Angle.

Andy is an original thinker, always insightful.

For example, here’s a sample post he calls China’s Newest Star

If you haven’t met the world’s newest all-around threat on the women’s side, allow me to introduce you! Huang Quishuang won the silver at the recent Chinese Nationals in May behind He Ning (Jiang Yuyuan had a disastrous UB routine and BB dismount). Although He Ning outscored Huang by .35, I think Huang is actually the better gymnast, and one to keep our eyes on in the upcoming World Championships, not to mention the next four years.

First, let’s take a look at the events we would expect her to be strong on, given she’s Chinese:

Huang UB 2009 Chinese Nationals

read more …

… hmm.

She needs more in the way of release skills. Unless the Chinese plan under the new code to max out swing difficulty, instead.

I don’t often link to Logan Christopher’s Lost Art of Hand Balancing Blog.

But this video he linked to is impressive.

This is from circus acrobat Yury Tikhonovich.

More correctly, I’d call it 1-arm kip … and 1-arm cast to 1-arm handstand.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks George.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks Don Eckert of Saltocafe.

Congratulations.

… For almost three decades now, boys and girls from Knoxville and the surrounding counties have been flipping and tumbling under Savage’s guidance.

Thursday, the first name in Knoxville gymnastics will be inducted into the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame. …

Savage has been premier stop for gymnastics

Posted by Utah coach Greg Marsden (UtahGymnastics) on Twitter.

How was this cool image made?

As decided by Meredith of He Kexin = 14.

Click through to see the rest.

He Kexin = 14 – 10 most photogenic-Meredith style

Check out some of the cool clothing specially made for the Canadian Gymnastics Teams.

See much more on the Inspire Sports website.

Inspire Sport was founded by coaches Liang Cheng and David Sykes. They also import gymnastics equipment from China to North America.

In the most recent edition of the Code of Points, on page 181:

Stroescu Silvia (ROU) Salto fwd stretched with 2 1/2 twist (900°)

Yet I saw a post by the always informative mandusky on Chalk Bucket stating that Stroescu never competed that skill. That it was Sabina Cojoca from Romania, instead.

Starting at about 3min:40 it’s shown in “4 different competitions including the Worlds”.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Or was it someone else who first competed this skill?

Sierra Sapunar in 1997? … In smaller meets.

And who was the first man to compete the skill?

Leave a comment if you know.

I won’t embed this crash from an amateur looking bunch of acrobats.

You must click through if you want to see an ugly, but comic, fall.

It’s posted on a Sports Gone Comedy site.