Gymnastics Coaching.com

An original and interesting photo slide show posted by Utah Head Coach Greg Marsden.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

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

She posted this photo via her Twitter feed.

larger version on Twitpic

Available as a high resolution PDF for FREE from Gymnastics Training Tips.

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