USA Gymnastics Winter Cup begins

Anne Phillips is at the USA Gymnastics Men’s Winter Cup in Las Vegas.

She’s already uploading photos and videos to the event home page on Gymnastike.

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What’s the Winter Cup?

Jonathan Horton explains it to you in this video.
http://www.gymnastike.org/assets/portal/add_ons/mediaplayer-4.2/player.swf

Gymnastics Videos on Gymnastike

circus acrobat dies in fall

Sad news.

A San Diego acrobatic performer and instructor died Tuesday night after he fell headfirst from a metal chain during a show for about 700 people at a PGA golf-tournament dinner in Scottsdale, Ariz., …

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San Diego acrobat dies in fall

Jose Angel Vera was also a gymnastics coach.

A fund has been set up to help the family with funeral costs.

Thanks Tracey.

Romanian Gymnastics Team

New Head Coach Nicusor Pascu was interviewed by Prosport a month after taking over the job.

He calls his training program “radical”.

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In the post-Drăgulescu era, here’s the current Men’s Team:

Daniel Popescu (CS Dinamo Bucuresti)
Razvan Selariu (CS Dinamo Bucuresti)
Flavius Koczi (CS Dinamo Bucuresti)
Marius Berbecar (CSM Bistrita)
Robert Stanescu (CS Dinamo Bucuresti)
Alin Jivan (CSS3 Steaua Bucuresti)
Adrian Bucur (CSM Sf. Gheorghe)
Cosmin Popescu (CS Dinamo Bucuresti)
Cosmin Malita (CSS Resita)
Cosmin Iancu (CSS3 Steaua Bucuresti)
Cristian Bataga (CSM Bistrita)
Andrei Munteanu (LPS/CSM Bistrita)
Andrei Ursache (CS Dinamo Bucuresti)
Ovidiu Buidoso (CSS Resita)
Vlad Cotuna (CSS1 Timisoara)

read the interview on Fangymnastics – “I want to form a real team”

In a related story, former Romanian champion Steliana Nistor suffers from medical problems, including — perhaps — necrosis of the hand.

CHICAGO STYLE – Guinness World Record

Off tonight to our first meet of the Canadian season. (A nice late start this year.)

Meet hosts need refer to Kathy Ostberg’s article called Organizing the Perfect Women’s Gymnastics Meet

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It was posted 1998 in USAG Technique magazine.

Perhaps not yet the best, but certainly the BIGGEST competition in the world is CHICAGO STYLE, Feb. 6-8th 2009!

  • 3 days over 4000 gymnasts!
  • U of IL, UIC, Mich State and Boise State Friday night!
  • Sat. night Super L 10 session!
  • trying for the Guinness Worlds Record for most competitors this year
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    official website

    Good luck to coach Todd Gardiner and his team in putting together that event!

    gymnast Tasha Smith a MOM

    When I posted Tasha’s Floor routines the other day, I did not realize she was currently on MATERNITY.

    Tasha-Smith.jpegOregon State senior gymnast Tasha Smith returned to the team this week.

    Smith, who has been away from the team during her pregnancy, gave birth to her daughter in December. Smith has recently been cleared by both her doctor and the team’s doctor to resume training.

    “I’m very excited to return to the gym with my teammates,” Smith said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity and look forward to supporting the team in any way I can.”

    “We are excited to have Tasha back in the gym training,” head coach Tanya Chaplin said.

    OSU Beavers

    German gymnasts at WOGA

    Super blogger Anne Phillips posted photos and a video interview of the German team training in Texas.

    The Women’s German National Team is holding a training camp at WOGA right now as they prepare for the upcoming European Championships.

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    Included in the camp:

    Seniors: Anja Brinker (2008 Olympian), Susann Herbst (2008 Olympic alternate), Jenny Brunner, and Elisabeth Seitz

    Juniors: Maike Roll, Desiree Baumert, Giulia Hindermann, Pia Tolle, and Nadine Jarosch.

    best female athlete from each State

    3 gymnasts named:

  • Shannon Miller – Missouri
  • Kerri Strug – Arizona
  • Mary Lou Retton
    – West Virginia
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    (via International Gymnast forum)

    gymnast Andrea Gaddi banned

    The Italian Olympic committee on Wednesday called for a doping ban.

    Gymnast Andrea Gaddi could be banned for two years after traces of cocaine were found in his system following a competition in Ferrara, Italy, in November 2008.

    Herald Tribune

    Gaddi was 2nd on Horizontal Bat at Italian Nationals 2008.

    Doping infractions are so rare in Artistic gymnastics that even stupidity-violations, like this one, are news.

    second look – Gymnastics Canada site

    On my first look at the new site, I had a few complaints.

    Many of those have already been answered.

    NOTE: A link to Grace Chiu’s photos has been added to the home page. Nice!

    Also a link to competition results – Gym Score Depot.

    The Classified ads are now easy to find. Including the blurb on the coaching job at Altadore in Calgary.

    It’s still being improved, by the looks of things.

    Congratulations Gymnastics Canada.

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    Gymnastics Canada – English