Gymnastics Coaching.com

GymnastTV posted a nice feature on Gold Cup Gymnastics in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Coach founder Ed Burch hand painted murals of 4 of his gymnasts that went on to compete at the Olympics: 2008 Olympian Joey Hagerty, 1996 Olympians Mihai Bagiu, 1992 Olympic gold medalist Trent Dimas and team mate Lance Ringnald.

Chainey Umphrey, the 5th Olympian from Gold Cup, declined to have a giant mural. Modest, I assume.

see the other paintings on GymnastTV – Gold Cup Gymnastics’ Wall of Fame

The Men’s field looks stronger than the Women’s. I’m extremely happy David Sender is competing. (He missed out on the Beijing Olympics due to a fluke ankle injury.)

Men
Benoit Caranobe, France
Fabian Hambuechen, Germany
Koji Uematsu, Japan
Luis Rivera, Puerto Rico
Flavius Koczi, Romania
Yury Ryazanov, Russia
Joseph Hagerty, USA
David Sender, USA
Jose Luis Fuentes, Venezuela
TBD: two U.S. and one international

USOC – 2009 Tyson American Cup features mix of world’s top gymnasts and rising stars

StickitMedia speculates that the final two American Men will be selected based on results of the 2009 Winter Cup.

Women
Brittany Rogers, Canada
Kim Bui, Germany
Rebecca Downie, Great Britain
Koko Tsurumi, Japan
Ksenia Afanasyeva, Russia
Bridget Sloan, USA
Jordyn Wieber, USA
Jessica Lopez, Venezuela
TBD: two U.S. and two international

Gymblog is surprised no Romanian woman was named. We expected Ana Maria Tămârjan.

Russian gymnastics photos posted on kellichka mikhailovna Live Journal account.

Ksenia Afanasyeva – more photos

UPDATE: The creator Anton explains that the odd skill that looks like Def was an accident. (He originally intended it to be a Geinger, but it did not turn out that way.)

SavaToxa used 3ds Max (formerly 3D Studio MAX) software to create this routine.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

A new competition is being added to the Junior Olympic Level 10 Women’s Championships weekend. This will allow even more competitors to compete at Nationals.

From Connie Maloney, Women’s Jr. Olympic Program Director, by email:

The JO-NIT will be held for the first time. Gymnasts placing 8, 9 & 10 AA per age division at the Regional meet will qualify, plus any Regional event champion who did not qualify to JO Nationals or the NIT will qualify to the JO-NIT. It is an individual competition only (no Regional teams).

Schedule is:

Thurs. training for JO Nationals competitors

Fri. Competition for Junior and Senior A & B

Sat. Competition for Junior and Senior C & D

Sun. JO-NIT for All 8 age divisions.

Details are not yet posted on the USA Gymnastics website. This is an event still in development.

Normally the “College Bound” competition is hosted in conjunction with this event, as well, on the Thursday.

I was there in Orlando last year. Awesome.

For 2009 it’s being hosted near Seattle.

Puyallup Fair Showplex, Washington. May 15- 17, 2009

Last season Stanford was expected to win Championships at home, easily. Here’s the promo clip on YouTube.

But Stanford lost that meet in a shocking upset by Oklahoma.

The Men’s 2009 season is beginning.

Friday, Jan 16th Stanford takes on crosstown rival Cal Berkeley.

Cal won that meet last season, as I recall.

Unlike the strange and wonderful Women’s NCAA meets, where you need a 9.95 / 10.0 to win, the American College Men compete straight F.I.G.

It’s tough.

Check out Josh Dixon in a preseason mock meet on Floor on YouTube.

Amazing!

Stanford will be out for redemption in 2009.

Thanks Gym Fan.

… Olympian Blaine Wilson … married former RSG athlete Aliane Baquerot (Wedding Bells for Blaine Wilson!) during the Reno stop on the Tour of Gymnastics Superstars. Blaine expressed their desire to start a family in a phone call shortly after the surprise wedding. Today 1996 Olympic teammate Mihai Bagiu spoke with Blaine and shared the exciting news he and Aliane are expecting their first baby in August! Wilson has a six year-old daughter, Wakaya, from a previous marriage. …

GymnastTV – Stork planning a summer delivery!

Posted by Head Coach Greg Marsden:

Attendance:
12,951

Live online streaming video views by country:

1 USA 842
2 Canada 78
3 New Zealand 21
4 United Kingdom 19
5 Australia 2
6 Portugal 2
7 Singapore 2
8 Germany 1
9 Spain 1

Tape delay Television broadcasts:
Jan. 11, 11:00 a.m. MT (ABC-4)
Jan. 15, 8:00 p.m. MT (The Mtn)
Comcast On Demand

College Gymnasics Board – Utah vs. UCLA by the numbers

Some of the older girls in my gym — like most gyms — are seriously into the Twilight novels by Stephenie Meyer.

One old coach is even reading them right now – my review of book 1 and the movie

Leave a comment if you have any vampire gymnasts in your own club.

Triple Full posted an entertaining update article:

… “After the Olympics, I never stopped. I’d really like to have some fun now, but where am I to find the time?”

“What is your wish for the New Year?”

This question seemed to perplex the Olympic champion. “Could I have more than one wish?” Yuanyuan asked mischievously. “First, I’d like to know how many days of rest we get at New Year’s.” Although she won’t be able to go home for the holiday, she’d like a few extra days of rest because the last few months have been so busy.

“OK. Your second wish?”

“After the fun, I’ll be ready to train systematically!” Yuanyuan nodded vigorously.

In the coming year, Jiang Yuyuan’s biggest wish is to win the all-around competition at the National Games. “I need systematic training. How else could I become champion?” …

Triple Full – Jiang Yuyuan: “Could I Have More Than One Wish?”

She was one of my “top Olympic smiles” …

=== Originally posted on Gymnast.com:

For me, Shawn Johnson simply lights up the whole gym. She radiates.

larger version – USA Today

But I learned to love Jiang Yuyuan‘s smile too, over the course of the Olympics. Despite setbacks, she glowed.

Leave a comment below if there were other smiles at the Beijing Olympics that warmed your heart.

If you’ve spent any time at all on YouTube, you’ve likely seen the amazing parkour / tumbler / trampolinist from the U.K.

He’s one of the best anywhere.

Click PLAY or watch Damian on YouTube: showreel 07

I like the gainer double back off high bar.

Damian posted a new video just days ago – Derby City Gym Lads 08

It’s not as high level. But still interesting.

He’s a tumbling coach. See some of his athletes here.