Gymnastics Coaching.com

… 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.

The Nastia Line offered by GymSupply.com has plenty of pink Nastia gym gear.

Some products are pinker than others.

But pink grips?

Amazon – Nastia Liukin Champions II Hook & Loop Uneven Bar Grip

$43.95

Hotels by City

This is rare.

An article in the mainstream American media highlighting the excellent club in Livermore, California — the West Coast Training Center — that produces so many of the top Acrobatic gymnasts in the States.

… In acrobatic gymnastics, the gymnasts help each other perform balance and “flight skills” — or dynamics — as opposed to traditional gymnastics, which uses balance beams and other inanimate structures. The sport, which has been at a competitive level in the U.S. for more than 30 years, didn’t come under the USA Gymnastics umbrella until 2002, according to Marie Annonson, head coach and owner of West Coast Training Center.

Acro combines dance, gymnastics and acrobatic and tumbling skills. Performers have three different routines: “balance,” where the partners will hold positions for three seconds; “dynamic,” which involves flipping and throwing the person who is the “top;” and “combined,” which is performed only at the “elite” level and combines dynamic and balance routines. …

Awesome acros — Livermore center trains rare breed of extra-agile athletes

West Coast Training Center website

Acro is a fantastic sport. What a shame it has not caught on bigger in North America. In fact, worldwide the discipline is shrinking, not growing.

That’s disappointing for Cirque du Soleil who hires Acrobatic gymnasts for almost every show.

I uploaded some photos from an old age group National Team training camp.

Edouard was the coach of Valeri Liukin. He moved from the former Soviet Union to France. And on to Canada to become Men’s National Coach.

flickr – more photos

I’d linked to these back in October. But now they are much more accessible, on flickr.

related post – training pommel horse – Iarov

Gymblog has a short, sweet summary of what happened on Friday night.

Georgia wins. “Courtney Kupets was back to her old tricks, winning the all-around with a 39.45.”

Kelly Lambert – flickr

Coach Suzanne Yoculan calls Courtney the best Georgia gymnast ever.

Florida goes 196.500, the highest team score of the season, so far.

Utah beats UCLA, despite falls. On the other hand, UCLA counted 16 of its 24 routines performed by freshmen. That includes a couple of Canucks:

Beam: 1, Gerber, UCLA 9.900. 2, Kim, Utah 9.875. 3, Hopfner-Hibbs, UCLA 9.850

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