Jordyn Wieber wins Top Gym

Photos, videos and Finals results are being linked from Triple Full.

Gymnasts, I understand, were only allowed to compete a maximum of 2 of the 4 apparatus in Finals. Jordyn won Bars and Beam.

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Jordyn Wieber (photo: Sandra Janssen)

Triple Full – More on Top Gym 2008

gymnastics – bar mounts video

Another terrific MostepanovaFan video.

As requested: A guide to uneven bars mounts using the 2009 Code of Points.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks TCO.

related MostepanovaFan posts:

  • balance beam dismounts video
  • video guide to beam mounts
  • best pommel horse bucket

    I’ve built many a crappy pommel bucket. They turn out like this one.

    pommel-bucket2.jpg
    source

    The best I’ve seen is the one at my club, Altadore Gymnastics.

    pommel-bucket.jpg
    larger version – flickr

    This is the most recent of many variations built by coach Physical Ed Vincent.

    The bucket sits in a “twisting belt“.

    It’s connected by 2 carabiners, one on either side of the belt. That cable runs up and through the last link in the roof chain.

    pommel-bucket-chain.jpg
    larger version

    Most critical of all is the heavy duty boxing swivel mounted to the roof. (Without this swivel, the chain will twist and shorten as the gymnast does circles.)

    boxing-swivel.jpg
    larger version

    Click through to flickr for more photos.

    I post these for Don Anweiler in Iceland who is looking to build one.

    Chevron stops gymnastics sponsorship?

    logo_chevron.gifIs Team Chevron dropping their Gymnastics Sponsorship after 2008?

    They’ve sponsored Raj Bhavsar, Alex Artemev, Sean Townsend, Justin Spring, Dave Durante, Kevin Tan and many, many more over the past 10 years.

    I read that in a StickItMedia interview with Team Gattaca’s Diego Garcia.

    Team Gattaca has been a corporate sponsor of Men’s Gymnastics in the USA since 2003. And they plan to continue into the future.

    I want to thank Team Chevron and Team Gattaca for everything they’ve done.

    We need more companies to step up like this in future.

    another alarmist gymnastics injury post

    Gymnastics is a rough sport. We have a lot of injuries, it’s true.

    … studies have suggested that the rate of injury in gymnastics is almost as severe as that in contact sports. For every 10,000 children doing gymnastics each year, 52 will need hospital treatment compared with 75 young rugby players. …

    But this new study from data collected by Jerry Dwek at the University of California, San Diego article is over the top, in my opinion:

    wrist.jpg

    … In the report to be presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, researchers noted that the gymnasts studied showed a “broad constellation of recent injuries” to their wrists and knuckles and evidence of early necrosis, or “death”, of bones.

    Using magnetic resonance imaging and other scans, the researchers studied the wrists and hands of 125 child gymnasts …

    Young gymnasts risking a life of pain in quest for perfection – Times Online

    Necrosis?

    I don’t believe that for a second.

    Will Dr. Dwek mention all the benefits of increased bone density due to gymnastics training along with the injury results?

    related: Gymnastics Rescue – Wrist Injuries and Gymnastics

    genetic test for gymnastics?

    Claudine emailed us a link to an interesting article from the NY Times:

    Born to Run? Little Ones Get Test for Sports Gene

    gene-test.jpg
    Kevin Moloney for The New York Times

    Genetic testing to determine if your child has “talent” for gymnastics?

    I believe that day will come.

    Genetic engineering is capable of anything. I fully expect to see dinosaurs (Jurassic Park) in my lifetime.

    But is a genetic test for sport talent available already?

    … The ACTN3 test has been available through the Australian company Genetic Technologies since 2004. The company has marketed the test in Australia, Europe and Japan, but is now entering the United States through Atlas. The testing kit was scheduled to be available starting Monday through the Web site atlasgene.com. …

    NY Times

    Interesting.

    I’m skeptical. But would like to learn more.

    The test is purported to “determine whether a person would be best at speed and power sports … or endurance sports like distance running, or a combination of the two.”

    I’ll forward the article to Dr. Jeni McNeal to get her opinion.

    child obesity

    … According to a recent study, exercise in kids plummets from 3 hours a day at age 9 to less than 1 hour a day at age 15. …

    child-obesity.jpg

    Kids Need Motivation to Exercise – Sierra Trading Post

    Last week I did a short session with female gymnasts on “nutrition“.

    We shared personal “tips” on healthy eating. Timely … with holiday gluttony impending.

    USA Gymnastics $1 million for charity

    Congratulations!

    Gymnastics clubs across the country have raised more than $1 million for Children’s Miracle Network since USA Gymnastics first partnered with Children’s Miracle Network in 2001. Gym clubs and their members raised a record $201,203 in 2008 as part of their celebrations for National Gymnastics Day through the Tyson Fitness Challenge, a joint initiative of USA Gymnastics and Tyson Foods that helps today’s kids get more physically fit through fun activities and raises money to help kids who are fighting illness at Children’s Miracle Network hospitals around the country. …

    NGD08h-n.jpg

    The three clubs and three individuals who raised the most money for Children’s Miracle Network in 2008 are listed below.

    Clubs
    1. Gymnastics World, Broadview Heights, Ohio, $32,000, taking its six-year total to $122,951
    2. Massachusetts Gymnastics Center, Boston, Mass., $30,066
    3. John Macready’s and John Roethlisberger’s Flip Fest of Lake Frances, Tenn., $14,000

    Individuals
    1. Emma Timblin, Northern Elite, Flanders, N.J., $4,425
    2. Michelle Mook, Gymnastics World, Broadview Heights, Ohio, $4,000
    3. Mary Kate Cacchione, Northern Elite, Flanders, N.J., $3,700

    Four other individuals raised more than $2,500: Lauren Wise, Sonshine Academy, Conway, Ark., $3,228; Lauren Briskey, The Flip Zone, Plainfield, Ind., $3,174; Andrew Wise, Sonshine Academy, Conway, Ark., $2,925; and Abby Vienneaue, Gymnastics World, Broadview Heights, Ohio, $2,851. …

    GYMNASTICS: USA Gymnastics exceeds $1 million total for Children’s Miracle Network

    CMN.jpg

    NCAA GymnasticsRecruiting.com

    GymnasticsRecruiting.com is a site providing information for gymnasts, parents and coaches considering making application to compete in the NCAA.

    Check it out: GymnasticsRecruiting.com

    They have products for sale, as well, priced from $10 – $99.

    Andrea Barnes, author of those materials, posted a good article on College Gym Fans:

    Top Ten Things You Should Know About College Recruiting

    #1 Athletic Preparation

    #2 Academic Preparation

    #3 Relationship with Your Club Coach

    #4 College Research

    #5 Know What Types of Scholarships are Available

    #6 Record-Keeping

    #7 The Recruiting Timeline/NCAA Rules for Recruiting

    #8 The Marketing Process

    #9 Questions Every Gymnast Should Ask

    #10 Physical Fitness and Your Health

    Top Ten Things You Should Know About College Recruiting

    You become an official prospect for college recruiting in the 9th grade. Gymnasts need to start planning EARLY.

    There are 86 women’s gymnastics teams in the country. 65 are Division I teams and 21 are Division II and III teams. Not all offer scholarships.

    Better, though likely more expensive, is the personalized service offered by Victory Recruiting.

    Sinclair.jpg

    Florida gymnast Melanie Sinclair finishes her floor routine with a chomp – Alligator

    Ukraine lost 90% of gymnastics experts

    So says Oleg Ostapenko who left Brazil to return to the Ukrainian women’s national team.

    International Gymnast confirms it.

    Ostapenko was the head coach of the Ukrainian women at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games, as well as the personal coach of Ukrainian standouts Tatiana Lysenko, Natalia Kalinina and Viktoria Karpenko.

    He also worked with Lilia Podkopayeva, the 1995 World and 1996 Olympic all-around champion.

    Ostapenko and his wife, Nadia Ostapenko, moved to Brazil in 2001. They worked at the national training center in Curitiba, and helped oversee a strong improvement in the Brazilian women’s team.

    The Ukrainian women finished 11th in Beijing, their worst team performance in history. The team finished fourth at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

    Ostapenko Back in Ukraine

    Good news for Ukraine. Bad news for Brazil. What will they do now?

    So many problems in Brazil!

    Oleg.jpg
    With Daiane dos Santos – GLOBOESPORTE.COM