Cheng Fei 3 GOLDS at DTB Cup

Making up for some problems at the Olympics, the greatest female gymnast in Chinese history has done it again.

Chinese gymnasts cruised to seven of 10 titles on Saturday in the finals of the DTB Cup in Stuttgart, Germany.

The Chinese women swept the competitition, with world and Olympic champion Cheng Fei winning three golds. As in qualifications, the 20-year-old star was untouchable on vault (Yurchenko double full and layout Podkopayeva), balance beam and floor exercise. …

The bad news … Anna Pavlova had knee ligaments injury on beam.

China’s Cheng Fei performs on his way to win the beam competition during the gymnastics World Cup “DTB Pokal” in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008.

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(AP Photo/Daniel Maurer) – ESPN

In the men’s competition, China picked up three titles from Zhang Hongtao (pommel horse), Yan Mingyong (still rings, tied with Dutchman Yuri van Gelder) and Feng Zhe (parallel bars).

German superstar Fabian Hambüchen won titles on men’s floor exercise and high bar. Olympic vault silver medailst Thomas Bouhail won gold for France. …

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Zhang Hongtao – (AP Photo/Daniel Maurer) – ESPN

Chinese Snag Seven DTB Titles – IG

The C Score has some commentary, looking towards the World Cup Final in December.

Triple Full has a routine-by-routine summary. (How many double turns on beam?) These three writers — Mihaela, Meiying, and Heidemarie — are really upping the bar for the rest of us bloggers. Their volunteer coverage is even more detailed and professional than sites with paid writers like GYMmedia.

2016 Olympics in Chicago … for sure

Not Tokyo, Madrid or Rio.

The election of the host city for 2016 will take place in October next year at an IOC Session in Copenhagen.

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Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., second from right, Olympic athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and others, applaud at a Chicago 2016 Olympic rally, June 6, 2008, at the Daley Center Plaza in Chicago. (Associated Press) – Washington Post

Japanese Olympic officials fear Barack Obama’s victory in the U.S. presidential election could hurt Tokyo’s bid for the 2016 Games.

Senior Japanese officials expressed concern that Obama’s success could give his home city of Chicago a massive boost in the Olympic bidding process.

I wonder how IOC (International Olympic Committee) members will react when Mr. Obama appears in a presentation for Chicago,” Japanese Olympic chief Tsunekazu Takeda told local media on Wednesday.

“Mr. Obama is good at speeches and very popular,” said Japanese Olympic Committee board member Tomiaki Fukuda. “It could be a problem for Japan.”

Reuters – Olympics-Japanese fear ‘Obama factor’ could hurt 2016 bid

The American Cup will be hosted in Chicago in 2009, adding a little more hype to their bid.

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Bela was just in Chicago … doing what he does best.

Gymnastics World Cup Final, Madrid

The final BIG meet of the year will be held in Spain, Dec. 13-14th.

The best eight MAG and WAG gymnasts on the world ranking list qualify for the apparatus finals, together with the wild cards (if any).

The gymnasts officially invited will be decided after the last World Cup series event of the 2007-2008 season, scheduled to be held in Stuttgart, from 14 to 16 November, 2008.

Athletes who make the cut LOVE the World Cup Final. It’s like qualifying directly into Finals!

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There’s not much on the official website yet.

The Gym World Cup DTB Pokal is on now. Triple Twist posted the best summary of the qualification round. (Cheng Fei is kicking butt!)

Utah signs Aussie gymnast Chloe Sims

In the flood of 2010 NCAA gymnastics signings, I’ve only time to post a few.

This one is interesting. A bit of a gamble, I think, for the normally savvy recruiting team at Utah.

(Chloe claimes to be a completely different person, now.)

Chloe Sims was a superstar who unexpectedly quit on the 2008 Olympic team. Struggled with an eating disorder. And turns out to be a bit of a poet.

Check out her cool bar routine. Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Utah Gymnastics Team Signs Three

He Kexin = 14.

A semi-retired gymnast named Meredith started a new blog with a memorable name:

He Kexin = 14.

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… Please don’t get offended. This is just good, clean fun. I respect the Chinese Gymnasts for all their hard work and their great gymnastics, including their perfect artistry, and extreme difficulty.

Her YouTube channel handle is nightflare514:

youtube.com/user/nightflare514

conditioning on trampoline – Sky Zone

Here’s Randy Couture, current heavyweight champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

A big tough guy like Randy trains on trampoline?

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Sky Zone has two locations: St. Louis, Missouri and Rocklin, California. (Looks like fun. But how do they get insurance for those facilities?)

Randy’s next fight back will be at UFC 91 on November 15, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada against Brock Lesnar.

flexibility: shoulders, wrists, back

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