Gymnastics Coaching.com

Valentin Uzunov has just posted the latest Gym Press Gymnastics Coaches magazine. As always, it is well done.

CONTENT of August 2008 Issue

Recent News

A Look at the Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation of Osgood-Schlatter Syndrome. By Valentin Uzunov

Coaching to the Learning Styles. By Beth Gardner

The Handstand: a four stage training model. By Valentin Uzunov

I particularly like his Handstand model. Here’s a screenshot:

To see your own free copy (donations appreciated) click through to TheGymPress.net

Steve McCain reporting live from Beijing:

The U.S. men’s gymnastics team put on a solid performance on the first day of competition. With the loss of both Hamm’s and an alternate who had not touched the competition equipment, team USA had every reason to lose their focus. It seemed as though everyone had written this team off. Many were wondering if this team could even qualify for finals. However, through all the drama, each team member maintained a medaling winning character. Not once did they show any sign of frustration. There is something special about this team. They get it.

One of the most exciting stories of the day was the performance of Alexander Artemev. To be named to the team two days before the competition and hit “six for six” is amazing. It brought a tear to my eye when I saw him walk out and pump his fist in the air. He finished the day nailing an unbelievable pommel horse routine. He placed 7th on that event to earn a finals spot. Sweet redemption. This is someone who probably had a hard time packing his bags for China. Way to go Sasha!

… With a 6th place finish that is only 1.025 from 3rd place, this team is a definite medal contender. Especially when you consider that they competed in the first subdivision, which is always scored the hardest.

1. China 374.675
2. Japan 369.550
3. Russia 366.225
4. Korea 365.675
5. Germany 365.675
6. United States 365.200
7. France 361.200
8. Romania 359.350

… read more on Gymnast.com

Canada finished 9th, just out of the top 8 for Team Finals.

2004 Olympic Floor Champion Kyle Shewfelt finished 11th on floor and 9th in vault. Top 8 make Apparatus Finals.

Kyle’s not posted anything on his blog as yet.

… Tony Smith, was stunned by what he believed was low scoring across the board for the Canadian team.

“I thought our performances were better than the scores we received today,” said Smith. “I felt we were evaluated harshly. That’s my personal opinion.”

Smith, like others before him, has called for change in gymnastics scoring, insisting that judges from competing countries should not be chosen for Olympic competiton.

“The judges for trampoline are all neutral country judges,” said Smith. “It’s been like this (in gymnastics) forever and it hasn’t changed. Countries have certain friends and friends help friends. I think we were a better team than where we ended up.”

The gymnastics team was hoping to become the first Canadian team in history to qualify for the Olympic final. And Shewfelt appeared to be back as a contender.

“To say I was disappointed in the way we ended up would be understatement.”

For the record, the Canadian team won’t be filing any kind of protest. “There’s nothing we can do,” said (Edouard) Iarov.

Toronto Sun

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Kyle still makes Vault Final. There is always hope that one of the top 8 will withdraw.

In the individual all-around ranking the top-favorite Yang Wei (CHN) as expected took the lead with 93.865 – in front of three Japanese gymnasts: 2nd Kohei Uchimura 92.050, 3rd Koki Sakamoto 91.950, 4th Hiroyuki Tomita 91.900. That means the all-around silver medalist from 2004, Hiroyuki Tomita won’t be able to defend his all-around medal from Athens.

From the former Head Coach of East Germany Dieter Hoffman:

Impressions about the second subdivision

The team from China started on floor and pommel horse, Russia’s first apparatus was vault. Considering that the scores on vault generally are higher, the Russian lead during the first three rotations of this subdivision was not surprising. With two great routines on rings and a great rotation on vault (three scores over 16.000!) the Chinese team caught up… and took the lead after the fourth rotation!

Russia lost ground on their “weak” apparatus pommel horse and the Japanese team managed to get ahead them on the second place

Diego Hypolito, the only Brazilian starter, only showed one vault – 16.000. On floor the World Champion showed a techically brilliant routine with only one small wobble. With 15.950 he took the lead on this apparatus and certainly will have made it into the final!

On rings China presented two top routines: A lot of cheers were heard during the presentation of Yang Wei and he stuck the landing of his double-double dismount – 16.225 – and World Champion Chen Yibing even received 16.525!

Li Xiaopeng (CHN) received the up-to-now highest score of this event: 16.775 on vault. However, he only showed one vault and therefore couldn’t qualify for the final. Also on parallel bars he received the currently highest score of this event with 16.425

Further favorites on various apparatus:

XIiao, Qin (CHN) showed a brilliant pommel horse routine – 16.000!

Kyle Shewfelt (CAN) on vault, 1st: Yurchenko 2 1/2 twists, very good, and 2nd: Kasamatsu 1/1 – 16.050

Anton Golotsutskov (RUS) – another favorite for the vault final with two great vaults today: 16.575. – He also thrilled the audience on floor: 15.600.

Nikolai Kryukov (RUS) – the experienced gymnast once again in his long career showed a very good routine on parallel bars – 16.175.

The two gymnasts from France Thomas Bouhail – 16.662 (like the up-to-then highest score by Blanik!) – and Benoit Caranobe – 16.437 – also have good chances to have made it into the vault final.

With 15.850 high-bar specialist Yann Cucherat (FRA) managed to reach the current second place between Cassina and Epke Zonderland.

Croatia’s individual starter and pommel horse specialist Filip Ude also managed to get through his routine very well – 15.475 is the current second place on this apparatus.

… read more on GymMedia

One flight yet to go.

source – NBC Olympics

I’m worried for Canada. With Germany, Romania and South Korea still competing, it’s looking like the Canucks will finish 9th, just out of the Team Final.

Brandon O’Neill did compete despite an ankle injured last week. But did not finish the routine on his best apparatus, Floor Exercise.

Kyle Shewfelt scored 15.525 on FX. Respectable, but unlikely to be enough to get him into the Floor Final. With 16.050 on Vault, he has a shot. But a long shot.

CONGRATULATIONS to all the Olympic Teams. What a competition!

UPDATE: Artemev finished 7th and DID make the Final. One of the most exciting routines of these Games. Awesome!

=== Original post:

Not sure. Big range in the B-scores:

ARTEMEV Alexander 6.10 – 9.10 8.90 9.40 9.50 9.20 8.90 15.250

From the live scoring, looks like the Americans did a good job of hitting routines on 4 apparatus. But that Pommels and Rings were weak.

As predicted.

… Sasha Artemev, the last minute replacement for Morgan Hamm, had some rough spots, but manged to stay on all the apparatus. An accomplishment in and of itself considering his recent performances at Nationals and Olympic Trials where he missed several key routines in an attempt to qualify for this team. He rebounded in a big way with a huge routine on the pommel horse, his best event. …

U.S. men finish strong in prelims – NBC Olympics

Horton 91.650 points and Artemev at 89.725 will both qualify to the All-around Final. Jon really has an outside shot at a medal. That’s a good score. Especially coming out of the first flight.

I expect the USA will qualify top 8 into Team Finals.

more details on the American performance – US Men Perform Well in Qualifying – About.com Gymnastics

Spain’s Gervasio Deferr missed on vault. He won’t reach the final. Will not defend the Olympic titles he won in Athens 2004 and Sydney 2000.

He likely will reach the Floor final with a score of 15.825.

Yup. That’s my prediction.

It’s my least confident Gold Medal prediction.

Certainly I would LOVE to see Nastia win beam. She’s unique. Artistic. And has a great family history.

It would be very good for our sport if she did win.

Click PLAY to see her Olympic Trials Day 1 routine on YouTube.

Leave a comment if you know of a better beam routine shown by Nastia in 2008. I would replace the one above.

And — of course — leave a message if I am dead wrong on who will win Gold on Beam.

Christian Ivanov on International Gymnast predicts the Men’s winners:

read more – IG

… Bit of a long shot calling Dragalescu on Vault, I think.

The U.S. Men started on Rings.

screenshot

I suspect Kevin Tan will not qualify for the Rings Final. His score of 15.75 will likely not be high enough.

Watch live scoring on NBC.

UPDATE: Vault went GREAT. Everyone hit.