Gymnastics Coaching.com

NPR has posted the first of a 5-part series.

Once again the gym featured is Li Xiaoshuang Gymnastics School in Xiantao, Hubei.

Around 100 youngsters, between four and nine years old, train at Li Xiaoshuang. Most of them board at the school to take advantage of its nine gymnastic coaches.

Gymnastics — in any country — is a tough and painful sport. And Beijing’s sports machine has generally had a bad press. Yet some argue that Chinese athletes are in some ways more fortunate than their Western counterparts, particularly as they are paid a government salary. …

How much money has your gym been given by the government over the past 10 years?

Even though it is remote, the Li Xiaoshuang gymnastics school is a beneficiary of state largesse. It has received $14 million in funding over the past decade. …

Click through to read this excellent article:

Boarding Schools Generate China’s Sport Stars by Louisa Lim. Be sure to watch the photo gallery audio slide show.

Ohio State head coach to serve as assistant in his fourth-consecutive Summer Games

… The Philadelphia native will join U.S. head coach Kevin Mazeika of Houston on the competition floor this August in China.

“It’s an honor and a great responsibility that I am prepared for,” Avery, the personal coach of three-time Olympians Paul and Morgan Hamm, said. “Part of my job in this role is to act as the mediator for the personal coaches of the athletes who are not on the floor during the competition. I will be there for both the personal coaches and the athletes so this team can live up to its full potential.”

Avery, who first served as an assistant at the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta, has coached four Olympians, including former Buckeyes Kip Simons (1991-94) and Blaine Wilson (1994-97), as well as the Hamm twins. In addition, the decorated coach has had two gymnasts be named Olympic alternates in Jamie Natalie (2000 Sydney) and Raj Bhavsar (2004 Athens). …

Ohio State Buckeyes

Kevin Tan of Penn State was named captain of the U.S. men’s gymnastics team.

Cheng Fei, the five-time world champion and team captain, will lead a team consisting of all-around standouts Yang Yilin, Jiang Yuyuan and Deng Linlin, uneven bars specialist He Kexin and balance beam specialist Li Shanshan.

… read more – International Gymnast

Fans in China are expecting big things. Gymnastics is a hot ticket.

The police were called in to control a crowd of more than 50 000 people who queued for the fourth and last batch of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games tickets today (Friday). … chaos, disorder and disappointment. …

Gettin’ The Last Batch Of Beijing 2008 Tickets Is Not A Walk In The Park, Police Maintains Order – Beijing Olympics Fan

That’s my prediction.

I’d been reluctant to make this call — though she won the last 3 World Championships on vault — because I thought some specialist might emerge over the past year to challenge her start scores. That has not happened, so far as I know.

Cheng Fei has the highest start scores. She’s a veteran, proven in high pressure situations. The Olympic Gold Medal on vault is her’s to lose.

Click PLAY or watch a fluff piece on her produced by Li Ning sport clothing on YouTube.

There’s an obvious error in the voice over commentary.

(via difficulty plus execution)

Here’s one of the best set-ups I’ve ever seen. In Australia.

larger photo – flickr

Nice dense mats. But still flexible enough to bend around the rails.

The Olympics is one opportunity every 4yrs where even mortal enemies cooperate. That’s good for the world.

Happily, it looks like no nation will boycott Beijing.

All the countries in a colour boycotted at least one Olympics of ’76, ’80 and ’84.

Wikipedia

Still, in the U.S. election, grandstanding candidates talked about boycotting the opening ceremony, instead:

Hillary Clinton today called for George Bush to protest China’s human rights record by boycotting the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

Barack Obama, said last week that he is conflicted over whether the US should participate fully in the August Olympics given China’s dismal human rights record.

Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the House of Representatives, recently called for a Bush boycott of the opening ceremonies after meeting with exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama in India.

For once I agree with George W:

… Bush remains committed to treating the Olympics purely as a sporting event rather than an opportunity for political gestures. The White House reiterated today that Bush would travel to China as planned.

Quotes taken from the Guardian in April, 2008.

Iraq, however, has been banned from the 2008 Olympic Games, their 7 qualified athletes now ineligible.

Related: Boycotting and Banning: The Real Olympic Sports – Mental Floss

Gymnast.com just posted video of the official announcement.

See the video on Gymnast.com

Particularly poignant is an interview with injured Shayla Worley.

Dwight Normile opines on Stress Factors … and Fractures on International Gymnast.

Normally I completely agree with Dwight on everything. This time, not so much.

Were there more injuries this time than other Olympic cycles? I’m not so sure. There have always been many injuries. This is a brutal sport.

The new Code of Points has definitely not reduced the injury rate. But I’d like to see some statistics before I believe it’s increased the rate.

And do the Karolyi camps help or hurt? I’d argue they help, forcing coaches and athletes to be “consistent”, the #1 thing they must demonstrate when there. Those camps are reality checks.

Close to Wellington, a wonderful city on the sea.

Senior Coach MAG / WAG required …

Hutt Valley GymSports, located in Lower Hutt, New Zealand is seeking to employ a full-time senior coach able to coach both Men’s and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics.

Our club is one of the most successful in our region of New Zealand and has around 400 members with about 70 of these in the competitive artistic gymnastics squad.

… please email a resume and covering letter to admin AT huttvalleygymsports.co.nz.

HuttValleyGymSports.co.nz

Gymnasts are famously anaerobic athletes.

So why would a group of ex-gymnasts decide to train for a 6-12hr Adventure Race?

Because gymnastics coaches are gluttons for punishment! Here we are training in conjunction with the 2008 Funtastics High Performance Training Camp.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

We have a race Saturday, July 26th near San Francisco, California: Ocean Blue A.R.

(via the FART — Funtastics Adventure Racing Team — website)

by site editor Rick McCharles

Just got back from 2 days hiking to find 46 comments on my post Paul Hamm arrogant?

Seems I’ve touched a nerve.

People are still polarized about his controversial 2004 Olympic win. Though most, including me, agree that he is the Champion.

Perhaps I can help stop the bleeding.

Yes, I think Paul is a “little” arrogant. Not many athletes preparing for their 3rd Olympics would say anything like this:

“They should be worried. I guess also Yang Wei should be a little worried, too. He’s probably counting on me being out.”

Paul Hamm, U.S. gymnast, offering words of warning to the all-around world champion and the rest of his competition at the Beijing Olympics. – Overheard: Paul Hamm – Buckeye xtra

Yes, I think it’s refreshing that Paul is not trotting out the usual sport cliches when asked about his rivals.

Do I think he can win? Certainly!

But he’s not the favourite. And “dissing” your opponent in a subjective sport is not the best way to optimize your chances of winning. What do the international judges think of this kind of statement?

I hope all the top guys hit 6 for 6 in All-around Finals. And may the best man win. If that’s Paul, I will be happy to congratulate him.

Related post: “Paul will defend the AA in Beijing. He’s awesome tough.” – Paul Hamm is BACK – by Rick McCharles

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