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In response to the you’ve come a long way baby video, Laura sent in a link to some unique photos of the 1956 Olympics. (Women’s events were introduced at the 1928 games.)
Training conditions were a little different back then:
The page is called Australian Women at the 1956 Olympics – WAG. Click through. There is a ton of content. What a wonderful archive!
When rules change in any sport, there are winners and losers in the transition.
University of Minnesota coach Mike Burns knows that Guillermo Alvarez lost out under the perfect 17+ code.
Guillermo on waiting for the final team to be named at Olympic Trials:
… Saturday night as the selectors got ready to meet: “I’m hoping for the best and bracing for the worst.”
Coach praises his consistency
Burns noted that Alvarez was the only athlete on the floor who had gone through 24 high-pressure routines in the U.S. championships and then the trials without one fall.
“He’s the most consistent guy on the national team,” Burns said. …
Dependable Alvarez falls just short of Olympic gymnastics team – MinnPost.com
There was a day when consistency, artistry and being an all-around gymnast got you to the Olympics. But in 2008 having high A-scores and a few huge events is what the sport demands.
Congratulations Guillermo. Your old school fans really appreciate everything you did in trying to qualify for Beijing. Hold your head high.
Here’s some old footage of his terrific gymnastics:
They got ’em.
Who will do horse in Team Finals?
Paul Hamm, Morgan Hamm and … ???
The obvious choice is Sasha Artemev. (Who was named an alternate.)
TKO did the math on the Gymblog concluding that the Olympic selectors would be better off replacing Justin Spring with Sasha. (That would maximize the team score.)
… while Artemev could have theoretically added 1.35 to the team total, there was only a 25 percent probability of that occurring (based on his Nationals and Trials results), and a far better shot that he’d bring three tenths, or less, to the table, if he continued to struggle. The fact that Artemev was also wildly inconsistent on his other events, meant those were odds the Selection Committee didn’t want to bet on. …
I hope non-selection give Sasha the motivation to PROVE to the Olympic selectors that he can hit in Beijing. If Paul Hamm does not recover from hand surgery quickly enough to do Pommels — they may be forced to add Artemev to the team.
Assuming Sasha looks FANTASTIC at training camp.
Alexander Artemev – ESPN
Related post: Worley, Artemev – Olympics slipping away?
I heard rumours that NCAA Champion Casey Sandy, who finished 3rd AA at Canadian Championships, was not invited to try out for the Canadian Olympic Team.
That’s not quite true.
Casey was invited. But it was explained to him at Nationals that his odds of being named to the 6 man competition team were low due to selection criteria.
This is a shame for Casey as he was part of the 2007 World’s team that qualified Canada to Beijing.
He opted out. His choice.
I spoke to 2004 Olympic coach Tony Smith on his return from the last Olympic Team training camp. He’s happy that all of the top Seniors except Casey were there and functionally healthy. That includes Kyle Shewfelt.
Canada will have a strong team, even without the NCAA Champion from Penn State. Casey is certainly the favourite to repeat as All-around College Champion in 2009, his Senior year.
photo by Carrine Night
Casey Sandy photo on Pommels – Gymnastics Canada – Grace Chiu
My two favourite American gymnasts are long shots to make it to the competition floor in Beijing.
Shayla Worley – fell from bars Day 2 – (AP Photo/Rob Carr) – ESPN
Sasha Artemev – (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) – ESPN
Both are still in contention for selection though Sasha is already officially an alternate.
An injury ridden year for Shayla. Falling on Pommel Horse, his best apparatus, 3 of the past 4 meets for Sasha. …
I’m assuming neither will make the final competition team.
The “artistry quotient” for USA drops big time.
What other sport has evolved so far?
I have the greatest respect for the men’s gymnastics selection committee and am very confident they did the best job they could.
But 11hrs of deliberation means the decisions were not unanimous:
… The three alternates are Raj Bhavsar – who missed automatically qualifying on Saturday by 0.09 of a point – Alexander Artemev, and New Jersey’s David Durante.
Sean Golden, the Camden resident who competed in only three events but totaled the highest scores in two of them Saturday, missed out.
“I was disappointed, but it was what it was,” said Golden. “In a way [performing so well on Saturday] made it easier because I knew I competed as hard as a I could. I have full condfidence that the selection committee picked the best team they possibly could.”
…
“Paul’s hand is still up in the air,” said Bhavsar, who also was an alternate in 2004 and who likely would replace Hamm should America’s top male gymnast be unable to go. “My job is to stay ready.”
Perhaps the most surprising choice was Morgan Hamm. Since tearing a pectoral muscle several months ago, he hasn’t fully regained his form. On Saturday, he was subpar in everything but the high bar.
What saved Morgan Hamm, officials hinted, was his skill on the pommel horse, the Americans’ weakest event.
“I’ll probably be spending twice as much time on that now,” Morgan Hamm said. …
U.S. Men’s Gymnastics team named – Philadelphia Inquirer
Click PLAY or watch Morgan’s Day 1 Pommel Horse routine on YouTube.
Solid. But not brilliant.
Morgan is the weak link on the A Team right now.
Johnson and Liukin earned guaranteed spots on the U.S. women’s gymnastics team Sunday night after finishing 1-2 at the Olympic trials — the same places they had at the national championships two weeks ago. The remaining four members of the team and three alternates will be named after a July 20 selection camp at the Karolyi ranch in Houston.
Comeback kid Chellsie Memmel and Samantha Peszek continue to make their case for two of the remaining spots, finishing third and fourth at trials just as they did at nationals.
Additionally invited to the 2008 Olympic Selection Camp:
Chellsie Memmel
Samantha Peszek
Ivana Hong
Jana Bieger
Mattie Larson
Chelsea Davis
Corrie Lothrop
Bridget Sloan
Alicia Sacramone
Shayla Worley
photo – Gymnast.com
Commentary:
Nastia had major breaks on bars. Shawn Johnson wins the All-Around.
Shawn and Nastia will be named Olympians. Chellsie Memmel is a strong third.
Follow the live scores at GymnasticsResults.com
The members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Men’s Gymnastics Team are:
Joe Hagerty, Rio Ranchero, N.M./Team Chevron
Morgan Hamm, Waukesha, Wis./Team Chevron
Paul Hamm, Waukesha, Wis./Team Chevron
Jonathan Horton, Houston/Team Chevron
Justin Spring, Burke, Va./Team Chevron
Kevin Tan, Fremont, Calif./Team ChevronThe three replacement athletes are:
Alexander Artemev, Lakewood, Colo./Team Chevron
Raj Bhavsar, Houston/Team Chevron
David Durante, Garwood, N.J./Team Chevron
TKO argues in the comments that Artemev, even with one fall on pommel horse, can score in the top 3 in Team finals on that apparatus.
The alternates know they still have a shot at getting on the competing team. Much depends on how well Paul comes back from his hand surgery.
I would never have predicted that Justin Spring would be named to the A Team. But now Olympic fans will get to see just how dynamic and explosive he is.
Click PLAY or watch Justin Spring make a Kasamatsu plus 3/2 twist look EASY on YouTube.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 