tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports … and more
GYMmedia posted a list of all-time greatest competitors:
screenshotsee the entire list – GYMmedia (click Champs All)
The highest ranked current great is Dragalescu. But he has problems and did not compete at European Championships. Some suspect he will not be competing in the Olympics, either.
That would be a big loss for the Games.
Just finished watching the coverage. Hosted by Tim Brando and Amanda Borden, the weeks-delayed edit was far better than usual.
CBS did a pretty good job of condensing the “feel” of the Super 6 Team finals into a short broadcast.
If you missed it, no worries. The best bits will soon be are already uploaded to YouTube.
UPDATE: Check out YouTube ….
… Shame CBS cannot find a way to give us viewers what we want. On demand TV.
Valentin Uzunov does a ton of work putting together his Journal of Gymnastics Education and Development. I’m a booster.
A sample snippet from the newest newsletter:
How to teach a freehip circle to handstand
by sport scientist / coach Lukas Stritt
Valentin has been adding video links to some articles. For example, freehip on YouTube.
The easiest way to see the entire freehip article is to download TheGymPress May 2008 Issue from the TheGymPress.net. A PDF file.
It’s FREE though donations are welcomed.
SEGA will be the publisher of the Official Video Game of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. It will be produced for all major gaming platforms.
Screenshots from the gymnastics portion of the game:
Mexico wins gold. Who knew?
Nastia will be one of the cover athletes.
This game is expected to appeal to the Asian market. I’m hoping it also appeals to female gamers.
It’ll be out this Summer in time for the Games.
Related post: Sonic and Mario at the Olympic Games
Just to show that Shawn and Nastia aren’t getting all the advertising contracts in the Olympic year, here’s Canadian coach Sheena Steacy …
Media interest in this story, I think, has passed its peak.
But if you are still following the coverage of her new book, Jennifer posted a reaction to the “very vocal few” … “haters”.
Player Haters – Jen Sey
Event winners:
Floor – GOLOTSUTSKOV Anton (RUS) 15.700
Pommel – BERKI Krisztian (HUN) 16.025
Rings – VAN GELDER Yuri (NED) 16.500
Vault – BLANIK Leszek (POL) 16.562
Parallel Bars – PETKOVSEK Mitja (SLO) 16.025
Horizontal Bar – HAMBUECHEN Fabian GER 16.025
more scores – GymnasticsResults.com
Incredibly, half one third of the European Champions — those in bold — did not qualify for the Beijing Olympics.
Blanik was ineligible for the 2004 Olympics.
What does that say about the FIG Olympic selection process?
Thee very best gymnasts in the world must jump through too many hoops to get to our showcase competition.
Related post: top gymnasts NOT going to Beijing
Thanks for the correction rockygaz.
Related: commentary on GYMmedia – Men’s Apparatus Finals
Russia buried memories of their nightmare outing at last year’s world championships by retaining the team title at the men’s European gymnastics championships on Saturday.
Last (Fall), the Russian men drew a blank in Stuttgart and their confidence hit an all-time low less than a year ahead of the Beijing Olympics.
“Stuttgart was like a horrible dream and that made us even more motivated to do well here,” Russian coach Andrey Rodionenko told Reuters.
… When asked if Russia could go for gold in Beijing, Rodionenko responded with an enthusiastic: “Why not?”
However, he was quick to add: “China, Japan and South Korea are very strong and will be the favourites but we will fight them all the way for every medal.”
Gymnastics-Russia bury memories of Stuttgart nightmare – Reuters
Rodionenko knows that anything can happen in Olympic Finals. Teams will put up 18 routines total — all count towards final score. Any team that hits 18 / 18 has a good chance for a team medal.
original – flickr – Fispace
More commentary:
… Led by 2007 European all-around champion Maxim Devyatovsky, Russia scored 272.450 to defeat Germany (269.575) and Romania (268.950) in the team final.
2008 Junior European Championships
May 11, Lausanne, Switzerland
Floor Exercise
1. Eleftherios Kosmidis GRE 15.525
2. Christian Bazan ESP 15.100
3. Daniel Keatings GBR 15.000
Pommel Horse
1. Daniel Keatings GBR 15.650
2. Matvei Petrov RUS 15.075
3. Viktor Stepanenko UKR 14.850
Still Rings
1. Christian Bazan ESP 15.150
2. Gustavo Simoes POR 14.975
3. Matvei Petrov RUS 14.500
Vault
1. Mathieu Jordan FRA 15.837
2. David Belyavsky RUS 15.812
3. Christian Bazan ESP 15.550
Parallel Bars
1. Daniel Keatings GBR 15.300
2. Amin Garibov RUS 15.025
3. Christian Bazan ESP 14.575
High Bar
1. Amin Garibov RUS 14.625
2. Max Wittenbergvoges GER 14.375
3. Kirill Ignatenkov RUS 14.325
Keatings … is favored to win one of Britain’s two qualification spots to the Olympics in August. His clubmate Louis Smith is favored to earn the other spot.
“Daniel has shown he is not simply a specialist, he is a great all-arounder!” said his personal coach, Paul Hall. “From here everything is about the Olympic Games, Grand Prix in Moscow and Barcelona, and then the final finishing touches and lots of confidence for Beijing. And my hope for Huntingdon Olympic Gym Club is for Daniel, Louis and Marissa [King] to represent Great Britain in Beijing!”
photo – Brett Draper – Dan and Paul – British Gymnastics
Great Britain won the Team championships for the first time.
The rider negotiates man-made and natural obstacles without their feet touching the ground. It originated in Spain …
Bike trials – Wikipedia
http://www.glumbert.com/embed/trialbike
more videos – Tarty Bikes, UK
Thanks Dave Copeland.
In Orlando, Florida, Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba includes amazing BMX and bike trial stunts.
I’ve only seen La Nouba once. But am booked again to visit during Level 10 Jr. Olympics and College Bound. It’s an awesome show, one of my favourites.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 