tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports … and more
UCLA used this mat set-up for super powerful gymnast Brittani McCullough on full twisting double back. She punches from the sting mat, lands on the landing mat.
Chicago Style 2008
Not allowed in all competitive levels, of course.
Related post: extra landing mats on Floor Exercise
That’s it, That’s all.
An incredible trailer for an upcoming snowboard video two years in the making. Travis Rice, Brain Farm Productions, Red Bull and Quicksilver are responsible.
http://www2.shredordie.com/public/flash/fodplayer.swf?1202361338That’s it That’s all Trailer on ShredOrDie.com
Launched February 2, 2008 this site is huge already.
I’d call it a portal. Not a great deal of original content, but with thousands of links to athlete bios, news stories, TV listings, clubs, College teams, etc.
The videos page links to hundreds of organized clips.
Their recommended gymnastics websites list is quite good.
Thanks to Moe Schober who edits the site. I’ll be checking in often. (Though not nearly as often as if it had an RSS feed.)
We’ve added a link to 4gymnasts in our right hand navigation under Gymnastics.
A comeback at age-33 sounded improbable. But Blaine has done it.
I could see him being selected for Beijing too if he keeps improving.
Five-time national champion Blaine Wilson earned a spot on the U.S. men’s gymnastics team Tuesday, and will receive funding for three months as he trains in an attempt to make his fourth Olympics.
Yewki Tomita, David Sender and Justin Spring also were awarded three of the final 15 spots on the team, which were filled out over the weekend at the Winter Cup Challenge.
details – Associated Press
The best that comes to mind is Rebecca Bross from WOGA. At the 2008 WOGA Classic she was top score all-around (Junior or Senior) with falls on 3 apparatus.
larger original – flickr
Canada’s Peng Peng Lee can challenge Rebecca on Beam, for sure.
Both girls, and many more around the world, are too young to try out for Beijing.
Can both continue at this high level through to the 2012 Olympics?
I have my doubts. The physical demands on the body of the current code of points is staggering.
One of the top coaches at Elite Canada in December — immediately after one of his age group gymnasts won Floor — said to me: “Every coach here is a criminal.”
He feel’s it’s insane to require such high level difficulty at such a young age in order to be successful under age group rules. Any coach who participates, including himself, was being unethical.
The Canadian Men’s Jr National Coach, Markos Baikas, is worried too. He’s telling athletes and coaches not to expect to compete full FIG requirements until perhaps age-19. “Train smart. Train safe. No rush.”
At Nikon Expo in Bristol.
Lucky me.
Today I am invited to watch women’s training at Mabel Lee Hall, home gym of NCAA powerhouse Nebraska.
This team has been very popular with Canadians, men and women, over the years, including 2003 NCAA champion Richelle Simpson.
Kevin Mazeika of Houston was selected Friday as head coach of the USA Gymnastics men’s team that will compete at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Mazeika, who coaches at his family-owned Houston Gymnastics Academy, coached the 2004 silver medal team at the Athens Games and also coached U.S. teams that won silver medals at the 2001 and 2003 world championships.
“It’s a tremendous honor,” Mazeika said. “I look forward to going to Beijing with a strong team and contending for medal position.”
Mazeika was selected by the federation’s program committee meeting in Las Vegas, site of the annual Winter Cup Challenge meet.
HGA gymnast Raj Bhavsar was in second place in the all-around behind 2004 Olympic gold medalist Paul Hamm after the first day of competition in the event, which concludes today.
“We have tremendous depth in the U.S., and it’s going to be a battle to make the Olympic team,” Mazeika said. “This will push everybody to their highest potential.”
In addition to Bhavsar, a member of the two silver medal world championship teams, Mazeika also coaches former world parallel bars champion Sean Townsend and two-time world team member Sean Golden.
John Roethlisberger and John Macready were in attendance, as usual, for Chicago Style. They really are the best of the American celebrity gymnasts. Talented, knowledgeable and FUNNY.
John Roethlisberger (left) – John was a member of six World Championship Teams and a member of the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic Teams. John is one of the most accomplished male gymnasts in American history.
John Macready (right) – John was a competitive gymnast and a member of the United States Senior National Team from 1993-2000. He was a member of the 1995 and 1997 World Championship Teams as well as the 1996 Olympic Team.
Macready told me registrations for their summer camp — FlipFest in Tennessee — are stronger than ever. (The same thing I’m hearing from many of the big gymnastics camps.) Get your registration in early if you want to go.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 