Viola Roadkill

Troféu Brasil - results

2009-06-24T14:10:00.000-07:00

WAG

Khiuani Dias 54.933
Janaina Silva 53.967
Priscila Cobello 52.601
Harumi de Freitas 52.567
Ethiene Franco 52.4
Anna Cardoso 52.367
Alline da Silva Goncalves 50.933
Letícia Lima 50.9
Nicole Beltrame 50.434
Nadhine Ourives 49.433

Ana Silva did not compete.

MAG

Mosiah Rodrigues 84.7
Sérgio Yoshio 84.466
Victor Cardoso Rosa 83.866
Sérgio Andrey Eras 82.367
Caio Américo Costa 82.234
Petrix Stevan Barbosa 81.967
Vitor Ogêa Camargo 81.333
Francisco Carlos Carlos 81.1
Arthur Nabarrete Zanetti 79.833
Henrique Medina Flores 79.5

Hypolito competed on PB (13.267) and HB (3.2) where he injured his left shoulder, forcing him to withdraw.

Dutch news - Wyomi Masela and Lichelle Wong

2009-06-24T13:58:00.000-07:00

Wyomi Masela will probably miss the World Championships because of an elbow injury. She has not decided yet whether she will have surgery or take a break. She was unable to compete at last week's Dutch Nationals.

Lichelle Wong, current national champion, will leave for the USA this summer to UCLA on a full scholarship lasting 4 years. She plans to study maths and applied science. However, she still intends to compete for the Netherlands at Worlds.

Romanian Internationals - Event Finals

2009-06-08T15:47:00.000-07:00

WAG

VAULT
Diana Chelaru 14.2
Amelia Racea 13.875
Yessenia Estrada/Dorina Boczogo 13.825

BARS
Gabriela Dragoi 14.4
Ana Porgras 13.5
Elisabetta Preziosa/Dorina Boczogo 13.35

BEAM
Gabriela Dragoi/Ana Porgras 15.4
Elisabetta Preziosa 14.9

FLOOR
Raluca Haidu 14.8
Amelia Racea 14.3
Elisabetta Preziosa 13.55

MAG

FLOOR
Flazius Koczi 15.15
Daniel Corral 14.65
Andrei Ursache 14.500

VAULT
Flavius Koczi 16.225
Cristian Băţagă 15.55
Mohamed Serour (EGY) 15.425

POMMEL HORSE
Flavius Koczi Romania 15.5
Saoo-Myun Kim (KOR) 14.75
Daniel Corral (MEX) 14.25

RINGS
Adrian Bucur 15.3
Cristian Băţagă 14.9
Saoo-Myun Kim 14.7

HIGH BAR
Ovidiu Buidoşo 14.900
Saoo-Myun Kim 14.650
Adrian Bucur 14.250

PARALLEL BARS
Marius Berbecar 15.800
Daniel Corral 14.650
Saoo-Myun Kim 14.100

Mihaitza48 and m1a2r3i4n5e have routines up.

Amelia Racea wins Romanian International

2009-06-07T12:51:00.000-07:00

Amelia Racea 58.15
Elisabetta Preziosa (ITA) 55.3
Diana Chelaru 55.25
Dorina Boczogo (HUN) 52.65
Goksu Ustas (TURK) 52.5
Yessenia Estrada (MEX) 50.05
Lotte BO (Norway) 47.85

A week ago Amelia Racea won the Citta di Lugano trophy in Milan. Today, she won the title of international champion of Romania. She spoke to Prosport about her goals for this year, the most important being the AA title at the European Youth Festival (FOTE), to be held in Tampere, from the 18th to the 25th of July.

Amelia, how was the competition today?

"It was very difficult. A competition is easier than training, where you have to repeat the same exercise dozens of times. I was nervous at the start, but I got over it; mostly about bars and beam, I think."

Was the competition similar to the Lugano?

"It was a bit more difficult to concentrate in Switzerland, because there were many girls and the competition was higher, but it was good because I was in both competitions, and I did as well as I wanted to."

What goals do you have for this year?

"To go to FOTE, win the all around, and each event final if possible."

Do you feel the pressure of everyone expecting results from you?

"It is hard - I think everyone has expectations. I'm not pushed too much."

What do you want to improve on?

"I want to get a more difficult vault, and improve on the bars."

What are your goals tomorrow?

"To win each event final, and perform my best."

You've competed in a lot of competitions since the start of the year. Are you tired?

"No. It's more important that I gain experience, and more confidence."

Flavius Koczi wins Romanian International; another Romanian sidelined with injury

2009-06-05T16:25:00.000-07:00

Flavius Koczi 91.35
Adrian Bucur (ROM) 88.2
Paolo Principi ITA) 85.25
Simon Nulzi (SUI) 82.1
Aldo Torres (MEX) 80.95
Vasilii Scuratcov (Moldova) 79.6
Kevin Rossi (SUI) 79.0
Oscar Cañas (El Salvador) 78.55
Yunus Emre Uyar (TURK) 77.6

Alin Jivan (ROM) was unable to compete due to an injury sustained while training. Jivan woke up the next morning to find he could not move. The doctors have said it is something to do with the vertebrae (couldn't understand what) and he must wear a special collar for 10 days.

Romanian International

2009-06-04T21:12:00.000-07:00

WAG participants: Amelia Racea, Raluca Haidu, Ana Porgras (her first competition since her knee surgery at the start of the year), Diana Chelaru and Gabriela Dragioi.
MAG: Flavius Koczi, Răzvan Şelariu, Alin Jivan, Marius Berbecar, Cosmin Popescu, Ovidiu Buidoşo, Andrei Ursache, and Adrian Bucur Cristian Băţagă.

No information on other competitors, but gymnasts from 11 countries will be competing. On the women's side, Dragoi and Ana Porgras will compete only two events, while the other three will do AA.

Daniel Popescu, silver medalist on vault at the 2007 Worlds, will miss the competition after an injury earlier this week. "I was trying a new element on the high bar and I felt a lot of pain in my back. I'm currently taking pills and injections, and I hope that by the end of the week I can resume training. I am sorry not to be at the International, it would be a good competition, but my health is more important at this time."

Sandra Izbasa is still recovering from her foot surgery. Inspired by Nadia has a recent interview here.

After discussion and arguments, CBG tests reconciliation with Jade Barbosa

2009-06-04T14:05:00.001-07:00

The debate and exchange of accusations inolving Jade Barbosa and the Brazilian Confederation of Gymnastics (CBG) have been left behind. The supervisor of the national team, Georgette Vidor, who worked with the gymnast when she was in Flamengo, observed her training last month and was pleased with what she saw.

"I was following the press and I thought there was a lot of misunderstanding (?) between Jade and the CBG. They did not see that Jade was taking care of her weight, and had a great desire to return. Ricardo Pereira told me that she was training more seriously. I spoke with her to see how things were, and I think that the wrist is better. Jade showed her determination. It was the beginning. She hasn't succeeded yet, but there is a space in the selection. This is important for us. We never considered that she would never return, that she was finished," Georgette said in the interview.

Georgette's visit and the possibility of returning to the Brazilian team has motivated the gymnast. Jade, who considered herself abandoned by the CBG after the discovery of the wrist injury, hopes to compete normally by the end of the year.

"Jade is much more motivated now because Georgette knows that she is doing more things, and she will make an evaluation on whether she can help the selection in some way," Ricardo Pereira said.

Georgette Vidor took over the role of supervisor of selection last year, after the possession of president Luciene Maria Resende. The leader, who was already a coach at Fleming, wanted to promote reconciliation between Jade and the team. Therefore, she makes one demand: for Jade to return, the old arguments must be forgotten.

"We trust in her power and ability. But I do not want a gymnast who comes with controversies, unless it is absolutely critical. Nothing must threaten the team. I was not involved with what happened, I was not here (in this position with the team). I do not want to discuss the past, I think in the future. For me, Jade is a very important piece for the team. If she performs as before, she will be our top gymnast, without doubt."

Dialogue with the athletes is not the only innovation in CBG. If it is up to Georgette, one of the reasons for protests of Jade and other gymnasts will disappear entirely. The leader is against the need for the team to stay constantly in Curitibia, believing it affects the formation of new talents and skilled coaches in the country.

Irina Ilyashenko prefers that they stay in Curitibia all the time. I understand that she does not trust the Brazilian coaches. But they need to learn to work at a high level. Besides, Jade being an excellent gymnast, if she does not want to stay in Curitibia, will I oblige? There are things we need to consider. This is the difference - we have to have the dialogue," Georgette said, emphasizing that despite their differences with Irina Ilyashenko, the Ukranian is not thinking of leaving the post.

The manager wants to see the first results of the of the new policies in 2010, when she hopes they will qualify for the Olympic Games in London. Until then, she promises to work for good relationships between the clubs and the CBG. Relieved after months of disagreements with the organization, Jade is a supporter. "This is the new CBG. I don't know how it will turn out, but I hope that changes happen. Staying in the same place is bad," says the gymnast.

Another novelty for the gymnasts was the arrival of the choreographer André Marcelo Alves de Figueiredo. He is Brazilian, but lives in the USA, and has arrived to help create new floor routines for the team. After working with the gymnasts Khiuani Dias, Ana Claudia Silva, Bruna Leal and Ethiene Franco in Curitiba, he departed for Rio de Janeiro, where he will work with Daniele Hypolito and the reserve Letícia Costa until Friday.

Video of Jade training & short interview (in Portuguese)

Kim Bui wins German Nationals

2009-06-03T15:09:00.000-07:00

Bui fell on her Shaposhnikova again but still managed to win by 1.3. Neither Chusovitina nor Marie-Sophie Hindermann were competing, but the head coach, Ulla Koch, expects them to be back in shape by Worlds.

Kim Bui 55.65
Elisabeth Seitz 54.35
Anja Brinker 54.1
Maike Roll 52.0
Katja El-Halabi 49.65
Dorothee Henzler 49.3
Myriam Boeschen 49.1
Julia Hänel 48.25

MAG AA
Fabian Hambüchen - 90.9
Marcel Nguyen - 86.8
Philipp Boy - 86.3
Eugen Spiridonov - 84.0
Thomas Taranu - 83.75
Andreas Toba - 82.85
Helge Liebrich - 81.8
Philip Sorrer - 80.75
Sebastian Krimmer - 80.25
Waldemar Eichorn - 80.2
Vladimir Klimenko - 79.3
Jonas Rohleder - 78.9

Jade will compete one-armed at Brazilian Nationals and hopes to be training normally by December

2009-06-03T14:47:00.000-07:00

After shining in the Pan-American Games, and being one of the great medal hopes for Brazil in the Beijing Olympic Games, Jade Barbosa has much more modest goals for 2009. One of them is to compete in the Brazil National Championships, from the 21st to the 23rd of August.

Her coach in Flamengo, Ricardo Pereira, is impressed with the ability of the athlete, who trains virtually all her moves with only one hand because of the seriousness of the injury to her right wrist. "It is difficult, but she is so talented, has so many possibilities, that she can still train with one arm. It depends on motivation and talent. I think we will get there (to the national championships), and surprise many people," said the coach.

The main goal is to compete on beam and floor, but Jade can also compete in UB, for which she was recently released by the doctor. Cautiously, she avoids making predictions, but believes she can return to normal training by December.

"I will compete with one hand only. Currently I am doing the exercises so that I can build a series (routine?) Gradually, we will see if I improve. If I improve, I will be back to both arms at the end of the year."

Despite her resourcefulness, she confesses that it is very hard to relearn to perform movements with one hand.

It is very difficult to do everything with one arm only; you have fewer options. Before I could do three things, now I can only do one...It is complicated," says the gymnast, who does not feel more pain in the injured wrist. Jade says that today, an exercise performed correctly during training is more valuable than many of the achievements that were obtained while in Curitiba with the team.

"I am motivated only by those whom I am involved with, my family, my coach. This means a lot to my life in the gym. In Curitibia, I sometimes was not even valuing what I was achieving. Now, when I perform an exercise correctly, I am very happy."

Some results of the Dityatin Cup

2009-06-03T14:43:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Tatiana Nabieva, who won gold in the team competition, AA, VT, UB and FX!!

Svetlana Klyukina, in her first competition since the Russian Nationals, placed second with her team. She also took second place in the AA, and 3rd on beam.

Nicolae Forminte - hit by cancer

2009-06-03T14:25:00.000-07:00

Nicolae Forminte, head coach of the national gymnastics team, revealed a terrible diagnosis.

Sacrifice! A word which for some seems banal. Not for 52-year old Nicolae Forminte. For him, the great performance has been an obsession, a dream to be performed. And even if the price of success is his own health.

Initially second under Belu and Bitang, Forminte took over the female national team. Last year, in Beijing, Forminte climbed to the podium with Izbasa, and the third place in the team competition. But, beyond the performances, beyond the medals and the pressure, there was a terrible secret.

"I leave it in God's hands"

The coach was diagnosed with a serious illness: cancer of the skin. "It is not easy to know that you have such a dreadful disease. I learned that God leaves us on this earth until one day. I leave it in His hands. I will have the operation. But do not ask me to tell you, because I do not know (?). I have decided," said Forminte.

He remains in Deva

Although affected by the disease, Forminte will stay in Deva. "I, for one, remain in Deva because I do not want a good thing to die. You have to do things for sport. Otherwise, goodbye performance," he said.

The chest area is affected

Skin cancer occurs most often because of the microbes in the environment. The most serious form is also known as melanoma. Melanocitele or pigment-producing cells become abnormal, grow out of control and aggressively invade surrounding tissues. This disease appears on the sun-exposed areas: face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms or legs. Nicolae Forminte is affected on the chest area, where there has been a red swelling of several centimetres.

Fangymnastics blog has a translation of an interview with Forminte.

Results from Zelena Jama Open

2009-06-03T14:18:00.000-07:00

TEAM
GD Zelena Jama 1 (SLO) 100.1
Linz (AUT) 99.35
Czech Republic 97.6
Romania (jnrs) 94.45
Hungary 94.15

Tunisia placed last with total score of 0...?

AA
Teja Belak (SLO)/Nikola Fuckova (CZE) 50.15
Fiona Novak (SLO) 49.95
Katharina Zoitl (AUT) 19.9
Marie Bergmayr (AUT) 49.45
Tjas^a Kysselef (SLO) 48.9
Lilla Lukacsi (HUN) 48.15
Petra Hedbavna (CZE) 47.15
Alexandra Marcu (ROM) 46.7
Naljec Janova (CZE) 46.6

Vanessa Ferrari wins Italian Nationals

2009-06-02T16:36:00.000-07:00

Vanessa Ferrari 57.9 UB FX
Erika Fasana (jnr) 56.2 FX UB
Andrea Foti (jnr) 55.1
Paola Galante 54.9 UB (rather laboured, no piked-stalder tkatchev)

Ferrari had barely worked on floor since the European Championships, but decided to risk it at the last minute. She praised Erika Fasana, "she is very nice. If she can follow in my footsteps? I don't know, she's very different from me; her style is more American."

This is the fourth national title for Ferrari. She won in 2005, 2006 and 2007, but was overcome by Lia Parolari last year.

Enrico Casella was satisfied with the performances. He only had one disappointment - the fall on beam from Paola Galante, where she threw away the third place, preventing a sweep of the medals for Brixia.

He said Erika Fasana has great potential, "Vanessa came 5th in her first national championship, in 2003. Erika won the championship of Category Allieve (not sure what this is) and then finished behind the giant Ferrari, only by two points."

More routines here and here.

Moscow World Cup results

2009-05-30T17:52:00.000-07:00

And yet again, Russian women dominate the competition!!!

girshinagan and igorgymn1 have videos up.

Juniors Viktoria Komova and Aliya Mustafina performed exhibition routines on BB and UB respectively. Komova did her arabian (but not in combination).
Chusovitina was there as a coach (for UZB).

WAG

VAULT
Yekaterina Kurbatova 14.587
Yulia Berger 14.412
Anna Kalashnyk 13.925
Mayra Kroonen 13.712
Tiyana Tkalsech (CRO) 13.487
Ethiene Franco 13.425
Alina Sotnikova 13.362
Irina Deniskina (UZB) 12.812

BARS
Kristina Goryunova/Yekaterina Kurbatova 14.325
Lucia Tachelli 14.05
Sanne Wevers 13.6
Ethiene Franco 13.575
Marta Pihan-Kulesza 12.95
Valentina Holenkova 12.75
Fieke Willems 10.95?!

BEAM
Sanne Wevers 14.175
Adela Sajn 14.05
Ethiene Franco 13.95
Kristina Goryunova 13.375
Yekaterina Kurbatova 12.9
Katarzyna Jurkowska (POL) 12.85
Marta Pihan-Kulesza 12.725
Mayra Kroonen 12.075

FLOOR
Anna Myzdrikova 14.125
Adela Sajn 14.075
Ethiene Franco 13.75
Tina Erceg 13.45
Luiza Galiulina 13.325
Mayra Kroonen 13.0
Valentina Holenkova 12.95
Yulia Berger 12.9

-------------------
MAG

FLOOR
Diego Hypolito 15.65
Anton Golotsutskov 15.55
Alexander Shatilov 15.25
Felip Ude (CRO) 15.15
Jeffrey Wammes (NED) 14.8
Tomislav Markovic (CRO) 14.775
Roiland Hauptli (SUI) 14.275
Kristian Thomas (GBR) 14.175

POMMEL HORSE
Kristian Berki (HUN) 15.9
Prashanth Sellathurai (AUS) 15.875
Andrei Perevoznikov (RUS) 15.525
Robert Seligman (CRO) 15.4
Saso Bertoncezj (SLO) 15.25
Vahang Stepanyan (ARM) 14.95
Felip Ude 14.575
Louis Smith (GBR) 14.45

RINGS
Yuri van Gelder 15.6
Konstantin Pluzhnikov 15.525
Alexander Balandin (RUS)15.175
Raj Bhavsar/Timur Kurbanbayeva (KAZ) 15.0
Ali Alasi (JOR) 14.6
Prashanth Sellathurai 14.325
Sergio Eras (BRA) 13.65

VAULT
Anton Golotsutskov 15.887
Jeffrey Wammes 15.875
Evgeni Sapronenko (LAT) 15.8
Theo Seager (GBR) 15.762
Marek Lyszczarz (POL) 15.7
Yernar Yerimbetov (KAZ) 15.5
Jad Mazahreh (JOR) 15.325
Diego Hypolito 15.262

PARALLEL BARS
Mitja Petsovsek (SLO) 15.625
Raj Bhavsar 15.05
Epke Zonderland (NED) 15.0
Alexander Tsarevich (BLR) 14.9
Yernar Yerimbetov (KAZ) 14.725
Manuel Carballo (ESP) 14.55
Roman Kulesza (POL) 14.5
Hung Phm Phuok (VIET) 13.825

HIGH BAR
Epke Zonderland 15.55
Aljaz Pegan (SLO) 15.425
Alexander Tasrevich 15.175
Mykola Kuksenkov (UKR) 15.025
Rafael Martinez (ESP) 14.775
Anatoli Vasilyev (RUS) 14.15
Jeffrey Wammes 13.475
Alen Dimic (SLO) 11.325

Chinese Nationals - AA and TF

2009-05-15T15:20:00.000-07:00

All Around:
1. He Ning
2. Huang Qiushang
3. Xiao Sha

Jiang Yuyuan fell on her beam dismount, after making several other major errors:(

He Kexin was competing after all - here is her VT from quals. That can't be good for a broken hand!

Team:
1. Shanghai (225.75): Sui Lu, Zhang Yujiao, Tan Sixin, Zhang Xin, Xiao Kangjun, Fu Binbin
2.Zhejiang (222.700): He Ning, Jiang Yuyuan, Huang Hdan, Tang Jiayi, Liao Yaping, Zhong Yinwen
3.Guangdong (221.700): Li Shanshan, Huang Qiushuang, Wu Liufang, Chen Shihua, Chen Chuyan, Wang Wanqian

Chinese Nationals - qualifications

2009-05-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

Jiang Yuyuan qualified first AA.
UB, BB, FX
Her UB D score is 6.9. She connects a 1.5 pirouette into her DLO dismount.

Deng Linlin fell twice off BB and didn't make the EF.

Here are some photos of Yang Yilin; I assume she's competing.

Cheng Fei's FX: pike full-in, triple twist slightly underrotated, switch-leap full, leg up double turn & stumbles out of it, 1.5 twist to front layout full, switch ring leap - split leap, triple spin (perfect), 2.5 twist (step). She doesn't seem to be much over her usual weight.

Hypolito was hacked!

2009-05-11T23:00:00.000-07:00

Diego Hypolito's Orkut profile was invaded by hackers last week. Criminals changed the photo of the gymnast to a semi-blonde, and sent messages to his friends on a site with ads for pornography.

This week, Hypolito leaves for the World Cup in Glasgow, where he will debut the "Hypolito 2". Earlier on in the season, at the Maribor World Cup, Hypolito won gold on the floor.

Lipa - "I don't know whether Dragulescu will return to the top"

2009-05-11T13:25:00.000-07:00

CS Dynamo president, Elisabeth Lipa, said on Monday that she doesn't know whether Dragulescu will be able to return to the highest level in gymnastics, but stated that she went through such times and succeeded in the end in winning an Olympic medal.

"It's hard to tell if Marian will be back up there where he used to be. We can't say that now. No one believed in me when I returned to rowing, but I managed to win an Olympic medal. Now everything depends on him. Marian is at an age where it is still possible to perform at a high level, but we'll have to see what happens. I know he has health problems, and it remains to be seen how he will deal with them," said Elisabeth Lipa.

Lipa said that Dragulescu made the decision to return to gymnastics when after he was asked to decide if he wanted to act as the club coach or return to gymnastics competing. "We talked to him, because our club listed him under the sport, and he was already an active coach. I asked him to think well and decide what to do next. After two days he came and said that he would resume training and continue competing. If he manages to make the performance standard, it will be excellent, and if not, there will be no problem.," she added.

Uzbekistan National Championships

2009-05-10T19:45:00.000-07:00

WAG:
Luiza Galiulina 54.85 - UB from Olympics qualifying
Diana Karimdzhanova (jnr) 52.65
Asal Saparbayeva 50.7

MAG:
Eduard Shaulov
Ravshan Asymov
Daulet Normetov

Masters - WAG:
Anastasia Kaduk
Polina Lysakova
Iroda Sabirova

Masters - MAG:
Salokhiddin Mirzayev
Anatoli Sapfirov
Dzhamshid Khikmatullayev

He Kexin has begun training again

2009-05-10T16:16:00.000-07:00

Video here.

The footage of her doing the Li Ya combination is from before her injury.

Participants for Moscow World Cup

2009-05-09T17:42:00.000-07:00

Russia will be represented by Berger(VT, FX), Goryunova (UB, BB), Myzdrikova (BB, FX) and Kurbatova (VT, UB); Anton Golotsutskov, Konstantin Pluzhnikov, Andrei Perevoznikov, Anatoly Vasilyev, Emin Garibov and Alexander Balandin.

Other major names include Brazil's Diego Hypolito, Ethiene Franco and Bruna Leal, Marta Pihan-Kulesz (1st FX at Cottbus and two bronzes at Maribor), and Adela Sajn. Ukraine is sending Anna Kalyshnyk, who placed third of VT at Europeans, and Valentina Holenkova.

Full list of competitors here - click on "Deelnemers".

Dragulescu - "I'm an ambitious guy!"

2009-05-08T19:04:00.000-07:00

Marian, what made you decide to return to competing?

"It won't be hard to come back [?]. I miss the competition, the atmosphere of the team, but I admit, there are also personal reasons behind my decision. In addition, I am an ambitious guy!"

[something about his health, he says he is ok]

It's not too short a time for Worlds?

"There are four months, and I'm not starting training again from scratch, so I think there's enough time. I also competed twice in Germany, so I have routines prepared."

What do you hope to achieve at Worlds?

"What everyone wants - a medal. I'll be attempting to medal in three events, and I hope to reach the podium on at least one."

Tuesday was the first official workout. How did you feel?

"We started a little easier. We discussed with the technical staff and put a plan on paper. I will gradually return to training without pushing too hard, so as to reach peak form by Worlds."

"You've decided to do three apparatuses: floor, vault and high bar. Why these ones?

"We talked to coaches and I realised that I had the results already. I know what I need to do. What I can say now is that it will be difficult, but safe."

[last question and paragraph are muddly]

-------------------------------

Coach Pascu gives his opinion:

"I was glad of his return, he was accepted unanimously by the entire team.

"He has no weight problems, he remained healthy during his months of rest, and also competed in the last two weeks of the Bundesliga.

"Our first objective is for his to back on the team I formed, and then to work on his FX and VT, especially his second VT, to give him more confidence. We also must prepare a routine on HB.

"We will work on these three events, and he will compete on them.

"His floor will have a difficulty of 6.6, even though he has dropped two elements.

"He will have sufficient time to train for Worlds.

"His decision to continue is entirely his. I have kept in touch with him and I think it is a wise decision. Marian still has a lot more he can accomplish in gymnastics."

Doctor who gave Raducan pseudophrine is back!!!!

2009-05-08T18:39:00.000-07:00

For over 23 years has Dr Oana dealth with the health of the Romanian national team. His history began with Nadia, continued with Silivas, Dobre, Milosovici, Gogean, then a delay, and now returns to the current Izbasa.

Doctor Ioachim Oana has been linked with Romanian gymnastics since the beginning of Deva. "Bela Karolyi told me that he needed my help. I did not ask to stay there permanently, only to come sometimes," recalls Dr. Oana.

Everything happened in 1976 when he officially became a doctor. Since a break of eight years, he has now returned. [...]

The hardest test: Sydney 2000:

In Sydney 2000, Dr. Oana administered to Andreea Raducan a pill for cold (Nurofen) which contained Pseudophrine, then a banned substance. Andreea was stripped of his medal, and Dr. Oana was suspended from work for six months, and from two editions of the Journal. "There are things difficult to explain, that remain in you. I got over that time with the team, with Andreea. In fact, everybody understands me well, [...]."

"It is very important to us that he returns to help us. He is one of the passionate sports people, who love this area [branch of medicine]," said Nicolae Forminte.

Moscow World Cup

2009-05-08T18:22:00.000-07:00

29-30th May. The tournament prize fund is 50 thousand Swiss francs. (I thought they used Euros now?)

"This competition in Moscow has a long history. At one time it was called "Stars of the World", and then it was a stage of the Grand Prix. Now it is part of the World Cup. According to the current tournament rules, 10 members from the national team may compete, up to two on each apparatus."

They haven't said who will compete for Russia. I'm hoping for Semenova, Afanasyeva, Berger, Kurbatova, Goryunova and Lozhecko...if she's even still competing *crosses fingers*

Timetable:
29th May: Qualification
10.00 - 14.00. Men - FX, PH, SR
11.00 - 14.00. Women - VT, UB
15.00. Opening ceremony.
15.30 - 19.30. Men - VT, PB, HB
16.30 - 19.30. Women - BB, FX

30th May: Finals
11.00 - 15.00. Men and women
15.30. Closure of the competition.

Glasgow Grand Prix

2009-05-08T18:05:00.000-07:00

The Glasgow Prix will be held 15-16th May.

WAG Participants:
GBR: Beth Tweddle, Hannah Whelan, Becky Downie
ROM: Gabriela Dragoi, Diana Chelaru (who is replacing Sandra Izbasa)
SUI: Ariella Kaeslin
RUS: Yulia Berger, Yekaterina Kurbatova, Anna Myzdrikova
NED: Sanne Wevers, Suzanne Harmes
BRA: Ana Claudia Silva (replacing Daniele Hypolito), Natasha Sanchez
FIN: Annika Urvikko

MAG
GBR: Louis Smith, Daniel Keatings, Kristina Thomas, Luke Folwell, Daniel Purvis, Theo Seager
RUS: Anton Golotsutskov, Andrey Perevozhnikov, Konstantin Pluzhnikov, Sergey Khorokhordin
BRA: Diego Hypolito, Moziah Rodriguez, Moziah Rodriguez
CRO: Tomislav Markovic, Robert Seligman
FIN: Tomi Tooha
HUN: Krisztian Berky
ISR: Alexander Shatilov
LAT: Evgeni Sapronenko
NED: Jeffrey Wammes, Yuri van Gelder, Epke Zonderland
POL: Adam Kierzkovski, Roman Kulesza
PRK: Ri Se Gwang
ROM: Alin Jivan, Cosmin Popescu, Ovidiu Buidoşo, Robert Stanescu
SLO: Saso Bertoncelj, Mitja Petkovsek, Aljaz Pegan,Samuel Piasecky
TUN: Wajdi Bouallegue
UKR: Oleksander Vorobyov
VEN: Regulo Carmona

(The lists may not be complete)

Daniele Hypolito to have liposuction

2009-05-08T15:56:00.000-07:00

Gymnast Daniele Hypolito had liposuction last week to lose the pounds keeping her from the ideal competition weight. According to Daily Lance, she is having trouble losing four kilos that kept her from participating in the World Cup in Slovenia.

Even with eight hours of training a day, Daniele would not be able to reach the ideal weight. According to her mother, she is also unhappy with her body, and took advantage of her slack timetable - her competition is not until June - to undergo surgery and get back into training in time to join the Brazilian team. The gymnast, who had the operation in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, will rest for 15 days before training again.

Daiane surprises doctors and has surgery on her knee

2009-05-08T15:12:00.000-07:00

Daiane dos Santos went in on Thursday for surgery on her right knee. She had a piece of titanium removed that had been implanted in an operation last year in October. Nobody expected her to be ready so soon.

The initial estimate of orthopedic Wagner Castropil was that the plate would not be removed until the end of the year. The object was used to correct the knee joint of the athlete. The doctor described Daiane's recovery as surprising.

"I didn't think we could do the surgery now. The forecast was more optimistic than could be anticipated. But Daiane has been very disciplined and motivated, which accelerated the process. I admire her even more now," he said in an interview.

"It is natural that for an athlete to be discouraged after a surgery. But she has remained in training, didn't put on weight, and never missed a single session of physiotherapy. She is very dedicated."

Daiane was also happy with the withdrawal of the plate which prevented her from training on all apparatus. "It's the first surgery which has gone so well. After recovering, I will need to strengthen my muscles."

Daiane has been training daily at the Pinheiros Sports Club in Sao Paolo, but only on UB. Now, she is thinking about returning to competition, which she only expected to be able to do next year.

"The goal is to be ready for Worlds this year. But most important is to be ready for the qualifying tournament for Pre-Olympic, which happens next year," she concluded.

Laetita Dugain retiring

2009-05-07T16:27:00.000-07:00

At 16 years old, Laetita Dugain, 23rd at the Beijing Olympics, has decided to end her career, 30 hours of training per week, because of recurring injuries. Last January, she had an operation on the cartilage of her left elbow, after a previous operation to her right elbow, and two to her left knee. It was for her passion for gymnastics, she told L'Equipe this Wednesday. "My cartilage went everywhere. It hurt me to leave, but I had to turn the page." The ex-gymnast will now focus on her studies.

More on the Chinese girls (thanks to chaoticstar26)

2009-05-03T19:00:00.000-07:00

Cheng Fei performed on VT, BB and FX at the latest provincial test match; she did well on VT but made mistakes on BB and FX (apparently she is injured!) She couldn't do full difficulty. Zhang Wen (team manager) said, "the most important thing for Cheng Fei is anti-injury prevention; as long as she suffers no major injuries, with her ability and level of performance she should be able to compete in 2012."

He Kexin did not participate. She will not compete in the National Games either. Her coach does not want to risk her health.

Yang Yilin also did not perform; she is still in rehabilitation because of her back injury. It's not certain whether she will compete in the National Games.

The Zhejiang team won the match, lead by He Ning and Jiang Yuyuan.

He Kexin injured

2009-05-03T14:11:00.000-07:00

:(:(

She broke her left hand training a Rufolva on beam. The national team doctor says she will take about a month to recover.

and a small update on Anna...

2009-04-28T18:41:00.000-07:00

she had another operation on April 1st which was successful, but doesn't know yet whether she'll recover fully.

Klyukina will compete in May

2009-04-28T18:20:00.000-07:00

She will compete in the Dityatin Cup in St Petersburg on May 22-25th. I don't know whether she will be doing all events or not. Svetlana was injured at the Russian Championships (I don't think she performed at all) - she had surgery in October of last year.

Another interview with Ksenia - thanks to Alan who does her website

2009-04-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

Ksenia, you have added this prestigious title to the ones you already have - World UB champion, and European UB and BB champion last year. After those successes, many hoped you could win gold in Beijing...

"Then I have disappointed our gymnastics fans, not having been able to pass Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson of America, and China's Yang Yilin."

Unless you weren't disappointed with fourth place?

"No. I performed all my routines in Beijing without falls or serious mistakes. It was my difficulty that was not up to scratch with the main competitors."

Was it possible to upgrade before Beijing?

"For that moment - it was not possible."

Your trainer Marina Nazarov was very much disturbed that in the six months leading up to Beijing you grew six centimetres. Was that the reason?

[I think she says she has had problems since 15yrs old]

To you they assign the phrase - The greater I work, the cleaner will be my lines and it will come easier [?] - you have said this?

"Yes, to the trainers of the national team also, and on seeing the magnificent performance at the Olympic Games of the new champion Nastia Liukin. [....]

You are familiar with her?

"Certainly, our Russian American. I sincerely supported her in Beijing, and wanted her to win. We have been familiar with her for over two years."

[something about Nastia]

"And for me, bars, it is the same! For some reason, I loved the bar exercises since childhood. I have always loved to turn and fly on my hands."

You have been called the "gymnastics child". Perhaps because you grew up in a gym?

"Yes - my mother was a former athlete, and then a coach. I would crawl around on the floor mats from when I was two. I began to take gymnastics seriously at the age of five."

Tell us, Ksenia, when were you last as school?

"In the fifth class, on September 1st. After performing well in the All-Russia Youth tournament, I lived and trained in the Moscow suburbs at our centre, Round Lake. I finished eleventh grade in absentia, so to speak. Teachers come to us, we do lessons, we hand in homework. Actually it can be quite difficult, and sometimes you don't even have time to read a book, or look at the TV. But I have lived many years like this; I'm used to it. By the way, we do get out to the cinema sometimes, with the younger girls. And to take a walk."

When is it possible?

"Ususally when our parents come on a visit. And sometimes we will meet with friends to go to a shopping centre. Because we are normal people, not strange in any way. On the contrary, we know we have a business to which we must give all our energy. For example, I know that I should still be studying. But when you have three intense trainings in one day, you have concentrate on that."

The silver medal in Milan was won by your friend and namesake, Ksenia Afanasyeva. Friendship with your contender in big-time sports is a rarity. And you room together with Afanasyeva at Round Lake.

"And we train together under Marina Nazarov. We have grown up together, training and competing together. I know that without Ksenia, in training and in the national team, it would be very hard."

When you first made a stir at the European Championships last year, in that same competition, Oksana Chusovitina from Germany became the champion on vault. And you were not even born at all when her team won the 1992 Olympic Games. Would you desire the same longevity?

"It is possible only to dream of it! At least, now, when gymnastics is interesting and a novelty. I would like to hope that ahead is a long career, with health and strength...I have five years to think about it! But perhaps I would get bored?...

Sorry about the terrible translation!! Hope you can get something out of it!

The two Ksenias - separate phenomen on the national team

2009-04-28T17:20:00.000-07:00

Marina Nazarov:

Two Ksenias - Semenova and Afanasyeva - the separate phenomenon in our national team. They are together nearly all the time - they met each other at the Tula school and are great friends. Their characters are completely different, but they supplement each other. Afanasyeva - quieter, judicious. Semenova - bright and witty. She will joke caustically, but always mildly.

If someone on the team is having a problem, or did not perform well in a competition, Ksenia Semenova will always help. Any problem solved in a minute!

One of Semenova's hobbies is computers. She will take offence if you consider it frivolous.

"For some reason, everyone thinks that all I do on computers in my free time is play games. But I'm not a child, and I don't go for any childish nonsense. Most of the time I spend looking at records of performances of competitors.

"I try not to miss any competition. And I like to communicate on the Internet. Often with friends, or discussing topics in chatrooms or forums," she told "Soviet Sports".

Interview with Forminte

2009-04-28T16:10:00.001-07:00

from Romanian Gymnastics Blog

For a long time now, Nicolae Forminte has been doing in Deva what he calls ”lab work”. He says he didn’t count the medals won by his gymnasts, but quickly adds that “there were people who started to count them” and there seem to be tens of them. He believes that the general public doesn’t know the real problems that Romanian gymnastics is facing and reminds us of the huge efforts done by those involved in the sport for exceptional results.

We live under the terror of comparisons

“I am here 24 hours of 24 and I go home, to Constanta, once in a month and a half, in week-ends. But, in addition to the 6-7 hours of daily training at the gym with the girls, there is always something to be done. Even if I just stay and look at the Fortress’ Hill, I cannot stop thinking about a training plan, which girls have health issues, with whom I should replace them in case something goes wrong.” He’s doing this job of great responsability for a similar salary of any other sports teacher and believes that one of the reasons gymnastics is going through a period of crisis is that coaches aren’t motivated in Romania. “Everybody is used to expect results from the gymnasts and, to most people, this sport is like “the hen with the golden eggs”, but almost nobody knows the deep changes and obstacles that the National team’s staff is facing day by day. We live under the terror of comparisons and we have to put up with any problem that comes along; in what concerns the money I survived by using my own saving.”

The selection is sublime, but entirely missing

According to Forminte, the interest for gymnastics is much smaller, because the children of today have a variety of alternatives. “The generations that we coached starting with 2005 are the generations of children who were born free, after the Revolution, and there have been some drastical changes in the mentality of people. Perhaps the biological material has changed, too. We don’t have the same pool of athletes anymore, but again, the coaches are poorly paid, there is basically no selection in schools anymore, and without permanently descovering new athletes, there is no future,” continued the head coach of the women’s gymnastics national team. To be able to collect the necessary funds, he often used his own relations that sponsored the team out of admiration, but this is not the solution, he adds, and he is convinced that the Romanian state should have fiscal policies to support those who choose to invest into a sport.

What does the Romanian school of gymnastics need?

"We need a national strategy to develop physical education, an inventory of both human and financial resources. It is vital that the specialists are motivated, otherwise the risk is that we may one day have gym clubs with all the necessary equipment, but empty - because no one is willing to voluntarily make such sacrifices."

What is the secret of a successful coach?

"Work. Health. And a bit of chance. As a coach, all you can do is to bring the gymnast as close as possible to the medals, but once in competition, everything can change in a blink of an eye. An athlete can perform a zillion of perfect routines at the training gym and it can simply happen that she makes one mistake. In competition."

How is Romania perceived at competitions?

“Look at them! Still around, they wouldn’t die!” In the past, Romania was received with sympathy by the Western world because we counterbalanced the U.S.S.R power, now everybody is looking in admiration to the newcomers: Australia, Japan, Swiss, France. Add to this the loss of our position at the International Federation, and you can get robbed right away, without any shame whatsoever."

Dislikes:

“Stupidity and superficiality, everything done in a bombastic way, the “laissez-faire” way of working (let do, we’ll see later about this…). I hate to beg and that’s why I’ve always been like at war, fighting everybody. I’d rather live poor.”

Likes:

“I don’t regret anything that I have done, or the things that I haven’t. This has been my life so far. I love my job, I would have given up long ago if I didn't, like so many teachers before me, or I would have left the country.”

USA-GER meet - live ticker coverage

2009-04-28T14:43:00.000-07:00

I'm not really sure what that is, but go to www.turnteam.de and you can watch the competition on a "real time basis".

Chusovitina retiring!!!! nooooo!!

2009-04-28T14:23:00.000-07:00

Five time Olympian Oksana Chusovitina is considering calling it quits later this year, according to German newsagency Sport-Informations-Dienst. The 33-year-old told the agency, "I absolutely want to take part in October in London once again in the world championships, but then it is enough." Chusovitina is still unable to train fully following surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon and another operation on her shoulder. The annoucement of her impending retirement is a surprising change of heart from Chusovitina, who had until very recently angrily brushed aside any claims that her competitive days were numbered.

He Kexin AAer

2009-04-27T16:55:00.000-07:00

from IG forum:

Reporter: On the bars, she's still the Bars princess that we are familiar with but she participated in the AA this time. For someone who was a specialist, not only is this challenging skill-wise but also a strength challenge

Kexin: Today, it can be counted as my first time doing the AA. I was a little nervous. I have done AA before but now, my difficulty is much greater, and it has been a long time since I last did the AA.

Reporter: He Kexin's performance has gotten the attention of head coach Lu. He believes she has all-around potential.

Lu: for our national team right now, we really need this kind of AA competitor. We need an AA competitor where they have one event where they specialize in and is able to stand out. We need them for London Olympics and Kexin has taken the first step in this area.

[He has a new combination of layout-Jaeger - Pak salto on UB]

Yana Demyanchuk interview on her success at Europeans

2009-04-27T15:42:00.001-07:00

At the recent European Championships, the Ukrainian team brought home four medals: gold, silver and two bronzes. 15 year old Yana Demyanchuk became the European Champion on balance beam.

How was it possible to win in Milan?

"I think the judges estimated both complexity and quality. Though my routine was initially more difficult. But before the final, my trainers decided to simplify a combination slightly, so that I could execute it better. And it worked, and I was glad! But to be frank, I did not believe that I had won."

Prior to the European Championships, did you have a goal to take a medal?

"I wanted to perform my routines well. If they were good enough, I would get a medal."

After your fourth place in qualifications, did you think about the possibility of medalling in the all around?

"For me the first day was the most important, because the rest of the championship depended on it. I tried to be calm, because after all, it was my first European championship! When I passed the qualification I was more confident. I lost points only in the floor exercise, and I wasn't upset with that - I had achieved the main task - to pass qualifications."

Who were your main competitors?

"Definitely Ksenia Semenova from Russia. Then the Romanians. They are very strong on beam."

You will now prepare for the World Championships in London?

"Certainly. It is certainly the highest level. There will be the Chinese women, the Americans...But I am not afraid. I believe in myself now."

And the World Cup stages?

"I will participate in them. The Moscow WC is coming up, so of course I will go. I have already started to prepare my routines."

What's your usual training regime?

"Twice a day, about six hours altogether."

What do you do apart from study and training?

"I draw, I listen to music. I like the group "Encore", and also foreign music, like Britney Spears."

Yana, you are a native of Ivano-Frankovsk. For how long have you been in Kiev?

"Yes, I was born in Ivano-Frankovsk, and I started gymnastics there when I was nine. I moved to Kiev when I was eleven. Now I study here, in a sports boarding school. When we returned from the championships, little girls met us with posters, and even composed little verses.

How did your parents react to your success?

"They congratulated me, certainly...my mother cried with happiness. I don't think anybody expected such success."

US team named for US-GER meet

2009-04-26T16:09:00.000-07:00

Bridget Sloan
Bridgette Caquatto
Corrie Lothrop
Kytra Hunter
Mackenzie Caquatto
Mattie Larson!!!! :D
Olivia Courtney
Sabrina Vega

German Team:
Anja Brinker
Desiree Baumert (Jnr)
Elisabeth Seitz
Katja Roll (Jnr)
Kim Bui

Sandra Izbasa has had surgery

2009-04-26T15:55:00.000-07:00

She had surgery on her foot and cannot train properly for two or three weeks. Full translation here.

Translation of update on Chinese team (thanks to longdongdoy)

2009-04-26T14:59:00.000-07:00

Anchorwoman: Welcome back to the worlds sports news. Having your name being elected onto the Golden Hall of Champions is certainly one of the greatest honor in ones life; and it happens to the Chinese gymnastic team every year. This morning, there were a total of seven new additions of honored Chinese athletes to the Golden Hall of Champions.

Anchorman: That's right. The Beijing Olympics Women Gymnastic Team Champions, He Kexin, Yang Yilin, Jiang Yuyuan, Li Shanshan and Deng Linlin [Cheng Fei?], and gold medalists Zhang Hung Hao and Feng Zhe at last year's World Cup Finals, are the latest additions of honored athletes.

Anchorwoman: As we saw the end of this cycle of the honorable Olympic ceremony, the now well-known Olympic champions stepped off the stage and got right back into their next level of training; while they started off refreshed and energized, some are going through the agony of injuries.

Anchorman: He Kexin, who earned 2 gold medals at the Olympics, was arranged to be the spokesperson for the honored group at the ceremony, but due to time restriction, her part of the ceremony was canceled.

(video shows He Kexin interviewed by Zhang Jie)

Kexin: This was my printed speech.

Zhang: Let me look at it.

Kexin: I didnt get the chance to present it.

Zhang: How many times did you go through it?

Kexin: Many times. I was supposed to give this speech, but I didn't get to do it. I got so nervous for nothing. *laughs*

Narrator: Back from the Olympics, there were changes in the lives of these champions; for example, the juniors of the provincial teams look up to them as idols, writing letters and sending gifts to their seniors. These colorful hair clips were from the juniors.

Kexin: When we go out, folks on the streets would call out our names.

Zhang: Were you excited when they do that?

Kexin: Yes.

Yilin: When I get online, I'm so grateful that the fans are so caring towards us.

Zhang: Do you have a lot of fans?

Yilin: Yes, I have a lot.

Zhang: How do they praise you?

Yilin: Er that I'm pretty with fine temperament. *embarrassed smile*

Narrator: And Deng Linlin feels that she's now more valued by the national team coaches, and they love to have jokes with her.

Linlin: I'm a shorty, and from time to time they ask, Have you grown some yet? I said yes, and they go, How much? And I said, 1 centimeter.

(scene switches to the main training hall)

Narrator: On the day of the ceremony, the champions arrived very early; when they first joined the national team, they had dreamed of this moment.

Yuyuan: At first, I was thinking when would I get there, because I thought it was quite impossible for me. But now it's happening.

Kexin: My standards were low when I first came in; I felt it keenly when I saw how my big sisters trained (the senior gymnasts). I only dared to wish to get to the top 3 position and that it would make me very happy.

Narrator: The Olympic Team Championship made their dream come true; from now on, their pictures on the wall will be a motivation for the junior national team members.

(national team head coach, Lu Shan Zhen, being interviewed)

Coach Lu: At this cycle, our women team performed outstandingly. The honored athletes are the most this time around. From that side on (pointing at pictures) Zhang Nan, Pang Panpan, Li Ya, He Ning, Zhou Zuo Ru, He Kexin, Yang Yilin, Jiang Yuyuan, Li Shanshan, Deng Linlin; this is the most at this cycle. An important point is that, we had made breakthrough in our training concepts; great changes in training methods, in competitive mentality; it leads us to these fine results, and got so many of our athletes up on the Wall of Champions.

Narrator: The ceremony had set the motion for the 2012 Olympics. New rules will be implemented at the London Olympics; also, with the upcoming talented group of juniors, the champions will have to adapt to face these challenges.
Among the new generation of champions, He Kexin's skills stands out distinctively; apart from her advantageous UB technique, Kexin is focusing currently on training all around.

Kexin: I feel that at this stage as I work towards reaching my peak, I will strive hard to achieve the highest level that I could possibly get to.

Narrator: Since the Olympics, Yilin's teammates are envious as shes grown taller.

Zhang: You have grown taller since the Olympics, havent you?

Yilin: I have. They keep saying that I'm much taller now. But I worry that I couldn't flip if I get too long. *laughs*

Narrator: Due to an operation for her injury at the lower back, Yilin did not train normally the entire winter training; and that was the crucial training to develop difficulty value.

Zhang: Were you worried as everyone else was working on new techniques and having their difficulty value increased?

Yilin: I was. Kexin is getting much stronger on her Uneven Bars. And with the new rules being implemented, I don't know what new routine I will be working on.

Zhang: You feel that you can't see clearly towards where your next level leads to?!

Yilin: That's correct.

Narrator: Currently, Yilin's back on track, gradually; the upcoming national competition is her immediate target.

Narrator: There are many new junior teammates at the national training center now; the next Olympics in 2012, at London, has again placed all junior and senior athletes on the starting line.

Update on Chinese Olympic team (in Chinese)

2009-04-24T18:36:00.000-07:00

The girls minus Cheng Fei

and an interview with Cheng Fei.

Beth Tweddle opens new Scarborough Gymnastics Academy

2009-04-22T20:32:00.000-07:00

Froma Scarborough Evening News:

"Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle helped put Scarborough's aspiring gymnasts through their paces and offered some expert advice.
The 24-year-old world champion was in Scarborough over the weekend to officially open Scarborough Gymnastics Academy in Barry's Lane.

Beth said the Academy held "the potential stars of the future" and that the new facilities were something to proud of.

She said: "Seeing clubs around the country like this is one of my dreams. It is really nice to see so much enthusiasm for the sport, not just from the children but the coaches too. These facilities give the kids a safe environment to work in. They have a lot of talent here."

She added: "I have had an excellent time in Scarborough. Everybody has been very friendly and I have been made to feel very welcome. I have been impressed with the amount of talent there is here considering they had just been training in a school gym before now. They are all very enthusiastic and willing to learn which is the main thing."

Scarborough Gymnastics Academy moved from Scalby School to the new facilities in Barry's Lane in September. It is estimated the project cost more than £100,000 and has been funded from a range of sources, including grants.

Gymnast Beate Richings, 12, said: "It's been exciting having Beth here. I have watched her in the Olympics on the TV. She is really nice and has been helping us a lot."

Beth trained Maddie Jepson, nine, while she was on the bars. Maddie said: "It has been really exciting. She has been able to tell us what we can improve on. She told me to pike more when I was on the bars and to imagine there was something above me that I was trying to reach. It did really help and I will think about what she has told me when I am doing it in the future."

Head coach Nikii Walker said: "The new facilities here are excellent and much-needed. We have been wanting to develop something like this for the last six years. Beth is a fantastic role model for the kids. We have all been really overwhelmed meeting her, and the kids have really tried their best while she has been here."

The club treated Beth to a special gymnastic display and she was shown a short film about how the club had evolved, and the move from Scalby School to the new facilities. Beth accepted the club's invitation to open the new facilities after seeing a presentation on DVD made by the children.

Miss Tweddle was the 2006 World Champion and European Champion on the uneven bars. She was the first gymnast from Britain ever to win a medal at the World and European Champion-ships, and is considered to be the most successful British gymnast of all time."

Diego Hypolito - "My new objective is to fight for medals in vault"

2009-04-22T17:33:00.000-07:00

Despite placing 7th on vault in Maribor, Hypolito is not discouraged. Upon returning to Rio de Janeiro, he said he would train harder to get results in vault as he did on floor.

Diego observed that the quality of the competitors will be a difficult obstacle since the apparatus is not his specialty. "The Dutch Jeffrey Wammes, who won in Cottbus, finished sixth here. So the competition level is very high. To obtain better results, I'm keeping an eye to the training of the European and Japanese gymnasts."

The gymnast used the opportunity to praise the performance of Ana Claudia Silva and Ethiene Franco. In the uneven bar final, they placed fifth and third respectively.

"They are excellent athletes and have trained well. Ethiene has already won two medals this year, and Claudia has also performed well and gained experience. The WAG team of Brazil is well represented," he concluded.

Alexander Alexandrov - I hope that our team will have confidence to compete with China and America as equals

2009-04-22T14:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at the third World Cup competition in Maribor, the Russian WAG team won four gold medals. Alexander Alexandrov spoke to All Sports about the performance of the team, and the prospects of individual gymnasts.

At the competition, our gymnasts won four gold medals - you are probably in a good mood?

"Certainly! I am very glad that out gymnasts won separate exercises. After an unsuccesful last season, we have done well here and at the European Championships. I hope that now our team will have confidence that we can compete on the same level as America and China."

You were pleased with the quality of performance of the girls?

"Well, the scores were not the highest. The girls made some errors. And in connection with the FIG's new rules, almost all competitors have new programs with new complexities. We will develop further skills. But at the same time, I do not wish to belittle the achievements of the girls; all the competitors were on equal footing. And the strongest won."

So you're writing off the errors, because of changes to rules and competition?

"[....gargh] Secondly, we brought to this World Cup competition gymnasts for whom this was their first competition where they must compete for their country. The leaders of the national team are still recovering from injuries, but we cannot wait for them. Therefore we give these younger gymnasts experience."

Is this generation of gymnasts different from those ten years ago?

"Naturally! First of all, those ten years ago were brought up in the Soviet Union. The present gymnasts - they are wholly Russian. In the 1990s much was lost - training centres were closed, trainers left for overseas. Then we just reaped the fruit of those years - no time for a powerful system, we had to make do with what is left. Today, of course, the situation is diffferent again. The state is paying more attention to sports. But we cannot see a return for a few years. I think that already next year, we will have gymnasts with more potential than we do now. The present girls are at a transition period - neither due to the fault of their trainers, or of them. The main thing is a desire to fight. The doors of our national training centre are open to all. For the World Championships, the very strongest will get to London."

How is the World team selected?

"We are continually watching the girls. At the same time, each new competition gives us a chance for reflection. The first of these was the Russian Championships. From it, we selected the team for the European Championships. It is very good that Ksenia Semenova and Afanasyeva took first and second place in the all-around. Such success we did not have for about the last seven years. Now the gymnasts will compete in several international competitions and the Russian Cup. Following the results of these competitions, we will select the strongest gymnasts to go to London in the autumn. The Americans and Chinese will be there. But I do not think we will be merely "extras". I think the Russian team will be strong competition for any other team."

More results from Portimão World Cup

2009-04-20T20:58:00.000-07:00

ROPE FINAL
Yevgenia Kanaeva RUS
Anna Bessonova UKR
Aliya Garayeva AZE
Melitina Staniouta BLR
Aliya Yussupova KAZ
Irina Resenzon ISR
Marina Shpekht RUS
Caroline Weber AUT

HOOP FINAL
Anna Bessonova UKR
Yevgenia Kanaeva RUS
Lyubov Charkashyna BLR
Vera Sesina RUS
Aliya Yussupova KAZ
Neta Rivkin ISR
Irina Risenzon ISR
Inês Gomes POR
Aliya Garayeva AZE

BALL FINAL
Yevgenia Kanaeva RUS
Vera Sesina RUS
Anna Bessonova UKR
Aliya Yussopova KAZ
Melitina Staniouta BLR Lyubov Charkashyna BLR
Irina Risenzon ISR
Neta Rivkin ISR

RIBBON FINAL
Yevgenia Kanaeva RUS
Melitina Staniouta BLR
Vera Sesina RUS
Anna Bessonova UKR
Irina Risenzon ISR
Aliya Yussopova KAZ
Lyubov Charkashyna BLR
Aliya Garayeva AZE Inês Gomes POR

Chellsie Memmel returning - as a specialist

2009-04-20T19:58:00.002-07:00

Article from Dallas News:

Olympic gymnast Chellsie Memmel stopped by her parents' Milwaukee-area gym recently with her new Teddy Bear puppy, Lexi.
Andy Memmel, Chellsie's father and coach, folded up a piece of paper into an airplane and shot it at his daughter.
As Memmel unfurled it, she realized she was looking at a proposal for a new uneven bars routine.
"I could probably do that," she responded, her plans becoming clearer.

The fact that Memmel, in town this week to promote the Aug.12-15 Visa U.S. Championships at American Airlines Center, still wants to compete inspires a "huh?" from many observers.

This is the same gymnast who already won the world all-around title in 2005 and an Olympic silver with the U.S. team in August in Beijing – earned partially by Memmel's gutsy willingness to compete on the bars despite a broken ankle.
In June, she'll turn 21, close to ancient for female gymnasts. She already owns her own house. She could go to college.
What gives?
"I still love it, I still enjoy it," she said. "I needed a physical and mental break, but I'm starting to miss it again."

That's why Memmel is working out with a personal trainer. She'll need to start work on routines at her parents' gym full time within a month or so if she'll be able to compete here, and then possibly at the World Championships in October in London.
She has decided she won't compete in the all-around, sticking to bars and the balance beam.
Memmel hasn't attended any of the U.S. team camps this year in New Waverly, Texas, but has chatted with Martha Karolyi, the U.S. national team adviser, who told her she'd support whatever Memmel decided.
"It's hard to give something up," Memmel said Karolyi told her. She knows it well.

For all the glory she's earned, Memmel has carried more than her share of pain. She injured her foot leading up to the 2004 Athens Olympics, relegating her to alternate status. She ripped up her right shoulder while competing in the 2006 world championships, a lingering injury that put her comeback in doubt until weeks before the U.S. Olympic trials last summer.
Then, on the second day of training in Beijing, Memmel completed a tumbling pass and, upon landing, knew it all was in jeopardy again.
"I have impeccable timing with injuries," she said.
Despite the X-ray showing the ankle to be broken, Memmel fought through the pain on every landing from her bars routine leading up to and during the team preliminaries and final. She had no time to mourn the loss of her chance to compete in the other events.

Memmel performed on the ensuing Tour of Gymnastics Superstars last fall – along with Dancing With the Stars' Shawn Johnson and Parker golden girl Nastia Liukin. Liukin was in New York while Memmel visited town this week, so they couldn't meet up.
Memmel finally had surgery to insert a screw into the slow-healing ankle in January.

The comebacks are the worst, Memmel said. The soreness. More pain. But it would be worth it to do gymnastics again.
"You have to give 100 percent; she's done it for so many years," Andy Memmel said. "You tell her not to do it. It's just something that's in them, their drive."

Cerasela Patrascu to make her comeback in June

2009-04-20T19:55:00.000-07:00

She will return to competition on 5th June at the Romanian Open, according to Romanian Gymnastics.

Nicolae Forminte: “At the moment she is struggling with her weight, but we can say that she made progress. She is still motivated and eager to recuperate the inactivity period. Her goal is to perform as well as possible during the Romanian Open, where she is going to compete on uneven bars and beam."

(Patrascu tore her right meniscus landing her UB dismount at Euro prelims last year.)

Russians at Maribor, from Russian Gymnastics site

2009-04-20T16:20:00.000-07:00

"Four out of four possible medals were won by the Russian gymnasts in their first world cup competition of the year. The fifth gold medal was won by the men's team. The triumphers: Anna Myzdrikova (vault), Yekaterina Kurbatova (bars), Kristina Goryunova (beam and floor) and Konstantin Pluzhnikov (rings). Also, Myzdrikova was second on floor, Kurbatova on vault, and Goryunova on the bars. The young gymnast, Andrei Perezhnikov, from near Moscow, at his second competition on the nationals team, took third place on pommel horse.

Already, in the second successive competition of the year, the Russian gymnasts have shown good results. And if at the European championships they proved that, then the strongest continent at Maribor were the Brazilian team, still following the school of the present Russian trainer Oleg Ostapenko. It is necessary to consider that our team in Maribor was mostly different from at Europeans.

Among the men, Konstantin Pluzhnikov from Severska has risen to the top of the podium for the first time. Andrei Rodionenko, senior coach, said after the European Championships that Pluzhnikov should appear among the strongest in rings.

Andrei Perezhnikov, bronze medallist on floor, has trained only half a year so far with the national team."

Juegos del Alba

2009-04-19T18:31:00.000-07:00

Cuba has been the most successful team so far, winning the women and men's TF and AA, and 5 medals in the EFs.

WAG Results

TEAM
Cuba
Colombia 202.45
Venezuela 201.65

All Around
1. Jennifer Alike (Cuba) 55.250
2. Nathalia Sánchez (Colombia) 53.850
3. Madelén Tamayo (Cuba) 53.300
4. Ivette Rojas (Venezeula) 50.850
5. Elid Helwigg (Ecuador) 50.800
6. Yarimar Medina (Venezuela) 48.550
7. Marcela Sandoval (Colombia) 46.750
8. María de los Angeles Cajilema (Ecuador) 45.250

VAULT
1. Jennifer Alike (Cuba) 14.338
2. Elid Helwigg (Ecuador) 13.938
3. Catalina Escobar (Colombia) 13.713
4. Jainer Fuenmayor (Venezuela) 13.363
5. Dayana Rodríguez (Cuba) 13.275
6. Gabriela Gómez (Colombia) 13.200
7. Eliana González (Venezuela) 12.800

UNEVEN BARS
1. Elid Helwigg (Ecuador) 13.650
2. Nathalia Sánchez (Colombia) 13.625
3. Madelen Tamayo (Cuba) 13.250
4. Ivette Rojas (Venezuela) 12.725
5. Catalina Escobar (Colombia) 12.025
6. Fanny Briceño (Venezuela) 12.000
7. Dayana Rendo (Cuba) 11.925
8. María de los Ángeles Cajilema (Ecuador) 9.575

MAG Results

TEAM
Cuba A 337.05
Venezuela 323.45
Cuba B 316.25

All Around
1. Gerardo Medina (Cuba) 86.400
2. Jorge Hugo Giraldo (Colombia) 85.275
3. Adicks Trejo (Venezuela) 84.825
4. Fidel Silot (Cuba) 82.425
5. Sergio Restrepo (Colombia) 78.450
6. Johny Parra (Venezuela) 78.100
7. Boris Merchán (Ecuador) 70.475
8. Daniel Abad (Ecuador) 70.075

FLOOR
1. Randy Leroux (Cuba) 15.000
2. Santiago López (Mexico) 14.350
3. Adicks Trejo (Venezuela) 13.800
4. Irving Arroyo (Cuba) 13.750
5. Nelson Fuenmayor (Venezuela) 13.675
6. Sergio Restrepo (Colombia) 13.550
7. Boris Merchán (Ecuador) 13.325
8. Santos Martínez (Mexico) 12.875

POMMEL HORSE
1. Adicks Trejo (Venezuela) 14.125
2. Jorge Hugo Girlado (Colombia) 14.050
3. Johny Parra (Venezuela) 13.700
4. Gerardo Medina (Cuba) 13.350
5. Carlos Campaña (Cuba) 12.275
6. Santiago López (Mexico) 11.525
7. Daniel Abad (Ecuador) 11.400
8. Didier Lugo (Colombia) 11.175

RINGS
1. Jorge Hugo Giraldo (Colombia) 14.950
2. Gerardo Medina (Cuba) 14.500
3. Fidel Silot (Cuba) 14.150
4. Adicks Trejo (Venezuela) 14.025
5. Sergio Restrepo (Colombia) 12.975
6. Carlos Carbonell (Venezuela) 12.475
7. Boris Merchán (Ecuador) 12.075

Cuba hasn't taken a team to a major competition since Worlds 2003. They should now!

Portimão Rhythmic World Cup

2009-04-19T17:47:00.000-07:00

Yevgenia Kanaeva (RUS) won the all-around.

Yevgenia Kanaeva (RUS) 111.850
Vera Sesina (RUS) 110.550
Anna Bessonova (UKR) 108.650
Aliya Yussupova (KAZ) 106.300
Marina Shpekht (RUS) 104.075
Irina Risenzon (ISR) 103.725
Melitina Staniouta (BLR) 103.600
Lyubov Charkashyna (BLR) 103.350
Alexandra Ermakova (RUS) 102.875
Neta Rivkin (ISR) 102.125

Daniela Druncea retired

2009-04-19T16:56:00.000-07:00

According to Inspired by Nadia, she left due to "lack of motivation mainly generated because of not participating in competitions."

However, she said, "I will never regret starting in artistic gymnastics." So at least she's happy.

Argh, Romania are losing all their gymnasts.

EDIT: Nicolae Forminte: "An analysis was made and the conclusion was that there was no rate of progress, and what she had already learned is not enough for fighting for a medal. As in Romania just participating is not an option, but only winning, she decided to give up. Moreover, this year there is no team competition, while next year the new seniors would have much bigger chances to make the team, this being another reason for her decision. It was a mature decision, taken together with her family." (Romanian Gymnastics Blog).

MAG results

2009-04-19T16:39:00.000-07:00

VAULT
Stanislav Valiyev 16.0
Marek Lyszczarz 15.712
Tomi Tuuha 15.687
Oleg Ossipov 15.612
Cristian Bataga 15.45
Jeffrey Wammes 15.3
Diego Hypolito 14.875
Ali Al Asi 14.225

PARALLEL BARS
Mitja Petkovsek 15.725
Adam Kierzkowski 15.275
Epke Zonderland 15.175
Arkaitz Garcia 14.85
Samuel Piasecky 14.85
Roman Kulesza 14.55
Dmitry Gogotov 14.0
Nikola Dudek 13.675

HIGH BAR
Epke Zonderland 15.55
Aljaz Pegan 15.35
Marco Baldauf 14.625
Jeffrey Wammes 14.6
Arkaitz Garcia 14.175
Anatoly Vasilyev 13.4
Dmitry Barkalov 13.35
Roman Kulesza 11.775

Maribor WAG Results - day 2

2009-04-19T13:40:00.000-07:00

BEAM
Kristina Goryunova 14.35
Ana Claudia Silva 13.55
Martha Pihan-Kulesha 13.6

FLOOR
Kristina Goryunova 14.0
Anna Myzdrikova 13.95
Martha Pihan-Kulesha 13.6

Yay for Kristina!! double winner!
and Russian sweep!!!:D

I will post the men's results later.

Russian women leading Maribor WC!!

2009-04-18T16:03:00.000-07:00

On the first day of competition, Anna Myzdrikova, Kristina Goryunova and Yekaterina Kurbatova lead the qualifications on all four events. On the second day, they took first and second on both event finals, VT and UB!!

Results:

VAULT
Anna Myzdrikova 14.062
Yekaterina Kurbatova 14.037
Annika Urvikko 13.8
Fieke Willems 13.725
Laura Gombas 13.687
Tijana Tkalcec 13.625
Tunde Scsillag 13.612
Ethiene Franco 13.3

BARS
Yekaterina Kurbatova 14.325
Kristina Goryunova 13.7
Ethiene Franco 13.65
Hanna Grosch 13.35
Ana Claudia Silva 13.0
Mayra Kroonen 12.9
Monika Frandofert 11.825
Laurie-Eve Pepin-Gagne 11.775

Men's EF: Konstantin Pluzhnikov won the rings:D, Diego Hypolito the FX and Donna-Donny Truyens (what a name!) from Germany won pommel horse.

Full results:

FLOOR
Diego Hypolito 15.3
Alexander Shatilov 14.95
Filip Ude 14.8
Tomislav Markovic 14.725
Dmitry Barkalov 14.575
Rok Klarova 13.725
Tomi Tuuha 12.9
Dmitry Gogotov 12.65

POMMEL HORSE
Donna-Donny Truyens 15.075
Saso Bertoncelj 14.85
Zoltan Kallai 14.75
Andrei Perevoznhikov (RUS) 14.75
Andrei Ursache 14.475
Vladimir Oleniko 14.3
Cristian Bagata 14.1
Alexander Shatilov 13.375

RINGS
Konstantin Pluzhnikov 15.65
Irodotos Georgallas 15.0
Regulo Carmona 14.8
Al Asi Ali 14.775
Sergio Eras 14.65
Olli Torkkel 14.475
Eduard Gholub 14.4
Attila Racz 14.1

Bessovova wins Kiev Grand Prix

2009-04-14T15:06:00.000-07:00

All Around:
Anna Bessonova (UKR) 111.075
Daria Kondakova (RUS) 105.875
Irina Risenzon (ISR)104.800
Alina Maksymenko (UKR)100.600
Anna Rizatdinova (UKR)100.375
Svetlana Rudalova (BLR)100.325
Silviya Miteva (BUL)100.050
Anna Gurbanova (AZE)96.850
Neta Rivkin (ISR)95.800
Daria Kushnerova (UKR)95.325

Event finals are tomorrow.

Thomas Bouhail to have surgery

2009-04-13T20:30:00.000-07:00

He's going to have surgery on his right shoulder tomorrow and probably won't be able to compete for six months, but he hopes to be ready for Worlds, and medal in floor and vault.

He sees the competition for vault title "the Russian Golotsutskov, the Belorussain Kasperovich, one or two Romanians, and Li Xiaopeng."

Bouhail also spoke to L'Equipe about Yann Cucherat, who also won a European title: "He's definitely the leader of the team. We're constantly learning with him, whether it be about success or failure. He's always supporting us, and so therefore he has a big role in the team. He's an exceptional gymnast who should be proud of having won the title, since he has a young daughter and prepared for this competition without much sleep! But he can always count on the support of his family, and of his team."

Jade returning in August!!

2009-04-13T17:09:00.000-07:00

She plans to compete at the Brazilian Nationals. Having a break from serious training has helped her wrist to heal some, although the doctors warn the pain will come back if she returns to competition. But she sounds pretty determined, " I don't know if it will be with only one arm, but I will compete."

Full article in International Gymnast.

For RGers...interview with Inna Zhukov, Belarussian newspaper

2009-04-13T14:56:00.000-07:00

The silver medallist of the Beijing Games, Inna Zhukov, has retired from her career and become the manager of one of the insurance companies. Especially for this newspaper, she has recounted some of the best times of her career, and admitted that it was hard to become the "present fighter".

Inna, how are you dealing with not training any more?

"Yes, I have got tired of sports. Gymnastics is not longer enough for me anymore. But I do miss those moments when I have done well and people applaud me, and those pleasant times when I went up on the podium."

Would you like to return to gymnastics in a new role, for example, as a coach?

"I don't see myself as a coach. But I may eventually change my mind. At the moment I am engaged in advertising. This is new to me - difficult and interesting."

How are you keeping yourself in shape, now you are not training?

"I do exercises when I can. At the insurance company, all the time, you are sitting and working with papers. It's hard for me - I would rather spend my energy running and jumping. For three months after I retired I was invited to demonstration performances, therefore I had to train. In February and March I participated in the program "Dancing with the Stars". But I didn't get far - there was too much competition."

But now you are allowed to eat sweets now, which you could not before?

"I've never had problems with my figure. I didn't put on 10kg after retiring, as others do. I always ate sweets when I wanted."

In this new season gymnasts will be competing under new rules. What would you like to change?

"I would enter event finals into the Olympic program because I consider it unfair that other athletes can earn several medals, we can only earn one for a complete set (AA). I find it insulting."

At the Olympic Games you were quite reserved. How did you feel when you became the silver medallist?

"For me, the Olympic Games are magical! I always wished to get on the podium in the AA, but I managed it very infrequently. I was always in fourth place, the worst place to be. A lot of people said I was worthy of a medal. Then at Europeans when I was again one place away from the podium, I felt I would rather quit, I told myself: "The Olympic Games is a different competition altogether - there, you will be on the podium." And when, at last, I realised I had taken the second place, I felt I had achieved my dream. I taken away all my other medals, and replaced them with my Olympic silver. All visitors with pleasure are photographed with my award."

How did you manage to cope with the enormous pressure? Also, before one of your exits, there was a problem.

"I knew this would be my last competition. If something went wrong, all there same I should leave with good memories of my performances. I competed with this attitude."

Was it frustrating to you that you were not able to compete with your best apparatus, the ball?

"Yes, it was frustrating. But we tried to create a hoop routine that was similar to my ball one. And it was unique and interesting. Everyone waited for me to catch it at the end. And I felt like in a game of roulette, will I catch it or not?"

[can't understand next question.]

What is your favourite routine that you've performed?

""The Portuguese Rose" which I did in 2007. That beautiful music we later used for a hoop exercise."

What about your favourite move?

"There was a time when it was possible to be original, where there was a bonus for originality. I was the first to perform the "butterfly" jump, which was entered into the rules. I am very proud of that."

You have a lot of costumes in your collection. Which will you keep?

"Yes, I have a lot of them! Usually we hand them down to the younger girls, or sell them. But I would like to keep the ones I wore for the Olympics, because they were made specially."

Inna, your nickname - the Hindu - when did you begin to be called this?

"When I was in Minsk. I was never called by my first name, only the Hindu, or sometimes Zhucha. These are my nicknames."

[question incomprehensible]

"My back problems began when my training increased. I often swore at my coach because of it."

If not for these injuries, would you still be competing?

"My health was a main factor in my retirement. I thought about leaving earlier, but I understood that I had not fulfilled my purpose in gymnastics. That feeling would remain if I had not medalled at the Olympics. But now I am fully satisfied. I am glad I did not retire earlier."

Whom do you wish to thank for your successes?

"First of all my mother who has lived all her life in Krasnodar, but for the sake of me, sacrificed everything and accepted Belarussian citizenship, and supported me in every possible way. I never knew how much she had to give up. My coach, who is like a second mother. I would go to her for help more often than my mother, because I spent more of my time in the training centre than at home. I am grateful to Irina Jurevne who made me somebody when I was nobody [I think], who forced me to believe in myself and brought me up as the person I am. And I am grateful that the state has given me an appartment. It is wonderful when your country appreciates your work."

In sports you achieved your goals. And what else would you like to achieve in your life?

"I would like to have a family, but not straight away. I have many friends here at work, and we go out together every Friday, for a break. Before now, I could not do that. When new people enter your life it is very interesting."

Would you want to meet your future husband in the environment where you are now?

"It could be any person."

Mexican Championships

2009-04-11T16:38:00.001-07:00

Yessenia Estrada won the Mexican National Championships with a score of 49.73?! She also won vault and floor, silver on bars and bronze on beam.

Elsa Garcia and Maricela Cantu were not there.

Full results:

All-Around
Yessenia Estrada 49.730
Maricela Arizmendi 49.210
Clarissa Gonzalez 47.030

VAULT
Yessenia Estrada 13.850
Maricela Arizmendi 13.800
Maria Jose Sarda 13.220

BARS
Maricela Arizmendi 13.100
Yessenia Estrada 11.200
Clarissa Gonzalez 11.180

BEAM
Daniela Espinoza 12.030
Maria Jose Sarda 11.630
Yessenia Estrada 11.480

FLOOR
Yessenia Estrada 13.200
Maria Jose Sarda 12.450
Daniela Espinoza 12.200

Leonid Arkayev - the most terrible punishment - to do nothing

2009-04-11T15:05:00.000-07:00

On Sunday March the 29th, in Saransk, in the presence of the minister of sports of the Russian Federation, Vitaly Mutko, and the head of Republic Mordovia, Nikolay Merkushkina, will pass the ceremony of the opening of a new training centre in Detsko - Olympic reserve school bearing the name of the head - the great Leonid Arkayev. On the eve of this event, All Sports reporter Evgeniy Slyusarenko has asked Leonid Arkayev about the new training centre, preparation of London 2012 and his desire to return to the Russian national team.

The training centre of Saransk - the best in the world.

How was it possible to entice you into Saransk? - the great Arkayev?

"A good question *smiles*. First of all, I have direct Morodovian roots. My parents were natives of the village Saygushi, near Saransk. Besides, I the head of the republic, Nikolay Ivanovichem Merkushkin, well - we are friends. And the main thing - I was enticed here by a training centre. More precisely, not this centre - a centre which did not exist two years ago. I remember perfectly our conversation two years ago. "With pleasure I will return to my native land, but I have no place to work for you." He cut me off. "The place will be.""

And what is in this hall?

"Actually, the most important thing is not the hall, but what is in it. The republic has bought all the best equipment for sports training in the world. As you can see, it is literally larded (?!) by all the advanced training equipment. According to Mekushkin, it cost about a million dollars."

What, it is really a great training centre?

"Now you do not respect (believe?) me. I have said: with respect to equipment, it is the best in the world. And also: a separate training complex, and a building where children can rest in between training."

How many are at the school?

"First of all, I tell you that we accept all. Moreover, we have gone to kindergartens. In five areas of the republic we have trainers who are engaged in search of the presented kiddies. Thus, we now have about a thousand pupils (wow!) The majority of them are kindergarteners."

Why so young?

"[...] Now it is necessary to have taken gymnastics for at least eight years (or from eight years old, I'm not sure) to train professionally, to eat professionally. Because for the development of the Olympic athlete eight to ten years are necessary. Only then will it be possible to have the preparation necessary for Olympic victories. From this point of view, all conditions are created in Saransk. So I think that in the next few years, we will have very strong gymnasts."

The next few years are how many?

"Four to six years. But we will already try to get gymnasts on the London team. Certainly, much will depend on good luck, and from our patience, and from their objective possibilities."

Those who have not seen me for several years, say that I look younger!

When did you start to work in Saransk?

"About March of 2007. No, before that as well, but the level was low. It was no shock to me - I have spent time in Saransk before - for example, the Cup of Arkaev - and I knew what was happening here."

And where did you work before the opening of the hall?

"We had a small centre. All this time, I worked and waited for the hall promised by Merkushkin. I knew that he would make good on his promise."

Where do you live?

"In the usual one-room apartment. It suits me. Well, I was promised something bigger, but I don't need it. The main thing is the hall to work in. [something....] I rise at 4:30 in the mornings, and begin trainings at 6:30."

What have you returned to the USSR? (?)

"That's an interesting question. I can tell that in Morodovia everything is done that people can participate in sport. And children here, you know, are somehow more conscious. They already understand, not simply that they are trained, but that they prepare in the future to represent their republic, their country. I did not notice this in the last few years of the national team."

Do you not miss the "big gymnastics"?

Absolutely not. On the contrary, I have received rest here. In big-time sports, the main stimulus for sportsmen is urging them on. Children are more susceptible [something], with them you see the fruits of your work faster. Medals, cups - all is nonsense, it happens in the end. And with the children I see how they are growing not by day, but by hour! Those who haven't seen me for years, say that I look younger! *smiles*

I don't aspire to train a national team again

And if you were called back to train the national team?

"I would think very hard, so that I could make the right decision. I would weigh all the pros and cons. But I am comfortable here in Saransk, I constantly see progress, I feel the support of the republic management. It would take a very good argument to leave."

You don't dream to train the national team again?

"At the present, I do not dream of it at all. I did not really like it [I'm not sure if I got that right] and it was work, heavy work. On the one hand, popularity, honour, respect - on the other, all mortal sins (meaning pride etc). I have learnt it well. Then nothing will rescue you - not friendship, nor old merits. Therefore I do not aspire to it. But if there is a need, then I am ready to help. Without big ambitions."

Tou do see is necessary to return Russian gymnastics to its former heights?

"First, the Soviet techniques need to be understood correctly. It is not enough to follow them blindly, without understanding. And then it will be different analysis, the extraction of the abilities from the students. And, of course, it will be necessary to work in the way we worked before."

And this is not happening now?

"I am no longer with the national team, but even so I can tell if there are the relations between gymnasts and coaches to work as a team, not as individuals. [that bit was muddly, and i may not have got it quite right] If it is so, good results will come. Actually, the Olympic Games in Beijing have shown that. The gymnasts worked not for a team, but for themselves."

And what about the spitpoisons [ha I love Russian idioms!] who say, "here Arkayeva has found a cushy job to meet his old age"?

"I will agree with them. I have really found a place where it is possible to adequately meet old age *laughs*. And what is bad about it? The point is - to be worthy, to work. I know inactivity. For half a year after the Athens Games when I had left, I did nothing. I felt as though I began to die. I sat and waited to die. Now I understand - to do nothing, it is horror, the most terrible punishment for the person."

Interview with Ksenia Semenova

2009-04-11T14:20:00.000-07:00

"I'm having a rest after the European championships," laughs Ksenia Semenova. "Of course I must go to training, but only short sessions. Maybe I will go to the cinema."

At Europeans, you won three medals. How would you rate your performance?

"About a four. I know I did well, but I'm not completely happy. I could have done a lot better in beam finals. Despite the bronze in floor, I'm not absolutely happy with that either. But the bar final turned out well in the end!"

Nevertheless, you had to concede the UB title to Beth Tweddle...

"Yes, and we competed against each other last year also, at Europeans. Then she made errors, and I won the final. But here, Tweddle's difficulty score was two-tenths above mine. That's a lot. Both of us executed our routines well, but it was the difficulty score that made the difference."

Tweddle is seven years you senior, and more powerful. Does this give her an advantage?

"I don't know. It could work either way. Results come to those of all ages, no matter how many times you have competed. I didn't feel any disadvantage because of my age."

This year you began to train all-around. Has this weakened your favourite event, uneven bars?

"I wouldn't say so; they are at the same level as before. Basically, I trained all-around now, and earlier, but now I am improving the apparatuses that are not as good - vault and floor. I'm still training as much as I did before the Olympics, but it is organised differently.

Was it your decision to train all-around?

"My coaches decided, but I'm happy to do it."

You know that the last European all-around champion we had was Svetlana Khorkina, seven years ago?

"Yes. I know Sveta, and we sometimes communicate. No, she doesn't give me any special advice, just chatting."

Do you like Khorkina's style?

"Yes, but also Tweddle, and Romanians Steliana Nistor and Sandra Izbasa."

Was it hard to begin training again after the Olympics?

"[can't understand] but then I began to train as before. It seems to me that I am now taking gymnastics more seriously."

What relationship do you have with the new senior trainer, Alexander Alexandrov?

"His appointment hasn't changed anything for me. I work with my trainer, Marina Nazarovoj, as before. Alexander Sergeevich, of course, watches our training, and sometimes advises or helps."

How is it possible to combine gymnastics with study?

"Somehow it is possible *laughs*. Teachers work with us at Round Lake, in between training, and I also do homework. I don't know what I want to do after school. I haven't thought about it yet."

Next World Cup competition - Maribor

2009-04-11T13:41:00.000-07:00

Here is the lineup.

Yay for Goryunova! I'll be glad to see her again after she had to withdraw from the Euro AA.

American Classic

2009-04-11T13:34:00.000-07:00

Ashley Stott and McKenzie Wofford won the senior and junior titles. The meet also acted as a qualifier to Nationals, with seniors needing 54.0 and juniors 52.0. McKenzie was the only junior to qualify, but in the senior section, Kimberly Jacob, Brooke Parker and Christa Tanella (who won the WOGA classic) also qualified.

Ashley's floor from 2007 Nationals (couldn't find anything of her from last year)

and McKenzie's floor from last year's Nationals.

Beth wins UB! - event finals

2009-04-06T14:36:00.001-07:00

Yay Beth won bars with her crazy new routine! - Ksenia came in second (her form seems to have gotten worse, she keeps wobbling in her handstands). She also won bronze on floor:D and Beth took the gold! Sandra didn't medal at all because the judges devalued her triple twist dismount to a 2 1/2; as she'd already performed that, she ended up with no dismount>:( & Ferrari took the silver with watered-down tumbling but actually some effort at dance!! I'm shocked.

Beam was won by Yana Demyanchuk!! with the two Romanians medalling also. I love her routine! Her knee is still wrapped up (it was at WOGA earlier this year).
And another medal for Russia: Yulia was second on vault!! Ariella Kaeslin won; I think she must have fallen in qualifications.

I'll post full results later, when I have time. Haha I have a 2000 world essay due in on Thursday which I started yesterday

Andrei Fedorovich on the Europeans

2009-04-06T14:12:00.001-07:00

Andrei Fedorovich, in comparison with the women's team, two-thirds of the men did not do so well?

"Pluzhnikov has shown the best routine here; 15.325 was his best score. Our problem is that his best is not up to the best of the world on rings. Except for one Chinese, all the leaders on rings were here. So his sixth place is basically his place in the world elite. And this placing does not satisfy us. We will revise his exercise so that his difficulty is raised."

What about the disappointment caused by Anton Golotsutskov!

"He was aiming for medals on floor and vault, but did not make it. He used an old floor routine (or combination, I'm not sure which) and others went ahead of him [he was 5th on fx.] With a difficulty of 6.2, it was impossible to medal. And he did not. However, he executed the routine very well, with his E score 9.0."

And he did not even make the vault final.

"That was entirely his own fault. I do not wish to discuss that."

It seems to me, at you claims cannot be only to Ryazanov and Perevoznikov.

I am convinced that if Ryazanov had executed better, he would have won the silver. And if he had more difficulty, he would have won...We are already working on this - in training he works on harder elements than he showed at the European Championships. He will be able to perform them soon. With Perevoznikov it is different. It was the first time he has appeared at a large competition. The judging was therefore stricter for him. So I consider his fourth plaving a good result. And it will be better at Worlds. But we must have a harder dismount."

The girls have pleased you?

"First of all, thanks to the girls and trainers, and to the senior trainer of the women's team, Alexander Alexandrov, and to all personal coaches of the gymnasts. Especial thanks to Ksenia Semenova and all who worked with her. For five years, our gymnasts never won the European all-around title. And now Ksyusha has returned this title to Russia. We brought to Milan three gymnasts (four??) The all-around success was with two of them. Then the medal Yulia Berger won is very important; nobody had thought of her as a contender for a vault medal."

How do you estimate the contenders?

"Gymnastics has grown much in Europe, especially with the men. The girls, to a lesser degree. [something incomprehensible...] I speak of Beth Tweddle in particular. Concerning men's gymnastics, it is impossible to look only to Asia. Europeans are also very competitive! Take Hambuchen, for example. He showed great difficulty."

How much of this competition was useful to you, as head coach of a national team?

"Very useful. In the individual competition, it is possible to gauge development tendencies. If in the winter we were uncertain of the new rules, we are familiar with them now. [something about Worlds.]"

Tell us, will the lineup for the World Championships be changed a lot?

"Those who can bring their routines into accord with the new requirements will make the national team. And they will be the gymnasts who will try for medals. But of course I cannot name them now."

Coverage of AA

2009-04-04T21:47:00.000-07:00

GYMANGELS has it here.

Russian coaches on Semenova and Afanasyeva's victory

2009-04-04T21:17:00.001-07:00

OK this is really hard to make sense of, but here's what I can understand:

Ksenia Semenova, from near Moscow, became the all-around European champion. In second place was her friend - Ksenia Afanasyeva. They both train with Marina Nazarovoj.

It seems that even Marina Nazarovoj has not taken in what has happened. She is completely exhausted, hardly speaking.

The girls have not simply won. They have done much more than is possible. They have not only won the European championships, they shown the absolute result under the regulations - only two gymnasts per country. One took the gold, the other - silver!

Valentina Rodionenko's state trainer cries: "How many humiliations were there after the Olympic games! And there will be no magic wands - there will be times of victory, but not before times of defeat. [something about Alexandrov] He (Alexandrov) has created a miracle - which the Russian gymnasts have never managed - not to be confused with the Soviets.

Semenova began with bars. She fell in qualifications, so we simplified a combination. It was not a case of reproaches, but of tactics. In the all-around it is not necessary to have full difficulty to win. She got a good score - 14.925. Then she came to the beam. I'm not sure, but it seemed that the hall was dead silent while Semenova performed. She made a few errors, but very small ones. 14.8, and she was comfortably in the lead. After her bar routine, Afanasyeva was in second.

Many, last year, have considered that Semenova has acted on her best pieces. But they have not seen the new routines? of the new champion. Ksenia loves her floor routine (I think) and in Bryansk had a leotard to show the routine more brightly, but also in a feminine way. (Argh, translation muddly. sorry.) However, that leotard did not come under the regulations (I wonder what it was!!) so she could not wear it at the European championships. After floor Semenova had 43.95. And it was almost quiet. Her vault - all she had to do was land it accurately. No more than that.

Afanasyeva had fallen on beam to take the score of 13.575. But the lead she had gained in the first half of the competition allowed her to stay in second.

And then there was the last rotation. Semenova vaulted near the start. 14.225 - and she was unbeatable! In some minutes the winner of the silver medal was known. With Afanasyeva's finishing performance, "unique, the most complicated and extraordinarily expressive," as one of our colleagues from a gymmedia site put it, her floor exercise put her up to 57.6.

And we have burst into tears and have burst out laughing...

Valentina Rodionenko on Euro qualifications

2009-04-04T20:44:00.000-07:00

Who will compete in the All-Around? According to regulations, only two gymnasts per country may compete.
"Kristina has a badly injured ankle. So we will put Afanasyeva in instead of her."

In your opinion, how likely is it that Ksenia Semenova will win?
"More than likely. The most important thing is not to waver. Tomorrow it begins again at zero. And it will be necesary to win again."

Will Semenova perform to standard on bars? Will today's fall affect her?
"I very much hope that Ksenia will recover from the fall, though it will be difficult. It is a new, complicated routine (?), and it causes problems. And there is strong competition: Beth Tweddle from England, in excellent form!"

(BTW: if Ksenia had not fallen, she would have a higher UB score than Beth by about a couple of tenths.)

SEMENOVA EUROPEAN AA CHAMPION!!!!!!!!

2009-04-04T15:25:00.000-07:00

And Afanasyeva got put in because Goryunova was injured and came in second behind her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Third was Ariella Kaeslin.

On the men's side, Yuri Ryazanov (Russia) was 3rd:D; Fabian Hambüchen first and Daniel Keatings from GBR second.

European qualifications!!

2009-04-02T22:17:00.000-07:00

Ksenia Semenova is in first place after qualifying round with 57.625!!!!!!!!!!!
Also Yulia Berger qualified first to vault final!!!!

VAULT
Yulia Berger RUS 14.287
Jana Komrskova CZE 14.225
Anna Kalashnyk UKR 14.112
Kim Bui GER 14.087
Aagje Van Walleghem BEL 14.075
Ariella Käslin SUI 14.062
Becky Downie GBR 14.025
Wyomi Masela NED 14.025

BARS
Beth Tweddle GBR 15.275
Anja Brinker GER 15.025
Ksenia Afanasyeva RUS 14.825
Youna Dufournet FRA 14.750
Anastasia Koval UKR 14.625
Valentyna Holenkova UKR 14.500
Becky Downie GBR 14.475
Ksenia Semyonova RUS 14.425 (with a fall on her pak)

BEAM
Vasiliki Millousi GRE 14.725
Anamaria Tamarjan ROM 14.525
Ksenia Semyonova RUS 14.475
Yana Demyanchuk UKR 14.450
Valeria Maksyuta ISR 14.375
Gabriela Dragoi ROM 14.350
Marine Petit FRA 14.050
Yasmin Zimmermann SUI 14.025

FLOOR
Beth Tweddle GBR 14.975
Sandra Izbasa ROM 14.475
Vanessa Ferrari ITA 14.425
Ksenia Semyonova RUS 14.400
Anamaria Tamarjan ROM 14.200
Ana Maria Izurieta ESP 14.050
Lia Parolari ITA 14.025
Valentyna Holenkova UKR 13.950

Anamaria Tamarjan was second in the all-around standings and Diana Chelaru in 15th; Yana Demyanchuk is in 4th!! good for her. The other Russian to qualify was Kristina Goryunova in 16th.
Afanasyeva had a rough day, falling on pretty much everything...in bars she only mucked her dismount so managed to qualify. Aarghhhh

& Beth's new routine is incredible!! I saw her performance from Jesolo...Iit should be a great showdown between her and Ksenia. I'm not sure which one I want to win!

Wang Yan recovering from UB accident

2009-04-01T18:56:00.000-07:00

From "People's Daily Online"

Teenager Wang Yan is walking, talking and text messaging her friends less than two years after suffering a nightmarish accident on the uneven bars that put her in a coma and was expected to leave her permanently paralyzed.

Wang, 17, no longer requires help with her day-to-day life after experiencing a miraculous recovery from surgery that saw her on crutches two months after her horrific tumble in the summer of 2007.

She said she is literally taking her rehabilitation one step at a time. "I am still walking very slowly and when I speed up, I lose my rhythm," she was quoted as saying by Sina.com.

Her doctors remain cautious about the level of muscular atrophy in the Chinese gymnast's left leg and both arms however and her training program has been tailored around these deficiencies.

"Her hands are pretty articulate," one of her doctors told the same Chinese portal, without providing his name. "She can knit, type on computers and send mobile phone messages like other people."

The aspiring star from Zhejiang province fell into a coma at the national gymnastics championships in Shanghai on June 10, 2007, after landing headfirst on the mat following her dismount from the uneven bars.

Despite the poor to non-existent odds of her walking again after fracturing her second and third vertebrae, Wang is getting faster by the day during her rehab sessions at the hospital attached to Zhejiang Vocational College of Sports.

Doctors there say she will need their assistance for another 12 months. After that, Wang will be able to do all her rehab at home - a program she will need to follow for the rest of her life.

To keep her mind occupied while her body recuperates, she has begun hitting the books.

"I expected to become a coach one day, before my injury, but now I hope to do some kind of civilian job for the gymnastics team," she said. "Since I have missed so much studying time, now is the perfect time to catch up."

Scary!...good luck for your recovery, Yan!

Europeans coming closer!!

2009-03-30T16:25:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since my last entry...European Championships are only a few days away!!! I hope coverage goes up quickly...we get NOTHING here in NZ.

Adrian Stan (Great Britain): “This line up of four gymnasts (Tweddle, Downie, Hannah Whelan, Rebecca Wing) offers us the most balance and possibilities to achieve the targets we set out for. Beth Tweddle has got real chances to medal on both Asymmetric Bars and Floor whilst we should also not minimize the chances of Becky Downie in the All-around, Vault and Bars; depending on the opposition's performance obviously. With the changes to the code of points in the first year of the new Olympic cycle, normally the European standard won’t be quite as high as at the end of the cycle, nevertheless we except that Russia will be very strong and having seen Romania recently we know they will be very competitive, as will France.”

Romania seems hopeful of success even though all their gymnasts are injured, including Sandra. Nooo Sandra, you can't be injured!!! I guess that's why her fx at Jesolo was pretty bad. Gabriela Dragoi and Anamaria Tamarjan are also injured. Grrrr. On the men's side, Razvan Selariu has had to withdraw due to a recurring back problem.

Aljaz Pegan from Slovakia withdrew because of a wrist injury.

And Vanessa Ferrari is competing after all!!! With her will be Emily Army, Lia Parolari and new senior Paola Galante with her new move on UB ( inward stalder? to tkatchev). She missed it last year at JunEuros but caught it at Jesolo.
At the Italian Clubs earlier on this year, Vanessa competed only a yurchenko full and didn't do her Comaneci on bars. I hope she's improved since then...

Russian team are sounding strong! Article from their website:
Yesterday the team left for Milan where the first competition of the new quadrennium will begin on the 2nd of April. The last training sessions were held on Friday at Round Lake; the girls in the afternoon, the men in the evening.

First, the personal impressions of the training. Three were doing very well - Afansayeva, Semenova and Yuri Ryazanov. There were very motivated, very stable, and completely concentrated on their routines. Ksenia Afanasyeva did her routines as though she was already competing. Yuri Ryaznov was the same. Ksenia Semenova was malicious and coquettish (?! must mean something different in Russian!) They were in the best condition for competition. There were errors, but only small ones, which there should be before a competition.

Andrei Perevoznikov was a little nervous. It is not enough to merely compete the routines, but to win with them. But he is very new to the team - he was unknown in a school near Moscow, and he has literally flown into a national team. And from there to the European Championships!! But he will do well.

Even in comparison with the Russian Championships progress is unusual. It was pleasant to observe everything, except, perhaps, Kristina Goryunova. She was not doing so well.

"Andrey Fedorovich, are you worried about Kristina Goryunova?"

No. She is always tense in training, to prove that she is capable of competing. She proved at the national championships that she has the right to represent her country.

"Will Perevoznikov handle the pressure, do you think?"

I think he will. He showed reliability at the national championships. He is also stable in training. In training, we talk, we work on things so they are able (the gymnasts). No more than that. Also understand - this guy should start! Even if he does not turn out very well right now. He will understand that, at the international competitions, he will learn to compete. Basically, these championships will be an experiment for all participants, not just ours. We will compete for the first time under new rules, with new routines; we will see new faces, such as Andrei - it is not just us who have new competitors! And we are proud especially of Andrei - we have had problems (can't understand next bit), and we have solved them. For the World Championships, we are also preparing Volodju Olennikova and Dmitry Gogotov (he will also be at Euros.)

"What is known about the contenders?"

We have looked at the results of the World Cup competitions while we held our championships. We have looked at our competitiveness. I can tell you that in most cases, we march in step (haha.) Our gymnasts show a normal level of preparation. Though we do not exclude unexpectedness - it is a new season, which means that we have new contenders; new routines are being prepared. We will watch. And we will prepare for the World Championships.

Cottbus Cup results

2009-03-23T14:23:00.000-07:00

Stupid university computer won't display the results again...but what I have managed to glean:
Sui Lu won the floor after placing first in qualifications. She wasn't on the Olympic team (probably due to her inconsistency) but looks like she's making up for lost time now...
Ariella Kaslin won vault (I'm expecting her to win in Milan); Aagje Vanwalleghem and Yasmin Zimmermann took second and third. Anja Brinker won the uneven bars with a very nice routine, but I preferred Vanwalleghem's, which won her silver - not as clean, but more interesting.
First on beam was Marta Pihan of Poland; second was Lieke Wevers (NED).

Fabian Hambuchen crashed off the high bar and did not finish his routine, but says that he is okay now:)

ThePenguin888 has started putting routines up.

Men's results:

FLOOR
Kohei Uchimura JPN 15.700
Diego Hypolito BRA 15.125
Dimitrios Markousis GRE 14.975

POMMEL HORSE
Donna-Donny Truyens BEL 15.575 2.
Robert Weber GER 14.775
Saso Bertoncelj SLO (6.0) 14.625

RINGS
Yuri van Gelder NED 15.850
Dimosthenis Tambakos GRE 15.700
Danny Pinheiro-Rodrigues FRA 15.600

VAULT
Jeffrey Wammes (NED) took gold.

PARALLEL BARS
Mitja Petkovsek (Slovakia)

Great Britain-Romania junior meet

2009-03-22T14:14:00.000-07:00

The GBR team won the meet with 160.25 points (Romania 157.40.) Danusia Francis won the all-around!!!
The Romanian juniors aren't looking very strong, which is worrying. They came in fourth at the Junior Europeans last year, and seem to be having major problems on bars (worse than usual, I mean).

All-Around Results
Danusia Francis GBR 54.35
Diana Bulimar ROM 53.50
Nicole Hibbert GBR 53.30
Larisa Iordache ROM 53.00
Lizzie Beddoe GBR 51.15
Jessica Hogg GBR 51.15
Madalina Neagu ROM 50.90
Jocelyn Hunt GBR 50.00
Ruby Straw GBR 49.20
Ana Maria Baicu ROM 33.55
Adina Bordeianu ROM 22.40

'Twas in parliament...

2009-03-22T14:02:00.000-07:00

I wrote this in Year 10.

'Twas in Parliament
they were having an argument.
The Prime Minister -
Helen Clark to be exact -
said,
"I want it my way,
It just can't go your way.
Why can't you see what I'm trying to say?"
The Honourable Phil Goff
said,
"Helen, just listen.
What you're saying is true, but it's not quite refined.
If you see it my way,
you'll see my way is better -
we can compromise, see,
with ninety percent my idea
and ten percent yours.
But Helen got angry.
She said, "You cheating swindler!
Bah! Ninety percent your idea and ten percent mine.
What a liar you are!
What a swine! What a fraud!
How they voted you into parliament
I really can't see."
Then Phil got angry.
He said, "Helen, you biased creature!
You're biased for yourself
and prejudiced against me!
You could be the next Hitler,
the way you want to run this country.
How they voted you into parliament
I really can't see."
There was uproar in the chamber
and the Speaker called for order,
but nobody heard him
in all the commotion.
And they jumped on the tables,
and brutalised each other,
and then parliament was gone,
and so was democracy,
and so New Zealand became an anarchist state.

Roster for Europeans

2009-03-20T15:21:00.000-07:00

Turns out Italy is not sending Vanessa after all. And Russia is not sending Maxim Devyatovsky. I'm not surprised, actually, especially after he did very poorly at the Russian championships.

The list is far too long to post here (and I can't recognise all the flags) so here is the link.

I'm looking forward to seeing Ksenia defend her two titles from last year, and also new French senior Youna Dufournet. Hopefully she'll do better than in the American Cup.

Second World Cup Competition in Cottbus begins

2009-03-20T14:52:00.000-07:00

The qualification round was held yesterday, with the top 8 gymnasts advancing to finals. 80 men and 31 women competed, mostly from European nations. Absent was Russia, as it has just held its national championships, and Ukraine, for reasons we all know about. (But they will be at Europeans!) And Chusovitina is still recovering from surgery:(

Qualification Results - Women

VAULT
Ariella Käslin SUI 14.425
Aagje Vanwalleghem BEL 14.325
Sidney Sanabria PUR 13.725
Kim Bui GER 13.725
Laura Gombas HUN 13.475
Wyomi Masela NED 13.275
Ildiko Forkas HUN 13.275

UNEVEN BARS
Kim Bui GER 14.150
Wyomi Masela NED 13.450
Aagje Vanwalleghem BEL 13.350
Ethiene Franco BRA 13.250
Lucia Tacchelli SUI 13.200
Anja Brinker GER 13.200
Hu Yuhong CHN 13.000
Lieke Wevers NED 12.900

9. Ivana Kovacova SVK 12.850
10. Vasiliki Millousi GRE 12.700
11. Ariella Käslin SUI 12.600
12. Marta Pihan-Kulesza POL 12.500
13. Bruna Leal BRA 12.400
14. Monika Frandofert POL 12.100
15. Denise Karahodzic AUT 11.350
16. Luiza Galiulina UZB 10.550
17. Andrea Rührlinger AUT 9.350
18. Sandra Ostad NOR 8.350

BEAM
Hu Yuhong CHN 14.750
Luiza Galiulina UZB 13.950
Ethiene Franco BRA 13.750
Lieke Wevers NED 13.550
Ariella Käslin SUI 13.300
Anja Brinker GER 13.250
Marta Pihan-Kulesza POL 13.250
Wyomi Masela NED 13.100

9. Sui Lu CHN 12.850
10. Sidney Sanabria PUR 12.800
11. Lisa Ecker AUT 12.650
12. Yasmin Zimmermann SUI 12.500
13. Adela Sajn SLO 12.450
14. Bruna Leal BRA 12.250
15. Ivana Kovacova SVK 12.050
16. Vasiliki Millousi GRE 12.050
17. Laura Gombas HUN 11.950
18. Sasa Golob SLO 11.900
19. Sandra Ostad NOR 11.850
20. Emrina Abduvalieva UZB 11.750
21. Monika Frandofert POL 11.200
22. Andrea Rührlinger AUT 10.850
23. Paschalina Mitrakou GRE 10.850
24. Karoline Sondov NOR 10.500

FLOOR
Sui Lu CHN 14.150
Kim Bui GER 13.750
Wyomi Masela NED 13.600
Aagje Vanwalleghem BEL 13.600
Marta Pihan-Kulesza POL 13.250
Adela Sajn SLO 13.200
Ethiene Franco BRA 13.200
Bruna Leal BRA 13.000

9. Anja Brinker GER 12.950
10. Yasmin Zimmermann SUI 12.950
11. Karoline Sondov NOR 12.650
12. Monika Frandofert POL 12.500
13. Lisa Ecker AUT 12.500
14. Emrina Abduvalieva UZB 12.500
15. Sasa Golob SLO 12.450
16. Linda Stämpfli SUI 12.400
17. Ildiko Forkas HUN 12.300
18. Laura Gombas HUN 12.300
19. Denise Karahodzic AUT 11.800
20. Luiza Galiulina UZB 11.800
21. Sidney Sanabria PUR 11.200
22. Paschalina Mitrakou GRE 11.050

Men

VAULT
Jeffrey Wammes NED 16.016
Tomi Tuuha FIN 15.866
Matthias Fahrig GER 15.833
Diego Hypolito BRA 15.733
Marek Lyszczarz POL 15.699
Niki Böschenstein SUI 15.650
Benoit Caranobe FRA 15.516
Istvan Szalontai HUN 15.516

9. Kohei Uchimura JPN 15.483
10. Fabian Hambüchen GER 15.183
11. Arthur Zanetti BRA 15.149
12. Sergio Ramos PUR 15.099
13. Timo Niemela FIN 15.033
14. Luis Rivera PUR 14.966
15. Carlo van Minde NED 14.916
16. Ali Al-Asi JOR 14.749
17. Claudio Capelli SUI 14.649
18. Georgeos Spanos CYP 14.566
19. Marcus Conradi NOR 13.699
20. Ruslan Irgashev UZB 12.799

FLOOR
Kohei Uchimura JPN 15.466
Diego Hypolito BRA 15.433
-- Marcel Nguyen GER 15.100 (exhibition competitor only)
Matthias Fahrig GER 15.066
Shun Nishimura JPN 14.833
Eleftherios Kosmidis GRE 14.800
Dimitrios Markousis GRE 14.766
Tomislav Markovic CRO 14.733
Roland Häuptli SUI 14.533

9. Alexander Shatilov ISR 14.466
10. Fabian Hambüchen GER 14.466
11. Jeffrey Wammes NED 14.466
12. Arthur Zanetti BRA 14.400
13. Benoit Caranobe FRA 14.233
15. Robert Gal HUN 14.100
16. Tomi Tuuha FIN 14.066
14. Claudio Capelli SUI 14.233
17. Istvan Szalontai HUN 13.733
18. Samuel Piasecky SVK 13.533
19. Ziga Silc SLO 13.366
20. Carlo van Minde NED 13.100
21. Georgios Georgiou CYP 13.033
22. Sergio Ramos PUR 13.033
23. Angel Ramos PUR 12.966
24. Marcus Conradi NOR 12.866
25. Espen Jansen NOR 12.533
26. Eetu Lahti FIN 12.433
27. Rok Klavora SLO 12.266
28. Felix Aronovich ISR 12.066
29. Barend Verbeke BEL 11.900
32. Thomas Taranu GER 12.133
30. Ali Al-Asi JOR 7.066

POMMEL HORSE
Saso Bertoncelj SLO 15.300
Donna-Donny Truyens BEL 15.166
Robert Weber GER 14.600
Hamilton Sabot FRA 14.366
Roland Häuptli SUI 14.266
Shun Nishimura JPN 14.166
Zoltan Kallai HUN 14.066
Angel Ramos PUR 14.000

9. Felix Aronovich ISR 14.000
10. Roman Gisi SUI 13.966
11. Hisashi Mizutori JPN 13.633
12. Luis Rivera PUR 13.566
13. Robert Gal HUN 13.533
14. Xenofon Kosmidis GRE 13.533
15. Robert Juckel GER 13.400
16. Ziga Britovsek SLO 13.233
17. Koen van Damme BEL 13.200
18. Benoit Caranobe FRA 13.066
19. Anthony van Assche NED 12.966
20. Alexander Shatilov ISR 12.700
21. Mosiah Rodrigues BRA 12.400
22. Samuel Piasecky SVK 11.900
23. Tariq Abuayad JOR 11.066
24. Kalle Maatta FIN 10.566
25. Giannos Parpas CYP 10.466
26. Ruslan Irgashev UZB 10.066
27. Christian Eggesbo NOR 9.666 ?!
28. Georgios Georgiou CYP 9.666 ?!

RINGS
Dimosthenis Tambakos GRE 15.800
Danny Pinheiro-Rodrigues FRA 15.700
Yuri van Gelder NED 15.400
Irodotos Georgallas CYP 15.333
-- Fabian Hambüchen GER 15.266 (exhibition competitor)
Eleftherios Petrounias GRE 15.166
Samir Ait Said FRA 15.133
Eduard Gholub ISR 14.800
Koen van Damme BEL 14.800

9. Fabian Leimlehner AUT 14.466
10. Arthur Zanetti BRA 14.466
11. Niki Böschenstein SUI 14.366
12. Thomas Taranu GER 14.333
13. Luis Rivera PUR 14.233
14. Olli Torkkel FIN 14.133
15. Jonas Toeback BEL 14.066
-- Robert Juckel GER 14.066*
16. Robert Weber GER 14.000
17. Robert Gal HUN 13.966
18. Anthony van Assche NED 13.900
19. Georgeos Spanos CYP 13.766
20. Felix Aronovich ISR 13.700
21. Markku Leinonen FIN 13.600
22. Christian Eggesbo NOR 12.866
23. Ali Al-Asi JOR 12.700
24. Espen Jansen NOR 11.466

PARALLEL BARS
Fabian Hambüchen GER 15.600
Yann Cucherat FRA 15.500
Niki Böschenstein SUI 15.066
Marcel Nguyen GER 15.000
Kazuhito Tanaka JPN 14.866
Mitja Petkovsek SLO 14.766
Claudio Capelli SUI 14.766
Adam Kierzkowski POL 14.766

9. Benoit Caranobe FRA 14.400
10. Kohei Uchimura JPN 14.400
11. Vasileios Tsolakidis GRE 14.366
12. Alen Dimic SLO 14.300
-- Matthias Fahrig GER 14.266 (exhibition competitor)
13. Samuel Piasecky SVK 14.166
14. Fabian Leimlehner AUT 13.933
15. Robert Gal HUN 13.900
16. Roman Kulesza POL 13.366
17. Felix Aronovich ISR 13.333
18. Markku Leinonen FIN 13.266
19. Herre Zonderland NED 12.833
20. Marcus Conradi NOR 12.033
21. Christian Eggesbo NOR 11.966
22. Emmanuel Gomez PUR 11.700
23. Ali Al-Asi JOR 11.266
24. Tariq Abuayad JOR 10.800

HIGH BAR
Yann Cucherat FRA 15.500
Fabian Hambüchen GER 15.266
Kazuhito Tanaka JPN 15.233
Hisashi Mizutori JPN 15.133
Hamilton Sabot FRA 15.133
Epke Zonderland NED 15.033
Jeffrey Wammes NED 15.000
Marco Baldauf AUT 14.800

9. Robert Weber GER 14.766
10. Fabian Leimlehner AUT 14.700
11. Marijo Moznik CRO 14.600
12. Mosiah Rodrigues BRA 14.566
13. Samuel Piasecky SVK 14.533
14. Angel Ramos PUR 14.500
-- Robert Juckel GER 14.466 (exhibition competitor)
15. Niki Böschenstein SUI 14.300
-- Marcel Nguyen GER 14.200 (exhibition competitor)
16. Claudio Capelli SUI 13.933
17. Umit Samiloglu TUR 13.833
18. Alexander Shatilov ISR 13.500
19. Istvan Szalontai HUN 13.333
20. Emmanuel Gomez PUR 13.300
21. Christian Eggesbo NOR 13.133
22. Diego Hypolito BRA 13.033
23. Roman Kulesza POL 13.000
24. Timo Niemela FIN 12.833
25. Alen Dimic SLO 12.733
26. Espen Jansen NOR 12.466
27. Robert Gal HUN 12.366
28. Kalle Maatta FIN 11.300

Amelia Racea wins junior all-around at Jesolo

2009-03-17T12:18:00.000-07:00

At the Jesolo meet on Saturday, Olympian Lia Parolari won the senior all-around title, while Amelia Racea won the all-around in the junior section. The Italian team as a whole performed very well, but Vanessa Ferrari wasn't there after all! EuroEmily Army and Paola Galante also performed very well, both scoring less than a point below Parolari. Elisabetta Preziosa and Serena Licchetta both took falls.
The officials were hoping to use Ferrari in two events at Europeans, but the team here performed very well without her, so she may not be included in the team.

The Brazilians performed all right, but not brilliantly. Dos Santos, Barbosa and Souza are still too injured to compete.

My computer won't display any more of the article, but here are results from the all-around:

Senior AA
Lia Parolari 54.75
He Ning 54.6
Bruna Leal 54.5 (despite a fall on beam)
Paola Galante 54.5
Ana Maria Tamarjan 54.15
Emily Army 53.9
Ethiene Franco 53.25
Serena Licchetta 53.05
Diana Chelaru 52.7
E. Rando (ITA) 51.95

Junior AA
Amelia Racea 55.55
C. Ferlito (ITA) 54.85
E. Fasana (ITA) 54.6
F. de Agostini (ITA) 53.6
Niamh Rippin (GBR) 53.5
Nicole Hibbert (GBR) 53.05
J. Silva (BRA) 52.0
Danusia Francis (GBR) 52.9
Raluca Haidu (ROM) 52.7
A. Rupini (ITA) 52.25

Sandra performed her new floor routine as she did in the Nadia Comaneci Invitational, but didn't do very well, ending up with only 13.7.

amc81 has many of the routines posted.

Rodionenko sums up the Russian championships

2009-03-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

"We have held the first competitions of a new season. And not just a new season, but an Olympic quadrennium. The first competitions with the new rules put in place by the FIG. The first thing I wanted to see in these championships is new programs, and how the gymnasts cope with these new combinations. We have intentionally held these championships with the full program (team, all around and event finals), as it was important to look at the structure under this format.(?) It is also necessary that each personal trainer, including those who are not working with the national team, to understand the format - three gymnasts per event (for team competition). Secondly, we have included in the championships gymnasts born in the year 1994, that is, gymnasts who are one year too young for senior competition. We have done this intentionally, to prepare them. I am very happy; the younger ones have brought variety and freshness."

Are there any areas in which you are dissatisfied?

"Firstly, there are weak areas, which should be taken seriously. For the women, it is the vault; for the men, the vault and pommel horse."

Speaking of the men, do you wish to mention the weakness on rings? For example, Pluzhnikov's score?

"Rings is an apparatus where the rules are very different now. And, owing to these rule changes, the scores will change also. For example, specialist Pluzhnikov's routine last year had a difficulty score of 7.3, and now it is about 6.6. All-arounder Ryazanov had a difficulty of 5.9 and now it is 6.2. So it is not possible to draw such unequivocal conclusions, as you are doing."

In your opinion, why is there a problem with the formation of the women's European team?

"We already spoke of the demographic "hole" of the start of the 1990's. The country left this hole at the start of 1994.(???) But we cannot take the fifteen-year-olds to the European championships. I am disturbed more by other situations. Here, the 12-16 year olds in a team are much stronger than the other gymnasts."

Do you think it is necessary to work more on the difficulty of the routines?
"I think the routines are ready in terms of difficulty. Now it is necessary to work on the execution."

Huntingdon defend Men’s Team title

2009-03-13T15:21:00.000-07:00

Daniel Keatings once again led Huntingdon Olympic Gymnastics Club to glory at the 2009 British Men’s Team Championships.

The Olympic All-around finalist finished with the highest Individual score of the competition with team-mate Luke Folwell in second to help give defending Champions Huntingdon a winning total of 255.050 points, ahead of South Essex in second and Leeds in third.

In the Under-14 Team competition, Nottingham (292.050) took the victory ahead of South Essex and Leeds, despite the South Essex boys claiming the top 3 place individually.

The ‘Continental Cup’, the prize for the Team with the best combined results from both events, went to South Essex.

Source: British Gymnastics

France and Great Britain name gymnasts for Europeans

2009-03-13T15:09:00.000-07:00

FRANCE
Yann Cucherat (PB, HB)
Benoit Caranobe (AA)
Hamilton Sabot (AA)
Thomas Bouhail (VT)
Danny Pinheiro-ROdrigues (SR)
Cyril Tommasone (PH, PB)

Alternate: Samil Ait-Said (SR,VT)

Women: Youna Dufournet and Olympian Marine Petit.

A final training camp will be held for the women March 21-29 in Saint Etienne, and for the men March 24-28 in Bourges.

GREAT BRITAIN (men)
Luke Folwell
Daniel Keatings
Daniel Purvis
Theo Seager
Louis Smith
Kristian Thomas

Non-travelling alternate - Danny Lawrence

The men will prove their readiness in the London Open, on the 21st of March.

Russian Championships - Event finals - Semenova wins bars and floor

2009-03-13T14:26:00.000-07:00

Ksenia Semenova won the gold on uneven bars and floor exercise yesterday at the Russian Championships, posting the highest score of the competition on the bars. Yulia Berger won the vault, and all-around champion Aliya Mustafina tied with Afanasyeva for the balance beam.

Results - Women

VAULT
Yulia Berger 14.562
Kristina Goryunova 13.65
Anna Dementyeva 13.475
Ramilja Musin 13.375
Yekaterina Korodumova 13.325
Maria Chibiskova 13.312
Tatiana Nabieva 7.287
Alexandra Telitsina 6.9

UNEVEN BARS
Ksenia Semenova 15.8
Aliya Mustafina 15.3
Ksenia Afanasyeva 14.7
Tatiana Nabieva 14.5
Yulia Berger 14.25
Kristina Goryunova 14.125
Anna Dementyeva 14.0
Yekaterina Kurbatov 13.65

BEAM
Aliya Mustafina and Ksenia Afanasyeva 14.95
Ksenia Semenova 14.725
Kristina Goryunova 14.675
Diana Sapronova 13.85
Svetlana Klyukina 13.475
Tatiana Solovyeva 13.425
Maria Chibiskova 11.4

FLOOR
Ksenia Semenova 14.925
Kristina Goryunova 14.825
Aliya Mustafina 14.7
Anna Dementyeva 14.275
Anna Myzdrikova 14.2
Ksenia Afanasyeva 13.85
Yulia Berger 13.825
Tatiana Solovyeva 12.675

MEN

POMMEL HORSE
Andrei Perevoznikov 15.0
Andrei Lihovitsky 14.375
Dmitry Stoljarov 13.7

RINGS
Konstantin Pluzhnikov 15.475
Yuri Ryazanov 15.225
Ruslan Nigmadzjanov 14.425

VAULT
Denis Abljazin 15.825
Anton Golotsutskov 15.737
Anton Lobachyov 15.625

PARALLEL BARS
Nikolai Kryukov 15.475
Maxim Devyatovsky 14.8 (finally!)
Nikita Ignatyev 14.55

HIGH BAR
Sergei Horohordin 15.25
Yuri Ryazanov 15.075
Maxim Devyatovsky 14.6

FLOOR
Yuri Ryazanov (Vladimir) 14.85
Anton Golotsutskov 14.725
Anton Neudakina 14.625
Vladimir Olennikov 14.5
Dmitry Gogotov 13.35
Anton Lobachyov 13.15
Nikita Ignatyev 13.075
Michael Bodnar 12.55

Jesolo roster

2009-03-12T23:06:00.001-07:00

Here is the roster from the Italian website:

Italy Senior: Paola Galante, Elisabetta Preziosa, Army, Licchetta, Lia Parolari, Rando, Vanessa Ferrari
Junior: Fasana, Ferlito, De Agostini, Scantamburlo, Rupini, Carnessali

Brazil Senior: Ana Claudia Silva, Ethiene Franco, Bruna Leal, Khiuani Dias, Daniele Hypolito, Priscila Cobello
Junior: Anna Caroline Cardoso, Nicolle Beltrame, Janaina Silva, Nadhine Ourives, Leticia da Costa

Romania Senior: Sandra Izbasa, Anamaria Tamarjan, Diana Chelaru (hooray she's senior now), Daniela Druncea, Gabriela Dragoi
Junior: Amelia Racea, Raluca Haidu, Diana Trenca

The only Chinese gymnast named is He Ning, but I'm assuming they're sending more.

Good luck Beth and Sandra!!

Moscow team wins Russian Championships and 2009 Euro team named

2009-03-12T17:33:00.000-07:00

In first place was the team from Moscow with 17.05 points (Aliya Mustafina, Yulia Berger, Anna Myzdrikova, Maria Chibiskova, Elena Syrnikova and ZAMO!!! yay!!!) Second was from the Central Federal district, 169.1 points (Ksenia Afanasyeva, Ksenia Semenova, Dariya Goncharov, Tamara Kohadze, Anastas Cherepina, Evgenia Klimov) and third from Petersburg with 161.4 points (Tatiana Nabieva, Diana Sapronova, Irina Sazonov, Olga Alekseeva, Ekaterina Krylova and Alina Rybalova).
The Moscow and Central teams fought it out well for first place, the Ksenias leading their team, and it wasn't until the last rotation that Moscow came out on top. Afanasyeva made errors on the balance beam, costing her team one and a half points (ouch! but she was sick so we forgive her). Even after this, they were still in the lead! And then came the floor exercise. For the Moscow team to win, they would need to score an average of 14.5 points. Double world all-around champion Yuri Korolev was watching (the representative of the Central team) and he remarked, "It is not possible. They won't win."

First up was Yulia Berger from the CSKA school, trained by Elena and Vladimir Kuznetsov. He has said about her in the past, "She is talented, but very timid. The main thing to overcome is her fear, and then she will begin to grow as a gymnast." And, it seems as though this has been accomplished. Yulia got to the national team last year. Most of the time she remained in the shadows, training, but wasn't involved in any major competitions. She started her team off with a 14.4. She did not have quite enough difficulty, but got her team off to a great start.

Next was fifteen-year-old Aliya Mustafina. She scored a 14.8! And finally was Anna Myzdrikova. Frankly speaking, it was difficult to believe that Anna would hold up under such pressure. This would be a test not only of her ability, but also of stability. She also scored a 14.8! She did not only perform under the pressure, but performed with honour! In one rotation, the Moscow team won back over two points.
Competing for the Central team on floor were the two Ksenias and Dariya Goncharov, but they could not retake the lead.

The team which placed fourth was from the Volga region, including Anna Dementyeva, Kristina Goryunova, and Svetlana Klyukina (who has recovered from her injuries).

At the end of the competition, the national trainer Alexandrov was very happy. "I am pleased with the results, first of all because we can look at the competitive readiness of teh gymnasts. They work on competitions, work on results. Readiness for the beginning of the international season is visible.

He named Ksenia Semenova, Ksenia Afanasyeva, Kristina Goryunova and Yulia Berger for the European team - the Ksenias and Kristina as all-arounders, and Yulia to compete on vault and floor. "I want to make particular not of Semenova and Afanasyeva - they are the unconditional leaders of this national team. They are very hardworking, very focused on results. Their results here are despite the injuries which plagued them previously. Afanasyeva was not on the podium for the all-around only because she was sick. Also look at Anna Myzdrikova's performance which clinched the victory for the Moscow team - she has performed for the first time as required as a member of the national team. She still needs to prove herself.."

(Sorry about the last bit being muddly - I couldn't quite understand it.)

Results of the men's team competition:

Central Region - 262.45 (Dmitry Barkalov, Timur Kuzmin, Anton Neudakin, Alexander Kalabin, Sergei Khorokhorkin, Yuri Ryazanov)
Siberia - 256.8 (Andrei Cherkasov, Maxin Devyatovsky, Anton Golotsutskov, Nikita Ignatyev, Konstantin Pluzhnikov)
Moscow - 254.225 (Mikhail Bodnar, Emin Garbiov, Dmitry Gogotov, Vladimir Olennikov, Dmitry Stolyarov, Dmitry Takubovsky)

Championships of Siberia and the Far East - Ekaterina Gaas and Nikita Ignatyev dominate

2009-03-12T16:41:00.000-07:00

These were held in Novosibirsk, in the new gym built 3 years ago. It has not been possible to hold a competition of this level for the last thirty years. 80 gymnasts participated from various regions including Omsk, Krasnoyarsk, Chita, Khabarovsk, the Kemerovo region and Altay territory.

The team competition was held on the first day. The women's team competition was won by the team from Kemerovo, second from Omsk, and third place was the Krasnoyarsk team. The men's teams: Kemerovo, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk.

In the all-around, Ekaterina Gaas (Kemerovo) and Natalia Poroshinu (Omsk) took first and second place, while third was Margarita Muruvannoj from Novosibirsk. "I did not expect to take third place. When the results were announced, I was delighted," Margarita said.
In the men's all-around, Nikita Ignatyev and Igor Pahomenko from Kemerovo were first and second, with Denis Blinov from Omsk in third. These men trained first with Russian trainer Dmitry Chusonova, then moved to Leninsk-Kuznetsk with him, and now represent the Kemerovo region.

Event Finals - Men
FLOOR
Nikita Ignatyev
Alexey ---- (Novosibirsk)
Alexey Tacheev (Krasnoyarsk)

POMMEL HORSE
Igor Pahomenko (Kemerovo
Alexey Rastvorov (Novosibirsk
Alexey Tacheev

RINGS
Nikita Ignatyev (Kemerovo)
Alexey Tacheev
Sergey Zverjuga (Krasnoyarsk)

VAULT
Nikita Ignatyev
Ismail Abdurahmanov (Krasnoyarsk)
Igor Pahomenko (Kemerovo)

PARALLEL BARS
Nikita Ignatyev
Cyril Gusev (Tomsk)
Igor Pahomenko

HIGH BAR
Igor Pahomenko
Anton Nazarov (Novosibirsk)
Denis Sushko (Kemerovo)

Ignatayev competed with the Siberian team at the Russian championships, where they placed second.

Women
VAULT
Ekaterina Gaas
Julia Russian (Omsk)
Hope Murasoba (sp?)

BARS
Ekaterina Gaas
Natalia Kulikova (Kemerovo)
Natalia Poroshina

BEAM
Olesya Sinitsyn (Kemerovo)
Natalia Poroshina
Ekaterina Gaas

FLOOR
Ekaterina Gaas
Julia Russian
Ksenia Guzova (Altay)

Ivana Hong doing well at WOGA

2009-03-11T11:47:00.000-07:00

Ivana Hong is settling into WOGA. She's doing beam, and has begun tumbling again. Valeri's quite optimistic about her, comparing her situation to Nastia's in 06 when she was injured.

--------------------

Apparently Shawn did quite well in Dancing with the Stars the other night. I found another photo of her:

Why can't they give the poor girl something that suits her.?

I won't post anything more about Shawn because everyone's going on about her anyway, and it's nothing to do with gymnastics. I hope she stays on to the end though, because that means she won't be at Worlds.

Nastia received an offer for DWTS as well, but declined so that she could get back into training and competing.

And speaking of Nastia, remember to vote for her for the 79th AAU Sullivan Award (although I have no idea what it is). The other gymnasts nominated are Jonathan Horton and Shawn. Voting finishes on the 27th March - go to USAtoday.com

---------------------

International Gymnast Magazine has an interview with NCAA gymnast Courtney Kupets: http://www.intlgymnast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=798:interview-courtney-kupets-us&catid=3:interviews&Itemid=168

GBR Competitions

2009-03-11T11:46:00.001-07:00

British seniors and juniors will soon be off to the Jesolo Competition in Italy, where they will compete against Brazil, China, Romania and Italy from 13th-15th March.

The team roster:
SENIOR: Rebecca Wing, Marissa King, Hannah Whelan, Rebecca Downie, Laura Jones, BETH TWEDDLE! I’m so happy she’s not retiring yet.
JUNIOR: Nicole Hibbert, Danusia Francis, Jennifer Pinches, Niamh Rippin, Jocelyn Hunt, Ruby Straw.

Following Jesolo is a Junior meet against Romania (March 21st)
The lineup: Nicole Hibbert, Danusia Francis, Lizzie Beddoe, Niamh Rippin, Jocelyn Hunt, Ruby Straw, Jessica Hogg.

The Woes of Moceanu

2009-03-10T15:14:00.000-07:00

Dominique Moceanu told Viola Roadkill, "All I wanted was one doughnut...and look where it got me!"

Aliya Mustafina wins Russian Championships!!!

2009-03-10T12:36:00.000-07:00

Aliya Mustafina 58.55
Ksenia Semenova 58.2
Tatiana Nabieva 56.9
Anna Dementyeva 55.55
Kristina Goryunova 55.55
Ksenia Afanasyeva 55.2

Alexandrov said, "I cannot say these results were unexpected. After the Olympics both Ksenias were injured and could not train to full capacity, although they worked a lot. Therefore the errors which they made here could be predicted. Nothing dreadful - it is all reparable. In particular, Ksenia Semenova was leading the competition in three rotations of the competition - she made mistakes only in the floor exercise, where she dropped to second. The rules were adhered to rigidly, with deductions for the slightest error. The results of the younger ones also did not surprise me. The girls are very diligent and hardworking. Before this championship, there was one goal - to get to the national team. This has been achieved. But for me is the important problem - we cannot take the girls born in 1994 to the Europeans. So we have only two Olympians - Semenova and Afanasyeva. We also have Goryunova, who is improving, but that is still not enough. Berger also made mistakes. [I can't understand the last sentence.]
Men's All-Around:
Yuri Ryazanov 88.225
Vladimir Alennikova 86.775
Dmitry Barkalov 86.325
Anton Lihovitsky 85.825
Anton Neudakin 85.0
Nikita Ignatyev 84.4

Maxim Devyatovskim ended up 25th :O he is not doing well is he. But Alexandrov is not giving up on him yet, saying, "However, I think that we should not dismiss Maxim. He is still not over the tragedy which has shaken him (the death of his mother), and serious work should help. He has sufficient potential."
Alexandrov did not comment on who would prepare for the European team, but that it would be decided after the event finals tomorrow.

some writing

2009-03-10T11:52:00.000-07:00

I wrote this for an NCEA assignment. A few too many adjectives, but I like it.

Early morning, and the pale wintry sun is still hiding behind thick, shifting, polyphonic layers of clouds. From the sky hangs a heavy mist, dampening the air into the blurred obscurity of Debussy's Voiles. Last night's frost coats the grass and trees; covers pavement and driveway with that treacherous black ice which renders walkways unusable; lies thick on car windows, dense, white, impenetrable. Jack Frost has paid his respects to the house as well, delicately patterning the doors and windows with silvery swirls and spirals. The house itself is silent, no noisy chattering and bickering echoing throughout its walls. No child has left the warm safety of his bed, tucked in tightly against the biting cold. Through broken venetian blinds they can just glimpse this new world, this world of pre-dawn, of silence.

A thin finger of sunlight splinters the closely-packed bundle of clouds, reaching out cautiously to finger trees and hedges before retreating behind nimbus and stratus. More sun slowly creeps through; the rain-soaked air lightens. A chinkl of light clints off the corrugated iron of the garage roof. The mist begins to dissipate.

The gathering breeze rustles the tops of the pear and plum trees; stirs the rusted wind chimes, clinking them together. It whistles through the branches of the fallen apple tree, a mountain of once-proud foliage now lying dead on the grass.

The last shades of pink and orange are fading away, clouds parting to reveal a brittle sun that gives off an icy warmth. On the windows and car, icce slowly starts to melt, water trickling down to form shiny rivulets on the concrete below. A few birds prattle cheerfully to each other, then fall silent. All is still.

Then - creak, scrape, clunk - the back door bangs open, and four children, half-clad with coats on, pour out of the house, dash down the steps, laughing together. One wears only pajamas and a dressing gown, "I'm not cold," she boasts, shivering slightly. Only the eldest is missing - she's inside, playing her flute.

They converge in Dandelion Grove, where, come spring, dandelions spring up into a thick, sunny, indestructible carpet. Down beneath the bathroom window is the old vegetable garden, covered in a mat of weeds and grass from when Dad tried to mow it, impossible to pull up. Last year's rotten apples have been trodden underfoot into a soupy brown mush, mixed in with carrot tops, eggshells and potato peels that have missed the compost heap.

They take "potshots" with stale bird's bread at the broken mesh of the toilet room window. Most miss the mark. They hear their sister trip over scalic passages of her Bach sonata, smile at each other, call out to her. "Hey! Come outside, we're going up the paddock! Justine!" But she does not answer.

Clambering over the fence, they pause to help the youngest, who nearly falls into a rusty bucket of rainwater. An up the slope, muddying their clothes in haste, dodging the sharp thistle-trees with their many sharp thorns, poised to catch on unwary clothing. Past the "mole-hole", where they like to huddle on a summer's afternoon, watching the fluffy, candyflossed sky. Here, their world is simplified to this hill, with it's tall, waving, hayfever-inducing grasses. Now that the neighbour's goat is gone, they grow with reckless abandon.

At the top, finally, standing together on a knobbly tree stump, gazing down at their house with its plain, white roof. They can see the pears and apples they have thrown up over the years, rolled down into the gutter and blocking the drain. The chimney on the side of the house, dusted with "fairy kisses" of cobwebs and dust. The porch window, broken recently with a carelessly-flung rock. This side of the house is almost an eyesore, but the children know it for what it is - their home, their haven. Their safe place.

The final, faint cadences of the Back trickle out of the window, bringing the piece to a close.

More Gymnix

2009-03-09T21:57:00.000-07:00

WAG Senior Vault
Charlotte Mackie 14.15
Marie-Carmen Rivera 12.3

And Marie did a handspring vault for her second vault....WHAT?! Maybe she figured she would end up with the same result anyway (her first vault was a 4.6 difficulty). But that's just pathetic.

Uneven Bars
Samantha Shapiro 14.725
Marine Petit 13.65
Sydney Sawa 13.45
Laurie-Ève Pépin-Gagné (France) 11.275 (with a difficulty of 5.3. meltdown much?)

And meanwhile, on the Russian front...

2009-03-09T15:02:00.000-07:00

The Russian Championships are currently being held. Olympians Ksenia Afanasyeva and Ksenia Semenova placed first and second respectively after qualifications.

Ksenia Afanasyeva 59.6
Ksenia Semenova 59.0
Kristina Goryunova 58.35
Aliya Mustafina 58.05
Tatiana Nabieva 56.65
Yulia Berger 55.4

Alexander Alexandrov (who has moved back to Russia to coach the women's team:D) said that the girls were very consistent. He mentioned Goryunova and Berger, "before it was impossible for Goryunova and Berger to hit, but they at last have proved themselves. Goryunova it turns out is quite the all-arounder, and Berger is good on two events — vault and floor exercise."

He is doubtful whether Anna will recover from her injury (shut up Alexandrov!) and Klyukina is injured as well! She only competed on 2 events. (Maybe she's still recovering from surgery she had in October?)

Gymnix 09

2009-03-09T12:27:00.001-07:00

The 2009 Gymnix competition was held in Montreal on Sunday. Mattie Larson won the balance beam AND floor exercise (hooray!), Charlotte Mackie from Canada took gold on vault (there were only 2 in the VT final, what?!) and Samantha Shapiro won the uneven bars, with Sydney Sawa from Canada coming in third.

Senior WAG results:

BEAM
Mattie Larson 14.65
Marine Petit 14.15
Charlotte Mackie 14.05
Marie-Carmen Rivera 12.45 (Puerto Rico I think)
Sydney Sawa 11.75 (Canada)

FLOOR
Mattie Larson 14.95
Charlotte Mackie 14.5
Sydney Sawa 14.3
Marine Petit 14.0

I can't put up the results for VT and UB as my computer won't display the page (hits computer in frustration) but apparently there were only 4 gymnasts in UB final. How many countries went to this competition??

JUNIORS
Jordyn Wieber won EVERYTHING.

The junior competition seems to have been better attended than the senior one. Here are the results:

VAULT
Jordyn Wieber 14.125
Dominique Pegg 14.525 (Canada)
Kamerin Moore 14.45 (USA)
Hallie Mossett 14.2 (USA)
Anysia Unick 14.175 (Canada)
Eleonora Goryunova 13.65
Yulia Belokobylskaya 12.55 (Russia)
Marine Brevet 12.175

UNEVEN BARS
Jordyn Wieber 14.375
Sabrina Vega 13.355 (USA)
Anysia Unick 13.35
Kristina Sidorova 12.625 (Russia)
Dominique Pegg 12.6 (Canada)
Eleonora Goryunova 12.55
Justine Crosato 11.975 (France)
Ambre Casanova 11.75 (France)

BALANCE BEAM
Jordyn Wieber 14.725
Sabrina Vega 13.9
Anna Rodionova 13.475 (Russia yay!! Who is she? I've never heard of her.)
Rochelle Hurt 13.45 (Canada)
Justine Crosato 12.875
Eleonora Goryunova 12.325
Marine Brevet 132.3
Madeline Gardiner 11.575 (Canada)

FLOOR
Jordyn Wieber 14.7
Sabrina Vega 14.3
Yulia Belokobylskaya 13.975 (never heard of her either. Her name is worse than Zamo's. What will they call her - Belo? haha.)
Kristina Sidorova 13.625 (Russia)
Madeline Gardiner 13.6
Anysia Unick 13.6
Marine Brevet 12.975
Ambre Casanova 12.0

And there was another competition called Gymnix International which I think is juniors as well...not sure. I'll post the results later...they're on International Gymnast anyway. Britt Reusche Lari from Peru placed 7th on floor!! banzai!

danafan1 on youtube has some of the routines up, including Mattie's floor!:D

Shawn Johnson "Tiny Dancer" ?

2009-03-09T12:17:00.000-07:00

Anyone think this photo is... slightly...wrong?

Or this one?

I mean, it REALLY does not suit Shawn. And that's just the beginning.

She told International Gymnast: "I think the dancing will transfer over to gymnastics a lot, just because it makes you more elegant and a better dancer, of course, and just being able to perform and present yourself."

Here's hoping...

Jade Barbosa article (26th Feb)

2009-03-08T15:38:00.001-07:00

Found it on Globoesporte. Seems like things are looking up a little for Jade:)

Despite a serious injury, gymnast Jade Barbosa is still confident about returning to competition.

In spite of not being able to train as she would like because of the injury to her right hand, Jade Barbosa has found a reason to smile. At 17 years old, she is going out for the first time. Her father, Caesar Barbosa, declined to give details, but said that he is 16 years old and trains sports at the Flemish club in Rio de Janeiro. He is a legal (good?) boy who likes doing sports. "I think it was about time she had a boyfriend. He likes her," said Caesar. The gymnast, who was worrying friends with her isolation, began the relationship a month ago. In spite of the closeness, her father says he is not jealous. "Jade shares a lot with me, so I'm not jealous. We talk a lot about it."

Other fears the father and daughter speak about are the difficulties that Jade is facing to train. Although he recognizes that Jade is bothered about the situation, Caesar says that she still believes that she will be able to compete once again at a high level. "She is sad that she cannot give 100%. I cannot lie. But with each day that passes, she is able to do something more. They (coaches?) have been talking about that, and she is doing well. We are doing everything we can so that she can compete again. Jade is still young, she has other Olympiads ahead. We are going to support her so that this problem will be resolved," he affirmed.

Sziastok tout le monde!

2009-03-08T12:22:00.000-07:00

Cześć!
Haha I finally figured out how to start this blog up.
No idea beyond that, though. Anyone know how to post videos?

...I'm Viola (or Justine if you will), I love music (kind of obvious), writing & learning foreign languages (again rather obvious) & I'm a huge fan of gymnastics. Especially RUSSIA!! KSENIA 2009 WORLD UB CHAMPION!!!!
*sobs* I miss Anna.

Greek lecture calling.... Any technological-help welcome...