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.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Cottbus Cup results
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)
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)
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Great Britain-Romania junior meet
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
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...
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.
'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.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Roster for Europeans
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.
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
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
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
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Amelia Racea wins junior all-around at Jesolo
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.
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.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Rodionenko sums up the Russian championships
"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."
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."
Friday, March 13, 2009
Huntingdon defend Men’s Team title
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
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
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.
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
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
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
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Jesolo roster
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!!
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
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)
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
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)
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)
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Ivana Hong doing well at WOGA
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.
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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
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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
--------------------
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
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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
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 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.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Woes of Moceanu
Dominique Moceanu told Viola Roadkill, "All I wanted was one doughnut...and look where it got me!"
Aliya Mustafina wins Russian Championships!!!
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.
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
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.
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.
Monday, March 9, 2009
More Gymnix
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?)
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...
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?)
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
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
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" ?
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...
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Jade Barbosa article (26th Feb)
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.
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!
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...
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...
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