this is so dumb its not even funny. i have known nick for 15 years ( hes my gymnastics coach) and my mom had him as a gym teacher, and the fact that you guys are saying this is sooooo dumb he would never. he lets parents watch on one day, its the last class before a new session and i help coach and i watch the kids when there parents are in the room or anyone else for that matter the kids are out[ Read More... ]

Awesome bars routine by China's He Kexin - she brought back all the difficulty from her 2008 Olympics winning bars routine, with some change-up! Cool stick on the second vault by USA newcomer to Seniors from JO Kayla Williams (wins vault). Awesome rings routine by Bulgaria's Jordan Jovtchev (wins silver) and floor routine by Romania's Marian Dragulescu (wins gold) who came out of the retirement[ Read More... ]

USA's Bridget Sloan wins the Worlds AA by 0.050 ahead of her teammate Rebecca Bross - it came down to the last event, floor: [QUOTE] Bross, who trains at WOGA, and Sloan, who trains at Sharp

USA's Shawn Johnson, the self described daredevil who smiles a lot, wins gold on beam with the highest beam score at the Beijing Olympics; 1 adn 2 finish for USA on beam final as Nastia Liukin hits a great routine and wins silver. China's Cheng Fei is up first in the rotation and wins bronze; no fall for Cheng Fei this time like in the team final, but she has balance checks. 1 411 JOHNSON Shawn[ Read More... ]

More debate and controversy with the women's uneven bars final: 1 322 HE Kexin China 7.700 9.025 16.725 2 412 LIUKIN Nastia United States 7.700 9.025 16.725 3 325 YANG Yilin China 7.700 8.950 16.650 4 343 TWEDDLE Beth Great Britain 7.800 8.825 16.625 5 406 KOVAL Anastasiia Ukraine 7.300 9.075 16.375 6 396 SEMENOVA Ksenia Russian Fed. 7.400 8.925 16.325 7 381 NISTOR Steliana Romania 7.000 8.575[ Read More... ]

Nastia Liukin, the tiger: [QUOTE] "I studied her face to see any nervousness, but did not see any," Valery said. "She is very fragile outside, but inside her is a tiger. To work with her is not always easy, probably how it is with any athlete who exhibits strong character. She is very strong technically, but because of the injury we did not have enough time to be prepared for the last world[ Read More... ]

USA photos, during team qualifiers competition: Shawn Johnson doing overshoot (also called shoot over) Nastia Liukin doing her geinger release move after all those turning elements more here: http://www2.usa-gymnastics.org/events/2008/olympics/photos/Album10.htm

In team qualifiers China finishes first, then USA, Russia, the young team Romania (in terms of experience), and Australia, France, Brazil, Japan. Top 8 go to team finals (scores not carrying over): Love the new gymnastics coaching style of the Romanian team. 1) China 248.275 2) USA 246.800 3) Russia 244.400 4) Romania 238.425 5) Australia 235.450 6) France 233.875 7) Brazil 233.800 8) Japan[ Read More... ]

Another ankle injury: [QUOTE] BEIJING

Chellsie Memmel isn't going to say anything bad about the selection process or Martha Karolyi's role in it as the head - she's on the team. Same as Nastia Liukin, or Shawn Johnson, and probably even the alternates too, and those that are currently elite gymnasts. Different when you're retired already like Dominique Moceanu and have really nothing to do with it now, like endorsements, sponsorship[ Read More... ]

Another view on this: Dominique Moceanu, her 1996 Olympic teammate, says things need to change - Karolyi's should be out and selection process should be changed, topic http://www.gymchat.com/messageboards/showthread.php?p=75290&posted=1#post75290

Dominique Dawes, another 1996 Mag7 winning gold team member, who successfully made a comeback and competed at the 2000 Games too, approves of the selection process: "Domnique Dawes gives thumbs up to the gymnastics Olympic selection process" http://www.gymchat.com/messageboards/showthread.php?t=70713 Of course she does agree to that it is intense.

Like Michael Phelps put it on one of his interviews aired on TV - 'what controversy? anyone can wear it anywhere..' USA swimming team is training at Stanford University now, in Palo Alto, California.

Shayla Worley going for making the team this weekend at selection camp in Texas, at Karolyi's ranch. The other spots - 2 are confirmed - Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin, after the Nationals which they finished 1 and 2 - and probably also Alicia Sacramone, Chellsie Memmel, and Samantha Peszek. [QUOTE]The Orlando Metro gymnast heads off to selection camp in Texas today, hoping to do enough to[ Read More... ]

Sheryl Shade is also Shawn Johnson's agent: [QUOTE] "This is what we anticipated," Morgan Hamm's agent, Sheryl Shade, said by telephone from New York. "We're thrilled the review has come out positively and we all look forward to seeing Morgan compete in Beijing. Paul, too." Paul Hamm, Morgan Hamm's twin brother, who broke a bone in his hand in late May, must show this weekend at a training[ Read More... ]

As expeccted and as the USA men's team officials said, Morgan Hamm is confirmed as a member of the USA men's Olympic gymnastics team going to Beijing. [QUOTE] "After a review by both USA Gymnastics and the USOC, there is agreement that the public warning Hamm received did not impact his qualification for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team," Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics said in a statement.[ Read More... ]

Australian Women's 2008 Beijing Olympics Team; [quote]Victorian gymnast Emma Dennis has decided not to proceed with her appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against her exclusion from the Beijing Olympics team. Dennis's decision means Australia's women's artistic gymnastics team will feature Georgia Bonora, Ashleigh Brennan, Daria Joura, Lauren Mitchell, Shona Morgan and Olivia Vivian.[ Read More... ]

Different training at different ages, less pounding and less numbers for the older, more experienced gymnasts, training smart: [QUOTE] "I've put those numbers in where the 16-year-olds haven't," she says. "I don't need to pound anymore because I did my job." Memmel, 5-2

Shawn Johnson and the other competitive team members of Chow's gymnastics practiced at the University Friday and Saturday: [quote] Chow made arrangements with Iowa State University for Johnson and the competitive gymnastics team she practices with to train at that facility today and Saturday. About 100 people showed up Thursday night to move equipment to a higher floor and to sandbag around[ Read More... ]

Flood in Iowa, hitting close to Chow's gym [QUOTE] "We need plastic, duct tape, sandbags and manpower," Chow pleaded. "The building in front of us is getting water in the parking lot and it is threatening our gym." Chow's Dance and Gymnastics Institute is at 2210 Park Drive, in an industrial park south of Grand Avenue and a short distance from Raccoon River Park. The Des Moines metro area, as is[ Read More... ]

The artistic gymnastics version: Hollie Vise and Shayla Worley. Flexibility 101. [youtube]cmZ-X0m3J1A[/youtube] Add Nastia Liukin to that list too. :D

from TideSports.com here: http://www.gymchat.com/messageboards/viewtopic.php?t=30701

from TideSports.com here: http://www.gymchat.com/messageboards/viewtopic.php?t=30701

Pressure pressure pressure. Looks like everyone likes to share the spotlight and have less pressure. [quote]Yet with that one big mistake on her first event at the American Cup, Johnson became human again. "Actually, she seems to have had a huge load lifted," Teri Johnson, Shawn's mother, told IG. "She seems much more light-hearted and back to the old Shawn. I think it's really great to have[ Read More... ]

Must be hard core soccer? Lots of injuries in elite gymnastics, and college and club level gymnastics too. Here's one from an elite/college gymnast: [quote]Despite recent knee surgery, Finnish Olympic qualifier Annamari Maaranen says she's making every effort to be in Beijing this summer. Maaranen underwent surgery three weeks ago to repair the torn ACL and meniscus she suffered[ Read More... ]