Vera Čáslavská dies aged 74 :(

I didn't put this in the Random Thread, because it surely deserves its own thread.

Gymnastics legend Vera Čáslavská died after a long battle with cancer.

http://ift.tt/2bRAiv6

May she rest in peace

Vera Čáslavská dies aged 74 :(

Aly Raisman documentary-siblings

I know the title is somewhat weird but couldn't think of anything better.

I saw an older documentary about Aly and her preparation for the 2012 Olympics. It was a really good piece, deep insight on what really means to be an elite gymnast on the daily level.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjVqzPQ5lfo

And I couldn't help thinking that this young lady has 3 siblings. How do they cope with all the fame and attention their sister is getting? It's not just Aly of course but any other kid who has to live off spotlight. I still recall a sentence in Joan Ryan's book that some siblings had to give up a new bike or piano lessons so that they had money and of course time for gymnastics.

Sometimes I also think if these gymnasts, like Aly did, prepare for yet another Olympics> is the price not too high for the family? I mean it pays off for the gymnast of course but if you would be a sibling would you step in and say, it's enough, I want to spend more time with my parents and my dreams are important, too?

I know that almost all parents are loving and supportive...but as everyone has 24 hours a day, I do think that siblings have to be in the background a lot when having an elite athlete in the family. Do you think it can be balanced out in a fair way, so everybody else's dreams come true with the same support (though I'm sure, not all people want to do something so hard and demanding at a young age)?

Aly Raisman documentary-siblings

National qualifiers

Feb. 10-12 - Brestyan’s Las Vegas Invite
Westgate Hotel & Events Center, Las Vegas, NV.

Feb. 25-26 - City of Lights / Orlando Metro
Osceola Heritage Park Exhibition Hall, Kissimmee, FL

March 9-12 - Kristie Phillips Cup
Grady Cole Arena, Charlotte, NC
There probably be more national qualifiers and compulsory qualifiers. Ranch qualifier and Hopes qualifier

National qualifiers

Newly Named Elements from Rio

We now have the Gebeshian, Shirai II (VT), Nguyen, and D-i-ck II. Two other MAG elements were added to the COP but not named since they weren't successfully performed.

http://ift.tt/2c2rgun

Newly Named Elements from Rio

Had Jao not fallen off beam in 2011 and won the AA title would career be different?

Yao Jinnan is one of my favorite gymnasts but she has had a strange and injury plagued career. She would have won the 2011 world AA title over Wieber and Komova without her fall, but due to the fall settled for 3rd. Both had their own errors, but not a fall. She won silver on beam at these worlds behind only Sui's most dominant beam performance of the quad, and very narrowly missed a floor medal. So at this point she wasnt just strong on bars and beam, but very strong on floor (which would later decrease) and had a very good DTY too at this point. There were big expectations for her in London except that she was badly injured and too injured to contend anywhere but bars where she just (controversially to some) missed a medal.

Despite showing an obvious and unexplainable decline on floor, and to a degree vault and beam, she had a good shot to medal in the AA at the 2013 worlds but fell. She should have won the bars title at these worlds but again fell.

In 2014 she again missed a likely AA bronze with a fall, but this time won gold on bars. At this point she still looked like a possible AA contender for Rio, and the early favorite to win bars.

The last 2 years she has been so injured she has barely competed and missed the Chinese Rio Olympic team where the Chinese women had almost no success.

Would her rather enigmatic, up and down, and largely injury plagued career have turned out completely differently had she stayed on beam in the AA finals of the 2011 worlds and won gold?

Had Jao not fallen off beam in 2011 and won the AA title would career be different?

Did Yang Wei and Kohei luck out by Paul's injury absence?

Had Paul Hamm not gotten injured and kept out of the 2008 Olympics and 2012 Olympics by injury would Yang Wei and Kohei Uchimura still have been able to win their AA titles?

Did Yang Wei and Kohei luck out by Paul's injury absence?

Mary Lou Retton's double twisting tsuk

From the Karolyi special.

Mary Lou Retton's double twisting tsuk

How many of these men will make the U.S Tokyo Olympic team

Pick as many as you want. If you think only 1 or 2, or perhaps 0, of these make the 2020 team, it is fine.

How many of these men will make the U.S Tokyo Olympic team

How many of the Final Five will be on the 2020 Tokyo team. Multiple choice

Pick the ones you think will make it. There is an option for nobody if you think nobody.

How many of the Final Five will be on the 2020 Tokyo team. Multiple choice

How to rewatch the Olympics

Hey there! Sorry if this is an ignorant question. I was out of the country during the Olympics and was able to watch only tiny snippets of it. Now that I'm home (US), how do I watch it? I'd even be ok with the NBC broadcast :)

How to rewatch the Olympics

Simone is now best American gymnast ever but only 5th best gymnast of all time

Here it is.

1. Vera Casvlaska
2. Nadia Commaneci
3. Mo Huilan (since her gymnastics is truly the best ever, even if her medals arent even top 50)
4. Daniela Silivas
5. Simone Biles
6. Elena Shushunova
7. Olga Korbut
8. Lilia Podkopayeva
9. Svetlana Khorkina
10. Karin Janz
11. Aliya Mustafina
12. Lavinia Milosovici
13. Shannon Miller
14. Simona Amanar
15. Larisa Latynina (only since I am forced to include her somewhere due to being #1 in medals, way overrated)
16. Svetlana Boginskaya
17. Nastia Liukin
18. Olga Mostepanova
19. Natalia Kuchinskaya
20. Natalie Shaposhnikova (on sheer talent alone)

So as you can see she only ranks 5th,and needs to climb atleast 4 people to be #1. She is now clearly the #1 American, but not even close to the #1 of all time yet.

Simone is now best American gymnast ever but only 5th best gymnast of all time

1988/89 USSR vs. 2015/16 USA

All four teams were very talented. I would say the '89 Soviets are first followed by the '16 USA. The Soviets outdid themselves that year with their choreo. Haven't decided between the other two though.

1988/89 USSR vs. 2015/16 USA

Japan 2020

I know there is generally a build up in the team for host countries and we have been saying Japan WAG is a team on the rise...

Do we think Japan WAG will finally bring it in 2020 on the same level as MAG?

Japan 2020

What Happens After the Olympics?

Im just curious if anyone has insight into this.

What is it like for the US and other teams after the olympics end?

Does anyone know if they continue training? Do they stop immediately and have at very least the rest of the time at the olympics off?

I mean Laurie is a 16 year old. Melka is 16. They're not exactly making their own decisions as they're still under parental/adult control. The rest are full grown adults.

Just curious!

Also HOLY ABS!

Attached Thumbnails

 

What Happens After the Olympics?

10 early mens and womens predictions for the 2020 Olympics

I am going to go out on a limb and make 5 early predictions for the 2020 Tokyo Games. I am going to bookmark the thread and see how many I get right. Others who want to make their own bold early predictions for 2020, be it only 1, 3, 5, 8, or even 10 like me are free to in this thread as well. It will be a fun thread to look back on in 4 years.

MEN

1. Japan will win the mens team gold again. In fact I predict they will go undefeated in world and Olympic team competition until and including then.

2. Vernaiev will win the mens AA gold.

3. Kohei will be right off the podium in the mens AA (if he even competes in it).

4. Paul Ruggeri will make the U.S Olympic team. I know it seems unlikely but just a feeling I have, and part of it is I dont see Dalton sticking around to 2020, despite being younger than Paul. I sense the drain of competition is getting to Jake, particularly with continous dissapointments of injuries and missed medal chances both for himself and the U.S.

5. Donnell will heartbreakingly miss the U.S Olympic team a 2nd time somehow (I hope I am wrong, just a weird gut feeling I have).

6. Kohei will win gold on high bar at the Olympics finally.

7. Max Whitlock will not be around for these Games. I see his motivation dreaming after reaching his likely apex in Rio, and the British men are deep as well.

8. The U.S men will win a team bronze in 2020.

9. Sam will no longer be U.S #1 by 2020 (will probably still be on the team, but no longer top American).

10. The U.S men will again win individual medals in 2020, just as they did at these Games.



WOMEN

1. Simone Biles will make a comeback and win her 2nd Olympic AA title.

2. Despite winning 1 or more world AA title between now and Tokyo, Laurie will settle for silver in the Olympic AA in Tokyo behind Simone. She might come in as the favorite this time, but will lose anyway.

3. Seda and Melnikova will both be on the Russian Olympic team, although I dont know what their roles will be by that point.

4. Mustafina will make a comeback and win the uneven bars gold for the 3rd straight Olympics. Russia will have enough depth she will come back to only compete bars and beam (and train vault just in case she is needed). Will not even train floor by then.

5. Aly will either not make a comeback, or even if she does will not make the team this time around.

6. Gabby will continue in world competition, and might even stick around to try for the 2020 team, but while I see her finally winning some individual medals in worlds the next couple years, I dont see her making the 2020 U.S team, atleast not the main 4 member team.

7. The Netherlands and Germany will continue to rise.

8. Andrade will win a medal on something in Toyko, no idea what, but she will somewhere.

9. Laurie will win the balance beam gold at the next Olympics.

10. Ferrari will compete again, although I wont predict any of her results.

10 early mens and womens predictions for the 2020 Olympics

What Are Your Favorite Routines of the Quad?

We do this thread every four years, I think. Everyone should post their top five favorite routines on every event! Theoretically five different vaults from Biles should complete the list for vault, but we gotta spread the wealth! I'll be posting mine soon. Excited to see others'.

What Are Your Favorite Routines of the Quad?

The new Olympic gymnastics format starting in 2020

I am a bit confused about the next Olympics format. Is know the Team event will only be 2 gymnasts per team but will it be a 4-4-3 or 4-3-3. I am pretty sure it wont be a 4-4-4.

Also are the 2 specialists that compete but dont compete in the Team event selected by the Teams selection committees or by some kind of FIG rules where people like for instance Marta or Kevin have no say in who goes.

The new Olympic gymnastics format starting in 2020

I came to see Irina Viner ...but stayed for Rhythmic Gymnastics

This is probably more appropriate for the RG Forum, but no one ever visits there. Plus, this may help introduce more AG fans to RG here.

Rhythmic Gymnastics at the Olympics start Friday. I was hoping some of the more knowledgeable fans could make posts here to help guide those (like me) with considerably less knowledge about the sport. I occasionally watch RG, but it is usually just a few rounds of Worlds and occasional clips often posted on forums and other gymnastics groups.

Feel free to post any links to articles, social media posts, videos, etc. Predictions and gymnasts/groups to look out for also welcomed.

Yes, yes I know. Something, something, something, Russia.

I came to see Irina Viner ...but stayed for Rhythmic Gymnastics

womens teams- 96, 04, 08, 2012, 2016- most talented, most style, most accomplished

This is an extension of the thread from a few years ago that just compared to the 96, 2008, and 2012 teams as far as more talented, most style, and most accomplished. 2016 should obviously now be added to this discussion, but I would like to throw in 2004 which I believe is an excellent and highly underrated team, who just had things screwed up by injuries and Marta. So how would you rate these 5 against each other in most talented, most stylish, and most accomplished. Here would be my picks.

Most accomplished- For me the winner in this is now the 2016 team. They have 27 individual world and Olympic medals, which ties the 2008 team with 27 individual world and Olympic medals. I give one edge to the 2008 team in being less dominated by one gymnast here, with Nastia having 11 of their 27, but Simone 16 of the 2016 team's 27. However that is overcome by the 2016 team holding 5 straight world/Olympic AA titles, including both Olympic AA titles. They also hold 5 straight world/Olympic floor titles, including the 2012 and 2016 Olympic floor titles. They had 2 gymnasts return to the team and win Olympic Team Gold again, and each be part of the pre Olympic World title winning teams this in 2 straight quads too. Overall they just best the 2008 team in overall achievements already and they probably arent even done with Laurie likely to add to the haul.

2008 obviously is 2nd best here.

3rd best I would give narrowly to the 2012 team over the 1996 team now. The 2012 has 17 individual world and Olympic medals- 6 for Raisman , 4 for Ross, 3 for Maroney, 2 for Douglas, and 2 for Wieber. Team 1996 has 17 with 11 for Miller, 4 for Dawes, 1 for Chow, 1 for Moceanu. The 2012 team did this with only 5 gymnasts though, the 1996 team managed this with 7. Quite likely on a 7 women team in 2012 you have Alicia Sacramone who bumps the medal total way up beyond the 96 Mag 7. Furthermore the 96 team is too Miller heavy, which I mentioned in comparing the 2016 to 2008 teams as well, but this case ever more severely as you have only 2 gymnasts (Miller and Dawes) with multiple individual medals, and the other (Dawes) has no world/Olympic AA medals or individual golds. The 2012 team has both an Olympic and World AA Champion on it, an Olympic floor champion and Olympic AA medalist (albeit later on), a 2 time World AA medalist, and the sports dominant vaulter for a few years. The one narrow edge I see the 96 team having is 6 individual World/Olympic golds (all Miller's) vs only 5 for the 2012 team. I think overall the 2012 team soundly trumps the 96 team in sheer accomplishments, despite both having 17 individual World/Olympic medals.

2004 is obviously last here.

So in achievements:

1. 2016 U.S team
2. 2008 U.S team
3. 2012 U.S team
4. 1996 U.S team
5. 2004 U.S team

I will post my thoughts on the other 2 categories later.

womens teams- 96, 04, 08, 2012, 2016- most talented, most style, most accomplished

Thoughts on Vault

Two different things, but both relate to vault.

1. I don't know if this has been suggested before, but what would you think of doing 2 rounds for vault finals. Everybody does 1 vault, then everybody does their second vault- kind of like diving. Unless it would for some reason cause more injury, I think it would be both more interesting and actually more fair. I think it would be exciting to see gymnasts decide what to do for their 2nd vault based on how everyone did on their 1st.

2. Vaulting tie-breaks. I couldn't tell for sure from the livestream commentary, but was taking the higher vault score the first tie-break, or were other tiebreaks used first, but they remained tied so they had to go to this one?

I think if you have to break ties, taking the highest score is one of the absolute worst ways to do it as it rewards the gymast who had the lowest score (similar to 2012 AA finals). Particularly on vault because lots of gymnasts can do one great vault. The point in vault finals is to show proficiency on more than one style of vault so to cut one vault out entirely to break a tie goes against what the event final is asking for.

Thoughts on Vault

Bruno's Golden Nuggets

Apologies if these have already been posted!

"The only thing with which I don't agree with the judges, and it's a personal opinion and not a criticism -- for me the gymnastics of the second American (Raisman) is more artistic than the first (Simone Biles). The first, it's acrobatics"

"Artistic sense is related to personality but also to the morphology of the body. She (Biles) is almost like a bomb, with amazing height. Whenever she tries to make artistic movements, they seem a bit forced. But she won, and she didn't steal it."

http://ift.tt/2bB7qYF

On the Chinese-

"They've remained trapped in a robotic style of training," Grandi told AFP on Tuesday. "They're beginning to change a bit now. Those who have kept pace with the changes are the Japanese.

"They (Japan) have improved the construction of their exercises, leaving behind Eastern-style choreographies to move towards the West, that is to say more harmony, imagination, creativity. I'm not criticising Japanese culture, which is huge, but they have built a nice crowd-pleasing routine for the spectators.

"They've moved away from tradition, and the Chinese should do the same. If they stay like they are, they are robots. They are perfect on geometric lines, but eurythmy does not exist."

"I fought to raise the age (16 for women and 18 men) - the Chinese held it against me - for finishing with this form of slavery. Imagine a boy of seven or eight working seven, eight hours a day."

http://ift.tt/2bscxar

Bruno's Golden Nuggets

New Quad - Road to Tokyo 2020

With today, it is the end of one and start of a new quad. Perhaps we can discuss changes and news

1) End of the Karolyi Era

Who will replace her? Will we see drastic changes? Karolyi didn't have much say in the style of gymnastics but did have an influential role among the individual coaches. With her absence, will we see individual coaches reverting back to the old ways? Do folks think Valeri will replace her?

2) Team composition and individual qualifiers

What are the changes that will be in effect for 2020? I thought it was decided that gymnasts could qualify directly into event finals without being part of the official team of four?

3) Retirements and rising stars

I never like discussing new "it" gymnasts. How many of us actually predicted Biles, Douglas, etc.? Instead, lets talk about who is likely to remain. Is there any likelihood that Mustafina, Raisman, Douglas, Kocian will stick around for 2020? Biles, Hernandez appear to be willing to continue.

New Quad - Road to Tokyo 2020

Simone Biles 2013-2016 Appreciation

I know appreciation for Simone goes without saying, but she deserves to have her own thread. At this point, I think the majority of us are beginning to take her accomplishments for granted. So here are some stats.

In World and Olympic competition, she has earned 19 medals! 14 gold (3 team), 2 silver, and 3 bronze

Her individual total is 16 medals! 11 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze

For CAREER achievements, this ranks her 3rd of all time in individual medals, with only Khorkina (20 medals - 11 gold) and Latynina (24 medals - 12 gold) ahead of her. And she achieved this in only 4 years of senior competition.

For the entire quad, she was on the podium for every contested event outside of bar finals, including a complete sweep of AA titles and floor titles. The maximum individual medals you could receive would be 20, and she earned 16!

Congratulations on the best quad ever, Simone Biles!

EDIT: Just saw complete stats for the quad were posted. Let me know if you guys think this thread isnt necessary.

Simone Biles 2013-2016 Appreciation

Kevin Mazeika and the U.S. Men's Program: Report Card

Kevin Mazeika was named the men’s national team coordinator in 2009. Prior to that, Kevin was the men’s team head coach for the 2004 Olympics (2nd – TF, 1st – AA, 2nd – HB) and 2008 Olympics (3rd – TF, 2nd – HB).

Since being team coordinator, the U.S. finishes have been:
2009 Worlds – no medals
2010 Worlds – 3rd AA
2011 Worlds – 3rd TF, 1st PB
2012 Olympics – 3rd AA
2013 Worlds– 2nd FX, 3rd SR, 2nd VT, 3rd PB
2014 Worlds– 3rd TF, 3rd VT, 2nd PB
2015 Worlds – 3rd VT, 2nd HB
2016 Olympics – 3rd PH, 2nd PB, 2nd HB

Kevin and the men’s program have the unbelievable task of trying to live up to Marta and the women’s program. Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean that neither Kevin nor the men’s team is not due criticism. I often spend a lot of time defending the men’s program. In Kevin’s tenure they have won two team World medals—and he led them to two team medals in 2004 and 2008. That is more than any other team in that time period except obviously China and Japan (someone may need to fact check that for me ;)). The American men are often criticized for being inconsistent as a team. I’d still argue that is not unique to them. Many of the top teams are inconsistent. Outside of Japan and China, the bronze usually comes down to who competes most consistently. (Russia really broke through that this year.)

That said, there is a LOT to criticize. For me, much of that usually is directed at Kevin, the selection committee, and the national team staff.

One thing that is often not mentioned as one of the responsibilities for the men’s NTC is that he is also responsible for the technical aspects of junior elite national team development. Along with other staff, Marta seems to do a good job of recognizing talent early and development. I know it is difficult for men because men develop much later and typically have NCAA in between. However, I’d like to see Kevin to a better job of seeking and developing that talent as early as possible and working better along side NCAA programs. I will add, I quite liked the Elite Team Cup (in conjunctions with Am Cup) this year. Great opportunity for juniors from different regions to compete along side seniors.

There is also the issue of team camps, team selection, and team line-ups.

What do you all see as the primary issues for the men’s program not achieving the success they seem more than capable of achieving? Report Card?

Kevin’s Report Card (2009-2016)
Men’s Senior National Team: B-
Men’s Junior National Team Development: C
NCAA Outreach/NCAA talent development: C-
Team selection: C
Team line-ups: B-
Team Camps: B-
Consistency: C-
Worlds Performance: B-
Olympics Performance: C+
Overall: C

I have a lot to say on the topic but trying to keep this one post concise. I'll reveal more of my thoughts as the thread develops.

Kevin Mazeika and the U.S. Men's Program: Report Card

STATISTICS: Final medal count of the quad

In case anyone is interested, lol. ;)


Note: The alternates of the teams got team medals at 2014 and 2015 Worlds not at the Olympics, though.


50 gymnasts from 10 nations won medals.

26 gymnasts from 10 nations won individual medals.

11 gymnasts won medals this quad and last: Mustafina, Douglas, Raisman, Ross, Paseka, Yao, Maroney, Komova, Iordache, Afanasyeva, Nabieva

4 of those gymnasts won medals at both Olympics: Mustafina, Douglas, Raisman and Paseka

2 gymnasts won medals in the 2005-2008 quad and this quad: Hong and Ferrari

Biles is the only one who medalled each year of the quad.

Kocian, Mustafina, Spiridonova, Hong and Iordache won medals in three years of the quad.


Medals (Team + individual, sorted by number of Golds):

1. 14 G, 2 S, 3 B, Simone Biles
2. 4 G, 1 S, Madison Kocian
3. 2G, 2 S, Aly Raisman
4. 2 G, 1 S, 6 B, Aliya Mustafina
5. 2 G, 1 S, Gabby Douglas
6. 2 G, 1 B, Mykayla Skinner
7. 1 G, 3 S, 1 B, Kyla Ross
8. 1 G, 2 S, Huang Huidan, Maria Paseka
10. 1 G, 1 S, 2 B, Daria Spiridonova
11. 1 G, 1 S, 1 B, Hong Un Jong, Fan Yilin
13. 1 G, 1 S, Yao Jinnan, Sanne Wevers, Laurie Hernandez
16. 1 G, 1 B, Maggie Nichols
17. 1 G, McKayla Maroney, Alyssa Baumann, Ashton Locklear, Madison Desch, Brenna Dowell, Viktoria Komova
23. 2 S, 2 B, Larisa Iordache
24. 2 S, 1 B, Shang Chunsong, Tan Jiaxin
26. 2 S, Bai Yawen, Chen Siyi
28. 1 S, 1 B, Mao Yi, Wang Yan
30. 1 S, Vanessa Ferrari, Xie Yufen, Zhu Xiaofang, Ksenia Afanasyeva, Seda Tutkhalyan, Angelina Melnikova
36. 2 B, Amy Tinkler
37. 1 B, Tatiana Nabieva, Ekaterina Kramarenko, Alla Sosnitskaya, Maria Kharenkova, Polina Fedorova, Becky Downie, Ellie Downie, Charlie Fellows, Claudia Fragapane, Ruby Harrold, Kelly Simm, Pauline Schäfer, Giulia Steingruber, Sophie Scheder


Medals (Team + individual, sorted by number of medals):

1. 19, Simone Biles
2. 9, Aliya Mustafina
3. 5, Kyla Ross
4. 5, Madison Kocian
5. 4, Aly Raisman
6. 4, Daria Spiridonova
7. 4, Larisa Iordache
8. 3, Gabby Douglas
9. 3, Mykayla Skinner
10. 3, Huang Huidan, Maria Paseka
12. 3, Hong Un Jong, Fan Yilin
14. 3, Shang Chunsong, Tan Jiaxin
16. 2, Yao Jinnan, Sanne Wevers, Laurie Hernandez
19. 2, Maggie Nichols
20. 2, Bai Yawen, Chen Siyi
22. 2, Mao Yi, Wang Yan
24. 2, Amy Tinkler
25. 1, McKayla Maroney, Alyssa Baumann, Ashton Locklear, Madison Desch, Brenna Dowell, Viktoria Komova
31. 1, Vanessa Ferrari, Xie Yufen, Zhu Xiaofang, Ksenia Afanasyeva, Seda Tutkhalyan, Angelina Melnikova
37. 1, Tatiana Nabieva, Ekaterina Kramarenko, Alla Sosnitskaya, Maria Kharenkova, Polina Fedorova, Becky Downie, Ellie Downie, Charlie Fellows, Claudia Fragapane, Ruby Harrold, Kelly Simm, Pauline Schäfer, Giulia Steingruber, Sophie Scheder

STATISTICS: Final medal count of the quad

Is Leyva the 3rd best U.S male gymnast ever?

I think he is. With all his individual achievements on parallel bars, high bars, and to a lesser degree in the AA (especialy his Olympic AA medal in 2012). I dont fully regard the rewards of Connors, Gaylord, and Vidmar at the boycotted 84 Games at all since obviously with the Soviets and others who were out they would have had nowhere near the same success, even with the home court advantage. Granted in fairness to Connors he achieved some pretty good things before that in the late 70s too.

Still Kurt Thomas (CLEARLY the best U.S mens gymnast ever IMO) and I guess Paul Hamm (overrated but I would still probably put him 2nd for his AA titles) are the only ones I would have over him at this point.

Is Leyva the 3rd best U.S male gymnast ever?

has Weird All behaved himself (so far)?

Not being an electronics genius (or anywhere near it), I am still using my VCR (when I have to replace it I go on eBay, and have done this several times), though this machine is now obsolete. I have been taping the gymnastics coverage, but with work and everything I have on my plate I have not yet been able to just sit down and watch it. My question is, has "Weird Al" behaved himself so far and refrained from his trademark questionable (to say the least) remarks about the "little girl" gymnasts? I have noticed from what I have had time to watch, Tim, Nastia, and even "Weird Al" (who started that whole mess about who deserves to be called Simone's "Mon" and "Pop," have emphasized more than once that yes, Simone's grandparents really ARE her parents. I guess all the criticism over that actually got to "Weird Al" and he corrected himself. Have any of you heard anything questionable coming from him this time?

has Weird All behaved himself (so far)?

Who is your favorite member of the Final Five?

My favorite from 2012 was Wieber. I tend to like the quiet ones. However, this Olympics it has been Simone and her achievements and amazing gymnastics coupled with such a genuine, funny and giving personality. The way she seemed proud of Laurie today was all sorts of adorable!

I love this team though. Amazing group of girls. But, Simone is my pick.

Who is your favorite member of the Final Five?

In defense of the two-per country rule

So many complain about the rule but the diversity of event finalists is evidence of its success. The problem with critiques of the rule is that even if you increased it to 3, you will always leave a worthy athlete at home. Arguing otherwise is simply illogical.

In defense of the two-per country rule

Gabby Douglas Appreciation Thread

Gabby has been through it since her comeback! She has went from being the 2012 AA Olympic Champion darling, to being bullied online, in the media, and has even had her patriotism and her wanting to still compete questioned, and other nasty and racist comments. Even with all of that, she won silver at the 2015 Worlds, Gold at American Cup and Jeselo, and helped the team to win Gold at this Olympics and made bars finals! Go Gabby! FLAWLESS! Yaaas!

Gabby Douglas Appreciation Thread

1997 Worlds Beam Difficulty

Hi, all,

Can someone compare Kui Yuanyuan's Beam D-score against Gina Gogean's beam using today's code of points? Would be interested to know.

1997 Worlds Beam Difficulty

Thoughts on UB Scores

There’s been some talk about Raisman scoring about .5 on bars than she usually does, but it’s worth noting that a number of gymnasts, including her teammates, received a similar bump in E-score.

Compare the E-scores of the other U.S. women from 2015 UB finals vs. 2016 Olympic prelims:

Kocian: 8.766 (2015) vs. 9.366 (2016)
Douglas: 8.733 (2015) vs. 9.266 (2016)
(Unfortunately Raisman fell on her only bars routine in 2015 Worlds, but we know she gets between 8.1-8.2 when she doesn’t fall.)

The highest E-score from World Championships UB finals this entire quad was 8.866 from Kyla Ross in 2013. The highest E-score from last year’s UB finals was 8.766, shared by Kocian and Komova.

Did everyone suddenly started performing a whole .5 better on bars than they have the entire quad, or did the judges became .5 more lenient with everyone? Examining the scores and routines, I think the latter is more likely.

A number of gymnasts (with the exception of the Chinese) got a bump in E-score here. Asuka Teramato received a similar E-score to Raisman in prelims (8.8). At last year’s world championships, she received 8.133 for a hit routine. Kocian’s E-score increased .6 from last year and Douglas’ E-score increased .533. These are big jumps for everybody.

Kocian and Douglas improved their execution slightly, but there wasn’t much to improve, while Raisman did one of her best bar sets in prelims (and one of her worst in AA). In UB Qualifications, Raisman ranked 19th on bars in 2010, 22nd on bars in 2011, 23rd on bars in 2012, and 22nd on bars here in Rio. The E-scores were just higher for everyone but relative to each other, everyone scored basically the same as usual.

Probably won’t convince anyone, but it's interesting food for thought…

Thoughts on UB Scores

Men's Event Finals

Sun, Aug. 14

10:00a - Floor Final
11:30a - Pommel Final

Mon, Aug 15

10:00a - Rings Final
11:00a - Vault Final

Tues, Aug 16

10:00a - Parallel Bars Final
11:30a - Horizontal Bar Final

Men's Event Finals

2017 returning gymnasts predictions and expectations

Saw a thread like this on another forum and thought it was interesting. This is also kind of like SDK's thread, but focuses only on seniors. My thoughts:

RUS - Looking forward to more Seda and Melnikova. Good thing Seda's melt down didn't happen in TF, otherwise we probably wouldn't see her on another major team. Hopefully this experience will benefit them in their mental game and consistency. Seda can definitely upgrade. I think she's Russia's best tumbler. I really would like to see both of them become seasoned leaders of Russia throughout next quad.

ROU - I'm sure we'll see Larisa at 2017 Worlds, although I can't imagine any upgrades for her. Hoping she'll maintain what she has under the burdening weight of sh!tty RGF. Bulimar seems to break every year, so I doubt she'll make it further than 2017 Worlds, if that. Jurca definitely has potential according to her 2015 Glasgow results. I definitely would like to see a comeback once she's fully recovered. Ponor will stick around for Europeans, since it'll be in the home country. She'll probably retire after... or take an extended break (we really can't count her out, can we? ;))

CHN - Shang will definitely be back and I have the same feeling about Wang. Hoping Shang gets her individual medals next quad because she's overdue for one in AA and beam. Wang is having such a great Olympics so far. Hope this means she's on the road to more consistency.

JPN - I'd love to see Murakami, Miyakawa, and Teramoto continue to 2020.

GB - Ellie Downie can bring it all next quad especially if she upgrades and gathers some consistency. I haven't heard anything, but my guess is Becky is done after Rio.

BRA - More Andrade PLEASE. She's so capable of snatching a medal next year.

USA - Laurie definitely yes. Gabby is a question mark to me because while I think she's physically capable of continuing, I'm worried that she isn't mentally. Also, isn't her coach Christian leaving Buckeye? Will she follow him? The Gabby Whisperer is retiring so who will be able to whip her into shape come Worlds and beyond?

Any thoughts? Maybe even mention specific possible upgrades for the gymnasts since I'm not as knowledgeable with the code. Feel free to add more gymnasts.

2017 returning gymnasts predictions and expectations

2017 News and Predications

So maybe this is premature and people will get mad at me for even starting this conversation!

Still I'd love for some of you to enlighten those of us who refuse to follow juniors (because they'll inevitably get hurt as soon as you fall in love).

So who is a rising junior you're following in 2017 for their first senior season? American and beyond!

I just tried to sift through some of the P&G videos from the juniors and things did not look too pretty! This could be a big opportunity coming up for some other countries than the US.

So if you're not ready for 2017 yet I understand!

2017 News and Predications

Oksana Chusovitina Appreciation Thread

http://ift.tt/2aZvxiL

"In 1991, at her first world championships, she earned three medals, including the gold on floor. To win that title, she mounted with a full-twisting double layout -- a move so difficult that it was named after her. It's still considered so hard that Biles, the favorite to win the 2016 Olympic title on floor, will use the same skill in her first tumbling pass -- 25 years later."

Here's that historic moment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy8my-xedJw

This woman's legend just keep growing... 41 years of age, 6 Olympic Games, 10 World Championships, 13 Olympic and World medals (competing under 5 different flags, including the CIS and Unified Team), 10 individual medals on vault (more than anyone else on a single event), 5 eponymous skills (two -- the "Rudi" and the FTDLO - of which are still considered top difficulty in today's gymnastics era) and a senior elite career that has spanned over 27 years. She competes at this age simply for herself, her family (one of the best stories in gymnastics was Oksana's desire to support her son Alisher's leukemia treatment), and her absolute love for the sport. No gymnast has been braver and has done more of the unthinkable. She is a legend beyond what our minds can even comprehend.

I thought she was crazy (awesome) in Bejing where she won the silver medal. It's even crazier to think that -- 8 years later -- she has as good of a chance as ever to win her third Olympic medal this upcoming Sunday! I hope she lands her Produnova like a boss and performs that gorgeous, clean DTT to the best of her ability (my favorite vault of hers).

She could do the impossible... but what really is impossible for her?

Oksana Chusovitina Appreciation Thread

Women's Event Final

Vault Order

1. Hong Un Jong- Not a good draw from her. She won't know if she will need to throw the TTY or no based on the others performance. My guess is that she will not do it.

2. Olsen Shallon

3.Chusovitina Oksana- Not a good draw from her but Im guessing she will do the Produnova

4. Wang Yan

5. Steingruber Giulia- Ok draw. Will have an idea what Hong and Chuso score so she will know if she need to throw her harder vault to medal

6. Karmakar Dipa

7. Paseka, Maria- Very good draw for her since she will know what score she needs to medal

8. Biles Simone- Another Gold for her.

Prediction
1. Biles
2. Hong
3. Paseka

-----------------------------------
UB Order

1. Lopez Jessica

2. Douglas, Gabi

3. Mustafina Aliay

4. Kocian Madison- This is going to be intense because we will be able to compare routines from gabi to Madi

5. Scheder Sphie

6. Shang Chunsong

7. Spiridonova Daria- Good draw for her since she will know what score to get to medal

8. Seitz Elizabeth- Good Draw for her. If she hit her set I think there's a chance she can medal

Prediction
1. Kocian
2. Mustafina
3. Douglas

-----------------------------------------------------
Beam Order

1. Fan Yilin- Usually going first is a disadvantage but I think for her its a good draw since she can concentrate right away.

2. Onyshko Isabela

3. Biles Simone

4. Wevers Sanne- Lots of pressure on her especially if Biles hit her routine cold

5. Ponor Catalina

6. Hernandez, Lauren- Good draw for her since she know what score to get to medal. Could be a bad thing too especially if Biles, Wevers and Ponor hit their routine since it adds pressure on her

7. Boyer Marine

8. Saraiva Flavia- Perfect draw for her


Prediction
1. Saraiva
2. Biles
3. Hernandez

----------------------------------------------------------
Floor Order

1. Murakami Mai

2. Wang Yan

3. Fasana Erika

4. Tinkler Amy

5. Biles Simone

6. Steingruber Guilia

7. paisman Aly

8. Ferrari Vanessa

Prediction
1. Biles
2. Raisman
3. Steingruber

Women's Event Final

That #BlackGirlMagic though

Congrats to Simone. I suspect that hashtag will start trending a little later and she'll keep the magic going for FX ;)

I'm ver happy for her

That #BlackGirlMagic though

Who are the 2nd and 3rd best U.S female gymnasts ever now

Since it is abundantly clear Simone is the best U.S gymnast ever, any doubt of that was erased today. She might be the best gymnast of all time, forget U.S, but the U.S isnt even a slight debate anymore.

So with that now clear who are the 2nd and 3rd best. I think to most it is probably a split with almost half saying Shannon is 2nd best, Nastia 3rd, and almost another half saying Nastia 2nd, Shannon 3rd, with the odd person saying someone/something else. I am one of those odd ones in part since I do rate Shannon the 2nd best U.S gymnast ever behind only Siimone but I do NOT rate Nastia the 3rd best ever U.S gymnast, the way most rate her 2nd or 3rd. I believe she had her success in a really weak era (even weaker than Simone's but unlike Simone she didnt remotedly dominate in it) and she couldnt even be dominant on her best event- bars, where she won a mere 1 world/Olympic title and had a run of 2nd place finishes behind a different girl each time. I am not sure who I would rate 3rd, I would need to think about that, but IMO it isnt Nastia.

Who are the 2nd and 3rd best U.S female gymnasts ever now

Shang Chunsong Appreaciation Thread

She has been one of my favorite Chinese gymnasts since 2008 and is constantly and consistently bridesmaided. But lets use this thread to appreciate her and give her luck for event finals!

Shang Chunsong Appreaciation Thread

Streaming Replay Question

Has anyone else had trouble replaying the live streams? I have been getting home from work about an hour after the competitions end. But when I click NBC's link to watch the livestream replay, the replay starts up at the beginning, but after about 60 seconds, the screen (and the url) automatically click over to The Daily Dismount.

Has this been happening to anyone else?

The individual apparatus stream links from USAG work fine, but it made it a lot of work to watch the Finals in the correct order- bringing up each event stream 6 different times in order to watch as it happened.

If anyone's had similar problems with the full event livestream replay and knows a solution, please share. Thanks.

Streaming Replay Question

The best gymnast you never heard of

This article was in my local paper yesterday:
http://ift.tt/2aEsduk

In 1966, a 14-year-old gymnast named Hali Sheriff was killed in a plane crash (along w/ her parents and others). Coached by her mother, she was apparently a prodigy, far ahead of her time...
It's a really sad story, but fascinating as well. Toby Towson also trained at her club, and is quoted extensively in the article.

The best gymnast you never heard of

Event Finals

I know this thread is a little early, but I've been wondering, what are the start lists based on the draw? I'm excited for these event finals :D (maybe even more so than the women's all-around final!)

Event Finals

Rio 2016 - Women's All Around..

Do we know why Barbosa was substituted for Flavia?

Rio 2016 - Women's All Around..

simply amazing

In watching the team competition yesterday I could not help but marveling at the incredible degree of difficulty in gymnastics moves now as compared to, say, 40 years ago (closer to 50 now) when I first remember watching gymnastics (Caslavska era). I clearly remember a commentator remarking. in wonder, about a front aerial walkover--"That is such a blind move!" That was considered the height of risk and difficulty back then, and almost nobody would even risk doing it. Now gymnasts can do an EFW in their sleep. Though I much prefer gymnastics as it was then (Soviet era), I have reconciled myself to the changes and enjoy gymnastics as it has become now. I can go to youtube for "the way it used to be."

simply amazing

Four Year Fan Quotes

So I was fortunate enough to watch WAG team finals with my housemates last night - provided way more entertainment than any of the real commentary could!

I find it fascinating to see what the gymanstically uneduacted viewer thinks of what's going on. Share your stories here!

Housemate 1 - British, Male, 26

1 - Completely lost his sh*t at Simone's choreography at the end of FX. Could deal with the FTDLO, Biles and dbl dbl, but could not get his head around the little butt bounce she does before her final pose. Demanded a replay, proceeded to spew venom at "Useless Brazilian TV cameramen" when they failed to provide one. Thought it was "part of her celebration or something."

2 - Mind blown at Ruby harrolds Van leuwen - Zuchold combination. "What the f**k did she just do?!" I wish I had pictures of the facial expressinos to go along with this one.

3 - Standard "I feel a bit uncomfortable when the little girls are on TV, they're clearly about 10." In reference to the Chinese.

4 - Thought that Mao Yi should just get a flat out 0 because her first fall on FX was so bad. The funny part was the complete seriousness with which he said this.

5 - This part upset me. He was soooo impressed with Wolf turns because of how hard he finds it to even squat on one leg, let alone spin too. He had a fair pioint, but I still couldn't bring myself to agree.

Housemate 2 - British, Female, 27

1 - "OMG she's so pretty!" at pretty much any Russian. Think she was referring to make up rather than routines though.

2 - "I think she should have just stopped after that really." Referring to MY's fx fall. We gave her confused looks to which she replied "No, not the whole routine, just the extra flip after the spinny thing." Yes, because it's just that easy to decide you don't fancy punching when you've just over-rotated a 3.5 twist.

3 - "I just don't understand why they do that, it's just not very impressive. It's just ugly." Referring to any tucked double salto. The 3.5 salto's they were doing in the diving particularly ground her gears.

They were both flabbergasted by Aly on fx. Even preferred her to Simone. "Her choreography was just so good." *facepalm* in fainress I have found myself watching her FX routine on repeat since last night, I loved it!

Four Year Fan Quotes

Rio 2016 - Men's All Around

We've reached the individual finals.

Will King Kohei win another AA title? Can Oleg challenge him? What will Mandrake and Shouty do? How will the Americans perform after the disappointing TF? Can the Brits surprise?


Live Scoring and Start List (also shows you the time it begins in your time zone):

http://ift.tt/2aYy3os


Non-geoblocked live stream as a back up (of varying quality) will appear here in due time:

http://ift.tt/2b5B4VC



Qualifiers:

1. Oleg Verniaiev (UKR) – 91.964
2. Kohei Uchimura (JPN) – 90.498
3. David Belyavskiy (RUS) – 89.799
4. Deng Shudi (CHN) – 89.665
5. Nile Wilson (GBR) – 89.240
6. Ryohei Kato (JPN) – 89.232
7. Sam Mikulak (USA) – 89.041
8. Sergio Sasaki (BRA) – 88.898
9. Nikolai Kuksenkov (RUS) – 88.848
10.Liu Chaopan (CHN) – 88.641
11. Arthur Nory (BRA) – 88.465
12. Max Whitlock (GBR) – 88.232
13. Jossimar Calvo (COL) – 87.506
14.Bart Deurloo (NED) – 86.990
15. Manrique Larduet (CUB) – 86.814
16. Andrey Likhovitskiy (BLR) – 86.765
17. Chris Brooks (USA) – 86.331
18. Oleg Stepko (AZE) – 86.208
19. Pablo Braegger (SUI) – 86.199
20. Marcel Nguyen (GER) – 86.098
21. Axel Augis (FRA) – 86.032
22. Andreas Bretschneider (GER) – 85.698
23. Eddy Yusof (SUI) – 85.365
24. Marios Georgiou (CYP) – 85.289

Rio 2016 - Men's All Around

The "Final Five"

It's kinda sad that this might be the last time we see Gabby and Aly compete. I have to hand it to both. I thought Gabby would be a headcase and thought Aly was just a mini-Alicia...but both have achieved so much. It's rare for gymnasts to have the long elite career that they have had and just sad that this might be it.

The "Final Five"

Lee Eun-ju and Hong Un-jong take a selfie

The selfie is now trending, and I can't help but wonder what this means for Hong Un-Jong when she returns home. I don't know if there's legit reason for concern; I just imagine not all of the higher-ups in the North Korean government will be pleased. Meanwhile, the international community thinks it's pretty cool and keeps talking about it.

What do you all think about Hong Un-Jong's position in all of this when she returns home? Is it common for athletes from the two Koreas to mingle or show diplomatic relations during sporting events? Has this happened before?

Attached Thumbnails

 

Lee Eun-ju and Hong Un-jong take a selfie

Al Trautwig - Might this be the end of his awful commentary?

Anybody think NBC will replace him for rest of olympics? His comments were tacky and rightfully got tons of heat for it.

Al Trautwig - Might this be the end of his awful commentary?

2016 team with chance to pass 2008 team in individual world/Olympic medals here

In an old thread we debated between the 96, 2008, 2012 teams of "most talented" "most style" and "most accomplished". It was agreed by nearly all of us that it had to be a no brainer the 2008 team was the most accomplished, and while there was some debate the majority seemed to give most talented to the 2012 team and most style to the 96 team.

The 2008 team has a combined 26 individual world/Olympic medals which is far and away the most of any US team in history thus far. However the U.S has a chance to match/pass that here. If Simone medals in the AA, vault, beam, floor, if Aly medals in the AA and floor, if Madison medals on bars, Laurie on beam, and Gabby on bars they will pass that with 27 combined. If all those happen except for Gabby on bars (which is the only one I mentioned that might not be expected) they would tie with 26 combined. Laurie atleast is likely to add more medals in the future. So the 2008 could lose out on being the most accomplished team to this group. Now alot of that may be Simone, but the 2008 team was very Nastia heavy in total medals too, and also had alot of their medals from a vault specialist who didnt even compete AAs (Sacramone).

2016 team with chance to pass 2008 team in individual world/Olympic medals here

2016 Rio - Women's Team Final

How excited are we for this?!!

2016 Rio - Women's Team Final

the first of many, no doubt

I just got onto Yahoo to check my email and checked the headlines. Creepy ol' Uncle Al put his foot in it again by tweeting that Simone's grandparents, who adopted her and her sister, "may be Mom and Dad, but they are NOT her parents." A lot of adoptive parents took issue with this. I can see why, because I have seen more genuine love in adoptive families than I have seen in many "biological" ones (and Simone and her sister have both), like my own, for instance. I recorded last night's coverage and have not yet had a chance to watch it all, but I am assuming that this is just the first of many inappropriate (to say the least) remarks that "Funny Uncle" Al will be making (maybe all that fanny-wiggling and shimmy-shake by underage girls doing FX is just too much for him). Maybe we'll get a half-a--ed apology from him, but I kind of doubt it. He may outdo himself this time!

the first of many, no doubt

Thoughts on Qualifications

I wanted a thread to specifically discuss ALL of qualifications . Feel free to post your thoughts in this thread

First thing:

is there a link/page where I can see ALL of the team, individual, and event final qualifiers on the same page?

My thoughts:

1- The US women again showed how ridiculously dominant they are. I agree with others who said they were overscored a bit on bars/beam, but even without overscoring they would have been 7-8 points ahead of China. Thats ridiculous. And congratulations to all the US women on qualifying to their event finals.

2- As for the Gabby vs Aly debate, I agree that Aly was overscored, but I think she is the rightful person to move on to the AA final. I thought her overall performance was slightly better than Gabbys. 2 per country really upsets me though. I wish the top 6 AA could all advance regardless of 2 per country. Ugh. Id love to see Gabby in the AA final as well. All of the US gymnasts "deserve" to be in the AA final, frankly.

3- The women from the Netherlands are GORGEOUS! Every time I watch their routines on beam and floor I tear up and start to cry. They are the epitome of artistry and grace in the sport. I'm going to cross my fingers for a strong performance from them in team finals.

4- I saw Dipa land the Prod!!! Even though it was in a deep squat, good for her! Such a tough vault. Did any of the other women in any other subdivision land the Prod?

5- The Russians looked SKETCHY at the start but REALLY pulled it together on bars. Im praying for a second place team finish for them. What did you guys think of China and Russian team performances?

6- I was very impressed with the Brazil team. And Andrade qualified in 4th!! She might pull out an AA medal if others falter.

What thoughts do you all have about qualifications?

Thoughts on Qualifications

Will Aly finally get her AA medal, and will it be silver

I really hope Aly can win the AA silver. Then she can happily retire without any more demons about her career that keep bringing her back.

Will Aly finally get her AA medal, and will it be silver

New WAG skills!

I didn't see them posted anywhere, and guess they'll be lost in the qualification threads.

FIG FINALLY released them: http://ift.tt/2atCc5U (you have to scroll down a bit)


The Steingruber

Submitted by: Giulia Steingruber, Switzerland

Apparatus: Vault

Element description: A handspring front stretched salto with two twists.

Element value: 6.6.



The Hong Un Jong

Submitted by: Hong Un Jong, Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Apparatus: Vault

Element description: A Yurchenko vault with a triple twist

Element value: 6.8



The Gebeshian

Submitted by: Houry Gebeshian, Armenia

Apparatus: Uneven Bars

Element description: A hecht mount with a 360 degree turn with repulsion off the low bar to the high bar.

Element value: D



The Biles

Submitted by: Simone Biles, USA

Apparatus: Uneven Bars

Element description: A Wieler kip with a 360 degree pirouette.

Element value: E



The D i c k II

Submitted by: Marisa ****, Trinidad and Tobago

Apparatus: Balance Beam

Element description: A mount – change leg leap with 180 degree turn to free sit split position.

Element value: D


The Sugihara

Submitted by: Aiko Sugihara, Japan

Apparatus: Balance Beam

Element description: A double turn with free leg held in split throughout.

Element value: E



The Jurkowska-Kowalska

Submitted by: Katarzyna Jurkowska-Kowalska, Poland

Apparatus: Balance Beam

Element description: A Gainer stretched salto dismount off the end of the Beam with two twists.

Element value: F



The Wevers I

Submitted by: Lieke Wevers, Netherlands

Apparatus: Floor Exercise

Element description: Triple turn with free leg at horizontal throughout.

Element value: E



The Wevers II

Submitted by: Lieke Wevers, Netherlands

Apparatus: Floor Exercise

Element description: Triple turn with free leg in back altitude throughout.

Element value: E



The Fragapane

Submitted by: Claudia Fragapane, Great Britain

Apparatus: Floor Exercise

Element description: Switch leap with 720 degree turn.

Element value: E


The Andrade

Submitted by: Rebeca Andrade, Brazil

Apparatus: Floor Exercise

Element description: A double tucked back salto with 540 degree turn.

Element value: G



How many of those were performed yet? The Gebeshian for sure. Andrade went for a regular full-in in qualis.

New WAG skills!

Rio 2016 - MAG Team Final

So I think I might be a new MAG fan after yesterday as the competition is so much closer than it is within the WAG system right now; after a pretty shaky day from all teams, sans the US, who will come out on top in Rio? Can the US men maintain their consistency or are China and Japan going to step up their game. And how about Brazil?

Rio 2016 - MAG Team Final

Should China and Russia even bother showing up? Any others in the AA?

I genuinely think the TF and AA are predetermined at this point

How anyone can justify what happened in this rotation?

I'm honestly stunned

Should China and Russia even bother showing up? Any others in the AA?

#ImWithHernandez

Future president Hillary Clinton:

https://mobile.twitter.com/search?q=%23ImWithHernandez

#ImWithHernandez

Live Scoring and Streaming Links

In case it's helpful to keep this bumped up:

Live scoring link: http://ift.tt/2a5C3lI (scroll down and click on subdivision/event)

Live streaming by apparatus: http://ift.tt/2aYe8Hs

Live streaming by subdivision/event:

NBC WAG Subdivision 1 & 2: http://ift.tt/2aNOHK5

NBC WAG Subdivision 3: http://ift.tt/2aNPFpJ

NBC WAG Subdivision 4: http://ift.tt/2aNP07L

NBC WAG Subdivision 5: http://ift.tt/2aNPr1F

BBC: http://ift.tt/2b8ilG8

Add more if you know of them.

Live Scoring and Streaming Links

2020 Rules for 2016 Games

If the rules for the 2020 Games [with regards to teams consisting of 4 All-Around gymnasts and 2 specialists] were imposed in THESE 2016 games, how do you think the composition of the teams would differ?

http://ift.tt/2b08lCE

---

For USA:

4 Team Members are obvious. Simone, Aly, Gabby, and Laurie. Would love to see them duke it out for two spots.
2 Specialists: Madison (UB); maybe Skinner (VT)?

Maybe these rules should've been implemented earlier to avoid the whole Laurie debacle.

2020 Rules for 2016 Games

Jonathan Horton as commentator

I thought he was great. He did a really great job to explaining skills. He is a natural.

Jonathan Horton as commentator

Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony Appreciation Thread (with video highlights)!

Going to be a bit a bit BG long, but for those who didn't catch it, some nice highlights. Let me know if the videos play correctly in other countries.

I'm going to talk a bit more about the ceremony since I'm so proud of what Rio was able to pull off. Brazilians criticize all this the most, but the country woke-up feeling so proud. NYTimes reporters put it best: "It's funny being here. People are so angry at the expense and inconvenience of the Olympics at this time of crisis, yet so very proud (rightly) of their culture."

Quote:

---

RIO DE JANEIRO — Oh Rio, you sandbaggers you. For months, even years, we thought you couldn’t pull this off. We heard all about your many problems.

And then you give us an opening ceremony for the ages. What’s next, a problem-free Olympics?

With a budget that organizers said was 12 times less than London’s and 20 times less than Beijing’s, the Rio opening ceremony was exquisitely choreographed as a boisterous show, a poignant social statement and a bold challenge to the world.

Who needs money when you have a conscience?

---

Quote:

---

Most opening ceremonies talk a good game. Rio walked the walk of social responsibility. In so doing, it became one of the finest opening ceremonies I’ve seen in the 17 Olympic Games I’ve covered. Organizers downplayed expectations, reporting a budget of US $55.9 million for the two ceremonies for these Games and two for the Paralympics, total.


With stunning and innovative use of lighting, creating intricate patterns and illusions to tell the story of Brazil, it all was quite breathtaking. Who says you need to spend well over $100 million to put on an opening ceremony? We’re looking at you, Beijing.

---

Quote:

---

The 10-member refugee team received more applause than the United States delegation, which is always a huge favorite — and deservedly so, with only the arrival of the Brazilians greeted more loudly.

There was a lot to cheer at this opening ceremony, where nothing went wrong in Rio, at least for one glorious evening.

---

I think this really showed the best of Brazil. The creativity of our people, the happiness amidst crisis, a very welcoming nature of the country, and Brazilian's unique ability to respond that when life gives you lemons, you make a heck of a good lemonade...or at least a good party ;)

I loved all the music - it included all of my favorite historical sounds. The media is 100% positive about it, internationally and nationally.

My favorite parts:

The history of Brazil and focus on the Europeans, Native Brazilians, Slaves, Arabs and Japanese.

http://ift.tt/2auaql5

- Our Carnaval Anthem and what prompted the "global awareness" theme and where everyone just turned into dance.

"I live in a tropical country, blessed by God, and beautiful by nature... but what a joy, in february there's Carnaval...!"

http://ift.tt/2aGjVRN

- The refugees team... getting almost as much ovation as Team Brazil. Warmed my heart <3

http://ift.tt/2auc8mm

- The joy of the Brazilian athletes! There is nothing like this... Also, Lea T, Brazilian model, is transgender and was riding the bike <3

http://ift.tt/2aGk5bD

- Gisele and Girl From Ipanena... hate her or love her, she's she last of the true great supermodels prior to social media (I'm looking at you Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid).

http://ift.tt/2auaLEp

- Caetano, Gil, Anita, Paulinho da viola ...and an ode to Samba and Bossa Nova

http://ift.tt/2aGjfM2

- The rings as green trees. Poignant. Beautiful. Appropriate.

http://ift.tt/2aua8L4

- Positive ode to the favelas: where so much of our sounds, creativity and simple way of being happy comes from. I love this song's meaning:

http://ift.tt/2aGjy9F

Part of Lyrics in English (probably my favorite/most heartfelt lyrics about social inequality in rap form):

Happiness Rap

Quote:

---

I just want to be happy
To walk relaxed in the favela where I was born
And to be able to have pride
And to have the consciousness that the poor have their place
Faith in God... DJ!
To the dear authorities, I don't know what more to do
With so much violence I am afraid of living
Since I live in a Favela and am very disrespected
Sadness and Happinesss here walk side by side
I make a prayer for a saint protector
But I am interrupted by gun shots
While the rich live in huge and beautiful houses
The poor are humiliated and abused in the favela
I cannot stand this wave of violence anymore
So I ask, authorities, for a little more competence
I only want to be happy
To walk relaxed in the favela where I was born
And to be able to have pride
And to have the consciousness that the poor have their place
To have fun nowadays we can't even think about
Because even in our ball they come to humiliate us
Hanging out at the plaza where everything was so normal
Now it's become a trendy place for violence
Innocent people who have nothing in this fight
Are losing today their single right to live
I've never seen a postcard that features a favela
I only see very pretty and beautiful landscapes
Those who go abroad really miss the favela
The gringos come here and don't get to know reality
They go to Zona Sul to get their coconut waters
And the poor in the favela live the hard times
A change of power would bring us some new hope
I've suffered through the storm, now I want some of the calm
The people have the power, they only need to discover it
If they do nothing there, we will just do it from here
I just want to be happy, happy, happy
To walk relaxed in the favela where I was born
And to be able to have pride
And to have the consciousness that the poor have their place

---

and now... Let the Games (or the gymnastics) begin!

Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony Appreciation Thread (with video highlights)!

All American Appreciation Thread- Ready Set Go- Olympics!

The other thread is getting in the hundreds of pages and since this is the first day of competition, seems like a good time to start a new one.

This was the last post of the old thread from Sdk310


"I feel such a strange feeling about Simone right now.

It's like this massive secret we've all had for 4 years and finally the baby is going out into the big world and everyone is going to meet her. It's crazy that it feels like SO long we've spent with her but for everyone else she's brand new. She made it through a WHOLE quad and was healthy every single year. She deserves to bask in this next week of glory. There's no doubt in my mind it will be glory for Simone, the future GOAT."

All American Appreciation Thread- Ready Set Go- Olympics!

wwgym

Anyone know what's going on there?

wwgym

Prayer to the Gym Gods of Rio

Every four years, I gotta do it. So here's my 2016 plea to the gym gods. Any additional requests? Get them in now because competition starts tomorrow!

Oh gym gods, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee 4 years ago by assuming Jordyn would qualify to AA. I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of 5-member teams and the pains of Romania’s future. I firmly resolve, with the help of Baraksanova’s grace, to confess my favorite gymnast's form breaks, to do oversplits, and to amend my knowledge of the code.

Mighty gym gods. You mock us. You laugh. You know what you have planned and that we have no idea. We submit that you are going to have some fun with us and direct some event off course that we never could have foreseen. We cannot stop you, but still, we plead-

1. Please no serious injuries. From ill-advised triple fronts, bad water, or otherwise. Please keep everyone safe.

2. Please no stupid deductions- as in ones that don’t apply to the routines performed. Let no one go before the green light, or illegally practice on the
podium, or whatever other frustrating scoring surprise you think would just be a kick in the pants while you’re up there in the heavens playing UncleTim's
drinking game.

3. Please no medals with falls. I know this is a lot to ask in this day and age but c’mon.

4. For the love of Aly, let’s not do ties this time, okay? Different scores, different people.

5. A Balance Beam final where 5 gymnasts actually hit? Yes, oh gym gods, we are asking for a MIRACLE.

Our Stalder, who art in heaven, hollowed-out be thy name. Thy competition come, thy will be done, on balance beam as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily streaming and forgive us our facts as we forgive those who post opinions contrary to ours. And lead us not into the temptation to respond to trolls, but deliver us from the evil of a derailed thread. For thine is the competition arena, the power and the glory, forever and ever, Nemov (It’s Russian for Amen).

Prayer to the Gym Gods of Rio

The Gabby Douglas/Alexandra Raisman story -talk about money

Actually I wanted to share my opinion about putting a 7th placed gymnast ahead 5th and 6th in to a team, despite of the long stated criteria but then I was waiting as I thought it must have had some rational reason.
Now throwing out Lauren Hernandez from the AA competition in favour of those who were way worse than her during the year I must give voice my anger.

1. I respected the achievement of Alexandra Raisman and Gabby Douglas in London although I still think they were a bit lucky to get golds. Personally I can't find anything about their gymnastics which make them special. No artistry, no refined execution, for me they are really average as gymnasts. But both (or their management) are good at selling themselves and making business from everything from socks, water to personal life.

2. I still hadn't had any problem with it as they worked as hard as others til they announced their returns. Than I was a bit angry. Why can't people be satisfied what they have?! They have already managed to reach what most gymnast dream about in the USA: getting in to the Olympics and won gold(s). They made themselves, their fames, money etc. They should know that in the USA very few of the younger gymnast can reach what they have already reached as the field there is very deep. They should let others to get their reward too. I know, money is big boss but still.
They makes good faces being an alternate and "show good sportmanship" but nobody can think seriously that it is a "sportmanship" to be in silent when somebody who didn't deserve it and care the less about the team, get your place because she has big endorsements and common sponsors with the Olympic Games.

3. The rules and all those selecting process and competitions are completely useless. Except exhausting the gymnasts and making them retire/injured (Bailie Key, Baumann etc.) they do anything. You can meet the requirement and place in the top, you won't be selected if the others has better contracts with sponsors or get media attention. So let the gymnast enjoy some life and select the money makers.

4. I find pathetic that bc of the reason mentioned above Gabby Douglas kicked now Laurie Hernandez out from AA competition after kicking out Mykayla Skinner and/or Ragan Smith from the team.
The USA team is SO DEEP that literally with girls who finished at 6-12th place at the useless Trials could easily win the team gold. Or even with those who couldn't even get to the Trials. There is no team in a billion miles behind them. So pretending that the gold could be up on a "bar worker" or a "better FX routine" is ridiculous.

5. Gabby Douglas and Raisman do their job: they advertise their companies everywhere, especially the first one. You can't see anything bit ads on her twitter account. She was literally paid in that team and in the AA to get the media attention (and more money coming from it) because of the "fight between Simone and her".
Gabby Douglas routines are billion miles behind Simone.
Laurie Hernandez DESERVED that spot. Maybe this was a trade and that is why she had to be in hurry to announce turning pro: she will be kicked out now but in charge she will get endorsements.

6. Reading articles about how good to see in this team blacks, jew, latino etc. made me also angry. Who the heck cares about somebody colour?! It shouldn't be recognized AT ALL!!! It should be about gymnastics and talent and work!

So the Federation made fool of itself. Hope everybody who decided and these elder gymnasts sleep well. I am sure they will get the money and attention they want. Olympic spirit and sport? Ha-ha. It is required only from those poor alternates and Kim Zmeskal who also seems to pushed out always on the side line.

The Gabby Douglas/Alexandra Raisman story -talk about money

SPOILER FREE Links to reruns

So for those of us who have to work, don't have cable, or have friends getting married during Event Finals (cough cough), I thought this would be a good place for the good-hearted people of the IG Forum to post links to any archived broadcasts. Of course we can't guarantee the links won't be spoiler free once you click on them but we can keep the thread spoiler free at least :)

SPOILER FREE Links to reruns

Gabby's Amanar

If Gabby somehow qualifies for AA, can she land an Amanar?

Gabby's Amanar

Simone vs Aly All-Around

Hypothetically speaking, let's say Aly beats Gabby for the 2nd spot. Does Aly realistically have a chance to beat Simone on an off day in the all-around? Considering Aly is the only female gymnast within striking distance of Simone on Floor and beam, plus she has the Amanar (which looks to be better than ever for her). Could a Bars meltdown plus a beam fall give Aly an outside shot for gold? And she will have NO pressure whatsoever.

Simone vs Aly All-Around

Rio 2016 - WAG qualis SUBDIVISION 5 (Japan, France, Canada)

I was too excited to wait making the threads. :o

After a short survey, I think it’s best to have a thread for each subdivision. So here we go…


Streams

BBC: http://ift.tt/2b8ilG8

NBC: http://ift.tt/2aNPr1F



8:30pm – Subdivision 5

(Time is local Rio time, I'm not gonna do time zones, you can convert yourselves ;) )

Vault – Japan

Mai Murakami
Asuka Teramoto
Aiko Sugihara
Sae Miyakawa
Yuki Uchiyama

Bars – France

Louis Vanhille
Marine Brevet
Marine Boyer
Loan His
Oréane Lechenault

Beam – Canada

Ellie Black
Isabela Onyshko
Brittany Rogers
Rose-Kayen Woo
Shallon Olsen

Floor – Mixed Group 3

Alexa Moreno (MEX)
Marcia Vidiaux (CUB)
Filipa Martins (POR)
Angelina Kysla (UKR)
Katarzyna Jurkowska-Kowalska (POL)

Rio 2016 - WAG qualis SUBDIVISION 5 (Japan, France, Canada)

Rio 2016 - WAG qualis SUBDIVISION 4 (Netherlands, USA)

I was too excited to wait making the threads :o

After a short survey, I think it’s best to have a thread for each subdivision. So here we go…


Streams

BBC: http://ift.tt/2b8ilG8

NBC: http://ift.tt/2aNP07L



5:30pm – Subdivision 4

(Time is local Rio time, I'm not gonna do time zones, you can convert yourselves ;) )

Vault – Mixed Group 4

Irina Sazonnova (ISL)
Courtney McGregor (NZL)
Sherine El-Zeiny (EGY)

Bars – Netherlands

Celine Van Gerner
Vera Van Pol
Lieke Wevers
Sanne Wevers
Eythora Thorsdottir

Beam – Mixed Group 2

Jessica Lopez (VEN)
Teja Belak (SLO)
Ariana Orrego (PER)
Marisa **** (TTO)
Vasiliki Millousi (GRE)

Floor – USA

Simone Biles
Laurie Hernandez
Aly Raisman
Madison Kocian
Gabby Douglas

Rio 2016 - WAG qualis SUBDIVISION 4 (Netherlands, USA)

Rio 2016 - WAG qualis SUBDIVISION 3 (Great Britain, Brazil, Germany)

I was too excited to wait making the threads :o

After a short survey, I think it’s best to have a thread for each subdivision. So here we go…


Streams

BBC: http://ift.tt/2b8ilG8

NBC: http://ift.tt/2aNPFpJ


2:30pm – Subdivision 3

(Time is local Rio time)

Vault – Mixed Group 8

Barbora Mokosova (SVK)
Ana Sofia Gomez (GUA)
Emma Larsson (SWE)
Dipa Karmakar (IND)
Phan Thi Ha Thanh (VIE)

Bars – Great Britain

Rebecca Downie
Ellie Downie
Ruby Harrold
Amy Tinkler
Claudia Fragapane

Beam – Brazil

Daniele Hypolito
Jade Barbosa
Flavia Saraiva
Rebeca Andrade
Lorrane Oliveira

Floor – Germany

Sophie Scheder
Kim Bui
Tabea Alt
Elizabeth Seitz
Pauline Schäfer

Rio 2016 - WAG qualis SUBDIVISION 3 (Great Britain, Brazil, Germany)

Rio 2016 - WAG qualis SUBDIVISION 2 (Italy, Russia)

I was too excited to wait making the threads. :o

After a short survey, I think it’s best to have a thread for each subdivision. So here we go…


Streams

BBC: http://ift.tt/2b8ilG8

NBC: http://ift.tt/2aNOHK5


11:45am – Subdivision 2

(Time is local Rio time, I'm not gonna do time zones, you can convert yourselves ;) )

Vault – Italy

Vanessa Ferrari
Carlotta Ferlito
Erika Fasana
Martina Rizzelli
Elisa Meneghini

Bars – Mixed Group 5

Catalina Elena Escobar Gomez (COL)
Kylie Dickson (BLR)
Ailen Valente (ARG)
Farah Boufadene (ALG)
Houry Gebeshian (ARM)

Beam – Russia

Aliya Mustafina
Angelina Melnikova
Maria Paseka
Daria Spiridonova
Seda Tutkhalyan

Floor – Mixed Group 6

Catalina Ponor (ROU)
Lisa Ecker (AUT)
Guilia Steingruber (SUI)
Zsofia Kovacs (HUN)
Ana Perez (ESP)

Rio 2016 - WAG qualis SUBDIVISION 2 (Italy, Russia)

Rio 2016 - WAG qualis SUBDIVISION 1 (Belgium, China)

I was too excited to wait making the Threads. :o

After a short survey, I think it’s best to have a thread for each subdivision. So here we go…


Streams

BBC: http://ift.tt/2b8ilG8

NBC: http://ift.tt/2aNOHK5



9:45am – Subdivision 1

(Time is local Rio time)

Vault – Mixed Group 7

Simona Castro (CHI)
Tutya Yilmaz (TUR)
Ana Derek (CRO)
Larissa Miller (AUS)
Oksana Chusovitina (UZB)

Bars – Belgium

Rune Hermans
Gaelle Mys
Laure Waem
Nina Derwael
Senna Derkis

Beam – China

Shang Chunsong
Tan Jiaxin
Fan Yilin
Mao Yi
Wang Yan

Floor – Mixed Group 1

Toni-Ann Williams (JAM)
Isabella Del Amado Medrano (PAN)
Lee Eun Ju (KOR)
Ellis Oreilly (IRL)
Hong Un Jong (PRK)

Rio 2016 - WAG qualis SUBDIVISION 1 (Belgium, China)

Rio 2016 - MAG qualifying

Tomorrow the day has come -- the Olympic gymnastics competition will begin!


Does anyone know if the official Youtube channel will live stream (internationally available) like they did four years ago? https://www.youtube.com/user/olympic


10:30am – Subdivision 1

Floor – Mixed Group 3

Vlasios Maras (GRE)
Eleftherios Petrounias (GRE)
Scott Morgan (CAN)
Randy Leru (CUB)
Manrique Lardeut (CUB)
Ryan Patterson (RSA)
Kevin Crovetto (MON)

Pommels – Japan

Ryohei Kato
Shirai Kenzo
Yusuke Tanaka
Kohei Uchimura
Koji Yamamuro

Rings – Brazil

Francisco Barreto
Diego Hypolito
Arthur Nory
Sergio Sasaki
Arthur Zanetti

Vault – South Korea

Kim Han-Sol
Lee Sang-Wook
Park Min-Soo
Shin Dong-Hyen
Yoo Won-Chul

Parallel Bars – Mixed Group 6

Robert Tvorogal (LTU)
Dennis Goosens (BEL)
Andrey Likhovitskiy (BLR)
Enrique Tomas Gonzalez Sepulveda (CHI)
Jossimar Calvo (COL)
Ferhat Arican (TUR)
Alexander Shatilov (ISR)

High Bar – Netherlands

Bart Deurloo
Frank Rijken
Yuri Van Gelder
Jeffrey Wammes
Epke Zonderland


2:30pm – Subdivision 2

Floor – Great Britain

Brinn Bevan
Louis Smith
Kristian Thomas
Max Whitlock
Nile Wilson

Pommels – France

Samit Ait Said
Axel Augis
Julien Gobaux
Danny Rodrigues
Cyril Tommasone

Rings – Mixed Group 5

Vid Hidvegi (HUN)
Pham Phuoc Hung (VIE)
Ri Se Gwang (PRK)
Ludovico Edalli (ITA)

Vault – United States

Chris Brooks
Jake Dalton
Sam Mikulak
Alex Naddour
Danell Leyva

Parallel Bars – Mixed Group 4

Stian Skjerahuag (NOR)
Oleg Stepko (AZE)
Petro Pakhnyuk (AZE)
Chih Kai Lee (TPE)
Artur Davtyan (ARM)
Harutyun Merdinyan (ARM)
Mikhail Koudinov (NZL)

High Bar –Germany

Andreas Bretschneider
Lukas Dauser
Fabian Hambuchen
Marcel Nguyen
Andreas Toba


6:30pm – Subdivision 3

Floor – Ukraine

Vladyslav Hyrko
Igor Radivilov
Maksym Semiankiv
Andrii Sienichkin
Oleg Verniaiev

Pommels – Mixed Group 1

Filip Ude (CRO)
Daniel Corral (MEX)
Anton Fokin (UZB)
David Jessen (CZE)
Mohamed Abdeldjalil Bourguieg (ALG)
Kieran Behan (IRL)

Rings – Switzerland

Christian Baumann
Pablo Brägger
Benjamin Gischard
Oliver Hegi
Eddy Yusof

Vault – China

Deng Shudi
Lin Chaopan
Liu Yang
You Hao
Zhang Chenglong

Parallel Bars – Mixed Group 2

Marian Dragulescu (ROU)
Andrei Muntean (ROU)
Oskar Kirmes (FIN)
Rayderley Zapata (ESP)
Nestor Abad (ESP)
Marios Georgiou (CYP)
Gustavo Palma Simoes (POR)

High Bar – Russia

Denis Ablyazin
David Belyavskiy
Nikita Ignatyev
Nikolai Kuksenkov
Nikita Nagornyy

Rio 2016 - MAG qualifying

Searching for a Kohei video

I wasn't sure if I should post this in the regular forum or Olympic one. But I have been trying to find a video about Kohei. It was more like a promo. I think it aired during one of the BBC broadcasts. He is shown at various comps, there are drums pounding in the background, and towards the end I believe one of the BBC announcers says " He truly is the best in the world" or something along those lines. if any of you knows which video I'm referring to , I would greatly appreciate it. I hate when I come across something and then cannot remember where I saw it.

Searching for a Kohei video

USA Gymnastics Failed to To Report Sex Abuse Allegations

Front page news on CNN.com!

http://ift.tt/16Df0fe

USA Gymnastics Failed to To Report Sex Abuse Allegations

MAG Podium training

It is time for Olympics. Let's start with Podium trainings. Any info?

MAG Podium training

Book : The End Of The Perfect 10

Dvora Meyers has written a book that covers how the open ended code evolved, the original open ended code ideas of Hardy Fink, with a brief history of women's gymnastics particularly in the USA. She interviewed several people including Nadia Comaneci and Nelli Kim.
I found the book very impressive. Easy to read and a balanced examination of the scoring system.
I would have liked an introduction on the history of the maximum score and the evolution of gymnastics scoring pre-1976 but that's probably me just being greedy. I would also have liked some photographs but that would have added to the publishing costs so i can understand why there are none. There are a few minor errors such as saying Davydova is 3 months younger than Comaneci whereas she is 3 months older but such minor errors don't take away from the quality of the writing.

Highly recommended. 9.9.

Book : The End Of The Perfect 10

Olympic Anagrams

Podium training starts tomorrow so we'll have real things to occupy us, but for tonight I present you with the results of my Gymnast Name Anagrams! At least my attempts to form appropriate anagrams from the letters of their names. Some are better than others and occasionally I had to use the middle name to make it work but oh well. (Apologies to the Chinese girls but they have too few letters to make anything decent)

Alexandra Rose Raisman: Relax, Senor. Drama’s in AA.
(Aly’s always trying to calm someone down)

Simone Arianne Biles: A Sensible Name in Rio
(She’s running for president of the Olympics)

Gabby Douglas: USAG Gold, baby!
(almost too perfect)

Aliya Mustafina: I slay u in AAF mat
(Well, she’s always been a fierce competitor)

Angelina Melnikova: Evil amok in an angel
(More than just a pretty face apparently)

Daria Spiridinova: Avoid aspirin raid
(Poor girl is paranoid about drug testing now)

Mykayla Brooke Skinner: Okay, no kinky-arm rebels
(I assume this is what Martha was telling the selection committee in deliberations)

Ragan Smith: Sharing Mat
(Where Texas Dreams girls trade their beads)

Eythora Thorsdottir: O, hero artist doth try
(She may not win, but she’ll look pretty trying)

Sanne Wevers: Swans Veneer
(Sure, why not)

Larisa Andreea Iordache: Ah, a sad career deal in Rio
(:( )

Catalina Ponor: A National Crop
(Romania didn’t plant enough seeds so she’s all that’s left to harvest)

And finally:
Oksana Aleksandrovna Chusovitina: A rash icon sneaks in a vodka on vault.
(Don’t judge. She needs to calm her nerves before the Produnova)

Olympic Anagrams

Rio Olympics 2016 Podium Training Discussion Thread

MAG Podium Training is tomorrow. WAG Podium Training is Thursday.

NBC Live stream links below.

Wednesday August 3rd 2016
Subdivision 1 (9:30 am ET): http://ift.tt/2aNP0Vj

Subdivision 2 (1:30 pm ET): http://ift.tt/2aNPxqj

Subdivision 3 (5:30 pm ET): http://ift.tt/2aNOYwm


Thursday August 4, 2016
Subdivision 1 & 2 (starts at 8:45 am ET): http://ift.tt/2aNOHK5

Subdivision 3 (starts at 1:30 pm ET): http://ift.tt/2aNPFpJ

Subdivision 4 (starts at 4:30 pm ET): http://ift.tt/2aNP07L

Subdivision 5 (starts at 7:30 am ET): http://ift.tt/2aNPr1F

Rio Olympics 2016 Podium Training Discussion Thread

Mixed Group six -- Ponor Steingruber Kovac Ecker Perez

This Mixed Group is going to be amazing.

Ponor begins on floor and is building up a score for Steingruber who also wants a spot for floor finals.
Then:
Probably we'll see the Steingruber.
She's training this vault now regulary and with the strong other vaulters she is forced to do this vault in qualification to secure a spot in EF.

Don't forget the young talented first year Senior Zofia Kovacs who made Event final on vault at Europeans with a DTY 15,133 !!

Then Ponor on bars, as far we knows by now she trains bars.

And then Ponor on beam to secure a possible medal for Romania.

Mixed Group six -- Ponor Steingruber Kovac Ecker Perez

Olympic Teams Without Age Rule

The talk about Bross and the Olympics coming up had me thinking about what teams would've been like without the age rule.

2004 US (fantasy):
Patterson, Memmel, Liukin, Kupets, Hatch, Janiga
Vt: Patterson, Janiga, Hatch
Bars: Kupets, Liukin, Memmel
Beam: Memmel, Liukin, Patterson
FX: Janiga/Liukin/Memmel, Patterson

I guess you'd leave Memmel off vault and Hatch off everything else in prelims and have Patterson, Liukin and Kupets do AA.

I think this team would win gold over Romania tbh that bars and beam line up is serious.

But in actuality I think the team would be Patterson, Liukin, Kupets, McCool, Hatch, Bhardwaj though its interesting to think that with Liukin essentially being an improved McCool and likely snatching up that guaranteed spot would McCool still be in



2008 US
Johnson, Liukin, Memmel, Bross, Sacramone, Wieber alts: Shapiro, Bieger, Peszek
Vt: Wieber, Sacramone, Johnson
UB: Memmel, Bross, Liukin
BB: Bross/Sacramone/Memmel (whoever did best in prelims), Liukin, Johnson
FX: Memmel/Bross/Sacramone/Liukin/Wieber (again prelims), Johnson

Incredibly strong team.

I wonder is Martha would sit Bross or Memmel on vault. Im thinking in 2008 it'd be very close between those two with Johnson and Liukin out ahead and then bench Wieber on beam and bars. Floor is tough as well I guess whoever of Bross and Memmel you bench on vault also sits floor or you could also sit Wieber again her floor wasn't huge in 2008 but I'd assume if it were the olympic year she would've stepped it up and maybe been vaulting the amanar(she wasn't doing it yet in 2008). Thatd also make the AA qualifying very interesting considering Nastia fell any of Memmel, (upgraded)Bross, (upgraded) Wieber could have taken that second spot on a good day. Wieber could've "Wiebered" Nastia lol


2012 US :
This one could get a little crazy. Because you have Priessman and Ohashi in the mix. Plus even though they didn't look ready yet at the time Biles and Key also could've maybe stepped up their difficulty if they knew they were age eligible.

I'd say: Wieber, Douglas, Priessman, Ohashi, Ross Alt: Raisman, Key, Li

Vt: Wieber, Priessman, Douglas
UB: Ohashi, Ross, Douglas
BB: Douglas/Wieber, Ross, Ohashi
FX:Douglas/Ohashi, Wieber, Priessman

I think it would be a battle between Priessman and Aly for that spot but I think Priessman would have the edge because shes slightly better All-Around (or could be) and with Ohashi we don't really need Aly's beam. I don't see how you could really justify Maroney at that point with both Biles and Priessman providing two more big amanar options. I was surprised typing this up that I still have Ross making it but her solidness on beam and bars you cna't really deny and the team needs it.

Al around its aanothr tough one-obviously Wieber and Douglas would. Obviously sit Ross on floor. the issue is with Priessmans beam and Ohashii's vault. Priessman would have to sit bars so i guess its no big deal to have her sit beam woo because she wont get to do AA anyway. I think martha would bench Ross on vault in favor of Katelyn getting to do AA.

2008 Russia:
Pavlova, Semyonova, Afansyeva, Mustafina, Komova, Kramarenko alt: Myzdrikova

Vt: Mustafina, Afansyeva, Pavlova
UB: Kramarenko, Mustafina, Semyonova
BB: Semyonova, Pavlova, Komova
FX: Mustafina/Afansyeva, Kramarenko, Pavlova

Also related does anyone know why Russia took Kyukina instead of Myzdrikova?

2008 Romania:
Nistor, Izbasa, Porgras, Tamarjan, Acatrinei, Dragoi

Vt: Izbasa, Nistor, Tamarjan
UB: Dragoi, Porgras, Nistor
BB: Tamarjan, Porgras, Izbasa
FX: Tamarjan, Nistor, Izbasa

Olympic Teams Without Age Rule

Blaine Wilson- great gymmnast or majorly overhyped in the U.S?

One thing I cant help but noticing looking back on my vast array of old gymnastics tapes from the late 90s and early 2000s is the insane hype around Blaine Wilson. Tim Daggett many times with quotes like "Blaine is just so dominant in the World today" or "Blaine is the guy to beat in Sydney and at the upcoming Worlds for sure." He was dominant in the U.S both at the U.S Nationals and at the SCAM cup with its suspect judging, but he never won a single individual world or Olympic medal. Was he really that good or just majorly overrated in the U.S.

Even someone like Danell Leyva in reality has had a better career since his World/Olympic achievements- Olympic AA medalist, world parallel bars Champ, world parallel bars and world high bars silver medalist, are sufficient to trump Wilson's much higher number of U.S AA and American Cup titles (which Leyva has 1 of each anyway, plus 1 Olympic Trials victory just like Wilson). One could strongly argue Jonathon Horton has had a better career than Blaine too. Or Tim Daggett himself even.

Blaine Wilson- great gymmnast or majorly overhyped in the U.S?

Which gymnast has had the most sponsors/endorsements over the years?

I'm seeing Simone in what seems like almost every new Olympic commercial. I live in Canada so I know I missed more of Simone's. List each gymnast's sponsors or endorsements including commentating from over the years.

Simone:
Nike
Tide
American Airlines
GK
Kellogg's
more?

Which gymnast has had the most sponsors/endorsements over the years?