Gymnastics Apparatus Finals

[Karpenko]

I don't know if this has been discussed as I didn't read through all 49 pages. Why was there a controversy when Alicia Sacramone lost the bronze to the Chinese who sat down on vault, but not when Maroney who also sat down on the vault won the silver over the Russian ? The Chinese gymnast had a higher start value than Sacramone, same situation as Maroney over the Russian thus able to sustain a mistake and score higher than the gymnast who placed below them. Is it because an American was shut out of a medal?

Because the last Olympics had a much stronger field of vaulters and even Cheng Fei wasn't as head and shoulders above that field like Maroney was here. I think any of the top 4 from that final could've win the gold here based on their performances and start values (Cheng Fei fell on a vault .4 higher in Sv than Maroneys 2nd vault as well). I see what you mean, but Maroney was class of the field here in SV alone where the last final had much much higher difficulty from the top vaulters. I remember after the last Olympic vault final being underwhelmed, but it really did have a much stronger group of vaults compared to what we had here.

[taf2002]

So happy for Kexin He! She had such a tough couple of years. And then there was such pressure on her to do well at these Games, as she was only included in the women's team under the expectation that she would ace the UB routines. And ace them she did! Each one was better than the previous. I thought today's was the best of all, and worthy of a gold medal. I thought her execution was just as good as Mustafina's, and so given the higher level of difficulty, she ought to have won.

Apparently she got a deduction because of an extra pirouette. How could this have happened after having the routine scored twice here already? Shouldn't she and her coach know to just take out the last pirouette or something?

I also thought Kexin He was better. They were both fabulous but I really thought He had won. Tweddle's twisting release moves were unbelievable. She isn't elegant & her landing was bad but her routine took my breath away.

Romanian Olympic Committee wanted to make sure replacing Bulimar with Ioradche was Diana's decision and not anyone else's. "We don't approve of taking away [they actually said "kidnapping" ] the opportunity to exercise a right earned through work. That's why we wanted to be sure", said ROC general secretary Ioan Dobrescu. Other officials confirmed the decision with Bulimar's parents, as well since she's a minor.

Not really sure what this confirms, but good to know they're being thorough.

I remember the 1st time I ever saw someone replaced. I forget who it was but the girl who earned it had it taken away against her will. It was heartbreaking. I disapprove of this type of replacement. If someone in the top 8 isn't going to compete, I think the place should go to #9, not necessarily someone on her team.

[tarotx]

It's only someone on their team if they also made top 8 but isn't able to compete because of 2 per country. Or is the 9th athlete.

[Spareoom]

On one hand, I'm glad the FIG has made the rule that athletes could be subbed in. Because when they were pulled under the pretense of injury, it just seemed so wrong and unfair. Now, the federations have legitimate resources at their disposal should they decide it is in their best interest to do some shuffling. Russia and Romania have no problems with pulling girls, the USA NEVER has even when it was glaringly in their favor to do so. It's just a result of a different mindset. Marta believes that once the results are set, that's that. Other coaches want to make the most out of the opportunities given.

Had Aly been from Russia or Romania, she would have been pulled from the AA almost the second prelims were over. That's just the way it would have been.

[gingercrush]

I love this article: http://www.thecouchgymnast.com/?p=7081

[allezfred]

Meh, see a dentist and feck off.

Post of the thread!

Didn't she get them fixed a few years back though? If so I'd be asking for my money back.

[Hedwig]

I made a new thread:
http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/show...93#post3650393