Gymnastics News No.12 Part Deux!

[BigB08822]

In the past code the gymnast had to show constant motion to get a connection. In this code you can not swing your arms through to show that constant motion. You must land a skill and then go right into the next skill. So doing an Onodi then swinging back your arms and doing a full twisting back handspring will not get a connection even if it is very fluid. You would have to do the Onodi and as you come up keep your hand above your head and jump straight back into the next skill. This is going to be tough, I think swinging your arms through just helps with the momentum sometimes. I prefer Ponor's connections because of how fluid they were but this should help draw a line in the sand about what is and isn't a true connection, before it was a little too subjective, IMO. I have a feeling that the only purpose this change will have is that we will see a drastic difference in what combinations are popular. Forward to backward combos are going to be a lot harder, swinging your arms through on those are just part of the way its done, IMO. Front to front combos should be able to get that connection a lot easier.

[mikemba]

Really nice post, BigB08822!

[love_skate2011]

I just found a new fave gymnast after Kanaeva's retirement

Nikol Gosviani's Music ???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHqXqiE5Lm4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcIOr81jF5Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drMqsbT7IdY

[danafan]

Ponor would not only lose the CV on her aerial walkover to flic layout and Onodi to flic layout - she would also lose the 0.5 CR for the dance series as that technique with the big arm swing will not be acceptable anymore.

Some of the Canadian gymnasts have already adapted their technique. If you compare these two videos from Elite Canada you can see Aleeza Yu (whose coach is also a brevet category 1) keeps her arms in front. Compared to Maegan Chant (who recently competed at the American Cup) who, at least based on the D score received at Elite Canada, did not get her dance connection CR.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4kr-9Dgixs - Aleeza Yu BB 2013 Elite Canada
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na3CIZR08JY - Maegan Chant 2013 Elite Canada

I wasn't at that competition so I can't actually verify that Chant's CR was not credited, I'm just basing this on the fact that I compared her D score with what she did and that's the conclusion I drew.

As presented at the Intercontinental Course - Wieber's split jump to sissone would not be credited with the CR, but Raisman's technique is considered acceptable. It's a fine line and sure to cause controversy.

The best thing is that the front to back connections which have IMO destroyed the balance beam will be eliminated as they are virtually impossible to do correctly under the new rules. And the series bonus which even allows non flight B acro elements to be used (only flight elements were allowed for CV before now) will lead to more variety. Non flight B acro elements that could be used include the valdez (Hofland from Canada has already competed valdez to flic layout), back extension roll (remember Shannon Miller's routines from 1991-1992?) or a handstand front roll (though I have a hard time seeing that used successfully in a series but you never know). I'd love to see a Korbut immediate back extension to back tuck or something.

In any case we'll see more trends as more international meets take place. It's too early to tell yet.

[ioana]

In the fluff category, Izbasa has done a photo shoot (in the brightest shade of coral available). http://www.csid.ro/sport/sandra-izba...-aur-10596464/

[danafan]

Gymnix is taking place this weekend. Tonight was the junior cup. I have some videos uploading to my youtube channel. Http://www.youtube.com/danafan1 if anyone is interested.

[Buzz]

Gymnix is taking place this weekend. Tonight was the junior cup. I have some videos uploading to my youtube channel. Http://www.youtube.com/danafan1 if anyone is interested.

Thanks a million!

[poths]

Grishina's exceptional beam at Cottbus
http://davaistoi.wordpress.com/

Russia choose most of their Euro team:
http://davaistoi.wordpress.com/2013/...of-euros-team/

Also, British Nationals took place this weekend.
I was a bit shocked to see Hannah Whelan finish 8th all around, she fell twice on bars, and then again on floor (sat the Arabian). I really like Hannah and in some ways I feel like she has a lot more to give, but then, this weekend happens and I think she should probably call time. She has gone back to a 1.5 yurchenko, ditched her double pike beam dismount (and the Mitchell turn), ditched the whip into triple on floor. Regression is the only word I can think of. Maybe it's time for her to specialize as a beamer, because the Brits are still weak there.

Having said that, Gabby Jupp was OUTSTANDING on beam, she has the talent on bars too so once she adds the difficulty there, she will challenge for Euro AA medals. She should medal on Beam and possibly floor this year even.

Downie had an awesome bars set in qualifiers (6.2) (didn't do any other piece)
Harrold as well, so innovative, but can't handle the difficulty yet (6.3). She is definitely keeping the Tweddle esque circus spirit alive.

Charlie Fellows showed that she is coming through nicely but needs more difficulty. She finished 2nd AA, scored a 14.2 on floor (5.6), only a 5.0 SV on beam and similar sv on bars and beam.

Tunney wasn't here. She's injured but hopefully ok for Europeans which means selection will be interesting!

Niamh Rippon won Vault and came 3rd of floor and 3rd AA but she just doesn't have the Goods IMO!

Downie only has one event at the moment it seems, but had a huge DTY last year, and a solid beam.

Hannah is a headcase

Fellows has poor start values

Jupp is awesome but low SV on bars and vault

Tunney is MIA

Eek
I think I'd go with
Team: Jupp, Whelan, Harrold, Downie, Tunny (reserve Rippon/Fellows)
Vault: Harrold/Downey/Tunney (3 DTY's)
Beam: Jupp, Whelan,________(hopefully Downie has something)
Bars: Harrold, Downie, Tunney (Jupp is a good back up)
Floor: Jupp, Whelan, Tunney
Results: http://www.british-gymnastics.org/si...198&Itemid=936

[gingercrush]

Harrold hasn't been doing DTYs at the moment.

Hmm what do others think of Ross and so far she has basically not upgraded. Please tell me we're not seeing another Sabrina Vega in motion. Also who likes Biles? People are talking up her adding a Cheng. But I'd like to see her upgrade to a Mustafina before performing a Cheng.

[danafan]

Ross upgraded her bars with a Komova-Pak combo. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_RTrhTADrs

Biles is my pick for US and world AA champion this year.

Ross will really need to fix her floor issues or I could see her not even making the world team for the all-around.

[BigB08822]

Ross was missing handstands galore in that bar routine, unless it was a really bad camera angle.

[Erin]

Having said that, Gabby Jupp was OUTSTANDING on beam, she has the talent on bars too so once she adds the difficulty there, she will challenge for Euro AA medals. She should medal on Beam and possibly floor this year even.

Glad to see Jupp win AA, I loved her at American Cup. I agree about having the talent on bars, with those beautiful lines and so nice to see someone pay attention to choreography on floor.

Really disappointing to see Ross isn't keeping up - I fully expected her to pull a Bridget Sloan and win the AA at Worlds this year, but I should know how injuries can quickly derail a career in this sport.

[ilovesalchows]

Really disappointing to see Ross isn't keeping up - I fully expected her to pull a Bridget Sloan and win the AA at Worlds this year, but I should know how injuries can quickly derail a career in this sport.

Well, Bridget would always look out of shape until Worlds, and then somehow deliver so maybe Kyla will do the same.

Biles is great but I really hoped to see an American gymnast who can deliver on bars as well. She is decent, but it would be really nice to see a bars prodigy who isn't a specialist. There isn't really a US bars specialist, Ross is just "nice" on bars.

[danafan]

Biles has some so far on bars in two years it's scary. With the small changes on bars connection value in the new code most gymnasts' D scores have gone down this year and I think Biles could make event finals at worlds with that routine. And her routine has a solid base to build from with a little tweaking (like working right out of her Shaposh, or replacing her C low to high with something with a higher rating) she could be a medal contender on that event in two years.

[floskate]

Biles' power is something and it's surprising how agile she can be considering her physique but I dunno whether I really like her gymnastics overall. I think Kyla will look better by Nationals although her floor is crap whether it's watered down or not. I cannot believe she hasn't gotten a new FX after last season. Is she pro or hoping to go NCAA? LOVED Bailie Key who absolutely dominated the junior event at Jesolo. Won the AA by two points and won 2 EF golds with bronze on bars. She has soooo much potential. LOVE her style; I hope she stays healthy and Kim Zmeskal is doing a fabulous job with her.

Great for Jupp to win Nationals, although I haven't watched it yet. Love her beam and floor. She really does have so much potential but I hope she can upgrade her vault. I agree her bars has possibilities to improve a lot. Also congrats to Max Whitlock who won the mens title.

[Cloudy_Gumdrops]

Biles is great on vault, but the rest of her gymnastics is pretty fugly imo.

I hope the Russians (or some upstart from any country) get it together and win Worlds. If the choice is between Biles and Ross, I don't think I'll give a damn about who the World AA champ is this year.

[judgejudy27]

Ohashi is a much bigger threat for the AA title this year than Ross (and for now probably more favored than Biles atleast slightly) so I dont know how it would ever come down to being between Biles and Ross alone, regardless what the other top countries show up with. It would be very surprising if Ross is an AAer for the U.S at Worlds a this point.

[ilovesalchows]

What is Ohashi vaulting these days, a 1.5 or a 2 Yurchenko?

[floskate]

Ohashi did a DTY at American Cup I think.

[Domshabfan]

What is Ohashi vaulting these days, a 1.5 or a 2 Yurchenko?

ohashi did a double, it was better than what i expected from her, I think she will improve her double by the end of the worlds.