Gymnastics News #15

[angelflies]

Biles' form and execution coupled with the sheer power and amplitude on her skills is what puts her over-the-top. She doesn't have the classic Russian look and she could work on toe point, but you can't deny her technique on those big skills is great and she does most of her skills in a way that should be taught. It's not like she just chucks skills with all her power and hopes for the best. Her gymnastics is grounded in excellent technique. Then there's the fact she actually performs her routines and even if you don't like her beam or FX choreography, at least she has choreography and moves with some fluidity compared to most of her competitors.

her difficulty too. She was behind Iordache in combined D score in 2014 which is part of the reason she almost lost. So she ramped up her D scores significantly in the off season and is now killing everyone on combined D score too.

 

[Spareoom]

her difficulty too. She was behind Iordache in combined D score in 2014 which is part of the reason she almost lost. So she ramped up her D scores significantly in the off season and is now killing everyone on combined D score too.

*Almost lost* is a bit of an overstatement. If you mean that Iordache was close enough to her that a major error on Biles part would have cost her the gold, then yes, but that is typically the case with ANY AA winner. Only recently has Biles been able to have such a significant lead that a fall or major error wouldn't immediately knock her out of contention.

 

[Karpenko]

Here's a really pretty randi + layout step out from Rachel Gowey:
https://www.instagram.com/p/-mwNv_Hr_P/

New bars combo:
https://www.instagram.com/p/_Vo4MdHr_s/?taken-by=chows_gym

 

[Karpenko]

Gabby and Maggie are doing American Cup, Simone Pacific Rim:
https://usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=17744&prog=

Interesting decision but it's best to rest Simone and ease her into the year IMO, this is a huge opportunity for both Gabby and Maggie.

 

[kwanoverrated]

I hope Gabby can win. She deserves it after 2012 where she would have won had she technically been in the meet.

 

[barbk]

My niece (6th grade) is a gymnast, and for Christmas I'd like to buy tickets to one of the gymnastics competitions at the University of Denver.
1. There are a number of choices -- any you particularly recommend? (The home ones are "Hamilton Gymnasium")
http://www.denverpioneers.com/sports/w-gym/sched/denv-w-gym-sched.html

2. Where would be the best part of an arena for seating for gymnastics?

Many thanks.

 

[alexikeguchi]

2. Where would be the best part of an arena for seating for gymnastics?

Many thanks.

I went to several OU events last year, both men's and women's, and you really can't go wrong with seating since the apparatus are distributed. Plus, the arena is unlikely to be sold out, so you can move around.

 

[barbk]

Thank you!

 

[Erin]

So, has Skinner been making new offensive comments lately or is this a really old question?
http://thegymter.net/2015/12/18/you-asked-the-gymternet-answered-66/

I tried checking Skinner's Twitter but eventually had to give up because there is way too much crap on there for me to wade through.

 

[VGThuy]

I just looked at her Twitter and it's a real mess. Just at a glance it seems it's full of trashy retweets relating to how a man wronged her or why men need to appreciate a good woman and the like. It seems men and gymnastics is all she tweets about, but I guess it's better than racist, homophobic stuff I remember her posting.

 

[Fridge_Break]

My niece (6th grade) is a gymnast, and for Christmas I'd like to buy tickets to one of the gymnastics competitions at the University of Denver.
1. There are a number of choices -- any you particularly recommend? (The home ones are "Hamilton Gymnasium")
http://www.denverpioneers.com/sports/w-gym/sched/denv-w-gym-sched.html

2. Where would be the best part of an arena for seating for gymnastics?

Many thanks.

Keep in mind that a dual-meet you most likely get to see all of the routines from both teams, as the referee usually will have the gymnasts alternate routines. The tri- and quad-meets will have multiple events going on at the same time and it's difficult to catch everything unless you're familiar with the teams and know who is competing at what moment.

Denver's 2 dual meets are vs. Washington and Utah State -- Washington has been a bit better in recent years, but both are a good option. The best challenge to Denver at home is probably going to come from Minnesota (in a tri-meet with Air Force).

 

[barbk]

Thanks, @Fridge_Break ! I used to watch gymnastics meets when UCLA had a men's team, but that was 30+ years ago, and the mind has faded.

I think she'll enjoy seeing it. SO happy to be past the buying-plastic-stuff or things-that-stink phase.

 

[kwanoverrated]

So Skinner is racist and homophobic? I did not know she was that bad.

 

[Karpenko]

Next.

I wonder what Bailie Key and Laurie Hernandez are looking like on UB, BB, and FX.

I'm over Madison Kocian, what made her so before were cast handstands and the underdog sneaking in under the radar scenario.

Now I realize that I prefer Key on bars and Laurie in general. I really want a good surprise this year.

If Simone doesn't win the AA in Rio it'll make the past 3 worlds seem kind of pointless no? I think it would be the biggest letdown ever, it wouldn't be fair for that to happen to her and she's clearly the best IMO.

 

[poths]

I'm over Madison Kocian, what made her so before were cast handstands and the underdog sneaking in under the radar scenario.

.

How on earth did she win the world title? It still makes no sense to me.

 

[kwanoverrated]

How on earth did she win the world title? It still makes no sense to me.

It just proves the Americans do in fact have an advantage in scoring in gymnastics these days, similar to how the Soviets once had. That isnt to say they dont deserve most of their wins and medals, and certainly someone like Biles dominating makes total sense. However if there was any doubt that Americans have a built in advantage in scoring due to being top dog and Marta and USGA's influence, and that Komova was at a large disadvantage in those close AA decisions she lost to Americans, that doubt is completely removed with Komova having to share a world title with an American who did a routine literally about half a point worse.

 

[VGThuy]

I still don't get how Komova didn't walk away with that title considering who she had to share it with, namely Kocian.

 

[Dr.Siouxs]

If Simone doesn't win the AA in Rio it'll make the past 3 worlds seem kind of pointless no?.

Um, no considering that no one has ever done it.

 

[Karpenko]

Right. That would add to the of her not winning. Plus she's won like 1/3 of all of the individual event titles from worlds this quad.

 

[kwanoverrated]

It is interesting to think since 1972 that only 1 out of 10 times has the reigning world AA champ won the Olympic AA.

76- Tourischeva came 3rd in the AA behind Nadia and Nelli Kim as the changing of guard took place.

80- Nelli Kim came 5th in the AA after a fall while her unheralded teammate Davydova took the AA gold.

84- Yurchenko not allowed to compete due to boycott.

88- Dobre came in 6th in the AA after being injured leading into the Games.

92- Zmeskal came 10th in the AA after being lucky to even qualify.

96- Lilia won the AA.

2000- Olaru came 3rd (2nd after the Raducan DQ) in the AA, despite being world AA Champ was surprising to even do this well as she never seemed in the early days of the event to be a factor.

2004- Khorkina came 2nd to Patterson who she had edged for the world AA title.

2008- Johnson came 2nd to Nastia who had been 5th AA at the pre Olympic worlds.

2012- Wieber missed qualifying due to 2 country rule despite hitting all her routines and being 4th in prelims.

 

[Coco]

It just proves the Americans do in fact have an advantage in scoring in gymnastics these days, similar to how the Soviets once had. That isnt to say they dont deserve most of their wins and medals, and certainly someone like Biles dominating makes total sense. However if there was any doubt that Americans have a built in advantage in scoring due to being top dog and Marta and USGA's influence, and that Komova was at a large disadvantage in those close AA decisions she lost to Americans, that doubt is completely removed with Komova having to share a world title with an American who did a routine literally about half a point worse.

I'm not going to disagree with the main point you are trying to make, but I don't think 2015 UB Final proves your theory. The judging there was straight up hinky. Komova had her lowest UB E score of the meet on her best UB routine. It made no sense whatsoever. I feel like WOGA pulled some strings or something, trying to set their best hope up as strong as possible for 2016.

Also, the scoring system is a huge problem, independent of corruption or bias, and Komova proves this. There is no way for the judges to REWARD her for what she does better than anyone else. If gymnasts with less extension avoid deductions, they can defensibly get the same score as her. That shouldn't be the case.

 

[Karpenko]

She'd probably be sick less often and not get so many mouth cysts if she said nicer things and fought for a vault landing.

I think the steroids comment indirectly affected how she was judged in UB finals. It was such a poorly-timed sourpuss accusation, I can't help thinking her score would've been at least .033 higher had she zipped it.

She should've won by like 3 tenths. Judging was lenient on some and stricter on others, it could've subconsciously made judges stricter on her as a "wake up Viktoria, you fell twice in team finals" kind of a message. It is a judged sport..

 

[Allen]

It's funny, Komova has some weird form issues in qualifications and scores an 8.8 from a judging panel that was being crazy harsh. Maybe subconsciously the judges were affected by that comment. Other than maybe the judge from Uruguay, the other four have certainly judged at Worlds before. I'd be curious to see the individual score breakdown for each judge and for the reference judges (whose scores didn't count or we'd see an odd number besides .66). I'm obviously not an international brevet judge, but Madison's score is way high to me. On that day I had her around 8.3.

It's hard not to wonder if Komova might get more of a benefit of the doubt if she was more likable.

 

[kuzytalent]

Komova is a major bitch, and I agree that is one reason she never seems to get a break from the judges, and loses every single close decision there is to lose. I think if she were charming, bubbly, gracious, a press favorite, she would win the 2011 world AA, maybe the 2012 Olympic AA (would still be close), and for sure the 2015 bars title on her own, with the exact same performances.

 

[altai_rose]

It's hard not to wonder if Komova might get more of a benefit of the doubt if she was more likable.

Komova is a major bitch, and I agree that is one reason she never seems to get a break from the judges, and loses every single close decision there is to lose. I think if she were charming, bubbly, gracious, a press favorite, she would win the 2011 world AA, maybe the 2012 Olympic AA (would still be close), and for sure the 2015 bars title on her own, with the exact same performances.

I don't think this makes sense. At the time of 2011 worlds AA, Komova was in her first senior year and had not acquired the reputation of being a b*tch. At the same time, I think that losing every single close decision would have negatively shaped Komova's perception of the world. It's hard to be 'charming, bubbly, gracious, press favorite' when you've lost every close decision, and the Code doesn't reward you for what you do well. I don't like her attitude, but I can *understand* why she might feel very bitter about her gymnastics career.

 

[VGThuy]

No justification for saying the U.S. girls were on steroids, and there were many other gymnasts who wish they had her career. Not to mention she's gotten the benefit of scoring as well even if it wasn't enough to win AA gold.

 

[poths]

Ellie Downie never even tried a full twisting double back before November, they are now sky high. I'm expecting a double double soon. She was also training the Chuso (FTDLO) onto mats and that looked good. She could throw insane skills on floor by Rio - Same 1st two passes with the double double third and 2.5 into full!?

Reports are Lyons is looking ace on floor too, which if that pans out IMO means Fragapane would be reserve as Tinkler, Lyons, DOwnie would have floor covered - 2 Amanars and much better beam (Lyons) between them.

 

[Cachoo]

It is interesting to think since 1972 that only 1 out of 10 times has the reigning world AA champ won the Olympic AA.

76- Tourischeva came 3rd in the AA behind Nadia and Nelli Kim as the changing of guard took place.

80- Nelli Kim came 5th in the AA after a fall while her unheralded teammate Davydova took the AA gold.

84- Yurchenko not allowed to compete due to boycott.

88- Dobre came in 6th in the AA after being injured leading into the Games.

92- Zmeskal came 10th in the AA after being lucky to even qualify.


Well then, Simone might have her work cut out for her. The Olympics are such a pressure cooker that it is no surprise the favorite might not win. And if this list is any indication, all sorts of things could happen before competition begins. I wish her all the best.

96- Lilia won the AA.

2000- Olaru came 3rd (2nd after the Raducan DQ) in the AA, despite being world AA Champ was surprising to even do this well as she never seemed in the early days of the event to be a factor.

2004- Khorkina came 2nd to Patterson who she had edged for the world AA title.

2008- Johnson came 2nd to Nastia who had been 5th AA at the pre Olympic worlds.

2012- Wieber missed qualifying due to 2 country rule despite hitting all her routines and being 4th in prelims.

Well then, Simone might have her work cut out for her. The Olympics are such a pressure cooker that it is no surprise the favorite might not win. And if this list is any indication, all sorts of things could happen before competition begins. I wish her all the best.

 

[Karpenko]

I really do love Catherine Lyons, seems a bit unfair for Frags to miss out but if I had to choose between the two - definitely Catherine.

Brits could medal in Rio as a team, those new skills by Ellie could give them a huge advantage over China and Russia on floor. I'd imagine Tinkler will be improved here too, and her tumbling is already 15 worthy IMO (just the dance and dance elements are very weak)

It's just beam really, and hitting all 3 routines again. They'll also need at least one Amanar.

 

[millyskate]

I really do love Catherine Lyons, seems a bit unfair for Frags to miss out but if I had to choose between the two - definitely Catherine.

Brits could medal in Rio as a team, those new skills by Ellie could give them a huge advantage over China and Russia on floor. I'd imagine Tinkler will be improved here too, and her tumbling is already 15 worthy IMO (just the dance and dance elements are very weak)

It's just beam really, and hitting all 3 routines again. They'll also need at least one Amanar.

My money's on Tinkler for the Amanar - she's a very ambitious gymnast! Ellie is totally capable of one but we'll see if she takes the risk. She's got so much potential it must be difficult to know where to start with the upgrades.

GB really need a 3rd routine on UB and that's why Ruby makes sense but if Amy or Catherine manage to upgrade significantly this season it might end up being her off the team. I somehow can't see Frags being left off the team.

And agreed about the potential for GB medalling in Rio - they actually have the most upgrade potential before next year. They could gain almost point on vault if they turn up with 2 amanars, on floor they can gain a point too with upgrades planned by all of their gymnasts. Ellie has upgrades on beam (Patterson dismount).
UB is the one piece where China and Russia are likely to make an even bigger gap next year, but Ruby is looking to upgrade and hopefully so does Ellie.

Meanwhile, Regini-Moran has just joined the small club of those competing a triple double: https://www.instagram.com/p/BAodwi8ksfp/