Just tuned in to catch day 2 of Cottbus WC on Fox Sports. Women's floor is underway, watch out for Ashleigh Brennan!
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Tip your editor Meredith at ozgymblog@gmail.com.
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222 comments:
1 – 200 of 222 Newer› Newest»I know this post if very off topic but my daughter is interested in Aerial Skiing, so I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to become involved. I'm also wondering if anyone knows whose currently in Australia's Aerial Skiing program.
Thanks
Is your daughter a current gymnast and if so what level as the vis, if you're in Melbourne, has a transition program for gymnasts. Otherwise have a look on the winter Olympic institute website as they will have contacts to call
Didn't Tayla Diniccio from Nidrie gymnastics club just go from National level 10 into the VIS aerial skiing program?
there are a few gymnasts who have been levels gymnasts and gone to aerials - jess macilwraith, sam wells, kendle richards, renee mcelduff (nsw) and are going really well! OWIA would be the way to go
add to that Yves Berryman, Jaimie Saunders, Alice Cheung, Emma Ludowici and Nicolette Barnett....a program full of gymnasts
will there be coverage of trials tomorrow?
Laura Peel is another fine example of a gymnast turned aerial skier along with Kate McIntosh, a former diver
The girls get well looked after in this sport, a lot more than they do in gymnastics
Alice Cheung from Niddrie did also. Lydia was from Niddrie too. - must be snow in their water supply!
Any news on trial 1has anyone qualified?
and the best performing ex gymnast is probably nsw's Danielle Scott. she's my pick for our next Olympian in Aerial Skiing.
my daughter did it for 2 years after gym - it's a great sport but not for the faint hearted and only the real cream of the industry will rise to the surface.
Try this link
http://wintersports.com.au/sports.cfm?SportID=1
Vic Trial 1 results are up GRB got 54.9 not bad AA :)
trial 1 results are up. only grb did a full aa comp.She did well though, 54.9 with an e-score of 7.1 (likely a fall) on bars.
zoe didn't do anything. can anyone reassure me that she is ok?
Did anyone see the national stream trials? Who was looking good etc?
Highlight of the national stream was Alicia Brown.
She was hot, hot, hot.
Huge dble back on floor, shoot to handstand on bars, yurchenko full on vault and the most lovely flip flip on beam.
She is supreme
Lowlight was Rachel Figgus competing. She completed a lovely floor but clearly injured her knee in the last few moments. Whilst she sat out vault, she was allowed to compete bars and, no surprise....she reinjured the same knee on a dble pike dismount and screamed with pain on landing.
Accidents happen but was it really necessary for her to compete?
Why didn't the coach stop her?
She showed some promise, it will be very sad if she misses nationals because she was put at risk at the first trial.
Zoe warmed up but didn't compete. From what I could fathom there was nothing wrong just being rested. I assume she has qualified if that was the case
If she qualified it must have been at camp as I am sure she was spotted at the HPC comp and did tumbles on soft mat from what I recall.
GA has put up a camp report and also stated that the WAIS girls (Nikki Emily and Georgia) will be heading to Slovakia.
Its great to see we have such quality level 10 gymnasts like Rachel and Alicia for the younger gymnasts to look up to and aspire to.
Who has qualified from the idp girls does anyone know?
I agree, my daughter is very lucky to have such fantastic level 10s for look up to, but I would be horrified if she competed when injured as Rachel did.
I trust that her coach has her best interests on a long term basis at heart.
I hope Rachel recovers, it would be a shame to see her comp season cut short in this way.
How and what would Zoe have qualified for at camp? Can you please explain?
I've read on gymnastics.org.au that Lauren Mitchell is featured on the latest number of Inside Sport, does anyone know if it's possible to find the article on the web?
European countries don't want to go to worlds in tokyo
http://au.sports.yahoo.com/news/article/-/9359881/gymnastics-teams-against-competing-in-japan-says-russian-chief/
Its kinda silly that these federations think that they know more than all of the foreign affairs departments. I'm going to Tokyo in August and not worried in the least, just probably won't eat the fish. I know people who have travelled there in the last couple of weeks too and they've said its life as normal in Tokyo- only Fukushima is still affected.
I feel sorry for the Japanese fans, its not bad enough that they were devastated by earthquake but now this.
Russia has a conflict of interest there because they want to take over Worlds. I'll believe that other European teams don't want to go to Japan when I hear it from them.
Mitchell had another disaster last night unfortunately. All the way to Moscow to compete one event and fall on it. It seems the 'upgraded' routine has only added on 1 or 2 tenths.
Another disaster?
Well, if she fell, you can't exactly know the start value of her PLANNED routine, can you? There may have been missed connections or elements not credited.
Bet you haven't even seen a video.
I have seen a video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKDphkqemdU&feature=related
seems she's going for
toe 1.5 to jaeger
toe 1/1 + bail + stalder shoot
toe on
toe 1/2 to double front
so
E+D (0.2)
D+D+C(0.2)
C
C
D
=5.9
So she is giving it a fair dinkum try. It will be interesting to see how it looks later in the year. The toe 1.5 makes me nervous though, it is very hard to do without deductions.
Lauren only had a 5.5 last year so if she is going for 5.9 then it is a bit of an upgrade. I know she has to upgrade her bars to be better in AA but it is still her weakest apparatus so any upgrade is a positive. Although i have to question why Lauren was taken to Moscow to compete one apparatus. Is she still injured?
It's 0.4 higher than her old D score which is a start. Obviously a 5.9 isn't going to get her very far in terms of UB or AA medals but it will certainly aid the team.
Sha can potentially add a few tenths quite easily as she is still counting 3 C skills. Bringing back ger inbar stalder and inbar stalder half would add 0.2 alone and that's with them not in combination with something else.
http://gymmedia.com/AG/Olympic-Youth/2011/POYC11-ak14-15-aa.pdf
results from Pre-Olympic Youth cup 14/15 yr age group
http://gymmedia.com/AG/Olympic-Youth/2011/POYC11-ak12-13-aa.pdf
results from 12/13 yr age group
Well done to Alex Eade - 2nd All around
Emma Nedov 1st on beam. equal 3rd on floor
anyone know why Sasha is leaving Castle Hill? Their site says they have a new elite coach...
How did the team go in Germany?
any news from nsw elite trial yesterday?
Jasmine Ford was the only senior. Kiana Elliot was the only Junior.
Tian Prestley won IDP 10. Maddy Nedov 2nd. Erin Modaro won IDP8.
What happened to Celeste?
gone to MBC i herd?
celeste has a sore ankle.
What about Elisha Lai?
Celeste was at comp. Just didnt place at the top.
Sacha hasnt left Castle Hill, a junior coach left who has now been replaced.
why did lauren only compete bars?
seems silly
I believe she has a slight ankle injury. Seems stupid to send her all the way to Moscow to do UB if you're not an UB specialist. She should rest up and start aiming for an Amanar.
Well done ALEX EADE kicking butts again
Jesus Christ, people, stop going on about those Amanars. It is not realistic to expect any of the current Australian seniors to get an Amanar. Nor should you wish for them to risk their health trying to get one. Just accept that DTYs are the best we can hope for at the moment and move on. Thank you.
Great Effort Alex Eade, you little champion!
How come there was only German girls who competed in the 12 -13 year olds.It did not seem that they were juniors according to their start values
Didn't they go as a team!!
Gymnastics on Fox this week:
1.30-3.30 AM Tuesday (so overnight tonight)
and
1.30-3.30 AM Wednesday
Both are FIG World Cup events.
The NSW State Trial result is up: http://www.gymnsw.org.au/calendar/?Display=list&fromYear=current
A few of us kept a record of all scores during the trials and it did not seem to add up to the results. This shows in the actual results posted - if you look at Elisha's results and add them up, it totals 47.700 (which is what we all had. On the scoresheet, it says 33.450 so it's quite confusing.
O I forgot to add to the above comment : It is regarding WG 1DP 10
I have Lai at 47.7 - shouldn't she be second?
They have not added her score in for beam..... this is why it is important for the scorer to double check the results and make sure that all scores are added. This needs to be rectified and Lai recognized for finishing second
Dutchfan has some more vids of the Aussie girls!
Here is the link to Maddi's floor:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Dutchfan33#p/u/6/fVz9dEA0Mt8
You'll find Alex's and Emma's routines there as well. Yay!
:)
good job to alex eade.
but will she last? she still has to do 3 more years of junior.... it' a long time to hang around!
I would imagine she is in a better position than most other girls her age who are yet to compete junior! Most of them are competing 8 or 10 at the moment. 3 years to develop a world class program sounds pretty good to me.
what a ridiculus comment anon 1:13pm. why wouldnt she last, the next three years are going to be the most exciting years of her gymnastics life. I know I would hang around if I was getting invited to the countries such as she is...germany,portagul,France..etc etc..WHAT A LIFE and she's only 13years old. The gymnasts who won't last, are the ones who arn't getting invited.
I know. It's quite hilarious to hear that sort of comment alongside recent comments complaining about the slow progression of Australian juniors, and the lack of Amanars (!).
Hopefully people can see that each gymnast develops at their own pace, and that the coaches recognise and train for that, rather than impose mnadatory skills at certain ages.
Mm, she's outstanding by Australian junior standards, but she's much less at risk of burnout than juniors from other countries who are doing Amanars and training Produnovas. Although I do see where you're getting at, because she seems so far ahead of the field.
i agree, until you're in the shoes of an elite gymnast you can't understand the pressure that they go through. its not easy to keep going when you're having a bad few weeks or you're worrying about skills.
i hope she sticks it out, she has a lot of talent.
however, even those with talent can't keep it up - sometimes its a bit too much of one thing.
You also need to consider injury.
12 - 16 are when it seems most growth related injuries can occur. Talent is one thing, it's a whole package that gets them from 16 and beyond.
Look at the most successful country in gymnastics at the moment - USA. Their girls are learning bigger tricks at an early age and manage to remain in the sport and produce an exceptionally high level of skill at Snr. I think Australia holds their gymnasts back and tends to aim towards what the top countries are doing now rather than considering where gymnastics could go in the future and trying to be the leaders. Seems we prefer to be the followers who are always a step behind.
What will be interesting is to see if Alex Eade improves her difficulty over the next three years to become a world leader in DD and execution as a snr or if she stagnates and continues to maintain her current skills into snr.
Alex has been extremely fortunate, and has not sustained any serious injury as yet.....this has kept her in good stead as she is always moving forward and learning new skills. There are many talented girls but due to injuries they have not been able to progress at the same rate. Australia will never be the leaders in this sport as we don't have the funding or the coach to gymnast ratio like the other countries.
I just hope Alex is not reading this blog. I wish we would just celebrate where she is now and not speculate about her future. It almost reads that people are hoping she will fail. With a little more support who knows where she will go.
I wish the injury problems were looked into!
People make too many excuses 'we have less funding, blah blah blah, we have less coaches blah blah blah'. I just don't think they are bold enough. Our team always plays it safe and stock. It might be good enough for a top 8 spot, but it is unlikely to ever elevate us above 5th or 6th.
In my view it is good that Alex is stepping it up and really going for it. The national team's gymnastics has become so cookie cutter in recent years that anyone trying for some more difficult stuff is ok in my book.
We never see any truly interesting or rare skills from our athletes like standing arabian or tuck fulls on beam, any rarer releases like toe-tkatchev/stalder-tkatchev/def on bars, or much in the tumbling department beyond the usual full ins.
Maybe because Alex already has all that stock stuff she can work on making her routines more unique. I am sick of athletes' programs being nearly identical and using the most overused combinations for everything.
Anon 12:11, your sense of entitlement is astounding. Please remember that our girls are not performing for your pleasure. Just because you are sick of seeing certain things done to death doesn't mean the gymnasts and their coaches have to change their routines accordingly. They compete for themselves and for their country, not for you.
you do realise that the population is the USA is about 310 million, and Australia's population is around 22 million - statistically they are likely to have 10 times the number of gymnasts that Australia has so can easily demand higher difficulty from their gymnasts, after all what does Marta Karolyi really care if a couple of girls get injured heaps from trying too difficult skills when she has 10 more girls ready to go in that spot!
Expecting Australia to lead the sport is just ludicrous IMO.
AND the Americans actually have a really high-seeming injury rate, especially right before competitions.
Exactly, that is why we need to take care of our girls, especially when injured as we don't have the volume of other countries. At the moment there seems to be so many injuries which a real shame for many of these girls as they are losing out on their comp experience and overseas opportunities..... hope this doesn't continue as we want our girls healthy for worlds...
Alex Eade does seem to have a great future ahead of her being where she is at her age. I only see it as being advantageous.
On another note, what is happening to NSW gymnastics? Apparently no one from IDP10 has qualified for nationals after the NSW State trials.
I think it's fairly obvious that the slow and steady approach isn't winning the race. The majority of the girls who are injured aren't doing difficult skills so I hardly think it's fair to blame it on them doing skills that are well beyond them. A lot of these injuries are stress fractures from repetition. It's not a Mustafina situation where they're blowing out their knees on a techniquely unsound vault.
The attitude that because we come from a non dominant gym country we should be thankful for any scraps we can get isn't a good one to have. In the last 5 years there have been world medalists from countries like Italy, France, Great Britain, Brazil, Canada, Japan and Switzerland. Australia has been a top 8 team since the early 90s. It's time we start acting like one. Showing up to worlds with yurchenko fulls and double twists on floor isn't playing it smart. Sure they won't count many falls but they'll still be miles down in the standings.
I'm not advocating a crazy upgrade scheme but it's frustrating seeing the talent in this country not being realised because it goes against some preconceived notion that Australia must do clean low difficulty routines. It's no coincidence that our best gymnast of late had world leading D scores in both the floor and beam finals last year.
The reason the Americans have such a high injury rate is because Martha Karolyiis a nutbag who insists that the girls do full sets on a hard floor (no mats) at the camps they hold thorughout the year. I believe they have them once every 2 or 3 months so the wear and tear shows.
IDP 10 girls in NSW will be fine. There were a few problems I believe but they are being sorted out.
How do you know that the injured girls aren't doing hard skills or that they have stress fractures.
hey guys,
I'm thinking of going to Victorian Championships this year and was wondering if anyone knows which interstate teams will be going?
Thankyou
There is a work order up but no other elite programs are on there.
Angela Donald is entered! Yay! Hopefully this means she will be right for nationals
a couple of the new zealand girls will be competing though
so i guess we can discern that Laura and Svetlana both have injuries that will certainly keep them out of nationals, while Mary-Anne, Angela and Britt are expected to be ok.
I must be blind, because I cannot see Angela Donald's name on the workorder at all?
Nice to see Britt and Laura Hingston there.
Also looking forward to seeing Georgia Wheeler and Amelia McGrath.
Hey I see Chloe Simms is competing in the Qld state trial next week-end would love to be able to go and see her, its a bit sad that there seems to be only 2 IDP 8's and 3 IDP 10's, gee wheres everyone gone?
my daughter use to be a gymnast at QAS and i remember one of the older girls there at the time, was doing some of those really hard skills you mentioned like the arabian and toe-on tkatchev and more. she never got injured but left the sport for unknown reasons. so i think its unfair to say that injuries come from trying the harder skills, yes its a dangerous sport but you can injure yourself just walking in the park.
Where are you seeing the queensland trial work order? I've looked all over the site and can't find it!
yeh, if anyone could list who's participating in the QLD trial IDP8 and above that'd be great as I'm thinking of making the trip. I'd love to see Chloe too, I'm really curious to see what shape she's in. As in, whether she has a chance for worlds.
It sounds like lots of girls are injured. This is who would ideally be competing IDP10, but sounds like numbers are much lower:
Boffo
Tarvit
Jones
Casis
Clark
King Koi
Godwin
Miller
Wurth
Joura
Budack
Sims
Angela is definitely on the Vics list - no 2014, squad D.
I personally wouldn't say that injuries come only from harder skills...however they are far more likely! Especially if the gymnast is competing at their absolute maximum ability -- there is far less flexibility within the skill to allow for daily variations in fatigue or differing equipment.
Also, as ANYONE who has ever injured themselves knows: it isn't always the actual thing you are doing at the time that is the sole cause of the injury, but possibily the years of other stuff beofre then.
I once injured my neck picking up a phone. Do I think that picking up phones is dangerous? No. I have also injured my neck multiple times on the trampoline. Guess which circumstance caused the more serious injury, and guess which activity I am now fearful of?
No Laura Hingston on the work order, see is injured I think. I don't think she will be doing Nationals either
I suspect the code of points may have something to do with the fact that many gymnasts may do similar skills or combinations. Obviously those with the most value for 'learning effort' would be most worthwhile. Ie. when a double back tuck was a C you didn't exactly see many in competition, but now that it is a D there are significantly more double back tucks (particularly in combination passes).
Is the Vics workorder available online? I can't find it on GVs website (though haven't looked that hard...).
Here you go:
http://www.gymnasticsvictoria.org.au/?
Page=16735&MenuID=Events%2F20273%2F12403%2C
Senior%5FVictorian%5FChampionships
%2F20605%2F9989%2F
I know there is a few on the Vics work order that you may find won't actually compete... remember clubs have to put the girls names in early.
NSW 2011 IDP Trial 1 results are up on the GNSW website
yes, there are are always girls listed for Vics who end up not competing. However, the point is that Angela and Britt and Mary-Anne would not have been entered if their injuries were so serious they would be certainly ruled out, like Laura and Svetlana.
It has to suggest that they should be ok in the near future, even if they are not ultimately ready for Vics.
In the IDP10 to senior session at Vics, who on earth is 'Ulln Sternberg', registered as a senior for Waverley?
I have never heard of this gymnast before.
Google says she has done gymnastics in the US. I'm guessing new arrival.
Who is in line to be picked for Japan Cup? It's not far away and Wheeler has already been named.One would think Mitchell, Brennan and Little would be there?
I hope there will be some different faces, not the same old faces.There are others that could gain valuable experience from such a comp. Like Lorenzin, Chung,GRBrowm,Simpson,Donald etc.
Wheeler is yet to perform to her potential at an international meet so I would like to see if she can hit all 4 events at once.
they should save wheeler for worlds, it makes no sense to risk an injury just so she can try to "hit"
Victorian Trial 2 today - Britt Greeley looked really good. She did 3 apparatus and got 1st place on all 3. She looked like she was coming back to her old self. She did a really strong yuchenko 1 1/2 and her Beam was really solid. On floor she did a double arabian in the first tumbling line which was really strong in the air and on landing. I really hope she can keep improving through Victorian Championships and then onto Nationals. Go Britt, well done, good to see you back!
Any comments on Wheeler/Collister/McGrath
Collister did not compete, Wheeler only did bars - fell twice and McGrath only did bars and beam
how did the IDP10's look?
Thanks so much for the Vics report!
Just read the VWHPC facebook page. Australian Team has come 1st in portugal, Alex eade won her division and Emma Nedov was 1st and Maddi Leydin 4th in their division. Great competition, well done girls.
Does anyone know where we can see some photos of the girls in Portugal?
Alex Eade would give our seniors a run for their money, she is just a superstar!!!
How can people say we are so far behind other countries when we get results like these, or is it that these young juniors of are a far more ahead than our seniors when they were juniors?
Um, that is a bit of a silly comment. You have no idea of the calibre of the girls they were competing against. 1st place is great, but if it's not against elites of other top 10 countries, it means very little.
I am sure it means a lot to the athletes actually competiting. Every competition counts. You are not just competing against other athletes, you are competing against yourself! Obviously you don't understand elite gymnastics.
It was in response to 'How can people say we are so far behind other countries when we get results like these?'
results like what? Beating Sri Lanka's elites? It means nothing if its not in the context of real competition.
The last comment would imply we should celebrate becasue the girls managed to hit and win agaisnt themselves (in your terms)! Yay!
That is no reflection on us being behind or in front of other countries. You obviously didn't even read what I wrote.
well obviously you know what being behind or in front is, are you a coach working day to day with the athletes, knowing their improvements, doesn't sound like it
Someone obviously hasn't seen what Komova, Wieber, Grishina, Murakami and half the junior Chinese girls were doing at the same age.
Congrats to the girls for winning when they should but this was hardly the deepest of fields.
lets face it, the aussie gymnastics program has some serious flaws if there juniors are constantly underperforming and /or unable to stack up against the juniors from the bigger gymnastics powers for whatever reason. we need a proper national coach who can drill these young girls into reaching their full potential. look at romania ,they do fine with the smaller population they got to work with
If these comps people are saying are not up to the standard, why don't they send the girls to the better comps like China, Russia etc.....they would show us the true competition. Whats the point of sending them to countries where we expect them to win because the standard is low.
Alex Eade completely outclassed the field in the youth division and in fact scored higher than the winner of the junior division however the difficulty in the junior was similar to our girls so I think it was a great choice of competition. What is the point in sending girls on their first international to a comp where they are 8 points behind before they even do a routine. Give Peggy some credit - this was a good move in the development of these girls.
I think it was a good competition to send the girls for their first international comp....however Emma N has been on a national team before and they should have sent some other girls along for experience as well.
its a little rediculous to compare us to romania because we are similiar in terms of population.....
are you forgetting that they are a socialist country where there are financial incentives for children to do well in sport?
are you forgetting there are screening programmes held at socialist schools to find talented 4-5 year olds?
or that their parents only see their children once a week and these gymnasts are basically raised by their coaches? - which assists poorer income families as they know their child is being provided for.
In australia there are NO government or financial incentives for a child to be involved in gymnastics....they do it completely by choice. which, of course is a good thing.
however, there will always be hundreds of 5-6 year olds that have the potential to be fantastic at the sport, however, they never enter the sport, get bored of it, or their parents cant afford the sport, hence they never make it.
yes there are VIS scolarships - but they are only offered to the few elite who are very close to making it, or who have already proven themselves. not kids in the making.
also gymnastics is not a major sport in australia, like it is in romania.
I agree, I think it was a great choice of competition. The girls no matter how large their difficulty was, had to perform their program and the program they are obviously ready to put out in a competition environment. The confidence they will have gained performing well will I am sure will encourage them to do well at Nationals. Don't forget Maddi and Alex are not 2012, they are 2016. They still have time to make further upgrades. I think it is great Peggy is giving the girls an opportunity to get out there and gain experience.
Anon 7:02 PM, Romania hasn't been a socialist oountry since 1999. While there are still certain financial incentives for gymnasts' families, and while there are still talent screening programmes in some places, they are not nearly as common as they used to be, and the system is not nearly as professional as it used to be. Also, the idea that gymnastics is a popular sport in Romania is false. Gymnastics is hardly more popular in Romania than it is in Australia. The overwhelming majority of Romanians only care about soccer (the most popular sport in the country, by a huge margin), formula 1, swimming, wrestling, tennis and athletics. So the comparison isn't as ridiculous as it might seem at first glance.
Correction to the above post: Romania hasn't been a socialist country since 1989, so it hasn't been socialist for 22 years now. Makes a huge difference to your argument, doesn't it, Anon 7:02?
From the results in Portugal, it seems all countries are having difficulty getting any decent bar start values. Actually a lot of the start values were very low. Can anyone explain why, as none would be close to qualifying for Junior in our standards apart from the top 4 or 5.
In the youth Alex was about 6 points ahead in start values. She did a great job, but they weren't really challenged, and I think they would have been up to a challenge.
Great competition results from our Aussie girls in Portugal!!!!
anon 8.21:
not really. they may not use the word "socialist'' but they are still a far cry from the way australian society works.
"Australian, British Youth Impress in Portugal"
Article from International Gymnast, includes full scores
http://www.intlgymnast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2557%3Aaustralian-british-youth-impress-in-portugal&catid=5%3Acompetition-reports&Itemid=164
Anon 11:23, Romania has changed a lot over the last twenty years. Take it from someone who has been there several times and has seen both the country and its gymnastics culture change considerably. True, parts of the old system are still in place, and Romania is currently reaping the benefits of that, but there are clear signs that the system that produced all those great champions is falling apart. Give it another ten years and Romania's system will be just like Australia's. I'm sure of it.
Anyhow, good on the Aussie girls for doing well in Portugal!
I don't think anyone had a problem with the girls being sent to a comp with a weak field. Experience is expereince. What started these minor disagreements was one poster stating that based on theresult we aren't behind the established dominant teams.
Gymnastics is on the decline in Romania but it will always have a place. It's similar to what swimming is in Australia. Every few months you here about some new award/event/recognition for their former athletes where they get together former champs from Nadia and Ungureanu to Izbasa and honour them.
This new crop of juniors has potential but I think the 1998 juniors at CWG and the girls that turned senior in 2006 (Dykes, Sims, Joura) were better in 2005.
message to GA:
http://www.ffgym.com/ffgym/actualites/calendrier/national/championnat_de_france_elite_junior_espoir_avenir_ga_gr_et_championnats_de_france_dn1_et_2_gam_gaf_et_df_gaf_vendredi_20_mai_2011/i_gym_toulouse_gr_ga_2011
This is what you need to do if you ever want the sport to grow.
Anon at 12.37 - what is it exactly GA should do? Have a website in French? Despite the fact this website is slightly more attractive. I actually don't understand your point?
In regards to our juniors - I actually think they are behind the 8-ball and that they need to increase difficuly to actually challenge for medals in the future. I was watching some vids of clubs in the US and they had 9 year olds working yurchenkos... we need that. I think we go alright once the gymnast has been a SNR for a couple of year (Lauren/Ash/even Dasha) but to impact on the scene as a first yr SNR never happens in Aus.
And don't get started on the stupid population arguments... We excel at swimming and a number of other sports despite our population, there is no reason that we shouldn't at gymnastics too. It is illogical to believe success is derived from population. Otherwise India would be flogging us and everyone else... we need to ensure that the programs focus on excellence in the areas that get the medals and at the moment that is in difficulty.
To 12:37 Anonymous: so what are you saying? GA needs to organize a more informative website? GA needs to fund more international tours? GA needs to provide a palace for you to train in? How about program coaches producing gymnasts with an internationally competitive program, how about that? You get what you give. You can't expect red carpet treatment if you are delivering well below international standards. A 10 million dollar facility will not give Australia the results needed, it will come from the commitment and passion from the PEOPLE in charge; plain and simple. Quit whinging and get to work, results will not fall into your lap!
OT but funny to look back at this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xra0BxGvpOs
anon 1.45 OMG THATS BUNNERONG GYMNASTICS I WENT THERE! (i only started there 8 years after this interview lol) but still OMG THE GYM LOOKS SO DIFFERENT!
Well, every child is taught to swim. Not every child is taught gymnastics.
Swimmers also don't need to start at the age of 5 to be successful.
Much greater chances of identifying talent in swimming in time to do something about it.
Swimming is FAR fewer training hours, and requires WAY less equipment to train.
Swimmers can work independently for much longer times than gymnasts, who pretty much require continuous coaching and spotting.
Swimming is also high in the national consciousness due to our past results -- success breeds success (see the Romanian team).
I like swimming as well as gymnastics...I'm just saying that the two sports are really not comparable at all in terms of talent identification and development.
Also, many doctors recommend swimming to assist asthmatic kids...but nevertheless...
OT but is anyone going to take vids at the NSW State Championships this weekend?
And many doctors recommend children with mobility and balance problems to do gymnastics...
With regards to Vics Trial 2, Is Mary anne and Zoe injured?(again) They have not done Trial 1 or 2? Why is Georgia Wheeler only doing bars? Is she injured as well? I hope they are all ok. Brennan is missing as well? I thought gymnasts had to qualify for nationals by doing at least 2 trials.
I agree with some of your sentiments but I'll rebut a couple...
Well, every child is taught to swim. Not every child is taught gymnastics. ** Gymnastics is in most Primary Schools in NSW at least, often taught by external companies (often gym clubs). Not ALL kids are taught to swim, a lot are taught to not drown (swimming for survival) but the technique of race-swimming not so much.
Swimmers also don't need to start at the age of 5 to be successful. ** Some of the girls on the elite squad at the moment weren't gymnasts until age 8-ish...
Swimming is FAR fewer training hours, and requires WAY less equipment to train. ** I disagree with the hours. Maybe at an early age (but I disagree in training 6-7 year old gymnasts for 15+ hours too). Swimmers train most mornings from 5am and then often do cardio/strength in the evenings. We're talking elite here I'm guessing if we're comparing? As for equipment, a pool costs as much as a gym to set up and the ongoing costs of a pool are also significant. Swimming fees are similar to gym fees.
** I agree with the culture etc but my arguament is that population is not an excuse. We have elite athletes in a number of sports who can take on the world and having to choose from fewer in the general population and it doesn't seem to effect other sports.
What I'm saying is that our success in gymnastics is dependant on the individual programs, the national focus and the lack of opportunities/funding following retirement (though I don't see a lot of swimmers cashing in on their success but there are the few who have really made it I guess).
I think that this year they changed the rules so that girls IDP10 and above don't have to compete at a trial but do have to compete at Vics if they want to go to nationals.
Anon 9:39am
According to the rules they do have to qualify. But its seems some get through the back door, whilst others have to go through the process.
Annon May 23 3:12
How can you say the girls who turned senior in 2006 were better than Maddie and Alex. These two girls do not turn senior until 2013 and 2014 respectively. That is still 2-3 years away. Plenty of room for development.
I've been an elite gymnast and a national level swimmer. they are completely different and impossible to compare...both have great challenges.
gymnastics, i missed out on a lot of school but got the opportunity to train with close friends and learn new skills which was exciting. there are no where near the amount of people willing to put the years into gymnastics as there are swimming..
i quit gymnastics when i was 12 and began swimming at 13. i was training 8 times a week for 4 years both morning at 4:30 and afternoons until 6:30 long day and mentally tough. its definitely not easy and the competitiveness of the sport means you can put in 10 years of hard work and still not reach the highest level.
there aren't enough people to choose from who have the abililty to do elite gymnastics, there are so many factors that go into being the best.
mental, physical and the heart to want to do it. its not easy and with a smaller population than most world class countries, it does make it a lot harder
International levels can qualify through competitions overseas and other comps and test asong is there is a certain no of judges - I believe??
That's the way I read the rules. International levels (IDP 6 and up) don't have to attend trials but must achieve qualifying score on 4 apparatus at one time, with at least 2 suitably qualified judges, with only one judged routine per apparatus. They have to go to Vic states unless injured or sick or they can apply for other extenuating circumstances. Jnr and senior can qual on single apparatus if they want ( thank goodness or most of our national team would be would be missing! Of course most gymnasts trial as it is a valuable part of their preparation but it would be foolish for the states not to everything they can to get most of their IDP girls at nationals. Also not a good idea for them to compete at trials if a few extra weeks lighter training could have them ready for nationals.
Mary-Anne and Zoe both qualified OS.
The girls need only meet a qualifying score, no sense breaking them by forcing them to do multiple, and meaningless, competitions.
Trials should be renamed 'qualification opportunities'
And es, you need at least 2 appropriately qualified judges on each apparatus to submit a score.
So you see it isn't a "back door", just another pathway in the published process.
will anyone be videoing QLD trials this weekend? I am dying to see Chloe!
Oh me too! Please! anyone. I'd settle for a report. I can't find anything on the QLD site. results take forever. Have they had any International stream comps yet this year?
Same as NSW, anyone going to report/video States?
I will be there and I will be giving a report from what I see. I will be keeping a close eye on Chloe, Larrisa and Georgia Godwin.
I no Qld website is really bad, i've managed to get this list of competitors for qld state trial which will be the first comp for the girls.
Snr - Chloe Simms, Karina Brooks, Sophie Budack (QAS) Larissa Miller, Sharlee Clark, Amaya King-Koi (MBC)
Jnr - Georgia Godwin, Jasmine Casis (MBC)
Int 10 - Tamika Jones, Eden Tarvit, Emily Conran (QAS)
Can't wait to see Chloe!! Hope she is awesome.
Woooo Jazzy Cassis! I'm really looking forward to seeing her progression as well -- such a stylish gymnast!
katie and natalia?
sh**! Mitchell broke her lower leg in training!!
No Katie, Natalia or Boffo. Must be out injured???
can anyone confirm or deny the news about Lauren? Devastating if it's true.
Maybe Katie and Natalia qualified overseas as well? I hope so, as I am particularly looking forward to seeing Katie's floor at Nationals.
Lauren is fine and well. Really, who are the trolls who start this stuff?
I don't think Nataia or Katie have competed OS this year
I don't know about Natalia but I thought Katie went as part of the team to wild rose in March. She got the highest score there IIRC.
Katie definitely has, take a moment to watch her gorgeous floor: http://youtu.be/_qaqu72isd0
Love her!
any info from any of the trials today?
I personally think we are in trouble in the next couple of years. Great Britian is looking solid,and like Italy can surpass us if not this year then next at the olympics. i think japan is strong and can easily hold onto 5th place, battling GB and Italy. From behind, Brazil, France and Ukraine are moving up, none of the "big 4" (us,russia,china,romania) are showing any sign of weaknesses and i dont see anything yet from the aussie up-and-comers to hold us in 6th, especially when the current crop of seniors start to retire. Forgive my pessimism but i think we've hit some sort of "peak" this past year in aussie WAG and it could be awhile before it comes back.
i can see the aussie team easily dropping to 10th to 12th, battling with the likes of canada and spain.
I reckon we will be able to make the top 24 countries but even sri lanka is better than us now! our level 10s are training handspring vaults and back tucks on floor
Yeah, I don't get it. Why is our national levels system so far behind. I am from a relatively "successful" club in wag, however, each year we have less than 6 or 8 girls in a really good year competing national 6 to 10. We have no elite system, and like all clubs, on the rare occasion we do have an extremely talented girl, we encourage them to go elsewhere that does do IDP.
At national 10 the most difficult vault was a tsuk with no twisting, bars, there are very rarely any pirouettes and usually only one catch high to low release. Tumbling is very basic for a national ten (which is supposed to be the top tier for non IDP gymnasts) and beam - good acro combos are incredibly rare.
Why???? Why are our girls not able to do all these things???
Yes I understand that they are not elite, but if you make it to nationa ten then IMO you ARE A GOOD gymnast.
Look at the NCAA program in America - some if not at least half of those girls were not in an elite program and were just level tens, but they can still do amazing skills!
And I know that when you hit level 9 & 10 you are usually
in hsc, or yr 11 and 12, and the USA receive scholarships for gym and we don't. And I am not expecting our level tens to be just as good as us level tens, but we are so far behind it's not funny!
I mean, even look at the age differences of our level 6 and 7's compared to other countries- younger girls are competing harder routines in other countries.
IMO if we want to improve our elite program, then we have to improve our national programs first - that is where most elite gymnasts are discovered.
I don't know what state you are from but Victoria's level 9s and 10s are packed with difficulty.
on Vault we have a couple of yurchenko fulls plus a number of layout tsuks,
On bars, the majprity of girls are completing a shootover with a C value with at least 4 10s and a couple of 9s getting them to handstand regularly.
On beam our 8s upward have aerials of some description and nearly all the 10s and 9s have a dynamic acro connection.
On floor, the split full has become almost the compulsory leap from level 8 up and 90% of the 10s have at least one double back and all have three tumble lines with C saltos.
Not sure where you get the idea the National stream is failing...whilst numbers are not huge in Victoria either, the standard is excellent
Victoria have awesome levels girls. Especially MLC who have recently been cleaning out the competition from about level 7 to 10. They're competing difficult skills that deserve a lot of recognition.
I don't know what state you are talking about.
Yeah, but aren't quite a few of Victoria's levels girls former elite girls? As in, didn't these girls train more hours, under highly qualified coaches, than most levels girls, until they 'dropped back' to levels?
True but not the girls I am thinking. None of the level 10s are ex elite
Only one of the 9s is ex elite
a couple of the level 8s trained elite but more than 3 years ago and most only went to IDP5ish
Not really a factor.
The girls with the biggest skills are not ex elite.
chat above is so silly. It all depends on the numbers retained, the talent and the coaching. simple. All I want to know is how the elite girls at qld trials which included chloe sims.... details pleaase??
me too! Everytime i see there are new posts i get excited thinking someone has posted news but then its on something else entirely!
Anon 4.54, that's a bit disrespectful, don't you think? I'm not the one who brought up the levels girls, but I find the discussion interesting and worthy of having. And where are we going to have that discussion if not here?
I am actually glad too that someone is talking about national levels the girls work very hard as well and some of them at the qld trial this week-end looked very good. Anyway Chloe Simms was Awesome!!!!!! So high in her tumbling and leaps - fell a couple of times but it didn't matter. Took out the Snr all around. Her class certainly stood out. Was far better than anyone there. Welcome back Chloe - Australia needs you.
what skills did she do?
As much as I love Chloe's gym...Peggy will never put her on a team with those tattoos.
Not true, at least two of the Victorian level ten's are ex-elite, especially those with the bigger skills.
From memory I think the floor was double tuck front, double arabian, front layout full-layout, double pike and a really nice triple turn. Beam was front aeiral, side somi. Flick step out back sault, sky high front sault, full turn with leg held up in vertical (whatever that is called) change leap tourjete half and double front dismount which she sat down but gee everyone else was stuck. Cant remember vault or bars sorry. She has a real presence out there she is looking really fit and happy. Couldn't even see the tatoos so I hope Peggy doesn't hold that against her.
What tattoos? Chloe was gorgeous! Loved it when she wiped tears from the eyes of an IDP girl - she obviously cares for them! Go Chloe!
Here are the current Victorian level tens...
Harriet Adcock (Jets)
Kirsty Brooks (Knox)
Alicia Brown (MLC)
Tori Curtis(MLC)
Laura Hart (WGC)
Sarah Johnstone(MLC)
Rachel Figgis (WGC)
who is ex elite???????
how about larrissa? and can anyone remember what chloe vaulted?
it sounds like she's looking awesome....
I was there Saturday night here my take:
Chloe: looked great did some really nice inbar work on bars and sky high release! Vault was a massive handspring pike front 1/2.
Larrisa: Had 2 falls on bars but did a lovley warm up, same routine as worlds. Floor again fell on double arabrian but did a great one in warm up!!!!
Sophie: Great yuckenko 1.5! good other apparatus nothing outstanding
Georgia Godwin: Amazing!!!! Front 1/1 into front 2/1 small step, Double tuck, back 2.5, and fionished with a double pike! Beam attenpted a flick flick 2 foot layout but it was a bit piked. Bars just one release. Vault yuckenko 1/1
Jazzy Cansis: Was ok nothing outstanding good floor nice beam, yuckenko 1/1 vault
Thats my take on the comp! overall a great comp I loved the venue. Some of the guy gymnasts were impresive too :)
I don't think Peggy will put Chloe on a team whether she has tattoos or not. Even Chloe said herself she didn't think she'd ever be welcomed back into the fold. Not when there are obedient consistent girls like Lauren and Emily and Ashleigh who don't seem to give Peggy any trouble. I bet she'd rather have them on a team than Chloe. Chloe would have to be off the charts outstanding to inch her way onto a team. She'd have to have talent so eclipsing of the other girls that Peggy couldn't use any excuse to keep ehr off a team.
does anyone know if miller is training upgrades on bars? I am kind of surprised her routine has stayed the same for the past couple of years when the competition for spots on the team is increasing...
Both Harriet and Tori have competed in the elite stream at some point in their careers
As well as Alicia.
Some IDP 10 videos from the NSW State Championships.
Beam:
Tiahn Pesterey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y25oYPw2KAA
Madeleine Nedov
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C50ce5fHjU
Elisha Lai
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56WyWpEuEAA
Victoria Manning
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8zHwzapIk0
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HUGS!
Aimee Warnock won IDP10 (well technically Elisha Lai because Aimee is ACT) and Emma Nedov JNR at NSW States. No SNRs in NSW and only three JNR though again one ACT in Naomi Lee. Only 6 IDP10 and 6IDP8... for a state with a lot of clubs and a consitantly high standard in levels what is the deal with NSW??
No institute, no scholarships, no funding.
I was wondering the same thing, especially as I don't think any of the NSW IDP 8's and 10's qualified for Nationals(correct me if I'm wrong).
If anyone knows..
Do a lot of the NSW elites end up at other states for whatever reason?
Also, does NSW have the same resources as other states? Like coaches, gym size, pits, trampolines, bungees?
I don't know the answer to those questions but they could be contributing factors. The only thing I know is that NSW does not have a HPC and the AIS has closed down(don't know if that makes a difference).
Closing the AIS may be part of the problem. A lot of girls that started at NSW clubs trained at the AIS and represented NSW from there (Monkton, Kittle, Wurth, Lee, Cassis...).
They have all now relocated to other states rather than go back to their clubs or Westfields, a supportable decision in the circumstances as they have to look after their own interests and opportunities.
It seems the decision to close the AIS may actually have weakened NSW rather than strengthening it.
I don't know its not just NSW. I was at the Qld trials on the week-end and there was 1 in IDP5, 5 in IDP6, 2 in IDP8, 3 in IDP10, 2 in JNR and 5 in SNR (I think there is only 4 injuries to take into consideration too) so that is not a lot of gymnasts for a state with a state training centre, and a couple of clubs that do International. The country is in real trouble if they are the stats. There's probably just not any incentives to train 30 hours a week, cause there was a lot of gymnasts there doing national levels that looked like they had potential. But I am certainly not an expert.
It does seem that in recent years WA and Victoria have been providing the bulk of eligilbe gymnasts. Is it a case of there being better coaches or funding? It's odd as NSW and Queensland provided a big number of the athletes at ther Olympics.
Are the numbers in IDP 6-10 in WA and VIC strong at least?
OH MY GOODNESS WHY DID THE AIS CLOSE DOWN AND WHY AM I NOT AWARE OF IT?! This is absolutely terrible, how on earth does this "strengthen" NSW gymnasts?
Anon 6.28, which two Queensland clubs are currently doing IDP? I can only think of MBC. I'm not counting QAS as it is the state centre rather than a club.
OMG, I can't believe someone is counted as 'elite' forever.
Tori did one year of elite in 2006...yes 5 years ago! followed by 3 years totally out of the sport.
If this is an advantage, I vote everyone do it.
Harriet has been competing national since level 7 in 2005 (yes, 6 years!), so if she was elite, she was very very young.
Alicia has been competing national levels since level 5 in 2005. No idea when you think she was elite.
So, using your logic, I was a size ten six years ago....does this mean I can still claim to be???
May 30, 2011 7:59 PM
AIS closed at the end of last year.
Senior girls farmed out to various other states Victoria - Ashleigh, Stella and Mary-Anne, Katie - QLD...I am sure I missed a few).
A few went to westfields, some of the littlies stayed in ACT and moved to one of the clubs there.
A sad state of affairs really but the writing was on the wall.
NSA have a strong MAG HPC program, wouldn't it be lovely to have the same for NSW girls?
Who moved to westfields apart from Tianh?
does anyone have any videos of the vic girls? any comps, trial 1 or 2? thanks :)
May 30, 2011 8:25 PM- thanks! it so nice to see the gymnasts training on tourist visits to the ais though!
I think the other Qld club doing IDP is Barron Valley??
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