Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Returned Retirees R What They R

The Couch Gymnast has new interviews up after Nationals, with 'oldies' Olivia Vivian and Dasha Joura. I highly recommend reading the Joura piece, as we finally get to hear her reflections on Beijing, and she opens up about "that" bizarre floor moment during nationals.

"I am actually really embarassed about that whole ten minutes of my life, really. I am very sorry everybody had to see that.  I just wasn’t really feeling up to it that day. That’s not an excuse, or anything. I am not trying to make excuses for myself, but basically I got out there and I gave it my all and it just wasn’t happening and I think I was frustrated..."
(ps I realise Olivia didn't "retire" as such... I just really like alliteration!)

82 comments:

Anonymous said...

Would love to see Dasha and Chloe make the team. Can u imagine how exciting the team would become. Go girls!!!

Anonymous said...

Agree with the above! Any chance of Dasha getting bars back in time?? Would a team of Lauren, Emily, Ash, Dasha and Chloe work? Just curious.

Anonymous said...

All apparatus r covered, so why not.

Anonymous said...

Probably unlikely, but that would be a pretty cool team. Nice blend of consistency and flair!!

Anonymous said...

I reckon chloe would have the better chance out of the two. But realistically still VERY slim.

Anonymous said...

Dash could really have great success as a three eventer. She could easily make world teams training as a FX/UB specialist with a serviceable DTY. I hope this time round she can have more fun trying out new skills and combos.

Anonymous said...

I had no idea Dasha had been training for such a short time and been sick for 3 weeks. She is gifted that is for sure! I know another senior who took about 2 months off training and took almost a year to get back.

Anonymous said...

Sounds to me like someone told Dasha to " pull her head in"
Sorry, once a Diva always a Diva. Yes , very talented , but so are a lot or our 2012 - 2016 cycle and they have been putting in the hard yards over the past four years.

Anonymous said...

Well I think if she is willing to make the effort to come back and she can in a quarter of the appartus finals then she deserves a spot.

Anonymous said...

can win that was suppose to say sorry

Anonymous said...

There will never be another gymnast in Australia like Dasha Joura.

Anonymous said...

Totally agree. I respect and can see value in all the girls' gymnastics but Dasha is truly one in a million.

I don't think I've been so excited to see an Australian gymnast come back in a long time. I am really glad that now there is hope that things will eventually end on a high note for her. Beijing was too horrible for it to be her final bow.

Anonymous said...

Another idea would be guest wrapups from people involved with GA.

-A competition wrapup by Peggy herself with her views on he meet. She has done some great camp reports in the past.

-A piece by Stacy talking about choreography and style that stood out to her during the meet and why.

-A piece by Jo Richards talking about the IDP girls. Not a wrapup of simple results but skills and gymnasts that stood out, with info about what they look for in pre-elite gymnasts integrated in.

-A piece (even in the form of blog or diary entries) by an athlete describing their nationals experience.

Anonymous said...

oops that was meant for the thread below!

Anonymous said...

There was some very interesting " colorful " language exchanged between Dasha and her parents after her interesting floor routine. Not very appropriate from such a Senior Gymnast. Talented or not. Showing such disrespect to her coaches in a very public place was not good.

Anonymous said...

I hope Mary Anne and grb make the team
Dasha is not the kind of person I want my gymnasts looking up to, they love Lauren
I personally don't think dasha is ready, she needs more time

Anonymous said...

@Anon 6:28pm - was that in Russian or English?

Anonymous said...

No one is making your kids look up to her. If they do, it's because she is a brilliant gymnast. I'd consider your kids to be lucky to have such a person to look up to. I do.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, but Dasha is not a person that is ever going to do the sport of gymnastics in Australia any good. She has a bad attitude, is cold and demeaning to other gymnasts, does not encourage any other gymnast in any environment and is rude and disrespectful to anyone with authority (including her parents).
No gymnast is lucky to have that sort of a person as a role model no matter how good they are. And quite frankly, i thought her routine was horrible. It was more like a tacky erotic show than a beautiful floor routine.
There are other gymnasts at present than can do better than her and that are more suited to a team environment.

Anonymous said...

I completely agree anon 6:47 !
What if she goes on the team and has a bad day? Ah oh well just don't do the routine properly no biggy
Kids watching at home will learn to just give up instead of strive for greatness
This is how I see Lauren, from Perth Australia and even though she was shadowed by dasha she finished better, with three world medals to her name
Some people can't let go of old favourites

Mez said...

Fair go.


She did do the decent thing about her floor, and admit that her conduct was the wrong way to go about things. She says she was embarrassed by it and is sorry it happened. It's not like she can go back and give that moment a do-over. And she's done it in her own words via a public media source rather than not saying anything at all or just letting her coach do the explaining.

The really unfortunate thing is, it's now committed to video so it won't be forgotten. And that's a fact I am sure she is cringing about as well.


For all we know, she might have resolved to take a totally different tack with her competition attitude and will work to make that moment not define her post-Beijing career.

Anonymous said...

No disrespect to you Mez, but I am in agreeance with the above two bloggers. What we all witnessed on floor this competition was the true Dasha. That is what she was like before and I am sure that is exactly what she is like now.
No amount of explaining will make right what she did and to be honest if it was any other gymnast there would be no forgiving, they would be written off so quickly. I think she has ability, but that is just not enough in sport today. We have seen this in so many other sports, people dropped from teams for their bad behaviour, why should gymnastics be any different?

My views anyway.......

Anonymous said...

Anon 6.47 - You must know Dasha very well to know that she never encourges any gymnast! In fact you would have to be in the gym with her to know that. Are you a coach? Or a gymnast? Or you could be repeating second or third hand information from a gymnast who has trained with her. I'm sure most people would realise how subjective and unreliable this type of info is. For what it is worth I have seen her be very supportive and encouraging to her sister both inside and outside the gym and to other team mates. She did the choreo for Katie's floor - isn't that support and encouragement? I think she deserves a fair go.

Anonymous said...

apparently dasha was hiding near the vault mat when emily and zoe were vaulting and just before their feet hit the mat, she shook it a little bit so she'd guarantee a win!

Anonymous said...

Wtf!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Anon 11:40 if thats a joke its not very funny , by the word apparently im guessing you werent there so stop making ungrounded accusations

Anonymous said...

Can we stop for sec we are talking about a   22 year old  who most of us don't know on a public forem regardless off what she did or didn't do a little respect and consideration to hear would be nice (u nave know she may reed this ) 

Anonymous said...

Totally agree 10:08. Dasha is only in it for Dasha. She is not, never has and never will be a team player. She would only upset the status Quo of a tight group of girls who have spent the past 4 years building a good team spirit . I feel the same could be said about Chloe, although I do feel she seems to make more effort. Dasha only apologized I feel because she was told to . She really looked like she did not want to be there. Is the score she could get on vault really worth upsetting the team bond, that is very important as well.

Anonymous said...

And you people wonder why our gymnasts don't stick around. This is a disgrace.

Anonymous said...

You don't think the gymnast who actually matter read this drivel do you?

Anonymous said...

Personally I'd rather see the team consist of the 5 girls with the most chance of scoring high scores - I couldn't give a crap if the girls like each other or are well behaved!!! And if you're worried about who your kids look up to try educating them with the values you want them to have.
Sasha

Anonymous said...

I certainly hope not! On the chance that they do - Dasha - you have support as well as critics. Be true to yourself and thanks for giving us the opportunity to see your amazing talent again.

Anonymous said...

Anon 4:53 PM, I personally know three national team members who read this blog (or used to anyway, before it got dull). I wouldn't be surprised if other national members read it too. You may want to take that into account before posting here.

Anonymous said...

You should never say anything about some one you wording say to ther face

Anonymous said...

So true!

Anonymous said...

They are elite gymnasts, many of which are receiving tax payer dollars to train and compete for the country. Their feelings about each other, who they like and whether they get along does not matter. The best girls should be on the Olympic team. I'd love to see Dasha and/or Chloe in London if they are one of the top five gymnasts. A bit of sideline drama would give everyone on the blog something to gossip about. Would that help make things less dull? Australian gymnastics hasn't been this interesting since the hush-hush retirement of Hollie Dykes.

Anonymous said...

Well I agree with 7.26pm. No matter what, gymnastics is an individual sport and you need five top scoring gymnasts to be successful. Lauen and Dasha appear to get on great so who is it that Dasha would upset if she wad included in the team. Some of the gymnasts that the 'Dasha hater' thinks should be included in the team over Dasha are great gymnasts but are incredibly boring to watch and will not be seen on the world stage. Australia needs the Dasha's and the Chloe's to make the world stop and watch our gymnasts and say Wow that was an amazing routine. That is just not going to happen with Mam etc. It will with Chloe and Dasha. They know how to bring home the gold as well.

Anonymous said...

Anon at 7:26 - You obviously do not know how team dynamics works. A team that works well together, supports and encourages each other works a lot more efficiently and produces better results than a team who has one or more people that upsets that dynamic. One bad attitude is a huge influence and is contagious. Just like the first person up on a team is the table setter and is usually the most consistant person - one fall at the start can be contagious and influences the rest of the team. Have you ever worked somewhere where one person has a bad attitude and you find yourself starting to have a bad attitude? This is why attitude affects the decision as to who goes on the team. The potential to score the highest (and your team to score the highest) is reduced if your attitude sucks and your team is influenced by this one attitude.

Anonymous said...

who gives a flying f*cuk what her attitude is - Hers and chloe's attitudes of past and present brings a breath of fresh air to the little robots.

I for one thinks it makes for great viewing. One of the worlds best gymnasts was one of the greatest divas that ever graced a gym - Khorkina and where would the sport be without her?

Anonymous said...

I am glad I am not the only one who thought Dasha's floor routine had moments of provocative movement!

I think the recent rowing controversy is a good example of why team fit is a critical part of the selection. When you have to achieve as a team, any diva like behaviour has the potential to really undermine the team and individuals who perhaps don't have the skills to deal with it.

On another note, I watched a lot of gym years ago when Chloe was coming up through the ranks and she did annoy me with her attitude. I publically commented on how disgraceful her treatment of her coashes was and how her attitude was embarassing for her and other people watching however, WOW what a transformation into a young lady who seems at peace with herself and is doing this because she LOVES gymnastics. Her spark and positive attitude were so pleasing to see and although I don't know her personally, I felt proud of her for the pleasure I felt watching her compete last weekend.

Anonymous said...

Exactly, I support chloe, she is so determined and she loves gymnastics! She competed with a broken foot! She has been training longer and she competed at nationals last year

Anonymous said...

In all the years that Dasha was being selected for various teams I didn't once hear even a whisper of a bad attitude or inability to work in a team. She was left off the commonwealth team in 06 because of inconsistent performance but never for team fit as far as I remember. Someone earlier posted that she is unsupportive of other gymnasts - I assume they meant younger gymnasts because she always appeared to be encouraging her team mates. I would imagine it would take a lot of courage to come out on the national stage knowing you are no longer the best after all the years when that was her place in the team. I don't think she has much chance of making the team without bars - but if she is one of the best 5 scorers I would be disappointed if she were left off. Dasha knows how to be in a team. Given how quickly she got her current program together - if she is in good health - anything is possible.

Anonymous said...

Anon 10.02 - Well said.

In Beijing after breaking her foot and smashing her face she still continued to support the entire team. She would of been devastated, yet when the two waverley girls were competing in aa finals, she was still cheering her heart out. That has to show everyone just what a big heart she has.

The harsh criticism is unhelpful and mean and she does not deserve this.


Congratulations to all the level girls at nationals!!!

Anonymous said...

I can't believe what I am reading! These negative comments about Dasha serve no purpose other than to hurt her. How many of you actually know what you are talking about? very few I am sure. This blog is becoming nothing more than a forum for bitchy comments. I personally think that these comments should all be removed.

Anonymous said...

To Anon 7:30 - I completely agree.

They serve no purpose and should be removed.

Anonymous said...

exactly these comments are simply quite mean.

In other news-peggyTV
8.45pm- peggy is concocting a floor routine for lauren to compete in london to Fergies London bridge so she can win brownie points!

Anonymous said...

What?!?! Is this true?
She won't get comp experience
Lauren should pick her own music

On the dasha comments: it is someone's opinion, everyone doesn't have to agree, even if they could be hurtful, maybe dasha will see and improve for next time

Anonymous said...

Some people are SO gullible.

Dasha for the 2012 Olympic Team!!! With Dasha and Lauren on our Aussie team, the world will really stand up and take notice. The girl is AWESOME!

Anonymous said...

My daughter is one of the younger ones who train with Dasha and she has only praise and respect for this young lady who is supportive, uplifting and been a delight for all the girls in the gym I have not heard one nasty comment from any one gymnast or parent at the gym only amazement at her hard work amazing skills and lovely manner towards all the other girls If any one could have seen how sick this young lady has been over the last few weeks you would wonder how she even got up to train. The fact she managed to get to Nationals is amazing and I would say the sign of a champion not someone who deserves anyones critiscm.

Anonymous said...

I am with you anon 9 :20

“Be Who You Are and Say What You Feel Because Those Who Mind Don't Matter and Those Who Matter Don't Mind.”
Love you dasha

Anonymous said...

Thank you to the Queensland Mum who posted the truth about Dasha. I hope she knows she has many supporters. I remember her from when she was in WA the same way.

Anonymous said...

9.20am. Are you sure you aren't talking about Chloe Sims. She was the one who was extremely sick with the flu the week before the comp. Dasha looked okay 2 me.

Anonymous said...

Dasha said she had been sick for three weeks in her interview with me.
Couch Gymnast

nade00 said...

Dasha = superstah!

enough said.

But really, as has been said, she held it together with a smashed face and a ripped ankle to compete in 2008 team prelims, even busting out the DTY. She's taken a chance in coming back to elite and isn't too proud to have a crack at the team even if she's not likely to make it. It is not easy to be used to being the star all the then coming back when you're no longer the centre of attention. A brave thing to do that deserves a lot of kudos. Plus, I thought she was an absolute pleasure to watch at nationals.

A bit of respect people!

Anonymous said...

Dash was def sick

Anonymous said...

Echo the parent from Qld ... was there earlier this year myself with a visiting gymnast ... same friendliness to me as someone she had never met!!! Ditto for Chloe too - have seen her around the last few years at comps with my young one ... so encouraging she was!!!!

Anonymous said...

I absolutely LOVE Dasha. The girl is a star!!! I only just wish she had started back at training earlier so she could have had a real shot at making the team. Is there any chance at all that she could squeeze into the team?

Anonymous said...

Only with a bar routine....otherwise not at all, there is no way they will only put up 3 bar routines, especially when two of them will be fairly average by international standards (Brennan and Little). In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if they cut out some of the non-bar workers before camp, because it is just not a logical possibility for them to be included unless injuries become a problem.

Another complication is that without beam, assuming that the three others are Brennan, Little and Mitchell, if Joura were included the other person (an UBer) would have to do beam. Which would work with Mary-Anne or Nikki Chung, but no so much with Miller if they want her on there.

I totally agree with what you said, it kills me she hasn't quite had enough time to get that bar routine ready.

Anonymous said...

So could she get a decent bar routine going in the next couple of weeks? Has she been training bars at all since her return?

Anonymous said...

She said in the couch gymnast interview that she ran out of time for bars because she was sick. So I'm hoping she gets back after nationals and trains 35 hours a week and gets a bar routine together. Would love to see her on the team. If not Dasha then Nikki Or Georgia S.
I like a team of:
VT Ashleigh, Emily, Dasha, Lauren
UB Dasha, Emily, Geoggia S, Ashleigh
BB Emily, Georgia S, Lauren, Ashleigh
FX Emily, Ashleigh, Lauren, Dasha

But I think the team will be
VT Lauren, Emily, Ashleigh GRB
UB Emily, Ashleigh, MAM, GRB
BB Lauren, Emily, Ashleigh, MAM
FX Lauren, Emily, Ashleigh, GRB
The reserve would need to do bars obviously and probably beam as well - so, Miller, Chung, Sims, Bonora would all work here.

Such a tough team to select.

Anonymous said...

Honestly people, if you're going to throw stones, at least have the decency to put your name to it. It's amazing how many anonymous people come out of the woodwork to slander people they don't even know.

Do I know any of the girls personally? No. So I'll just stick to what I can comment on, and that's the gymnastics they put out on the competition floor.

I hate this 5-member team situation. No matter which way you look at it, there are no doubt going to be some very disappointed girls at the end of this journey, but it seems even more harsh now that there are only 5. Best of luck to everybody still in contention and I think some of us could only wish to having even an inkling of the talent you each possess.

Becka

Anonymous said...

Anon at 10.45am I completely agree with everything you said :) Your first team would be AWESOME, but I suspect your second team will be the team going to the Olympics.

Anonymous said...

really? GRB over Larissa Miller?

Anonymous said...

Yes, I agree with Anon June 3, 10:45 and 5:18
And well said Becka June 3, 3:08 PM

Anonymous said...

Yeah but mainly because I didn't get to see Miller compete. I saw 1 bar routine (wasn't there Sunday) which scored 14.5 - GRB scored within .15 of this in finals. Olivia scored 14.5 also. I have never seen the floor routine people are talking about and don't know what start value she has there. I understand she is a little weak on vault and beam also. I think on a 5 person team to get a specialist position you have to be better than everyone on that apparatus by a fair bit or have a chance of making finals. I had hoped to have a clearer picture of who might be on the team after nationals but it is still very hard to pick. I don't know where Miller, Chung or Simpson are at in terms of readyness to trial - all 3 have a chance IMO if healthy. Bonora also did a good job on her apparatus and might fill a UB BB hole if that is what is needed.

Anonymous said...

What a fairytale story if GSim can get back in time. Would love love luuurve to see that!

Anonymous said...

I know this is a little OT, but I thought this is the only place people would see this given the levels and IDP conversation is on the other page.

The national level 10 girls did so well this week, I really wish they would get a little more recognition than they do. I know this is mainly an elite blog but these girls are such role models for the younger levels athletes.

The two Victorian gymnasts who came 1st and 2nd AA looked beautiful on the floor, so here's to a little recognition for the levels girls that they so deserve.

Anonymous said...

@ June 3, 2012 7:40 PM
I agree with you. All the level girls should get more recongition. The three Victorian level 10 girls in the top 4 all round are always amazing to watch.

Anonymous said...

I'd like to learn more about the national levels girls. Who should we be looking out for?

Anonymous said...

Well apart from Nationals, the IDP girls get NO recognition. The regionals and State Titles concentrate primarily on levels girls and the IDP girls are squashed in wherever they can fit them. Unless of course u r a senior. Until they get to junior, they get absolutley no recognition for training 30 plus hours from very young ages. In fact instead of getting recognition they get screamed at to the point of humiliation and at a level far greater than I have come across at any levels program. So great job to the level 10's in level stream but please don't say the IDP girls get more recognition. Yes the seniors do but they have trained 32 plus hours a week to get that recognition. The levels 10 girls can always try and come over to IDP if they want to.

Anonymous said...

...the level 10s... can go over to IDP?
The 20 year old level 10s can go compete against the 8 year old IDP? That's what you think should happen?

It was not said that the IDP girls get no recognition, it was said that levels should get more than they do at the moment. Have a look at the post dedicated to IDP and levels and tell me the ratio of IDP related posts to levels posts.

The IDP girls are great, no question, and one day they will be the girls that younger gymnasts look up to but right now they are not, they are ones who look up to the older levels, be they elite or national.

Anon at 9.59 PM the ones to look out for are really Rachel Figgis from Waverley, Alicia Brown from MLC and Nat Bennison from Delta, they came 1st-3rd All Around on Saturday. Such lovely gymnastics from all 3.

Anonymous said...

I think it was an error to put IDP and levels in the same post since IDP was finished 3 days before levels started so the post wasn't on the front page by the time the level were competing.

Anonymous said...

10.34 am are you saying the level 10's are the stndard of IDP 8 year olds. I think 7.12 am was just saying that the Level 10 gymnast could can swap over to the international stream if they are goo enough. e.g Chloe Sims went IDP, levels, IDP.

Anonymous said...

Those questions at the start of that post at 10.34 were very clearly rhetorical and sarcastic.
And that person who stated that levels can go to IDP was clearly talking about IDP 5-10 as they said 'unless they are senior or junior'

No 7.12 AM was butthurt because no-one has mentioned her daughter on here yet.

Anonymous said...

So in order for these girls to get recognition they need to move to elite?

Anonymous said...

No there clubs should give them recognition. e.g. newspapers etc.

Anonymous said...

their sorry

Anonymous said...

10.34 am are you saying the level 10's are the standard of IDP 8 year olds. I think 7.12 am was just saying that the Level 10 gymnast could can swap over to the international stream if they are goo enough. e.g Chloe Sims went IDP, levels, IDP.

Anonymous said...

I heard that Dasha was sick with chronic fatigue, surely this should be treated as an injury type situation, is she actually "Fit" to be selected if this is the case? Chronic fatigue can be very unpredictable and I would have thought that the six week camp before Olympics would be to grueling for some one in that position, especially when there are other healthy gymnasts. I would have thought she would be to unreliable .
I think she will be named in the 12, purely because of her vault win. Still amazes me how she scored over Emily.
Whether she goes further will be interesting as I was under the impression that only the fittest of girls could through. If she is not well, then this would surely weigh heavily on the rest of the team. I wouldn't think they would risk messing with the Teams mental position that way. we all saw how she reacted because she was not coping on floor .
Don't think we will probably see many surprises with the 12 selected. I assume Peggy will have to cover all bases and have a selection from all the HPC so there is no come back on the selectors . Pretty sure she would already have her teamed picked. The 2nd trial is probably just a formality. Good luck to them all anyway .

Anonymous said...

There would be one at least from each HPC anyway wouldn't there? Why do you dress up your anti Dasha comments as some version of team concern? If she isn't fit enough - she won't be selected. End of story. As for what you "heard" about why she was unwell, you are obviously no friend of the family so perhaps you should keep your opinions to yourself.
Was Emily's DTY better than Dasha's? Are you that good a judge that you could pick that? I didn't see either so I can't comment, however I will say that Dasha's best is better than Em's best so it isn't that big a surprise.
As far as selecting girls who "might" not make it through the camp - quite a few in that boat that will have to be selected to see if they can remain fit enough to compete at trial 2. For example:
Monkton
Miller
Chung
Simpson
Sims
Donald
Bonora
Mitchell

All have recent injuries or "niggles" - as most likely do the rest of the squad. If you only want to select from 100% fit we would only have a few to select from.

Anonymous said...

Here, here 5.07pm. I am with you on this one. 4.38 is uninformed and Dasha is definately a better gymnast than almost all of those going for selection, when she is fit. I am sure she will be addressing all health concerns to ensure she is fit for Olympic selection.

Anonymous said...

Apparently Dasha made no secret of her illness and that was what she had words about after her floor, a number of people heard that discussion. . She said herself that she had not been well before and if she is not fit then I agree, she should not be selected and yes agree that all gymnast are always dealing with different issues but a fatigue type disorder surely would be risky to deal with as it is unpredictable . A niggly ankle can be taped and monitored .
I totally agree that she WAS at one time a far better gymnast, extremely talented ,then and now , but don't feel that she is ready for this. Perhaps she left it a bit late and it is taking its toll. I do hope she continues and can get past this health issue as such a talent should not be wasted.