The Australian Gymnastics Blog

Australia WAG Teams Update!

2012-01-30T11:22:00.005+11:00

This weekend saw the trial not just for the Pacific Rim 2012 team, but the juniors and seniors heading to Gymnix in Canada as well.

GA have updated the following assignments, congratulations to all our gymnastics representatives:

Pacific Rim team: (Everett, USA)

Senior: Lauren Mitchell

Emily Little

Georgia Simpson

Reserve: Georgia-Rose Brown

Junior: Alexandra Eade
Madelaine Leydin
Jazminne Casis

Reserve: Georgia Godwin

Gymnix team: (Montreal, CAN)

Senior: Lauren Mitchell

Emily Little

Georgia Simpson

Georgia-Rose Brown

Georgia Wheeler

Nickola Chung

Ashleigh Brennan
Mary-Anne Monckton
Larrissa Miller

Junior: Alexandra Eade
Madelaine Leydin
Jazminne Casis

American World Cup: (All Around competition)

Georgia Simpson

The VWHPC has photos of their gymnasts up at Facebook.

You can also read about the WA girls (lovely pic!) in a new article here.

Aussie NCAA Head-To-Head

2012-01-29T20:18:00.003+11:00

Aah, it's good to be home, and even better to be home to gym news!

In an interesting match-up over the weekend, collegiate Aussies Mel Jones and Olivia Vivian (Oregon State) took on conference rivals Stanford, where one of their stalwarts is fellow Beijing 2008 squadder Shona Morgan.

Competing in front of a home crowd, OSU came out on top, with Olivia scoring an awesome 9.925 on bars. More great reviews are flooding in for Mel's floor (I still haven't seen video of it?) while Shona competing without major error on beam and floor. I do so love her choreo!

(ETA: If you would like to watch an archived stream of the meet, go here.)

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!

2012-01-26T13:11:00.000+11:00

I'll be in Sydney over the weekend.

Have an ace one.

:D

Dude! Dude.

2012-01-25T09:06:00.003+11:00

BREAKING NEWS

Superstar newbie Georgia Simpson will compete at the 2012 American Cup!

The lineup has been announced by USA Gymnastics. It will be held at Madison Square Garden on March 3rd.

In other happy news, our national women's coach Peggy Liddick will tomorrow officially become an Australian citizen. She appeared on Adam Spencer's breakfast radio show in Sydney earlier this morning to talk about it. Happy Australia Day, boss!

And Then There Were Two

2012-01-24T13:59:00.003+11:00

It can't be easy battling with your best mate for the one chance at realising a dream.

Read more about Josh Jefferis' experiences on the road to London here.

Got To Dance

2012-01-23T22:50:00.005+11:00

Check out this nice news feature on national team choreographer (AND TOTES MY SECOND BEST FRIEND BECAUSE WE'VE MET IN PERSON AND EVERYTHING LOLZ) Stacey Umeh, training young gymnasts at the Central Coast Gymnastics Academy. She has some lovely things to say about Lauren Mitchell.

Sam Offord Update

2012-01-22T22:41:00.002+11:00

The Herald Sun online is running a short piece on Sam Offord, detailing his injury sustained at the Waveney club friendly.

We wish him the best for a speedy recovery.

Camp As

2012-01-20T14:35:00.002+11:00

The Victorian Women's High Performance Centre is putting up photos from camp at their Facebook page! Hurrah!

Collegiate Aussies Back in the Game

2012-01-19T18:49:00.003+11:00

NCAA Gymnastics has kicked off for 2012, and Aussies were right there in the lineup.

At Oregon State, Olivia Vivian and Mel Jones (the latter now competing all-around for the first time at the school) helped the Beavers to victory over Oklahoma. Check out Olivia's new floor below. After an Iron Man routine in her second year, and a cheeky hat-tip to Burlesque last year... should we call this one Three Musketeers?

Meanwhile, over at Stanford, Victorian expat Shona Morgan also saw victory with her team, scoring a 9.725 on both bars and beam to help the Cardinals best three rival schools. She also scored a 9.500 on floor. (image courtesy Stanford Women's Gymnastics at Facebook)

In the hallowed halls of George Washington University, Monique Blount's team managed a commendable second overall at their season opener, despite being homeground hosts of the competition.

Happy Birthday To...

2012-01-18T17:35:00.004+11:00

Olympian and Commonwealth Games medallist Ashleigh Brennan, who turns 21 today!

Since her first big national team assignment in 2006, Ash has grown into an elegant and reliable team leader, who will no doubt be gunning for a place on the Aussie team in London.

The VHPC put up some lovely photos of the squad celebrating in Canberra. Hope you had a great day, Ash!

London Prepares Wrap-Up

2012-01-17T09:37:00.002+11:00

A hearty congratulations to our athletes that qualified to the Olympics in London.

You can read a small article about where Emily and Georgia trained here, while there are also some new pieces on Josh and Tom after their competition. A curious photo of Blake Gaudry is here at ABC's "Day in Pictures" gallery.

Hope you're all having a great week.

London Prepares 2012

2012-01-10T07:17:00.023+11:00

It's upon us!

Gymnastics Australia have put up a new page for ongoing updates and photos from national coach from Peggy Liddick. Emily Little now tumbles a piked full-in!

"Emily and Georgia went through their programs normally without anything unusual.... Both girls conducted themselves like professionals and were ready for the podium."

The FIG have photos up on Facebook here and will reportedly be doing a livestream of the competition through their Youtube channel here.

*** Gymnastics Australia advises that Australian MAG competitor Sam Offord has had to withdraw due to an injury sustained during the friendly at Waveney. He will be replaced by Josh Jefferis.***

As at 7:30am Wednesday, Georgia's bars and beam are up here. Em and Georgia start on bars in session 2 tomorrow (late tonight our time)

You can follow the women's proceedings live here at the Gymnastics Examiner or her e at The All Around. Unfortunately I can't stay up to follow proceedings but according to Blythe, the Aussies are in their green, gold and white national leo (hooray).

ETA Thursday...

Australia has officially qualified one MAG spot to London; the selectors can choose between Josh OR Tom to compete at the Games.

The Gymnastics Examiner and All-Around links above should take you to quickhits of the women's session. By all accounts the Aussies did a great job, notably newbie Simpson.

Check out her STUNNING floor below, as well as Em's vault.

See Emily's beam here
See Emily's bars here
See Georgia's beam here

Image below courtesy of the FIG

The Australian has a piece on Josh here.

"It's a tough situation but everyone has been great about it, Sam's been a legend," Jefferis, who knows the heartache of Olympic disappointment, said.

We're Red-y

2012-01-07T21:33:00.006+11:00

FIG have put up a photo of the London Test Event arena... lovely!

(click for larger)

And an official FIG microsite has been launched today.

Blythe over at The Gymnastics Examiner had a couple of observations about the Aussie men in podium training, which you can check out here.

She also has live updates from the women's podium training session here.

Public Service Announcement: Facebook Page Closure

2012-01-06T10:37:00.001+11:00

This message is just to advise you that in the coming days I will be closing the 'unofficial' Lauren Mitchell fanpage linked in the sidebar of this blog.

This is NOT due to any action by Lauren Mitchell's family or representation. It is simply that, as I run a blog AND a number of FB fanpages, it is a bit too much on my plate. Besides, Lauren has an official page now, and what better way to get news and views on her progress than from the girl herself!

So thanks all of you for the likes and support. Please keep encouraging Lauren on her gymnastics journey at this official page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lauren-Mitchell/234906013194389

Much love, Meredith.

Happy Olympic Year!

2012-01-03T11:32:00.003+11:00

*balloons and party horns*

Hullo again, friends! 'Tis 2012, and what a year it is shaping up to be!

The big BIG event to kick off the year is the London Olympic Test Event at the 02 Arena.

Fulltwist has a comprehensive post featuring the competition details here. Best of luck to our Aussie gymnasts in all disciplines attending the event!

Update: Follow the event's proceedings at Twitter with the hashtag #FIGTest12

Farewell 2011/2010 Award Wiiners

2011-12-31T16:28:00.002+11:00

Hi everyone.

So he were are then, the last day of 2011!

I hope it was enjoyable for all of you. Thanks again for taking the time to pop by AGB. I'll be back in 2012 to cover some of those HUGE events that will grace our arenas and screens.

I am extremely sorry I never announced the winners of the last Australian Gymnastics Blog Awards on the first of January. It's extremely remiss of me and I won't let it happen again! I am rectifying the mistake by acknowledging the winners right here right now! Thanks so much to everyone who emailed in votes, it was a great turnout. I hope to hear from you again in the 2012 Awards, which I vow to manage much better.

So here we go! The winners of 2010's Australian Gymnastics Blog Awards as voted by you, the readers!

*********************************************************

1. Female Gymnast of the Year (Senior)
* Lauren Mitchell
Honourable Mention: TIE - Maryanne Monckton and Georgia Simpson

Female Gymnast of the Year (Junior)
* Angela Donald
Honourable Mention: Amelia McGrath

2. Male Gymnast of the Year (Senior)
* Prashanth Sellathurai
Honourable Mention: Josh Jefferis

Male Gymnast of the Year (Junior)
* Jack Rickards
Honourable Mention: Declan Stacey

3. Australian Artistic Gymnastics Team of the Year
* WAG Commonwealth Games

4. Coach/Coaching Team of the Year
* Nikolai Lapchine and Martine George, WAIS

5. Routines of the Year

MAG
Prashanth Sellathurai, World Championships EF

"His routine is amazing! although he didn't get any place at worlds watching the routine makes me go :O wow... "

WAG
Lauren Mitchell, World Championships EF

"Well done to this routine! i don't think many were expecting her to win this but she did! and it was great!! she performs it so well and her tumbles are awesome!"

"Champiooon!"

6. "Smile" Moment of the Year
* Prashanth Sellathurai gives Commonwealth gold to his mum

7. "Sad" Moment of the Year
* Aussie boys crash out at Worlds

8. Surprise of the Year
* Shona Morgan signs to Stanford

9. Simon Reeve Award for Gymnastics Media Coverage
* (TIE) Foxtel, for Commonwealth Games broadcast and OneHD for Pacific Rim broadcast
And thanks for all the interesting comments about Make It Or Break It... it seems to be every gymfan's guilty pleasure!

10. Brittany Boffo Award for Memorable (If Unfortunate) Mishaps
* Australia's beam lineup in the Delhi women's team final

11. Gymsport Athlete/s of the Year
* Naazmi Johnston, Rhythmic Gymnastics

12. Monique Allen Award for Successful Ex-Gymsporters
* Lydia Lassila, aerial skiing gold medallist

13. Photo of the Year

Thanks again everyone who emailed in votes, they made my inbox smile.

************************************************

I hope the new year starts off amazingly for you and you get ample time with your loved ones. Enjoy a sip of champagne for me. Thanks for the support, on and offline.

Gym on, superstars! See you in 2012!

Pre-2012 2012 News!

2011-12-26T15:18:00.003+11:00

Woah, hi there, sudden-exciting-interruption-to-hiatus!

GA have announced our delegation to the 2012 Olympic test event!

Congratulations to.....

MG Team Members:

John Curtin – coach

Serguei Chinkar – Coach

Yu Bo – Coach

Phil Cossens – Physio

Paul Szyjko – Judge

Andrew Martin – Judge

Thomas Pichler – gymnast

Sam Offord – Gymnast

Joshua Jefferis – Reserve

WG Team Members:

Martine George – coach

Georgia Simpson – gymnast

Emily Little – gymnast

Trisha Hade – judge

Jill Wright – Judge.

TRP team members:

Nikolay Zhuravlev – Coach

Blake Gaudry – Gymnast

Darren Gillis - Judge

"The Test event will serve as the second and final qualifier for both MG and TRP. Australia aims to achieve one country spot on both of these divisions.

The Australian WG team qualified for the 2012 Games at the 2011 World Championships and will be using the event as a preparation event leading into 2012.

The MG team will be travelling to Waveney Gymnastics Club, for a week of training starting on December 27^th before heading to London on January 7th. The TRP team will depart on Australia on January 5^th, to spend 3 days training at Northampton Trampoline Gymnastics Academy prior to the event."

Happy Chrimbo

2011-12-24T21:02:00.004+11:00

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noel, Buon Natale and everything else under the (Aussie) sun!

This is me.

Thanks for your support and contributions this year. I certainly can't do it alone.

Unfortunately due to time constraints there will be no Australian Gymnastics Blog Awards this year. I am truly grateful for everyone that voted in last year's awards, however, and will (finally!) post the winners before New Year's Eve. Next year should see them reinstated!

Thanks again for all your contributions and support. 2012 is going to be HUGE, not least of all because of the Olympic Games. It is also my fourth year of blogging and there will certainly be lots to talk about.

Wishing you, your families and those of our gym community a safe and happy Christmas period.

Keep on smiling.

xoxoxoxo

Meredith

This is a marsupial.

Spotted

2011-12-20T22:25:00.003+11:00

Christmas has kept me busy, folks!

Thanks to The Couch Gymnast for shining a spotlight on two familar faces this week.

One former Victorian elite seeking greener pastures and one current Victorian elite on the brink of stardom!

Aussies also feature here as part of Gymnastike's "Workout Wednesday" video series.

2011 Mexico Open (2)

2011-12-11T16:03:00.008+11:00

News out of Acapulco is pretty scarce and I'm getting some mixed reports.

What I can tell you is that Emily Little is in 4th overall as an individual after day 1; though each female gymnast is paired with a male gymnast and they can win a pairs title as well. Emily is paired with Santiago Lopez of Mexico as well as Sergey Khorkhordin (due to less female than male gymnasts taking part). With Lopez she is sitting in 7th but with Khorkhordin she's in 3rd!

Her scores for the two apparatus competed so far are

VT 13.950 (Yurchenko full only)
UB 5.3/13.350

Footage of her bars routine is below, and you can see a shot of her and Martine training bars on the event's webpage photo gallery.

Like their Facebook page for more photos, videos and results.

Day 2:

MORE OF THIS STUNNING LEO, PLZTHNX!!!

Emily finished in 4th all-around, just a smiiiiiiiiidgen away from the bronze medal position with 54.9 Beam score was 14.25 and floor was 13.35.

Gymnastics Australia have more lovely candid shots and a summary here. Apparently an earthquake hit during the competition... if Em can handle competing after that, then anything 2012 can throw at her will be a cakewalk!

Her beam routine is below.

Em and Sergey finished 3rd as a pair.

Finally, to cap off an exciting competition, Emily also performed an aboriginal-inspired Australian cultural beam and dance routine, as part of a televised gala that all gymnasts were invited to participate in.

You can see footage of the routine below.

2011 Mexico Open

2011-12-05T16:14:00.006+11:00

Hi guys.

Thanks to all those who sent birthday wishes! You unquestionably rock (what didn't rock was the rubbish weather)!

There is now an official website up for the Acapulco event that was mentioned during the World Championships. It's this weekend! Note that Emily Little is listed to compete, not Lauren Mitchell.

Speaking of Lauren, VISA have uploaded a lovely-looking new promotional feature on Lauren. Hope that gold filter is a sign of things to come!

That's A Bit Cool!

2011-12-01T13:53:00.004+11:00

Look who popped by the Victorian HPC!

You can see Hamish in action at the gym here. Hope he didn't get chalk in his eye!

Speaking of the gang in Prahran, is award-winner Ash Brennan already a lock for PacRim 2012...?

Tokyo Cup 2011

2011-11-24T22:45:00.009+11:00

It's back to the land of the rising sun for Georgia Rose Brown and Maryanne Monckton this weekend.

Check out Full Twist's details about coverage from the event here.

I'll update whatever results and observations when I can, when I'm not...

er...

you know

busy.

Turning 25.

Update: According to FullTwist via the event website, Georgia Rose Brown suffered a finger fracture during beam training, but was ok to continue.

There are now added Massilia videos here, including Brennan and Monckton.

In the Tokyo Cup, Maryanne finished 5th and Georgia Rose 6th. Apparently the only significant mistakes in the competition were two OOBs from Mez. Everything else a hit for all competitors.

See standings here.

I have been advised by an official source close to the team that Georgia was in fact competing on an injured foot and lower back, and is to be commended for completing the competition under the circumstances. Our thoughts go with her for a speedy recovery!

Lauren has Landed

2011-11-22T19:41:00.002+11:00

Lauren's VISA commercial is up!

For those of you in or near Perth, Loz will be appearing at Challenge Stadium this Saturday (nov 26th) to sign autographs with other WA sports stars from 1:00pm as part of ABC Grandstand's 21st birthday.

2011 Massilia: Videos!

2011-11-22T10:54:00.005+11:00

Thanks to Couch Gymnast for pointing out the hard-working French fans who captured Aussie routines (Chung, Wheeler and Brown at least) in Marseille.

Merci a tous!

Check them out here. The highlights for me personally are Nikki's rocked tumbling lines on floor (mistake on the final one aside... she FLOATS them beautifully and nails the landings) and Georgia Rose's crisp bars set.

A report featuring detailed results can be found at IG here.

Cirque And You Shall Find

2011-11-19T20:08:00.002+11:00

Exciting news!

Cirque du Soleil are currently seeking new talent for their current shows and upcoming creations.

(click for hi-res)

Open auditions for artistic gymnastics, trampolining, and acrobatic sports will be held at Highflyers Trampoline and Gymnastics Academy in Perth, Dec 9, and the Victorian Women's High Performance Centre in Melbourne, Dec 11. Auditions for Circus based acts will be held at NICA in Melbourne, Dec 4.

Full details and registration information can be found here and here.

Elite Gym Massilia 2011

2011-11-19T11:30:00.009+11:00

Just a quick result down the wire from France. I'll update as more come in.

Open Massilia - Australia 2 (Wheeler, Brown, Chung) finished third behind two Canadian teams on 154.450

The girls were in the purple and black flame leo from worlds.

Full results from this round (en francais!) courtesy of the Gymnet French gymnastics fan forum are below.

1. canada mixte 155.250 (Mauckel, Flett, Black (blessée au coude au sol), ...)
2. canada futur gym center 154.070 (Hofland, Carvalho, Douglas, Deans)
3. australie 2 154.450 (Wheeler, Chung, Brown)
4. pole france marseille 152.090 (Cano, Cormoreche, Errin, Lejoyeux)
5. belgique 152.010 (Dejardin, Waem, Rabaut, Fransolet)
6. france junior 151.040 (Pauffert, Martin, Chambellant, Plessis)
7. canada 2 149.055 (Latimer, Chant, Pederson)
8. suisse 145.095 (Kaeslin, Guissani, Hitz, Jelmini)
9. canada alberta 142.050 (Dick, Wilchuck, Pas)
10. france espoir 137.065 (Pause, Loan, Pilla, Marrot)
11. henin beaumont 137.00 (Delbecq, Belba, Seggio, Maalem)
12. pole espoir paca 136.000 (Detrez, Pedeneau, Iosip, Baltenek)

I am assuming more photos will go up as the event unfolds, but for now there's a photo of Nikki on the first page of Gymnet's 2011 Massilia photo thread.

The Gymnastics Examiner has a report here.

Georgia Rose came second AA (53.65) with Nikki in 5th. Unfortunately, I can't see where Georgia W placed.

Master Massilia - World championship silver medallist Viktoria Komova was unbeatable here, but huge kudos to Emily Little for managing 3rd in the all-around! I can't seem to find scores on the official site or at Gymnet.

The team was in the pink and black leo from 2010 Worlds.

More photos (incl. podium shots) are up at Gymnet here.

A full report from GA can now be found here. Mez and Georgia Rose will now head to Tokyo! Good luck, girls!

Mitchell Media Mania

2011-11-18T22:01:00.004+11:00

I love it when gymnastics pops up in the media, all smiles!

Lauren Mitchell's VISA campaign is hotting up, with a bunch of press pieces doing the rounds. 'Like' her official page at Facebook to see videos from Fox Sports of her media call yesterday. One includes a glimpse of her commercial!

There are also articles here, here and here.

Visa Champ

2011-11-17T12:32:00.008+11:00

An update from the Australian Olympic Committee just gave a tantalising teaser...

(click for higher res)

Adnews.com.au says:

Visa signs Mitchell for Olympics campaign
Visa has signed Australian gymnast Lauren Mitchell as one of its sports ambassadors for its London 2012 Olympics campaign, "Go World", to be unveiled 24 November. Mitchell joins American swimmer Michaehelps and New Zealand shot putter Valerie Adams.

LATER THAT DAY...

Lauren's official Facebook page has put up a comprehensive update on the campaign, including a press release and some STUNNING shots from the advertisement. Checkit!

“The Olympic Games begin and end with the athletes and we’re excited to have Lauren join Visa as our first Australian Olympic ambassador,” said Vipin Kalra, Visa’s Country Manager, Australia. “Lauren is a true inspiration to thousands of young gymnasts around the country and we are proud to be supporting Lauren in what will be one of the greatest sporting challenges of her life.”

2011 Elite Massilia

2011-11-15T09:50:00.002+11:00

No rest for the Aussies, it's on to France!

The official event site is here.

You can have a stickybeak at the official event program/media release here.

And while we're at it, a very happy birthday to team member Maryanne Monckton!

2011 DTB Stuttgart (2)

2011-11-13T17:35:00.010+11:00

Hi all

Bit of a funny old weekend for me, only playing catchup now.

Vids of the Aussie girls competing all-around can be found at this YouTube channel and there is a wrap up of results from International Gymnast here. Lauren finished 4th and Emily 8th.

You can see a photo gallery here.

Speaking of Perthies, a huge congratulations to dual Olympian Allana Slater on being inducted in the WA Sports Hall of Champions!

Edit Monday - Congratulations Australia!

Our pink-and-black-clad girlies Emily, Lauren, Nikki and Larrissa finished a commendable 2nd behind Russia at the DTB Cup team final!

International Gymnast has scores here.

The Gymnastics Examiner has quick hits from the team final here.

Videos are once again going up here. Thanks, GutsuFan!

The Commonwealth Games are coming back to Australia!

2011-11-12T09:05:00.000+11:00

CONRATULATIONS GOLD COAST!

BRING ON 2018!

2011 DTB Stuttgart

2011-11-12T00:25:00.004+11:00

Hi guys.

Just got word from The All Around that the standings from the WAG team qualification in Stuttgart went thusly:

1. AUS 110.350 (!!!!!)
2. GER 106.250
3. RUS 105.950
4. NED 105.200
5. SUI 100,500
6. AUT 99.500

See a results pdf here. Lauren scored phenomenally on beam while Nikki rocked the second highest start scores on beam and bars (of the team).

Gymnastics WA have put up some of Desiree Jones' photos from the training gym on Facebook. Like their page and check 'em out!

Radio Gym 2

2011-11-07T14:49:00.003+11:00

An interesting piece on the psychology of 'talent' and 'practice making perfect' on ABC Radio in the last few days featured Victorian gymnast Georgia Wheeler. Check it out here.

*strokes chin sagely*

There is also a photo gallery of Georgia in training here.

Post-Worlds Assignments

2011-11-07T11:40:00.005+11:00

Hi guys.

I'm going to update this post as official word of assignments filters through.

The VWHPC is sending four athletes to the Massilia Cup in Marseille, France - Ash Brennan, Georgia-Rose Brown, Maryanne Monckton and Georgia Wheeler. Apparently WAIS is sending some delegates too?

Lauren Mitchell is slated for the DTB Cup in Germnay but I will post official confirmation when I get it.

Edit: GA have updated! The Tokyo team is on the move again!

Lauren will indeed head to the DTB Cup in Stuttgart (Nov 11-13), accompanied by Emily Little, Nikki Chung and Larrissa Miller.

Lauren will then head home while the other three, plus the Victorians mentioned above, zip over to Paris for the Massilia Cup (Nov 18-19). 4 girls will compete in the Master Massilia round and 3 will compete in the Open Massilia round.

UPDATE - Little to compete alongside Mitchell at the DTB all-around? Not sure if accompanying or replacing altogether.

Radio Gym

2011-11-02T17:28:00.005+11:00

Hello, I'm still here, pootling along.

If you're in Melbourne, don't forget to tune in at 6:25pm to Radio Eastern (98.1fm) tonight to hear VWHPC gymnasts talking about their experiences.

There is also a Channel 10 interview with SA trampolinian (my word, not theirs) Blake Gaudry here.

(Ohhh is it pronounced "GORR-dree"? I always said "GOW-dree"! *packs up and leaves human race*)

6:27 I just tuned in. G-Wheels and Zoe L are on air!

Zoe tries to explain the complex scoring system. Not easy to do!

Georgia says you eventually 'get the hang' of balancing gym and school, and schools are always a good support network.

Q: "Is gymnastics good enough to make [you] a living?"
Zoe is very articulate, admitting that it isn't easy to make a living because it doesn't earn you a lot, and says gymnastics for those over 20 can be difficult... but with a shout-out to Chusovitina!

Zoe aspires to to a journalist - with a shout-out to RMIT!

Q: "Do you know lauren Mitchell personally, and were you inspired by what she did?"
Georgia (with a shout-out to her 2010 Worlds participation!) says she is an inspiration to everyone, great to train alongside, and a good person overall.

Talk turns to the benefits of the system no longer being centralised. Zoe says (in short) it's great for gymnasts across all the states, it's much easier not having to travel to Canberra all the time.

Georgia's highlight was the team gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and competing at Worlds. She hopes Australia can carry that into 2012.

Zoe's highlight has been her overseas assignments earlier this year, and her participation in the Youth Olympic Festival.

The big goal for both is the 2012 Olympics ("We've always been training for it"). They recognise that USA, China and Russia are the big competitors.

Injuries. "They're a huge part of this sport, it's everywhere, every girl has had at least one injury that's kept them out for months or years... it's an annoying part of the sport [but] you have to learn how to manage competition load."

The token "how many apparatus are there?" question. DUDE, SAY IT WITH ME: RESEARCH. Aaaaaaaaaand once again rhythmic gymnastics comes up. Zoe laughs and says "That is SUCH a common question! When we tell people we do gymnastics they always go 'oh, so you do the ribbon?'" Georgia and Zoe say in unison "That one's RHYTHMIC!" with a giggle.

Georgia's competition superstition is sticking with the same brand of hairspray. She worries that they don't make it any more and she's running low! And she has a little buddha figurine whose tummy she rubs before every competition.

Zoe - her special talent is reciting the alphabet backwards really fast. The host asks her to demonstrate, which she does, but not before guffawing "But that's not gymnastics-related!"

Q: "Do you have to be small to do gymnastics?"
G: Being small is an advantage, but being tall doesn't stop you. (With a quick shout-out to the two "awesome" tall girls at their own gym!)

Q: "What are the numbers like at your gym?"
Z: About 70 at the VWHPC.

They describe a typical day/session of training.

"Zoe...err, can I call you Zo?" Whaaaaaaat. He has their nicknames on a sheet of paper and feels like being cheeky. He even busts out "Wheels"!

Q: "What's the VWHPC like?"
Z: "It's always busy, there's always someone on the mat... there's always someone on an apparatus doing something."

The "We Ask Every Guest" question - who are your rivals? Who do you love to stick it to?
Both say China, America and Russia. "To beat any of those three... that's like the best day ever!"

Q: "How many sponsors and support team members do you have? Any plugs/shout-outs?"
G: The VIS, the coaches (shout-out to Tracey and Misha!)

Benefits of gymnastics:
G: "I have made the best friends through gymnastics. It's great... everyone in the gym is just like a big family."

The girls then nutted out the selection and training process after the trials. Hardcore stuff.

Aaaaaaaand we're off air!

2011 Worlds: MAD PROPS

2011-10-16T21:30:00.004+11:00

To all our gymnasts, coaches, judges, medics, delegation members, reporters, gymparents and gymfans for a wonderful 2011 World Championships campaign for Australia. I'm sure a lot of valuable experiences will be taken away from it.

A+ 100% double mad props to young Jack, for making this groovy gif!

May everybody have a safe journey home and a restful sleep (that includes AGB nightowls!) after a nutty week of gymnastics action! Watch out London, we're coming for you!

2011 Worlds: EF LIVE!!!

2011-10-16T16:12:00.008+11:00

From approximately 5:30pm as the floor final kicks off.

Lauren was training on the podium in the black and purple prelims leotard, accompanied by Peggy.

Try here for a livestream: http://www.zuumptv.com/2010/06/sportv.html

The popup ads are very annoying. Click on large red x's or 0's in squares that you see to remove them. Some of the ads have a tiny, almost single-pixel-looking x. It's a very little speck, but click on it and it should get rid of the ad for you.

5:52pm AEDST

After men's p-bars and a perplexing series of Brazilian ads, here come the ladies!

Lauren definitely in black and purple.

I AM SOOOOOOOO NERVOUS

Here she goes!

GREAT double arabian to stag. slight shuffle on piked full in but kept it in. Great 2.5 to front lay, slightly low changement out of it. Sells the choreo! Nice double pike with sissone. She worked in two extra jumps before the end post, hope it helps her!

GOES INTO FIRST PLACE WITH 6.3/14.733 - GA reports she actually missed a skill? Didn't look like it to me, might've been a dance element, and explains why she and Peggy stood with a pad and pen after the routine and Lauren rattled off what she performed.

... after a tense final in which the first five performers were all toppling eachother, Lauren finishes a very admirable 5th. Onya Loz! You can still hold your own with the best of them!

2011 Worlds: EF Day 2 Preamble

2011-10-15T22:20:00.005+11:00

We're into the home stretch!

Lauren Mitchell puts her world title on the line tomorrow afternoon (approximately 5:40 AEDST)

Unfortunately, even with Stealthy in place, I couldn't get the BBC stream working today. At all! So I'm a bit disappointed but will try it again tomorrow, and bring you updates from social media sites as the competition unfolds.

An updated start list indicates that Lauren will compete second behind Jordyn Wieber. Good luck, Loz!

2011 Worlds: EF Day 1 Preamble

2011-10-15T10:51:00.010+11:00

Another opportunity for Aussie gold this evening, as pommel prince Prashanth Sellathurai tries once again for a maiden world championship on his best event.

See the start list and schedule here. It'll be on around 4:45pm AEDST.

If he makes it to the medal dais, his qualifying scores on pommel, rings and p-bars should (fingers crossed) see him through to London on an individual placing.

And, according to an update by The All Around, the Romanian camp has confirmed that Diana Bulimar will be withdrawing from the floor final now that she has had a medical assessment. We wish her a speedy recovery from her foot injury, and the best of luck to Lauren Mitchell who is to compete in her place.

*****************************

4: 42 AEDST It's just about that time! C'moooooooooooon Proshie! Go you tiny good thing!

With the first competitor falling and Louis Smith fumbling, Proshie could be in with an even better chance!

Japanese superstar Uchimura ALSO falls! Could Prosh pull a 'Bradbury' with a hit routine???

Ah,

apparently not.

IG just said he fell. Gymnastike said he caught his foot. Nooooooo! Managed a 14.3 but is definitely out of medal contention. He finishes in 6th place.

*sigh*

I'll be over in the corner, rocking back and forth...

2011 Worlds: NEWS!

2011-10-14T13:19:00.007+11:00

You might be interested to learn that I passed.

Also?

Floor final? Mitchell in, Bulimar out!?

OMG YOU GUYS

OH

TO THE EMMEST

OF GEE'S

Here's her stellar floor from the all-around. The top score on floor for the entire competition so far, I hear!

Certainly hope she can repeat this kind of performance on the night.

A lovely interview with Lauren post-aa can be found here.

2011 Worlds: WAG AA

2011-10-13T20:23:00.004+11:00

Hi all,

I am writing this as I've dashed in the door and am about to dash out again.

Unfortunately the BBC stream won't work for me tonight with Stealthy so I don't know what to do (not that i can hang around to watch anyway) so chat amongst yourselves and share if you find one.

I'm going to miss most of the competition but hopefully I'm back before the end.

Just saw

Emily BB 13.566
Mitchell laboured bars, 13.133

BYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE *dashes leaving a Mez-shaped dustcloud*

Later:

Lauren finishes 8th, congrats Loz! With a phenomenal floor score to boot! This is the 3rd world championships at which she's placed 10th or higher, smashing job. Emily finished in 23rd.

Sounds like it was a bit of a fall-fest! Maybe I'm glad I wasn't home to follow it after all!

For anyone who didn't see streams (and I include myself), this was the leotard:

Good Vibes 2

2011-10-13T13:15:00.003+11:00

Having a bit of a fail day myself, so...

Wherever you are and whatever you're doing...

SMILE!

2011 Worlds: WAG AA Premable

2011-10-12T22:29:00.003+11:00

Australia is shooting for medals again on the women's side. All the very best to Emily and Lauren as they take on 22 other fierce competitors.

See the start list here.

Lauren is in group 2 starting on bars, Emily in group 3 starting on beam. It'll kick off at 8:00pm AEDST.

I don't know if I will be doing a live blogalong tomorrow night (or, at least, a post-mortem after the competition), as I'm doing final preparations for my driving test on Friday morning and will need my sleep!

2011 Worlds: WAG TF Post-Mortem

2011-10-12T18:58:00.005+11:00

I get a reprieve from liveblogging tonight as Australia laments not making the men's team final.

Last night was a bumpy one, not least for those actually competing! I have to admit I feel a little deflated but in every team final somebody has to come last. On this occasion it was Australia. The only way is, of course, up.

GA has an update with photos here. An extended gallery is here.

The Couch Gymnast's take on the night is here. A bizarrely-titled feature on Em Little is here and you can read some of Peggy Liddick's hopes now the dust has settled here, or here.

'It was not a lack of effort from the girls.
'We went into this and we said, listen, the fact that we are in the teams final, we are going to celebrate it and we're just going to go out and do what we can do'.
'We're still going to the Olympics and there's nothing can change that.'

If you're interested in non-watermarked press photos, head to Daylife.com and type in "australia gymnastics" or the name of the gymnast you're interested in seeing.

Dear Australia 2

2011-10-12T00:04:00.007+11:00

Um... You left the house looking like this.

Jussayin'.

2011 Worlds: WAG TF LIVE!

2011-10-11T19:19:00.028+11:00

From 9pm AEDST

Follow live scores at the sources I've linked to in previous posts. There are too many!

Your best bet for watching a stream is to download Stealthy add-on for Firefox; that way you can configure your network settings for the UK, and should be able to watch the BBC iPlayer live feed of the final tonight.

But you didn't hear that from me...

*taps finger to nose*

Gymnastike has a video from the training hall here. The girls look damn fine on beam! I think they're beyond ready for this!

****************************************

Australia leo- GA has posted at facebook that we will "not miss" the girls out on the floor. Err... should I expect good or bad then!?

I am watching here using Firefox Stealthy add-on:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/gymnastics/15235274.stm

here we goooooooooooo

Australia is in ORANGE AND PINK! I swear that's what I glimpsed! I feel like Russia's dark green on black should be Australia's!

Beam:
Brennan - IG says Ash hit, with a wobble and step on dismount. Stayed on! 13.9?
Monckton - fell on LOSO, overcooked double pike.
sorry to be vague, guys, my feed keeps chopping and my computer craps itself any time I change tabs so i can't see all quick hits! 12.93
Mitchell- very cautious. Slight error again on her switch leap but stays on. big step on dismount

Ironic - Britain;'s union-jack-with-diamentes leo looks like an Aussie flag!

BBC SHOWS LOZ! Yup, fluro pink and metallic orange with black/dark purple slashes. Orange scrunchie. Acro and wolf turn great. Cautious in jumps. nearly comes off on front tuck. 14.566

Floor:
Miller- Aus is up first. I hear larrissa's music on the stream but don't see her. From IG:
Miller--AUS--Floor--triple turn, tuck Arabian double front to leap, layout front to double twisting front, front full punch front full, 2 1/2 dismount and just barely finished with the music--5.4/13.70
Brennan- Also 13.7
Mitchell- Introduced as the 2010 gold medallist. the announcer has been mentioning past achievements of gymnasts as they're on deck. Sounds like a looooong wait for her music? Just keeps first pass in (she's on the feed! fierce face!) by millimetres. good height in jumps. Really great 2.5 to front lay with changement jump. getting great hieght tonight FANTASTIC! Gets right into the corner on the double pike but hits it, sold the choreo amazingly! GO LOZ! 14.8

I am trying make a screencap, gaah!

We hear arena announcer say lauren's floor d-score has been upgraded 6.2 to 6.3 after an enquiry

(In the pic, Rissa is wearing her track pants)

I refuse to believe the whole team was ok with that leo. MOI, JE LE REFUSE!

Vault:
Brennan- Tsuk full only? 13.76 She was zooming by in the background of a Romania fx on the feed.
Little- 14.533 for her Baitova, nice!
Mitchell- hands down on hers!? 13.2

Aus goes into 6th, GB hit a great bars rotation so they might have the advantage? Onto bars and hopefully the kind of rotation we had the other day! (oh boy, BBC team just told us Britain are in FOURTH. Oh boy, talk about a bitter pill to swallow!)

Bars:
Brown- 13.8, sounds like it was a nice routine. (5.6/8.2)
Mitchell- 5,2/13.366
Miller- COME ON RISSA! Sounds like... she hit! she hit! Stuck dismount 14.075!

Ack, now my feed is jumping like crazy. Keeps cutting to half routines.

The US were in a league of their own tonight. Australia is to be commended for holding it together at their last apparatus and deserve to be in the top 8 in the world. I just feel like some work really needs to be done as we roll on to London.

Aus will finish 8th on 166.739

Onya girls. You're still going to the Olympics. Take away some lessons from here and keep on shining.

DEAR AUSTRALIA

2011-10-11T18:46:00.009+11:00

GO

YOU

BIG

RED

FIRE

ENGINE

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011 Worlds: MAG Qualification Post-Mortem

2011-10-10T23:45:00.003+11:00

Unfortunately, the team missed qualifying slots for the team final and the test event.

HOWEVER! Fortunately! Happily! All is not lost!

Prashanth Sellathurai, as has been hotly tipped, made it into the pommel horse final, to be contested later in the week. GB darling Louis Smith and stalwart Kristian Berki will encounter our pint-sized superstar once again. You probably don't need reminding that individual medallists automatically qualify to London 2012.

THE ULTIMATE POMMEL SHOWDOWN OF ULTIMATE DESTINYYYYYYY.

On the media front, an article is here and you can see unwatermarked press photos here.

2011 Worlds: WAG TF Preamble

2011-10-10T21:20:00.006+11:00

Quick interlude!

Longines has put up the women's team final start lists. Australia's are as follows:

BB: Brennan, Monckton, Mitchell
FX: Miller, Brennan, Mitchell
VT: Brennan, Little, Mitchell
UB: Brown, Mitchell, Miller

Gymnastike is putting up some training videos.

2011 Worlds: MAG Qualification LIVE!!!

2011-10-10T17:47:00.033+11:00

Update 6:21 AEDST: If you or someone you know was listening to 3AW Radio in Melbourne just now, yes, that was my mother calling up the evening sports show to give a shout-out to the gymnasts competing in Tokyo.
Yes, she did it without me knowing
Yes, she spoke without any prompting
Yes, she is aware she got the competition days wrong
No, she didn't say Lauren was from SA on purpose, she genuinely forgot!
No, I probably won't get to partake in the cake shop voucher she won.

And now for tonight's competition...

You, just like me, can follow live scoring here and quick hits here or at any of the social media resources I've cited in earlier posts. Gymnastics Australia are updating Facebook and Twitter simultaneously.

You'll have to forgive me, men's gym is really not my strong suit so my attention may waver.

Parallel Bars -

Sam O kicks Australia off with a 13.833. Hooray!
Two for two - Prashanth gets a 13.7, with a step on the dismount like Sam (eek!)
Luke WOW-atowski, I reckon! Sticks dismount for 14.45
Tom P keeps the good vibes going with a stuck dismount for 14.666
Josh just a 14.53 but a commendable routine.
Go Australia, you made it through p-bars superbly!

High Bar-

Luke 'Wadsy' Wadsworth leads off on high bar. Clean but lacking the theatrics of the powerhouse nations. 12.33, eep! That might hurt!
Sam O rocks a kovacs (I love those) 13.533
Tom P clean routine, dismounts with double lay full. 13.33
No boys have come off yet (touch wood). Phil Rizzo would be proud!
Josh 13.3333 (recurring!)
Team anchor Luke Wiwatowski goes up... hoping for the stuck dismount he did in Commonwealth team final... catches his releases a little close, apparently, struggles, one step on layout double double dismount. Good enough for a 12.333 OWCH!

Floor-
Wadsworth leads off again. Near stick on last pass. Clean for 14.00
Sam O - stuck double layout! 13.866
Josh J clean but landing errors 13.733
Luke Wiwatowski - Puts feet oob on one pass 13.633
Floor anchor Tom gets "mostly stuck landings" according to GA! 14.666

Pommel-

Australia's bogey apparatus, but a chance for pommel wunderkind Prashanth Sellathurai to shine.
Jefferis is up first. IG gives me a heart attack, as I read the quick hit "slices through his routine, a tad loose in the legs" as "slices his leg open"! But makes it through, 12.766
Bugger. Wadsworth runs out of steam as has to dismount prematurely
Wiwatowski fares better, stays on, but iffy on the dismount 12.933
Tom also stays on and avoids major form breaks 13.1
COME ON PROSHDOG!
Good reviews from IG, they said he "rips through it" and that it was superb... and it's a... 15.566! This puts him just behind Berki and Smith. Doubtless a finals spot.

Rings-

First up is Wiwatowski for 13.733 (GA says he was wobbly)
Tom good positions, dismount is double back with 1.5 twist 13.833
Josh pikes down dismount and hops, but gets us over the 13's. Scores 14.533!
Prashanth nice job, double lay dismount, 14.433 IG says he is "putting on a strength clinic", haha! Watch and learn, fellow competitors! Prash is the man!
Offord takes a large hop on dismount but made it through. 14.666

Vault-

Luke Wadsworth tsuk double for 15.433 great stuff!
Same in name and vault - Luke Wiwatowski also a tsuk double for 15.366...
Josh has to take a step on landing, 15.2
Tom 15.3
Last up is Sam... 15.366! IG and GA very happy with the effort on his Yurchenko double.
We finish 15th after our subdivision.

Well done, boys. Be proud of yourselves. Now we play the waiting game!

2011 Worlds: MAG Qualification Preamble

2011-10-10T10:47:00.004+11:00

Let's hear it for the boys!

Australia competes tonight for a maiden Olympic team berth. We wish them the very best of luck from back home.

The Aus Olympic team website has a feature on Sam Simpson and his Tokyo teammates here.

The guys compete at 6:30pm AEDST and start on parallel bars.

A start list can be found here.

Gymnastike has a couple of videos of the boys in training. Check Gymnastics Australia's Facebook page for training photos.

Update 4:52 AEDST

Pommel scores have been getting better and better throughout the day, with the likes of Smith and Tomassone making steady routines in their subdivisions. Prashanth has his work cut out for him, but here's hoping he benefits from being a later session! *resumes biting fingernails*

AUSTRALIA IS GOING TO THE LONDON OLYMPICS

2011-10-08T21:34:00.008+11:00

LET'S PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!

GA posted the following pic of the team upon learning the news...

AUTOMATIC TOKYO TEAM FINALLISTS
AND LONDON 2012 OLYMPIANS
AFTER 10 ROUNDS OF PRELIMS...

1. USA 234.253
2. Russia 231.062
3. China 230.370
4. Romania 227.228
5. Japan 223.543
6. Australia 221.846
7. Germany 221.163
8. Great Britain 220.553

Lauren Mitchell and Emily Little will contest the all-around final

Lauren is first reserve for the floor final

There is a nifty photo gallery featuring the purple Aussies here.

2011 Worlds: Pick of the Pics

2011-10-08T10:32:00.011+11:00

It will be a nervous wait to see if Australia has qualified to the team final (and London Olympics) today. So, have yourself some pretty distractions in the meantime!

Unwatermarked press photos from Daylife/Getty are here.

The Gym Examiner has a gallery of Brigid's photos here.

Gymnastike has the Lauren Mitchell interview from a different side here (with bonus background Peggy!)

Gymnastics Australia have also added photos to their World Championships 2011 album at Facebook.

Update 8:26pm

Word is, the Monckton has been approved for the Code of Points!

There are some Australia photos in the event's Facebook gallery

Update 9:06pm

I am being distracted from James Nesbitt's lovely face to inform you that we're still in 5th going into the last subdivision so to all intents and purposes... AUSTRALIA'S INTO THE TEAM FINAL!

Update 9:19 With the second-to-last subdiv officially over, and only three full teams remaining in the last, I can confirm WE'RE IN WE'RE IN WE'RE IN WE'RE IN WE'RE IN WE'RE IN WE'RE IIINNN!!!

2011 Worlds: WAG Qualification Post-Mortem

2011-10-07T20:53:00.013+11:00

Well then!

Not an utter disaster but definite room for improvement. I certainly hope Lauren is ok after her beam slip.

The FIG are very diligent, and have put up video already of Lauren's floor and Larrissa's bars at their channel.

While we anxiously await the standings after tomorrow's qualification rounds, let's not forget our guys are gearing up for their Tokyo campaign as well. Check out Luke Wiwatowski's really quite super duper floor from podium training, courtesy of Gymnastike!

Update, midnight: Yes, I am still awake! And Houston, we have prelims vids!

Aussie fan Ange has made the trip over to Tokyo to cheer on the team.

She is vigilantly uploading videos here.

Smashing stuff. Thanks, Ange... Thange.

Update, 12:43am

Still up.

Inside Gymnastics did a quick interview with Lauren after prelims. Check it out. She comes across as very calm and articulate (and talks upgrades)! Smart girls are smart. Smart and cool.

(photo credit: Brigid McCarthy. More can be seen here.)

2011 Worlds: WAG Qualification LIVE!!!

2011-10-07T17:30:00.041+11:00

Any moment now...

Just keep hittin' refresh on...
http://www.the-all-around.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=257:2011-worlds-wag-qualifications-3&catid=4:news&Itemid=22

Brigid says "purple shiny leos"!

TA-DA!

Beam:
Little: front, turn in tuck stand, free walkover – ff – layout, CL leap, tuck back, stuck double pike 13.533

Brown: Two for two! Small wobble as well (on side somi) but stays on.
Switch, back tuck. Full turn with leg at head, turns an extra quarter turn but OK. Front aerial, bhs, layout, probably not connected, but smooth enough and no wobbles. Side aerial. Side somie. Roundoff, double full, small hop. 13.266 had a long wait for score.

Monckton: HITS!!! side somi. front aerial. switch+back pike. L turn good. switch 1/2 shy 180+back pike wobble. Dbl pike. (Brigid said her aerial combo was "insanely good"!) 14.166 YAY MEZ YAY YAY YAY

Brennan: front aerial+switch leap+gainer layout, cool! switch 1/2+back tuck. side somi. switch ring. bhs lay wobble. aerial. dbl pike 14.125 the team goes 4 for 4!

Mitchell: Absolutely NO pressure on Loz, of course! bhs+bhs+2ft lay. split+wolf. Mitchell turn wow. switch 1/2 not 180+back pike. front aerial+switch leap "splits the beam!!" (oh no!)comes right back with standing front tuck though, almost like it was nothing. Two bhs to double pike, a little low. 14.033

Floor:
Lauren's warmed-up piked full in to sissone has a good review from Gymnastike. Fingers crossed we can make up ground on floor!

Little: Great full in. Bounce back out of dble back (Brigid corrects this to say full in?). Dble turn-okay, fell sideways a little. Sticks dble twist. Leaps not quite split. Peggy clapping her through last pass. Dble pike, one small jump back. Pretty good! 13.1

Brown: dbl pike. Perfect Memmel turn! 1.5+front tuck+gorgeous stag. Tall, elegant gymnast. dbl tuck bounced back & hands down 12.500

Miller: Good reviews from sources. "IG says: triple turn, tuck Arabian double front to leap, layout front to double twisting front, tuck front full to layout front full to leap, 2 1/2 that barely finished with the music--Again a very clean routine--These ladies look really prepared for this, and they look healthy--5.4/13.60"

Brennan: full in. double tuck+stag. handspring+front full a tad low. stuck double pike and a delayed scissone jump. nice routine. Also 13.600

Mitchell: Again... no pressure! Blythe says: "Lots of "come on, Loz!" from Aussies around the arena. She's got to be Whip to Arabian double front with single stag out, good. But then puts one foot OOB on full in pike. Recovers well with good 2.5 to front layout. She's an interesting dancer -- at times her movements are very fluid, while at others they don't seem so much. Double pike to a little split jump -- that one didn't really work." Scores 14.391, second highest so far.

Vault:
Monckton: FTY one step back. 13.466

Brown: FTY nearly stuck. 13.633

Brennan: Tsuk full 5.2/13.766

Little: Baitova with a jump back. 14.533

Mitchell: Baitova with a crouched landing. 14.3

Bars:
Little: toe on toe off blind to Jaeger, toe on toe off full, double layout dismount (good landing) 13.566

Monckton: Successfully did The Monckton!One intermediate swing on bars -- had to kip off and re kip to handstand on low bar. Good double layout dismount. Only 12.500 though!?

Brown:
"Full turn to Geinger, excellent. Jaeger, very good! She has been so impressive today. Lovely bail to toe hecht and good dismount!" 13.600

Mitchell: stalder blind to Jaeger, toe on toe off full, toe one toe off blind to double front STUCK COLD--13.60

Miller: Also hits! Inside stalder full to Gienger, inside stalder blind to Jaeger, stalder full to immediate tuck full twisting double--14.30--A very nice routine swung very well

Brigid reports the team have gone into a huddle. Mitchell overall AA score 56.324, second behind Romania's Haidu so far.

Onya girls. No beam or bars falls. Be proud, and fingers crossed you make finals!

2011 Worlds: WAG Qualification Preamble

2011-10-07T16:14:00.009+11:00

Today's the day!

(Godjira t-shirt by thinkgeek.com. Bad hair by self & bad hairdresser)

Australia's session is in a little over an hour's time. GAH!

I will be cross-posting quick hits here, but if you'd like to follow along without having to put up with me, the people of the gymblogs below will be updating live, as they have been all day:

The All-Around (plus live scores here)
The Gym Examiner

as well as Fulltwist Gymnastics Blog, Brigid The Couch Gymnast McCarthy and The All Around at Facebook.

I already have 4 windows open, I expect to have several more once the session starts!

(If you'd like to kill some time, GA has put up an update from men's podium training, including some routines filmed by Gymnastike. And, it might interest you to know, our own Peggy Liddick took part in the Coaches' Pledge read before competition started today!)

(They have also updated about Worlds broadcast dates on Fox Sports. Yahooo!)

(They further report that vault warmup looks good, as do the new leos! HOMG YOU GUISE IT'S TENSE)

(Super tense... THUNDER JUST STARTED OUTSIDE! And rain! Do not waaaaant.)

2011 Worlds: WAG Qualification

2011-10-06T09:43:00.012+11:00

Hi all.

Australia's women are in preliminary competition tomorrow - 3:45pm Tokyo time, so 5:45pm AEDST. I'll do my best to advise you of streams, or cross-post whatever information I can.

I hope that by the time you read this new article, the thumbnail is actually of Lauren and not some bearded guy.

You can read Brigid's report from yesterday's training session, and see some of her photos, here.

7:01 AEDST

Hello from my new working laptop!
Australia has just kicked off another WAG training session.

They've started on beam again, and all signs point to good! Mitchell just did a layout dismount though... at floor, Miller is excelling. Has apparently stood up her double arabian to stag twice and showed one standout triple turn. Monckton is resting her ankle in a brace (eeep!)
Vault - a real mixed bag but some nice ones in there according to Brigid's reports. I don't love hearing that there is balking going on. Ash great Tsuk 1 1/2s.
Bars also turns out to be a mixed bag with hits and misses across the board. Little the standout with two good completed routines. Miller much more shaky than previous sessions on this apparatus.

I'm going to be so nervous tomorrow!

UPDATE 10:02 AEDST - prelims lineup announced

Australia has announced its lineups for the preliminary competition tomorrow.

Beam: Little, Brown, Monckton, Brennan, Mitchell
Floor: Little, Brown, Miller, Brennan, Mitchell
Vault: Monckton, Brown, Brennan, Little, Mitchell
Bars: Little, Monckton, Brown, Mitchell, Miller

Brigid has supplied a training report.

Highlights:

Georgia Rose Brown’s perfect Memmel turn.

Larissa Miller on floor in general.

Mitchell’s DTY sticks.

Ash Brennan beam in general.

Little’s full-twisting double tuck.

Monckton sticking FTY, despite what are possibly sore ankles.

2001 Worlds: WAG Training 4

2011-10-05T11:01:00.016+11:00

Achtung achtung!

Brigid says Aussie WAGs hit the training hall again in approximately 4 hours. I'll update you as much as I can.

In the meantime, you can see new photos of Lauren and Maryanne in this gallery at Inside Gymnastics (thanks to the wonderful Grace Chiu).

3:36 AEDST
Brigid reports that Australia has started training beam in the Yoyogi arena. I suggest you 'like' Brigid The Couch Gymnast McCarthy at Facebook for a detailed report as the session unfolds.

Beam - All the girls recorded at least one fall, but generally improved upon repetition of skills. Brennan and Brown the best of the lot. Lauren having wolf turn, acro and switch ring difficulties. Mihai Brestyan and Marta Karolyi watched Lauren's routine.

Floor - Also shaky. Not altogether a write-off, but not as good as podium training. Mitchell serious issues with front layout.

Vault and Bars - the best apparatus on show today, going by B's brief notes. Everyone got through their routines okay but there are still some nerves on show. She says she will have a detailed report up tomorrow. I believe there was some visible distress on their faces.

Sorry to be so vague, everyone. I was writing this post in my last hour of work, then had to come home and try wrangling my modem (which, after much wringing of hands and cables, I have now done).

An extended podium training gallery by Brigid McCarthy can be seen here.

2011 Worlds: MAG Training

2011-10-05T09:06:00.001+11:00

The boys have not been forgotten!

GA have put up a brief update and some photos of the men's team as they prepare for Podium Training. I thought this was a nice touch:

Our Men's and Women's Teams will be wearing special patches on their GK competition uniforms to recognize the tremendous hardship that our friends in Japan have had to endure since the tsunamis that rocked this island country earlier this year. It will be our small way of acknowledging the resilience and fighting spirit of the people of Japan.

Good luck, guys!

2011 Worlds: WAG Training 3

2011-10-04T09:20:00.011+11:00

Good morning, comrades!

Photo credit Brigid McCarthy

The Couch Gymnast has really come through for her fellow Aussies, staying for the rest of yesterday's podium training session when everyone else dashed off to cover the rockstars of Team USA. She has put up a nice photo gallery.

On the men's side, there is a GA update about their prospects here.

The ladies of team Aus are back in the training hall at 10:30AEDST so stay tuned!

(Awwwww!)

Edit - Brigid says the Aussie team is not in the training gym. So she may have accidentally got the time wrong, or they've opted out like the USA did the other day. Either way, I will keep my ear to the ground and update once they're in action again. Many apologies!

If you would like a nice, detailed listed of who has been filmed and on which events thus far, check out the excellent directory here.

GA have made a sub-page for Tokyo news here and made the following remarks about the podium training session:

A number of highlights from the Podium session were:

Consistent performances from the whole team on our starting apparatus Beam
Numerous comments from the judges on our Artistry on Floor (many thanks to Stacey Umeh and Lisa Bradley)
Some fantastic vaulting performances - in particular from our 2/1 twisting Yurchenko athletes Emily Little and Lauren Mitchell
Larrissa Miller’s performance on Bars
Ashleigh Brennan’s leaps on floor
Mary-anne Monckton had an opportunity to show her 1/1 twisting Tkatchev
Georgia-Rose’s artistry and gracefulness on floor
Reserve Nikki Chung had an opportunity to gain experience on the World Championship Podium.

Tomorrow the girls will have a slightly lighter training session, and then begin their final preparations for Team qualification on Friday.

Unfortunately, I can't say much about the men's side except that they have had a training session in the Yoyogi stadium (training gym).

2011 Worlds: WAG Podium Training LIVE!!!

2011-10-03T17:08:00.024+11:00

Australia stretch their legs again in approximately one hour's time.

(pic courtesy of Gymnastics Australia. Click for larger)

Edit: I'm following TCG and TGE's Facebook updates 6:00pm AEDST. I'm kind of amalgamating their observations so forgive me!

Australia is in the red and black leos from last Worlds and rocking that famous unified walk. Martine thoroughly sussed out the beam before the gymnasts had even marched out.

Beam: Good reviews for Brown.
Monckton one hand down on a flight series but got it the second time around. Mitchell sticks BHS -flic-layout. Came off on the ring leap but got it on another attempt. Little great double pike dismount. Brennan "very sure of herself... Australia is lucky to have this routine"! All signs point to good for our bogey apparatus!

Floor: Brennan warms up a full-in with a spot, adds a split jump afterward; 2.5 twist to sissone. Nice double tuck to finish. Also a double arabian in there? (Blythe is unsure)
Little stuck all her tumbles - tucked full in. Double tuck to good landing. 1.5 twist to double full twist. Double pike with a small hop. "Very good" says Blythe!
Monckton double tuck with a shuffle back. 2.5 twist to punch front, stag jump. Switch ring to tour jete full to tuck full. Double full to a high straddle jump [I am guessing she means pirouette?], double pike.
GRB her striking music with vocals. Double pike, had trouble controlling the landing. Front double full to single stag. Memmel turn? Brigid says "gorgeous" ring leap! 1.5 to front tuck to another single stag. Double tuck to end, a little low.
Brennan "huge" tuck full-in. Double tuck to stag. "Nice, just like a pro". Front layout, front lay full, sissone. Double pike slightly under-rotated and had to step forward.
Mitchell - whip to arabian to stag jump, earns a "WOW!", heehee. Crashed her 2.5 twist to front layout, tucking the layout and landing on her bum. Double wolf turn. Ends with double pike to split jump.
Miller double arabian to stag, stands it up. Front lay to double full. Double turn. Hands down on 2.5 twist at the end.
Chung - (we finally get a look at our exciting alternate!) Double pike to open, nice and high. Single wolf pirouette on floor. Punch front through to double full. Nearly lost it on double tuck at end.
Mitchell re-performs her 2.5 to front lay nicely. Miller re-does her 2.5 twist, first connected to a front tuck, then a front layout. Redid her full-in as well. Monckton practising her pirouettes.

Vault:
Maryanne - Yurchenko full a little low.
Georgia Rose - Yurchenko full piked down slightly.
Ashleigh - Brigid says 'half on full off?' with one step to the side. Could this be her Tsuk 1.5?
Emily - Baitova with slightly bent legs, lands with one small step.
Lauren - Baitova, lost form a little in the air, landed in crouch.
Nikki - "Very nice" Yurchenko full
Mez VT2 - no indication of the vault (whether or not it was the Yurchenko again), deep landing. Brigid compares her style to that of snappy Swiss expert Kaeslin.
Georgia Rose VT2- Pikes the landing a little, has to jump back
Ash VT2 - "Great, one little step but very nice"
Emily VT2 - Better, nice and high Baitova
Mitchell VT2 - Very good, a bit low on landing.
Mez VT3 - "Totally stuck" Yurchenko full!
GRB VT 3- Same vault as last. Struggles with landing.
Ash VT3 - Near stick, one step to the side.

I am assuming they all did one vault three times...?
(EDIT: Brigid says yes, they all vaulted the same thing three times)

Bars:

Ash is prepping the bars while the girls line up.

Little - neat but low jaeger. Stuck double layout dismount.
Monckton - caught shush and tkatchev, split legs on pak salto, lost it a little but kept going (banana back I guess?), small leg separation on DLO dismount but stuck it!
GRB - Low geinger but nice jaeger. Wonky stalder, giant half to double front with a spot.
Mitchell - Lot it on first pirouette, came off, remounted for just her double front dismount.
Miller - stalder, full turn to geinger good. Had to pause in her handstands a few times. Full twisting double off (Brigid is unsure about this).
Little - same as before, sticks DLO again. Messy feet on straddled moves.
Monckton - Lost her swing, walked away, did not reattempt.
GRB - Foot flexed in geinger, lost it in the giant after her jaeger and finished up there
Mitchell - Lost it again, on the first pirouette. Dismounted, is being coached about it.
Miller - repeated stalder, giant full, geinger "GREAT!", jaeger very high this time. Crouched a little on dismount.
Little - "Lost it, walked away".
Monckton - full routine. Hit shush, very high tkatchev. Same leg form on pak, haf to be spotted through full pirouette on low bar. Stuck DLO again but with low landing.
GRB - "Was doing really well but lost it on her upswing to high bar. She is back on and landed ok, just a couple of shuffle steps."
Mitchell - Straight to high bar. Did her jaeger. She did the rest of the routine but it was a little slow and slack, and she sat down her double front.
Miller - "Exquisite" giant full into her dismount, which was stuck.
As the music came up for the session to end, Lauren re-attempted her routine. Still a bit off, but landed her dismount to her feet.

Oh boy.

Hang in there, team, you can do it! We're all cheering for ya!

2011 Worlds: WAG Training 2

2011-10-03T09:14:00.006+11:00

The Couch Gymnast has an extended training hall report and lovely photos up, including a couple of purple-clad Aussies. Thanks, Brigid!

(I hope the world falls in love with this girl, like they did with Hollie Dykes...)

The VWHPC at Facebook also has some rather nice photos of the girls in training as well. These guys are always good for on-the-scene updates, so if you've not already liked their page, do it do it do it do it!

And, not to be outdone, the ever vigilant fan site Gymnastike has videos! Woo, as I rightly hear you say, hoo!

2011 Worlds: WAG Training

2011-10-02T19:08:00.007+11:00

The Couch Gymnast, The Gym Examiner and Gymnastike are all inside the arena in Tokyo tapping, filming and snapping as fast as their fingers will allow!

Brigid (TCG) Facebooked the following brief remarks from Aussie podium training who are rotating as we speak!

Emily Little pounding out a solid beam set. She looks quite polished on her back tumbling and switch side. Nice high double pike off.

Mez Monckton training terrifically. Solid skills, great back pike, best leg up full turn today. Fell on switch half but got it again and AWESOME double pike dismount!

Mitchell BB looks fab... Combined wolf turn with single pirouette. Great ring leap! Timer off. Yep, the slow cook approach works for her. She is IN form.

GRB beautiful on beam as ever, but having trouble with full turn in split.

Missed a bit of floor [had battery issues]. Miller sat down two passes, but recovered her double arabian later. Mitchell crunched toes on a pass but generally looked okay. Chung fell on double tuck but looked very pretty. Missed HPC girls.

While Blythe (TGE) adds...

This team has two first-time Worlds competitors in Mary Anne Monckton and Georgia Rose Brown, and both look to be adapting to this climate very well, particularly Monckton, who was all power and drive on beam (very nice double pike dismount).

Props to Ashleigh Brennan of Australia, who looks totally fit and in control of her gymnastics here. Her floor is very nice (full in, front layout to front full to single stag third pass) and she's one of the steadiest on beam.

Seeing some nice tumbling on floor from the Aussies, particularly the powerful Emily Little (great half in half out) and Lauren Mitchell, who appears to be getting a handle on her whip to Arabian double.

No word on leos yet.

Gymnastike hopefully gets some Aussie-related videos!

Check this page at FullTwist for an excellent breakdown of competition session times.

Now, just a quick note to the Pedantic Pollies who like to pop up now and then.

1. Please don't take what happens in training as outright indication of how the team will perform later. That's just presumptuous and pointless.

2. The people reporting from this event are being extremely gracious with their time and resources (I do also point out my one known Aussie contact cheering on the team in Tokyo who will probably have some nuggests for us as well). They could very well just sit and watch the competition but instead they are in dedicated fan mode and getting information for other fans around the world as it happens.

Please please PLEASE do not pipe up with, "I think you'll find x-gymnast does Y-skill, NOT z-skill!" or "BUT WHY DIDN'T YOU MENTION X-GYMNAST/TEAM!? THEY'RE THERE TOO YOU KNOW!" or "You spelled that wrong, duh!" and things of that nature. It's just rude, and says more about you than it says about gymbloggers. Mistakes do get made in reporting due to speed - you've sat in a gym competition, you must know there are multiple things going on at once - and the author usually does their best to correct errors as soon as time permits during or after live coverage. Something like a World Championship is a fast and furious time and they do the best they can under the circumstances. I myself made an honest mistake this afternoon and was VERY RUDELY advised of it in comments. Thanks so much for that! Hope you get spoken to in that manner one day and can learn how it feels!

Please keep comments civil, and be mindful how much work is being put it in to bring you coverage of the event.

There. I'm off my grumpy stool now. Back to the gymnastics.

2011 Worlds: Australia in Prelims

2011-10-02T11:54:00.004+11:00

Ok, hit a slight snag setting up my ADSL modem *untangles self from cables* but the good news is I should having working internet at home by Wednesday evening. Which, happily, is right before prelims kick off!

Australia WAG: Subdivision 3, Friday October 7th. Starting on beam.
Australia MAG: Subdivision 7, Monday October 10th. Starting on p-bars.

2011 World Championships Preamble

2011-09-30T16:54:00.004+10:00

Our thoughts and good wishes go with the Aussie teams departing for Tokyo today.

So here's where AGB starts cranking into overdrive. Caffeinated beverages and aviator hat at the ready! There are a number of ways to follow the team's progress, so I hope you have a pen handy...

1. Right here. Or at my Twitter account. I'll be updating as time and resources permit, and welcome your contributions in the comments. That said, I will be firmly moderating discussions, so be advised that your inappropriate comment may be deleted. I can't stress this enough: I'm all for open-mindedness, but if you wish to use colourful or discriminatory language, or have something not backed up by an official gymnastics source, please PLEASE take it elsewhere. Having to break up fights really brings down the tone of the site.

I hope to have the kind of as-it-happens excitement we had during the last two World Championships. It was fun, and it was great to see so many supporters of Aussie gym showing their spirit. Here's hoping we get the kind of results to cheer and type in capitals about!

2. Gymnastics Australia who will be working their hardest to outdo the likes of British Gymnastics with frequent social media updates (jussayin'. GB are a hard act to follow!) so check out
- Their homepage
- Their Twitter
- Their Facebook page

3. Officials and On-The-Scene
- OFFICIAL Tokyo 2011 Event Page
- OFFICIAL FIG Tokyo Event Page
- International Gymnast (usually updates live)
- FIG
- Gymnastike
- The All Around (usually updates live)
- VWHPC Facebook Page

4. Blogosphere
- The Couch Gymnast
- The Gymnastics Examiner (usually updates live)
- Full Twist
- Universal Sports

Got all that? Great! I hope you'll be having 200 tabs open at any one time, like me!

Now, with regard to livestreaming sources, we can consider any of the following sites dutifully suggested by other gymfans:

Sportv: http://www.zuumptv.com/2010/06/sportv.html
Sportv 2: http://www.zuumptv.com/2010/06/sportv2.html
CCTV5: http://english.cntv.cn/live/
or anywhere that can give us a non-geoblocked BBC or Universal Sports stream... but I'll keep you posted.

Just to get you that bit more excited, here's a thing.

Later Breaking News

2011-09-28T13:01:00.005+10:00

1. This is a bit cool. Nice one, guys.

2. Congratulations to our own Janine Murray who, by virtue of her 75th ranking at the World Rhythmic Championships, will be the sole Oceania representative at London 2012.

Late Breaking News

2011-09-26T22:29:00.005+10:00

Hi guys.

Check my latest tweet (Twitter link at right) for a link to a new radio interview with Lauren Mitchell from camp in Canberra.

Edit: Speaking of camp, this morning we have a brief training camp update from our MAG and WAG teams in Canberra, over at GA.

The girls are in good shape and not anything unexpected from the Physio reports. We will depart on Friday and are looking forward to arriving in Tokyo."

"The Men's team have been fine tuning their routines at training camp this week. The gymnasts are maintaining a good positive focus on the job at hand and are looking great as a team.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we also have an additional brief word from Peggy on the team trial and Lauren's championship defense chances at IG here.

Japan Junior 2011

2011-09-26T11:37:00.004+10:00

Hi all.

Just a quick one today.

Less than stellar results out of the Japan Junior event, but I am sure it was valuable experience for all who competed.

IG has the apparatus finals results here and AA results here.

NCAA Aussie Round-Up

2011-09-19T13:34:00.002+10:00

In all the excitement of Worlds team announcements, we can't forget that another batch of Aussies have been making us proud across the pond, and will continue to do so in 2012.

Soon-to-be Oregon State senior (!) Olivia Vivian celebrated All-American honours for her bars work last season, and has had some pre-2012 season fun with her team on a rafting trip.

Shona Morgan was given All-American academic honours (!!) over at Stanford and had fun on Play Day.

And, after a long period of injury, Monique Blount has been made a captain(!!!) for the upcoming season over at George Washington University.
Onya girls. Australia is so proud of you.

2011 Worlds Team: MAG

2011-09-18T23:09:00.001+10:00

Wrap up your weekend with news of the men's world championship team!

Best of luck to...

Josh Jefferis!
Sam Offord!
Tom Pichler!
Prashanth Sellathurai!
Luke Wadsworth!
Luke Wiwatowski!

Reserves: Simpson, Bull, Merceica

Echoing the women's team with two-team-members-sharing-initials!

2011 Worlds Team: WAG

2011-09-17T20:51:00.001+10:00

Woohoo! A timely GA update allows us to heartily congratulate...

Ash Brennan!
Georgia Rose Brown!
Emily Little!
Larrissa Miller!
Lauren Mitchell!
Maryanne Monckton!
(res: Nikki Chung and Georgia Wheeler!)

Check scores and standings at GA.

Onya, girls! Good luck in camp, see you on the other side.

No Sir That Ain't Right.

2011-09-16T12:56:00.002+10:00

Coverage of women’s sport makes up 9% of all sports coverage in Australian television news and current affairs, while male sport makes up 81%.
Horse racing alone receives more airtime that all women’s sport combined, making up the other 10% of all coverage.

Appalled?

Read the rest of Damien Johnson's worthwhile opinion piece [namechecking Lauren Mitchell] here.

Where There's a Milly...

2011-09-14T13:24:00.001+10:00

Nice catch-up interview with PacRim medallist Amelia McGrath over at The Couch Gymnast.

Sounds like a lovely afternoon was had over at MLC!

Jayden Has His Day

2011-09-13T14:38:00.002+10:00

As Worlds draw nearer and nearer, check out a short feature on Tokyo prospect Jayden Bull over at International Gymnast online.

"For us, the world championships are not about individual achievement, but rather putting a team into the top 16. So whether or not I fit into that team of six gymnasts is up to the selectors."

Strewth, Youth!

2011-09-12T09:02:00.003+10:00

Sorry to have been conspicuously absent over the weekend, dear readers.

A driving test won't practise for itself, work shopping doesn't do itself (and it'll be cold day in hell before a roast lunch prepares itself).

Some great results coming out of the Commonwealth Youth Games, as Australia claims hardware in all three colours!

According to a GA update, we ended the competition with...

Individual All Around Placings: 12th (Declan Stacey), 14th (Kent Pieterse), 5th (Emma Nedov), 9th (Maddie Leydin)
Bronze - Australia WAG team, Australia MAG team
Silver - Rings (Tyson Bull)
GOOOLLLLDDDDD!!!! - Beam (Emma Nedov), Men's floor (Declan Stacey)

GA has some cracking photos up at Facebook.

For full results, head to the Isle of Man Commonwealth Youth Games website (link posted in my previous post).

Congrats to the Aussie delegation who battled a long trip and niggling injuries to do us proud on the international stage.

Isle Have What They're Having

2011-09-07T11:00:00.002+10:00

Best wishes to our competitors in the Commonwealth Youth Games in The Isle of Man...

Emma Nedov
Alexandra Eade
Madeline Leydin

You can follow the event and catch up on some related media at the official website here.

Catching Some Air

2011-09-06T12:30:00.002+10:00

Bit of an unfortunate finish to Jayden Bull's Ghent campaign with a slip in the high bar final that landed him in 5th. But errors aside, he has a real flair for the apparatus. That much is obvious. So chin up, sonny, and chalk it up to experience. I have to admit it's a bit weird seeing new faces represent Aussie MAG overseas! I'm so used to the usual suspects!

And speaking of people going places, best of luck to our Junior Commonwealth Games team who yesterday departed for the Isle of Man! I promise not to make any The Fast Show jokes*.

*ask your parents.

Good Morning!

2011-09-04T08:12:00.001+10:00

Best of luck to Jayden Bull who has qualified 8th to the high bar final in Ghent!

Going, Going, Ghent

2011-09-01T09:42:00.005+10:00

Very best wishes to the Aussie MAG delegation competing at the Challenger Cup in Ghent, Belgium this weekend, Jayden Bull, Elliott Cook and Luke Wadsworth!

Jayden and Luke have been making their mark on the Aussie lineup since their inclusion in the Pacific Rim Championships last year.

Good luck, fellas!

Turn On, Tune In, Flip Out

2011-08-31T15:44:00.002+10:00

I apologise for being quite late to the party noticing this.

Wahey!

Gymsports on the telly! Always something worth celebrating.

Happy Birthday To...

2011-08-29T11:43:00.001+10:00

More birthdays out of the Sunshine State...

Happy Birthday to Josh Jefferis! Many happy returns.

Your Call is important To Us

2011-08-26T20:03:00.003+10:00

Well, they've opened the floodgates for the year.

Run with this opportunity as you see fit.

Happy Birthday To...

2011-08-25T11:41:00.003+10:00

Our 2011 National uneven bars champion Chloe Sims! Have a fantastic day, and all the best for a speedy shoulder recovery!

To Cool For School

2011-08-17T13:51:00.002+10:00

Results out of the World University Games in China...

Aus MAG team - 11th

Sam Offord, rings - 4th!

All Around - Luke W, 17th. Tom Pichler, 22nd.

Prashanth S, pommel - GOLD!

Go you good things!

I've Just Been Cutting Onions in the Rain

2011-08-16T12:50:00.003+10:00

*sniffle*

If you haven't checked out the UK documentary about the 2008 British women's team selection for Beijing, "Gymnast", DO IT NOW. Part 3 is particularly moving.

I'M NOT CRYING I JUST HAVE SOMETHING IN MY EYE. STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3 (got your tissues ready?)

BGTV FTW!

2011-08-10T13:59:00.005+10:00

Not a lot of nice news is coming from our friends in the UK at the moment (though I urge you to Google or twitter-search "Operation Cup of Tea"). Here is something nice.

I got an email in the last couple of days from Gareth Finchett*, the Production Manager of BGtv, that excellent online resource put out by British Gymnastics. They're going bigger and better in the lead-up to 2012 so here are some new developments any fellow fans might be interested in:

* All 2011 players now have the 'blog this' button enabled so everyone can get the video code.
* We have started to live stream all our main BG events and the intention is to make these available via the embed code feature. Where possible we will no longer be geo blocking this content (the Women's British [championships] will not be geo blocked in the future)
* All BGtv VOD content is now available on iOS and smartphone devices
* We release weekly coaching tips from our top coaches
* During our live events we have interactions through Facebook and twitter including shoutouts / questions for gymnasts.

And they welcome any feedback on the service at their website.

So how's about that, eh? EH!?

Who's for a tea and a biscuit?

*I bet he lives in Toad Hall or with the Wombles or something. SHO CUUUUUUUUTE.

I Just Really Like This Picture.

2011-08-08T09:23:00.003+10:00

(except that she's clearly standing between men's parallel bars, not women's uneven bars!)

photo credit: Courtney Reese

Don't Hate. Cooperate.

2011-08-04T15:40:00.002+10:00

It's nice to have greater traffic numbers stopping by here when Anon is switched on, but there is still some tetchiness hanging about in the comment areas, notably since various assignments and lists have been announced.

Working with geeks, as I do four days of the week, you get funny and apt stuff circulating about the office and pinging between inboxes.

This is one of those things, and I hope you all keep it in mind when feeling like getting yourself into a nasty situation in the Comments.

(caution: low level coarse language)

Love, Mez and the lovely geeks she works with.

Bumps (and Breaks and Bruises) in the Road

2011-08-02T15:13:00.002+10:00

Peggy Liddick has spoken to International Gymnast magazine about the status of Australia's top contenders for Tokyo.

Just as a preemptive strike: Please don't take the people she DIDN'T mention as an absolute indication they are out of the running for the rest of the year.

Lukey Here

2011-08-01T13:17:00.002+10:00

Awww, nice suprise in my Twitter feed just now: a short interview with Luke Wiwatowski over at International Gymnast!

"On a side note, high bar will also be a focus for me, I have a potential 7.0 start score and I hope to be competitive on that apparatus at the world championships."

A 7.0 SV?

o_0

DID SOMEBODY SAY "AWESOME"!?!?

Weekend Edition

2011-07-30T14:38:00.002+10:00

What better way to get acquainted with our homegrown world floor champ before her Wide World of Sports appearance tomorrow than with this new feature article from Linda Pearce!

Lauren now has an official Facebook fanpage which you can check out here. There is a very sweet welcome message from the girl herself!

Let's Hear It For The Boys

2011-07-28T10:24:00.002+10:00

GA this week also announced our MAG squads and upcoming assignments. Congrats to the lads!

World Championship Squad:

Luke Wiwatowski - QAS

Sam Offord - SA

Prashanth Sellathurai - NSWIS

Luke Wadsworth - VHPC

Thomas Pichler - QAS

Josh Jefferis - QAS

Naoya Tsukahara - QAS

Sam Simpson - QAS

Michael Merceica - NSWIS

Sean O'Hara - SA

Philippe Rizzo - ACT

Jayden Bull - VHPC

Reserves:

Briece Newton - VHPC

Mitchell Morgans - NSWIS

Dion Pocklington - VIC

Junior Commonwealth Games Team:

Tyson Bull - VHPC

Kent Pieterse - VHPC

Declan Stacey - NSWIS

Coach: Leon Rachenko

Japan Junior Team:

Tyson Bull - VHPC

Coach: Leon Radchenko

Ghent Challenger Cup:

Luke Wadsworth - VHPC

Jayden Bull - VHPC

Sean O'Hara - SA

Elliott Cook - WA

Coaches: Greg Corsiglia

Coach/Judge: John Curtin

Open Levels Tour Team:

Level 7

Jack Norman - QLD

Matthew McKenna - SA

Joshua Meyer - QLD

Stephen Moulds - SA

Shoji Isomoto - Reserve - NSW

Level 8

Michael Tone - QLD

Dylan Sclumpf - QLD

Jordan Papandrea - NSW

Jay Pery - QLD

Zachariah Salameh - Reserve - NSW

Level 9

Michael Tonegato - NSW

Jack Doyle - NSW

Gerard Atzenl - QLD

Brendon Lee - QLD

Mark Rogers - Reserve - NSW

Officials

Niall O'Leary - QLD

Adrian Looney - QLD

Tricia O'Connell - NSW

Andrew Cordery - SA

Austrian Future Cup Team:

Scott Costin - QLD

Robert Thornton - QLD

Clay Stephens - SA

Lachlan Savill - QLD

Reserves:

Mitchell Jones - QLD

Zachary Perillo - VIC

William Sherwood - WA

Coach: Sean Wilson

Judge/Manager: Rohan Kennedy

Congratulations to all gymnasts, coaches and official for their selection to represent Australia.

Please see below the athletes who have been named on the National Squads for July 2011 - July 2012:

Senior National Squad:

Naoya Tsukahara QLD

Josh Jefferis QLD

Luke Wiwatowski QLD

Thomas Pichler QLD

Sam Offord SA

Luke Wadsworth VIC

Michael Mercieca NSW

Sean O'Hara SA

Jayden Bull VIC

Sam Simpson QLD

Briece Newton VIC

Prashanth Sellathurai NSW

Elliot Cook WA

Vincent Lam

Philippe Rizzo ACT

Kevin James VIC

Dion Pocklington

Mitchell Morgans

Junior National Squad:

Tyson Bull VIC

Declan Stacey NSW

Mitchell Jones QLD

Scott Costin QLD

Brody-Jai Hennessy QLD

Kent Pieterse VIC

Kristian Wan QLD

GA/Olympic Squad:

Prashanth Sellathura NSW

Naoya Tsukahara QLD

Josh Jefferis QLD

Luke Wiwatowski QLD

Thomas Pichler QLD

Sam Offord SA

Luke Wadsworth VIC

Michael Mercieca NSW

Sean O'Hara SA

Jayden Bull VIC

Sam Simpson QLD

Briece Newton VIC

Philippe Rizzo ACT

Tyson Bull VIC

Brody-Jai Hennessy QLD

Declan Stacey NSW

Kent Pieterse VIC

U16 National Squad:

Robert Thornton QLD

Lachlan Savill QLD

Zachary Perillo VIC

Corey Morton VIC

Christopher Remkes SA

Ben Congedi SA

Clay Stephens SA

James Bacueti ACT

Aden Messori QLD

Trenten Wan QLD

U14 National Squad:

Jackson Clarke QLD

Etienne Rousseau Forward QLD

William Sherwood WA

Justin Tan VIC

Joshua Di Nucci WA

Gabriel Swan NSW

Jack Riek QLD

Yari Marazzato WA

Rourke Jenkins QLD

Christopher Subasic QLD

Darren Fung NSW

Ethan Stethakis NSW

Matthew Richardson WA

Gabe O'Sullivan WA

Sean Forde WA

U12 National Squad:

Finaly Kroon NSW

Christopher Jenkinson QLD

Cassiel Rousseau Forward QLD

Jack Sweeney NSW

Max Mingay NSW

Andrew Sumner WA

Ben Leong NSW

Jack Miller QLD

Alec Traina NSW

Ryan Woodhouse WA

Maikolo Fekitoa NSW

Nathan Brophy WA

Elija Meegan WA

Harrison Jones WA

James Ciupac WA

Julien Horrocks NSW

Samuel Schukin QLD

Alex D'Cruz WA

Morgan Evans QLD

Brodie Chaffey QLD

Curtis Lindeman QLD

Travis Donaldson NSW

Oliver Dilnutt VIC

Whitiora Monaro NSW

Mitchell Repsevicius WA

Indigo Dragon QLD

Alexander Maratos VIC

Philip Koe-leong VIC

Kyle McCartney QLD

(Indigo Dragon!? AWESOME.)

Annus Olympicus

2011-07-27T11:29:00.002+10:00

Best wishes to all our gymsporters preparing for London 2012.

You can see the Australian Olympic Team's official site here.

ONE YEAR TO GO!!!

What She Said

2011-07-26T15:47:00.006+10:00

Hello, sleepyheaded Tuesdayites.

GA confirms that Lauren Mitchell will appear on Wide World of Sports THIS Sunday.

And some things got said here as well.

"I'd rather have a team full of very good gymnasts than a bad team with one medallist.
"The fact that our team did well (at the World Championships) set Lauren up to win her medal last year, because it is very, very rare if at all that a gymnast comes from a team that isn't strong to get a medal."

And yesterday, GA also announced the following WAG assignments and cohorts:

Junior Commonwealth Games Team:
Alexandra Eade - VIS
Maddi Leydin - VIS
Emma Jane Nedov - Epping YMCA
Coach: Misha Barabach

Japan Junior Team:
Georgia Godwin - MBC
Jasminne Cassis - MBC
Coach: Sasha Belooussov

Open Levels Tour:
Level 9
Christine Bonfadini - VIC
Kenyah Lawler - ACT
Isobel Looker - VIC
Sophie Musgrave - QLD
Jessica Wigglesworth - QLD
Brianna Wong - QLD

Level 10
Natalia Bennison - QLD
Kirsty Bishop - QLD
Claire Black - QLD
Alicia Brown - VIC
Taylor Ryan - QLD
Amy Smit - NSW

Coaches:
Jackie Caldwell
Wendy Gilliver

Congratulations to all gymnasts, coaches and official for their selection to represent Australia.

Please see below the athletes who have been named on the Senior and Junior National Squad for July 2011 - July 2012:

Senior National Squad
Georgie Bonora - WAV/VIS
Ashleigh Brennan - VIS
Georgia Rose Brown - VIS
Sophie Budack - QAS
Nikola Chung - WAIS
Shar-Lee Clark - MBC
Angela Donald - WAV/VIS
Tierra Exum - VIS
Britt Greeley - VIS
Laura Hingston - VHPC
Natalia Joura - QAS
Amaya King Koi - QAS
Emily Little - WAIS
Zoe Lorenzin - VIS
Amelia McGrath - MLC/VIS
Larrissa Miller - QAS
Lauren Mitchell - WAIS
Mary-Anne Monckton - VHPC
Clare O'Donnell - MLC
Svetlana Sanders - VIS
Georgia Simpson - WAIS
Chloe Sims - QAS
Georgia Wheeler - VIS
Katie Wurth - QAS
Crystal Yeo - SA

Junior National Squad
Ebonie Boucher - VHPC
Rachel Boyd - WAV
Jasminne Cassis - MBC
Emily Conran - QAS
Emma Curry - MLC
Alexandra Eade - VIS
Grace Flood - VHPC
Franceska Fusha - WAIS
Georgia Godwin - MBC
Nicole Grout - SA
Tamika Jones - QAS
Ashley Kittl - WAV
Elisha Lai - Epping YMCA
Naomi Lee - WOD
Maddi Leydin - VIS
Celeste Loo - CH
Isis Lowrey - Jets
Kiara Munteanu - VHPC
Emma Jane Nedov - Epping YMCA
Madeleine Nedov - Epping YMCA
Desnee Richter - Epping YMCA
Stella Savvidou - MLC
Aimee Warncok - WOD
Eden Tarvit - WAIS

Please see below gymnasts who have been selected onto the GA/Olympic Squad:

GA/Olympic Squad July - December 2011
Ashleigh Brennan - VIS
Georgia Rose Brown - VIS
Emily Little - WAIS
Larrissa Miller - QAS
Lauren Mitchell - WAIS
Mary-Anne Monckton - VHPC
Chloe Sims - QAS
Jasminne Cassis - MBC
Alexandra Eade - VIS
Georgia Godwin - MBC
Tamika Jones - QAS
Naomi Lee - WOD
Maddi Leydin - VIS
Emma Jane Nedov - Epping YMCA

Congratulations to all gymnasts for their selection on to the National Squads

I ask that you observe and speculate on these outcomes RESPECTFULLY. The Anon function is still in place but I ask you to really think about what you're posting because I do monitor what goes on.

Rizzo Regaining Grip

2011-07-21T14:58:00.003+10:00

Let this recent Canberra Times feature on Phil Rizzo get you buzzing for his comeback, as well as the (any day now!?) announcement of the 2011 MAG Worlds team.

The team for Japan was expected to be announced either late last night or sometime today.
''It was pretty hard for me just to get motivated for it [the nationals] but I did all right, I think I did enough to be able to be selected for the national squad,'' he said.

Wide World Out West?

2011-07-20T14:08:00.002+10:00

Just got word National Champion Lauren Mitchell will be featured on Nine's Wide World of Sports this weekend?

Nationals 2011: MAG wrap-up

2011-07-20T13:31:00.003+10:00

Unfortunately, nothing much is being said in the media about our men but the senior all-around and apparatus finals have wrapped up, with a mixed bag of results.

Congrats to our 2011 National AA champ Luke Wiwatowski!

Luke was second behind the yet-to-earn-citizenship Japanese dynamo who keeps tongues wagging Naoya Tsukahara, but won by virtue of his, well, residency! Not content with just one gold, he also snagged the national floor title. AA favourite Sam Offord managed second, with Victorian upstart Jayden Bull (rocking a 6.5 high bar SV!) finishing in third.

Olympian Phil Rizzo is still making a comeback, unable to medal on his pet events, while Queensland golden boy Josh Jefferis managed three events in his road to recovery. And look out, world - Prashanth Sellathurai is comin' atcha with a 6.9 pommel SV!

The road to Tokyo is taking some interesting twists!

Nationals 2011: WAG Wrap-Up/MAG AA preview

2011-07-18T12:25:00.004+10:00

What a weekend!

The women wrapped up their competition in style, with the men still to battle it out for all-around and apparatus titles in Canberra. Rhythmic finals also showed Dani Prince to be a real star of the future and a worthy successor to Commonwealths gold medallist Naazmi Johnston.

Full results can be found at Gymnastics Australia.

There are articles summarising the WAG finals here and here, though a Google News search should whet your appetite!

A feature article on Prashanth Sellathurai is here and one on Michael Merceica is here.

Happy Monday!

Nationals 2011: WAG EF LIVE!

2011-07-17T16:25:00.041+10:00

Hello friends!

Special ops agent Brindabella is on the ground in Perth and reporting dutifully!

She says Challenge Stadium is filling up rapidly for the women's apparatus finals. I will be updating this post as she texts in.

We're kicking off with Senior VT and Junior UB.

Spotted as the vault final warmups wrap up - Sims, Monckton, Miller, Brennan, Brown, Greeley so far.

Sims in a black leotard, Mitchell in black with aqua and silver. Brown and Brennan in VWHPC aqua swirl. Eade in VWHPC pink and black flame leo.

Rotation 1:

UB Savidou nice geinger. Hop forward on dismount.

Chloe Sims on sidelines working with Vlad Joura.

VT Miller sits down her second warmup vault.

VT Monckton sticks first vault for 13.700!

VT Sims one step to the side. 13.875

VT Miller 4.8/13.500

UB Savvidou 11.750, McGrath cheering her on from the sidelines

VT Messy warmup for Budack, a near faceplant for Brennan. Hope competition vaults are better for them!

UB Rachel Boyd 3.8/11.325

VT Brennan stuck but landed low.

UB Cassis 11.300

VT Brennan 5.2/13.750

VT Mitchell stuck Baitova! 5.8/9.000!

VT Greeley stuck 5.3/13.975

UB Nedov clips foot on jaeger and almost falls, recovers to stick landing.

UB Naomi Lee 11.225

VT Budack 5.3/14.075

*** UPDATE: CHANNEL TEN CAMERAS ARE AT THE WAG EF SO KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED ON THE NEWS/SPORTS TONIGHT/7pm PROJECT! ***

Rotation 2:

UB Miller great bars warmup but legs apart on geinger. Brown flexed feet on geinger.

UB Sims does a Memmel-esque stoop giant now? Stuck dismount. 5.8/14.275

(From Nikki: fantastic routine! Inside stalder - inside stalder - blind change, reverse inside stalder, huge piked jaeger, shoot over h/s, stalder hiccup, stalder full - full in dismount. Nice!)

BB Nedov great routine with a few wobbles, 5.9/14.275

(from Nikki: Emma Jane Nedov on beam - flip - layout to 2 feet solid, switch leap - wolf jump, switch ring, front arial, flip-layout, punch front slight hop, sheep jump, pivot, r/off dbl pike chest low on landing, small hop)

BB Boyd two falls. 4.1/10.300

UB Miller legs apart on geinger, several hesitations. Twice holds handstands for too long, jumps off. re-attempts, stuck dismount.

(From Nikki: inside stalder full - gienger (leg separation), shoot over h/s - stalder hiccup, inside stalder - blind change - jaeger, fall on h/s half turn, stalder full, giant, full in dismount. 13.150)

UB Brown great, save for a few flexed feet and almost bouncing to knees on dismount. 5.3/12.725

(from Nikki: hecht mount, toe on, toe on full, gienger, giant half, jaeger, shoot over (short of h/s), stalder hiccup, toe on blind change, dbl front dismount over rotated.)

BB Godwin 5,5/13.075

UB Greeley 4.5/10.850

(From Nikki: stalder hiccup, clearhip - gienger, clearhip half not made, extra swing half turn, clearhip full turn repeated, over shoot (short of h/s), hiccup extra swing, full in dismount hands down)

UB Budack: Overarches first handstand. Great double layout dismount! A bit close to the bar, feet almost hit. 5.1/12.675

BB Cassis 4.6/13.025

BB Crystal Yeo (from Nikki) Low tkachev, shoot over, stalder hiccup, nice dbl layout dismount slight leg separation

UB Mitchell falls. 5.9/12.750

(from Nikki: hecht mount, toe on half (fall), toe on 1.5 - jaeger (extra swing), shoot over (short of h/s) - stalder hiccup, toe on, toe on blind change, dbl front dismount. 12.75)

**** YOU CAN SEE MORE DETAILED ROUTINE QUICKHITS FROM NIKKI IN THE COMMENTS OF THIS POST***

BB Lee Solid effort but sits down dismount. 5.4/12.500

(from Nikki: Naomi Lee on beam - Beautiful dbl wolf pivot, front arial, flip - pike sault stuck, front sault, side arial - switch split - back tuck, massive r/off dbl pike over rotated. 12.500)

UB Monckton STICK STICK STICKITTY STICK! Catches all releases nicely and sticks double layout dismount, Brind texts me IN CAPITALS so I thought this update NEEDED CAPITALS!

Monckton 5.8/13.875

(from Nikki: toe on full, piked shushunova, sky high tkachev, toe on, pak, stalder hiccup, blind change, reverse giant, beautiful dbl layout, small step on landing. Great routine! 13.875)

Channel 10 camera team moving to beam, obviously to catch our world champ on one of her best events! And the woman from Today Tonight Perth who did the gymnastics piece this week has just sat down next to Brindy!

Rotation 3:

BB King-Koi falls, 11.125

From Nikki: FX Godwin front full - front dbl (short on twist), dbl tuck, nice switch ring - switch half, dbl twist, dbl pike dismount

*** LIVE UPDATES ARE NOW BACK UP AT THE GA FACEBOOK PAGE ***

BB Joura: Big wobbles. Falls on side aerial. 11.050 . Cheered on by her celebrated big sister in the stands who is sporting "flaming red" hair!

FX Boyd "lovely" (from Brindy) "dbl pike, r/off 1.5 step out r/off back full, front 1.5 twist, nice switch ring - switch split half. Stuck dbl tuck dismount. Finish late to music" (from Nikki). 12.400

BB Monckton (from Nikki) "Beautiful side arial - back layout, front arial, switch half, back sault, switch leap - back pike, full turn leg horizontal, switch ring, r/off dbl pike low chest on landing. Nice routine!" 5.8/14.050

FX Nedov thumbs up from coach after routine. "Dbl tuck, dbl twist, switch ring - switch full, clean r/off 1.5 twist - front sault - stag, lovely dbl pivot, dbl pike dismount chest low on landing but stuck" 12.575

BB Brennan "front arial - switch leap - gainer layout, switch half - back tuck, beautiful split jump - wolf jump, nice side sault, switch ring small wobble, solid flip layout, side arial, side sault, r/off dbl pike dismount, hop on landing" 5.9/14.525

FX Eade goes OOB twice.

BB Brown: Lovely dance and leaps, steps back on double twist dsmount. "Looks upset on the sidelines"? Hope she hasn't hurt herself. 13.250

BB Mitchell: Whole arena hushed for the routine but she falls on first acro series! Wolf turn a double instead of triple. Despite the fall gets 6.5/14.575 so could win anyway.

BB Sims "eyeballs the judges" in the routine! Falls, goes overtime, but stands up her double front dismount.

(from Nikki: "front arial (pause) - side sault, flip - back tuck (fall), front tuck, beautiful leg up pivot, oversplit switch split, switch half, wolf jump - split jump, big step fwd on dbl front dismount. Amazing flexibility in dance elements") 5.6/12.975

Rotation 4:

Only six seniors line up for the floor final. Apparently stag jumps and leaps out of passes really are the done thing in this new code. "Everyone, seriously EVERYONE is doing them!" was the text. Thanks, FIG for instituting lunge deductions. Hope you're happy.

FX Mitchell nice warmup.

VT Savvidou sits down her warmup vault
FX SIMS HAS WITHDRAWN FROM FX FINAL

FX Brennan new routine. "tour jete half, full in (chest low), nice dbl tuck - stag jump, nice leaps, front layout - front full (step to side), nice dbl pike small hop fwd on landing." 5.3/13.050

VT Lee is injured on second vault. Limps off mat. 13.100

FX Greeley "Remember the Name". OOB double arabian and on second pass. 5.0/11.625

Brown seen icing ankles on the sidelines. Has withdrawn from FX final. Hang in there, Georgia!

FX Monckton "Triple twist (slightly short), 2.5 twist - front sault - stag, effortless dbl tuck (step back), dbl pivot leg up - full pivot, low chest on dbl pike dismount" "Great routine!" 5.3/13.35

VT Eade "Dynamic yurchenko half twist, step fwd on landing. 2nd VT - full twisting yurchenko, good landing." 13.725

FX Mitchell "Dbl arabian steps back but good fight to stay on feet, nice piked full in - split jump, switch half, 2.5 twist - punch front, gorgeous switch ring - tour jete, dbl pike dismount knees buckled but hopped fwd and stayed on feet." 5.8/14.000

FX Budack "high dbl tuck, clean dbl twist with small hop back, nice front layout - front full - stag, tour jete, good dbl pike dismount." 4.9/12.750 Brindabella was a big fan of this one and was surprised at this score.

VT Cassis "Jazminne Casis - dynamic full twisting yurchenko with leg form errors. 2nd VT nice layout yurchenko step back on landing."

VT Nedov "1st and 2nd vaults layout yurchenko slight pike in hips, good landings."
Spotted in the stands: Georgia Simpson on crutches.

VT Georgia Godwin - another pocket rocket in our midst? "Attempted dbl twisting yurchenko landing very short on side. Dynamic handspring front pike half 2nd VT. Small hop on landing."

And that's our show, folks! Results are in......

Junior VT: Lee 3, Cassis 2, Eade 1
Junior UB: Boyd 3, Savvidou 2, Nedov 1
Junior BB: Cassis 3, Godwin 2, Nedov 1
Junior FX: Nedov 3, Savvidou 2, Godwin 1

Senior VT: Greeley 3, Budack 2, Mitchell 1
Senior UB: Miller 3, Monckton 2, Sims 1
Senior BB: Monckton 3, Brennan 2, Mitchell 1
Senior FX: Monckton and Brennan (tie) 2, Mitchell 1

Apparently after medals were given out, they played Happy Birthday for Britt Greeley and Peggy handed her some flowers. Teehee. Happy Birthday, Britt!

So that's the WAGs done and dusted, folks. Thanks to all who shared quick-hits and media from the event. You MADE this event, you guys! You rock.