Delhi 2010: Day 2 Wrap-Up

Wow, it's super late.

Congrats to our gymnasts who at these Games have marked the first time that our men and women have taken out the team titles. Australia is so proud!





Read the news as it broke here and here.

"It was a little bit of a shaky start on the beam but we're using this as our preparation for world championships so I'm glad they made their mistakes here," Liddick said.

"It just shows we're still strong enough to give away five points and still come out on top."

Again, late. (collapses)

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Lots of news coverage today. Hope some of you caught Good Morning Delhi earlier today, Georgia B's mum appeared (I missed it)!


Where to start?

Maybe here.

Or here.

Perhaps here.

AA final: Lauren, Georgia B, Emily
Bars: Georgia B, Lauren
Beam: Lauren (Emily first reserve)
Floor: Lauren




Keep your eyes on Ten News, I expect some 'behind the scenes' action.

Just saw an awesome, rock-and-roll preview for the men's AA on Ten, woohoo! Nice to see it get some cool publicity.

Delhi 2010: Day 2 LIVE!

See you 'round the 10pm mark!

Delhi Gold just teased us with footage of the girls from camp, looking fantastic. And I just got word that Peggy and the girls are heading into warm-up now!


If they're feeling nervous, they can take heart from these sweet musings, care of last night's men's event star, Josh Jefferis:

"It makes it no less special to do it in front of a near empty stadium. We knew our family and friends would be watching and we would take them in our hearts with us.

"A few years ago at the world championships in Melbourne I tried to use the crowd but it didn't work. It distracted me. It made me more nervous. I learnt from that experience and now try to concentrate on what I am doing.

"They now say it is okay to have butterflies so long as they are flying in formation.''

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Foxtel does a pre-event profile and interview with Lauren Mitchell! We get a glimpse of the girls in camp, and some PacRim highlights. They do a super-awkward shout-out to absentee Maryanne Monckton.

We're minutes away now!

March-in. Australia looks focussed!

Team leotard: Looks pretty much like Lauren's 2009 Worlds one, though the gold swirl on the front appears a little different. Emily will be first up on beam.

BB Little: wobble on front tuck. Falls on cossack turn! Front aerial, BHS LOSO. Switch wolf jump, switch split, back tuck. Change leg side leap. Stuck double back tuck dismount. 12.300

Apparently Ash had two falls? Scored 10.5? And Georgia B had a fall too for 11.950

BB Mitchell: OH NO! Falls on the flip-flip-layout sequence. Split jump, wolf jump. Cossack turn, just gets it around. Switch split half, back tuck. Front aerial, switch split, slight pause, front tuck. Switch ring, tiny wobble. Looks nervous! BHS, flip, double pike (low chest) 13.750

Come on, Aussies! Get back in the game!

FX Bonora: Rocking a bun! High double tuck, steps back. Niiiiiice double twist! Switch split. Triple turn. 1.5 through to full twist (stuck). Leap combination (sorry, missed it). Big pause before great double pike, almost almost almost stepped out! Peggy pleased. 13.200

*CHANNEL TEN'S COVERAGE HAS COMMENCED*

FX Brennan: Stuck full in! Double tuck, hops backwards. Unsteady full pirouette with leg up. Switch ring, switch split half. Split jump half. Punch front lay, front full to stag jump. Split jump full. Double pike nearly stuck, fantastic! 13.500

FX Mitchell: Big close-up on her face, serious focus! Beeeautiful arabian double to stag jump (must be the best she's EVER done it!) Piked full in, slight hop but stays in. Cossack turn a bit wobbly. Front 2.5 to front layout, skids a little. High double pike with a hop but great job! 14.25, top score so far!

Standings afer 2 rotations:
1. Australia 78.950
2. Canada 78.400
3. England 76.800

VT Mitchell fantastic DTY with a slight hop. She looked SO fierce as she prepared to head down the runway! 14.700

VT Little a "ditto" vault - great form, clean landing with a small hop. So much power! 14.550

VT Brennan: Tsuk full 13.300

Aaaaaaaand my tape just ran out. Bugger.

UB Wheeler: Nice Shap. Great tkatchev. Swings well. Stalder on HB. A few form breaks. Straddle up to high (struggles slightly) Goes with double pike dismount (rather than arabian piked), Big hug from Ash. 13.600

UB Bonora 14.450

UB Little: 13.700

UB Mitchell: Stalder, catches Jaeger a little messily. toe on giant full, shoot to low, straddle up to high, toe on, toe half, double front, big step forward but still good. 14.250

It's all done and dusted now, we have to see how England fare on vault to know our fate!

(Liz has just said Lauren's beam routine, despite the fall, still qualifies her to the beam final... in first place thus far!)

England have put up nice Yurchenko fulls so far, they may not be able to catch us!

Aussies on the sideline, giving a big wave... Peggy gets a happy snap...

Results are in...

and...

...by the skin of their teeth...

AUSTRALIA HAS DONE IT! 163.700!

FOUR CONSECUTIVE WOMEN'S TEAM GOLD MEDALS AT
COMONWEALTH GAMES!!!!

YOU BEAUTY!!!

Mitchell and Little sit in 1-2, Bonora 5th in all around standings!

Interview on Foxtel - Ash is poised and articulate. They acknowledge the beam mistakes, but are pleased at the way they pulled together. They're grateful for Peggy's support. Lauren says it's exciting to replicate the men's results; the girls were in training when the MAG results came through but were thrilled to hear the news. Georgia B says it feels "amazing to get the gold in the end." How are they going to celebrate? "We'll probably go to bed early!"


Those of you with complaints about Ten/One's coverage, please please PLEASE make your voices heard and put it in writing a) to the network b) to a publication. I understand it must have been frustrating.


Medal ceremony - the girls are having a ball up on the podium (Ash giving pointers, perhaps?) England are huggy which is nice to see. Apparently Becky Wing has contracted Delhi belly, oh dear! I was really looking forward to seeing her compete. Aussies do a big wave then handshakes down the line. England gracious in defeat. All girls singing along to the anthem (although Gee-Dubya looks a little nervous and self-conscious!). I'm not saying that disparagingly, I'm painting a picture for those who can't see it. Big grin on Ash (and are those tears in the eyes too?). Happy snaps all round, they are soaking up the moment.

Delhi 2010: Day 2

Can Australia go two-for-two tonight, and see the women win just like the men? Will a fourth consecutive women's team gold elude them? Or prove an easy victory?


I gots me some tingles!


PREPARE: Read this article. Alternatively, read this just-released update from Peggy Liddick!

"All brand new Gymnova equipment, very nice, no complaints from the girls at all. Light session in AM, then good session in the evening. "

You can check out the event start list here.

EXPLORE: Pre and post-event updates and media at the Herald Sun site, The Age site or official Delhi2010 site.


WATCH: Live on Foxtel's Delhi Gold from 9:55 AEDST this evening with Liz Chetkovich and Garry Wilkinson commentating. You can also watch a delayed broadcast around 10:00pm on Channel Ten, overseen by Stephanie Moorhouse and Dan Ryan. Last night, Ten broadcast the last two rotations simultaneously with Foxtel from 11:00...

Australia is in subdivision 2 and starts on beam.


NOTE: I have been given a heads-up that Channel Ten will indeed be picking up the tail-end of the competition after swimming at around 11pm. Also, their cameras are spending some time at one team member's house to film family reactions to the competition, so keep your eyes peeled tonight and tomorrow morning during Good Morning Delhi!

It'll pay to watch Channel Ten's evening news on Wednesday, as tonight's edition featured some behind-the-scenes footage of the Aussie men (including a pre-march-out physio work and team huddle; a short soundbite from Tom's wife; Prashanth putting his medal around his mum's neck and Luke crowing "That's what I'm talkin' about!" into the camera)


DISCUSS: Right here, with me, live, at your AGB. Alternatively, follow (my occasional) livetweets at twitter.com/ozgymblog.

Delhi 2010: Day 1 Wrap-Up

What can we say?


Maybe I should leave it to the team's 'old boy', Josh Jefferis -

"We’re absolutely ecstatic, Melbourne in ‘06 we knew we had the potential to win that one and it was very disappointing and we wanted it so bad here now," he said.

"Now we’ve rewritten history, we’re the first Australian men’s team to win gold and it’s an amazing feeling to do it with such a great group of guys as well."

Or maybe National Champ Sam Offord?

"It was an amazing team effort... We have had a blast, and winning this gold was brilliant."

Read the fantastic news as it broke here.

Leave a comment here.

See pictures here.

Read and hear post-competition thoughts here, as well as here.

Read the news as it broke in England here.

Read scores, qualification ranks and more quotes here.

Stuff you might have missed at the end - Josh got a huge hug from Prashanth as he left the podium after rings. The boys got in a huddle and did an "Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi". As the final results came in, the boys posed for photos off to the side of the podium (see first photo above). They waved their sign-holder chaperone girls over to get in the shot too! Sam waved at the camera and rattled off a quick list of "thank yous".


The boys were interviewed on Channel Ten's "Good Morning Delhi" earlier this morning (medals and scarves on, very chuffed), it was followed up by an interview with Phil Rizzo who watched the competition in front of Ten's cameras. He certainly didn't indicate he'd be stepping away from the sport just yet.


Top 10 All-Around qualifiers:

1. Joshua Jefferis (AUS) 85.350
2. Reiss Beckford (ENG) 84.550
3. Luke Folwell (ENG) 84.350
4. Samuel Offord (AUS) 84.300


5. Max Whitlock (ENG) 84.300
6. Thomas Pichler (AUS) 82.500
7. Tariq Dowers (CAN) 81.750
8. Ashish Kumar (IND) 81.550
9. Patrick Peng (NZL) 81.000
10. Misha Koudinov (NZL) 80.550


Aussie men have qualified for all 6 apparatus finals!

* Tom and Luke 1-2 though to floor final.
* Prashanth through to pommel final (scraped 4th place, phew!)
* Prashanth and Sam 1-2 through to rings final
* Tom through to the vault final
* Josh and Prashanth to p-bars final
* Luke through to the high bar final in first place, Sam in 4th.

Delhi 2010: Day 1 LIVE!

Hooray, it's finally here! How's about that opening ceremony, eh? EH!?!? *furious elbowing*


Tonight sees the start of the artistic gymnastics competition. Our men are chasing a maiden team gold. Insert "Date with Delhi Destiny" headline here.


PREPARE: Read this article and then read it again somewhere different.


EXPLORE: Pre and post-event updates and media at the Herald Sun site, The Age site or official Delhi2010 site.


WATCH: Watch live on Foxtel's Delhi Gold from 6:55 this evening with Liz Chetkovich commentating, and my guess is you can watch highlights around a similar time (or later) on network 10, overseen by Stephanie Moorhouse and Dan Ryan from OneHD. Steph appeared on 10 this morning, previewing the gymnastics competition.

Australia is in the second subdivision (Delhi Gold channel start time: 9:55pm), starting on vault.


DISCUSS: Right here, with me, live, at your AGB. Alternatively, follow (my occasional) livetweets at twitter.com/ozgymblog.


I have bumcushions and popcorn at the ready. Now, who ordered a choc top?

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(Edit 8:30pm AEDST Channel Ten just cut to Dan Ryan and Steph Moorhouse for pre-event thoughts. All prayers to the heavens are with Team Oz tonight, everybody's gunning for them to get their maiden gold medal tonight! Steph looks great in the headphones, knows all the facts, rattles off tricky names like a total pro but... needs to slow it down! I can't tell whether or not she was merely getting the wind-up while talking, or that's how she does it normally, but she sped up to a mile a minute and it was quite off-putting. Hope the competition proper lets her pace herself a bit!)

On a hilarious note, while you're waiting... read about who paid the women's team a visit during podium training!

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9:56pm Here we go!

Aussie boys in grey outfits trimmed with green and gold. Looking fierce as they head to vault.

VT Pichler - lovely Yurchenko 2/1 with a hop backwards. 15.500, great start!

VT Jefferis - fantastic effort! Front handspring, layout front 1.5 according to Liz. Shuffle backwards, one leg out of the lines. 15.400, teammates happy.

VT Offord - 15.500

PB Jefferis - (Prashanth helped him chalk up, coach practically hurled the beatboard away!) Felga to HS, Felga half, double back tuck, coupla of other things I don't know the name of, great HS positions, one step back on double pike dismount. 14.650

PB Offord - 13.750


HB Offord - Yamawaki, stoop, elgrip giants, full twisting double layout with one step forward, chest low. 13.950

HB Pichler - 13.600

HB Wiwatowski - Pressure here, he was called up to the team in HB specialist Rizzo's absence. Great one-arm full giant. Catches Kovacs, great. Stoop. STUCK DOUBLE LAYOUT DOUBLE TWIST!!!! Stellar! Scores 14.750, highest HB score thus far in the competition!

HB Jefferis - 13.850

FX Jefferis - completely OOB on first combination pass. Double layout with slight leg separation second pass, small hop. Arabian 1 3/4 a bit heavy. Front double twist, small shuffle. 13.800

*******TEN'S COVERAGE HAS JUST STARTED*******

Aussies just in front with 2 rotations to go. 175.500! Come on, boys!

PH Offord - 12.200, apparently? With a 3.7 D-score? Liz is quite confused.

PH Sellathurai - Looking focussed, going through the motions off to the side. Gives the pommel an evil eye! OH NO! Completely mucks up the dismount, ends up resting on it for a few seconds after flubbing the press to handstand, getting completely caught up and having to try again. 13.950

PH Pichler - two falls.

England starts off their pommel rotation with 2 big mistakes from Folwell... could Australia claw their lead back!?!?


SR Jefferis - Horizontal planche. Cross. Front pike, front tuck up to handstand, double layout full twist quite piked, small hop. He made it through, thank goodness! Big hug from Sellathurai. 14.600

SR Offord - 14.850

SR Sellathurai - Cross. Front double pike. Horizontal planche. Pike hold. Double layout with one hop, does that clinch it for Australia????

14.900 YES IT DOES

*CONGRATULATIONS AUSTRALIA!*

FIRST EVER TEAM GOLD FOR THE MEN IN ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS!

The boys get in a huddle and do an "Oi Oi Oi" before hastily posing for photos with their coaches. Very very happy campers! We are so proud of you!

259.050 and Josh Jefferis leads the individual all-around standings! Woooohoooo!

Delhi 2010: It's On Like Donkey Kong!

Tonight, midnight (AEDST) marks the opening ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Yesterday was men's and women's podium training.

A brief report on the men's session is here.

"We had two falls on each of the (pommel and p-bars) apparatuses, which usually does not happen," head coach Vladimir Vatkin told AAP.

"It was because we had a lot of nerves."

I'd like to give a big thanks to Ozgymnast on the scene, who has given us the following tidbits from the women's session...

The first subdivision had a really low standard, with all the individuals competing. Jennifer Khwela was the standout, and her floor looks good. The other South African also had a great routine on floor - very nice dance.

Subdivision 2 (most of my information is about Australia, I'm sorry, as they are the ones who I watched most).

The Aussie girls looked great. Very confident and well prepared. It looks like Lauren Mitchell, Georgia Bonora and Emily Little will do AA; Ashleigh Brennan BB & FX and Georgia Wheeler UB. I couldn't tell who was doing V between Ash and Georgia W, but I'm thinking Ash? Ash did a Tsuk full (I think) and Georgia did a handspring pike front. Of course, this line up could definitely change, but it is the order that the team seemed to be preparing for.

Lauren looked great, and is definitely the best AA'er in the field. She had a couple of minor things on bars, but nothing too concerning. Beam and floor look excellent for her, and her Baitova is improved. Emily was very steady, and I think she has a new floor (although I can't really remember what her music was at Pac Rim). Georgia B also solid, and Georgia W did a couple of great bar routines, and also seemed like a new floor routine. Ash was really nice on beam and floor.

Based on training, the team comp is definitely between Australia and England. Australia looked stronger today, as England had a few problems/falls. But they have potential, so who knows... It looks like Becky Wing is only doing bars, and there are a couple of new faces on the team. Jocelyn Hunt looked pretty good (nice floor), and Laura Edwards' bars has real potential, but she had a few problems today. Imogen is looking strong on vault.

I didn't see too much of Canada, as they were on at the same time as Australia. They had a few falls and poor form at times, but I will look forward to hopefully seeing more of them during the competition.

Injuries... Emma White from Scotland and Olivia Curran from Isle of Man are out with knee injuries, and a Malaysian girl hurt her elbow on a fall from bars right at the end of training. The poor thing looked to be in quite a lot of pain.

India was also in the last subdivision, and have definitely improved since the last Commonwealth Games. Their bars still doesn't look great, but it seems that they work with the bars a bit wider now!!

Leotard report. England had the nicest IMO, with a white leo with sparkly red design on the front. Australia had a variation on the usual green with white shoulders and gold/navy swirl. Canada had a sleeveless black leotard with some red and gold (I think?) design. Singapore had a really nice light blue sleeveless number, with white sparkles.

Hope it's a good competition, but overall, the standard wasn't great.

And here are some marvellous pics from the lovely lady!

Delhi 2010: 1 Day to Go!

It's podium training day, hooray!

All I have heard thus far from a source inside the arena is that, for the last 3 rotations observed, the boys looked good.

If you're not too distracted by today's football goings-on, take some time to get yourself into a Delhi state of mind by looking back at some of our past Commonwealth Games performances of note.


Hollie Dykes, 2006 - Hollie announces herself on the world stage with a beautiful beam performance in the team final that helped Australia to a third consecutive women's team gold medal. She also placed second with an equally steady performance in the beam final.



Rebecca Stoyel, 1994 - Lovely, floaty uneven bars routine that scored her the all-around silver.




Damian Istria, 2006 - snatches the high bar gold in Phil Rizzo's absence. Memorable primarily for his jubilant reaction to a hit routine!




Kasumi Takahashi, 1994 - One of her stellar performances that saw her become the most decorated athlete of the Games (and Aussie CWG history)



One of my favourite moments ever - Zeena McLaughlin's floor seals a maiden team gold for Austalia at the 1998 Games.

Delhi 2010: 2 Days To Go!

Thanks to ChaChaKid for pointing out this cute Foxtel promotion featuring Lauren Mitchell.




If you haven't already, you can become a fan of Lauren at Facebook. 885 fans and counting!

Seen something Commonwealth Gamesy on the box, on the web or in print? Drop me a line at ozgymblog@gmail.com and I will be sure to credit you with your news nugget.

Check out the latest edition of The Couch Gymnast Magazine (see blog link at right) for features on Angela Donald and Georgia Bonora, plus a gymnastics quiz partially devised by yours truly!


Happy First of October, and Happy Birthday to Aussie team member Prashanth Sellathurai!