Team (B)Ambi Celebrates

GAAAAAH! Blackouts and heatwaves are not helpful for bloggers.


Happy belated 17th birthday to the most adorable and freckly member of the squad, Queensland's Amber Fulljames! I expect big things from her in the new year so I do hope she keeps at it. She showed so much potential in 2008.

The WAGs celebrated at camp, and 'Team (B)ambi' dutifully raises a glass from interstate.

Ironing one's hair: Results may vary.

In sad camp-related news, Tain Molendijk and Jade Martin are reportedly retired.

As far as I can fathom, Olivia Vivian's foot is still injured as she did not compete with the OSU team in their competition against Utah. In the meantime, her most recent diary entry has been posted.

I won't lie. It's hard being so far away from my family. But at the same time, I've gained a new one. I lost one brother, but gained 15 sisters. Not a bad deal on my part, considering my brother was a pain in the you-know-what...

Goin' Down to C-Town.

If GA are to be believed, Canberra (or "Canbags" as I have heard it affectionately named) is where it's at this month. Talk of the AIS gymnastics program shutting down is certainly dispelled in their latest update. For now, at least.

All's well that ends well for AIS alum Hollie Dykes who has taken up a coaching position with the International Development Program. What a pleasant gymnastics world it would be if EVERYONE mastered the immaculate execution inherent in prima ballerina Hollie...




And yes, the Senior WAG team is there too. Including WAIS newbie Kayleigh Cooke from the UK. Fear not, AshleighAfficianados who thought Ms Brennan had up and left the squad altogether - she is, "still on holidays with her parents and assessing her competitive future". So there's still some hope there. Right?

....RIGHT!?!?
*shakes you by the shoulders*


This is the bit where you slap me and say "Get a holda yourself, woman!".
Go on.
I'll wait.

Emily Little was specifically named as one to get a new floor routine, where all of the others will have their choreography worked on (Go Stacey, Go!)

In terms of assignments, there will be no Australian representative at the WOGA Classic or Nadia Comaneci invitational this year. That looks to be about it so far, with another verification camp in April to determine participation (if any) in a May "Pre-Olympic Youth Cup" in Germany. Lauren Mitchell is thus far confirmed to head to Doha.

P-Liddy (we tight, yo) confirms that Nationals this year in July WILL be an international 'friendly' (pleaseChinaorGBpleaseChinaorGBpleaseChinaorGB) and act as a determiner for European events such as the Grand Prix events in France and Germany. Hopefully it won't just be a case of same-old-same-old, sending girls who've been before and whatnot. This is a new year and a chance to capitalise on the Olympic experience of others in the squad.

Apparently there are a few "surprise" skills and upgrades to expect among the group.

I call consistent DTYs from Dennis and Morgan, a full-in final floor pass as well as, at the very least, good foundations for an Amanar from Joura. Oh, and let us not forget that the latter is also slated for a new floor routine.

I've had the traffic counter up on the blog for less than a week, and already you wonderful readers have clocked up over 900(!) visits to this page. If it weren't so socially frowned-upon or lamely overwrought by blazer-clad beardy weirdies in YouTube videoclips for crappy Sydney emo bands... I'd run up and hug you all.

JOINJOINJOINJOINJOINJOINJOIN!!!

It's been a pretty slow news day today (well... it's a pretty slow EVERYTHING day here in Melbourne with the temperature soaring to 41 degrees) but the following piece of information makes me very happy.

The Facebook group "Supporters of Australian Gymnastics" has surpassed 70 members! 70 lovely, smiling, happy and clappy gym fans.

Would you like to be one of them? It's easier than you think.

Those with Facebook accounts can click on the link at the right-hand side of this page or go to the Groups function at Facebook, go to Search and type in "Australian Gymnastics".
Those without Facebook accounts can go to www.facebook.com and join that social networking thing everyone's been talking about, and complete the above step in between bouts of typing out your own personal profile information.


I am yet to find a group that Thorpey has declared more "fully sick".

Happy Spontaneous Patriotism Day

Happy Australia Day to Aussies at home and overseas.

Count Me In

I have now added a counter to the blog.

Please visit and validate me, while at the same time wonder which of those digits you are...

Aussie Gymnasts in the News

More from Olivia Vivian today. I don't know if it will be an ongoing thing, but she's written an Athlete Diary here.

In terms of Australia Day celebrations, The Moreton Bay Regional Council named Beijing MAG representative Sam Simpson as their young sportsperson of the year, and you can see him mentioned here.

West Australian fans in the Esperance area can see Allana Slater at an Australia Day family event at Adventureland.

Vivian on Video

At last!

Videos of Perth's own OSU debutante Olivia Vivian have emerged on YouTube.

See her in her debut performance (where she scored 9.7), at the Cancun Classic, here.

See her in the team's meet against Brigham Young University here.

According to reports, Olivia is currently struggling with a foot injury so participation in upcoming meets is uncertain at the moment.

Playing Catch-Up

Aaaah Melbourne. It's good to be home.

...

...

I mean, AAAAAAAARGH MELBOURNE! 40 DEGREES! WHAT THE TROUSERS!?


Anyway.

So. The Youthlympic Festival. How 'bout it, hey?

Yeah. *cough* How 'bout it.

Stop me if you've heard it all already, but for my own closure and for those not members of forums etc, I'd like to have a run-down.





The Australian WAG team battled injury, with Mary-Anne Monckton and Ashley Cooney out and Zoe Lorenzin in. Emily Little, as I stated, won vault and was the highest-ranked Australian in the all-around, coming 4th. Britt Greeley, second to Emily in the vault final, was next highest in 7th. The Australia 'A' team placed 4th and the Australia 'B' team placed 5th in the teams final. Numerous spectators remarked that this team really didn't live up to expectations and have a lot of work to do before entering the senior ranks. Whether or not they were over-worked or nervous, we won't ever truly know. They did their best under the circumstances but they've certainly got some doubters to disprove.



Our men's team fared slightly better (we don't always get to say that, hey!). Team A placed 3rd and Team B placed 4th in the final. Again, we missed all-around medals with Ben Astley finishing highest in 4th. Thankfully, we snared medals in the floor final (silver and bronze), rings final (silver), vault final (bronze) and high bar final (silver). Onya, boys!

At this point I wish to give epic thanks to Nade, innocent_bystander, Chachakid and Flippin_Crzy at GGMB/WWGym for their great photos and videos and information. You guys really brought me up to speed!

In terms of multimedia (courtesy of the above sources):

Full results can be found here.

Some other photos can be found here. (Scroll down)

Photos by Gymnastics Australia can be found here.

Numerous videos can be found here. Watch Natalia Joura's bars from the team final if you can stomach it. It's a nervous splatfest (and then some).

On top of the rather disappointing results, these insights from attendees made me a little sad -

Saddest moment of the day had to be when Natalia fell on her last pass on floor and hurt her ankle. Her coach was sitting only a few steps away and could clearly see that she was in pain but did nothing to assist her. She limped a little bit then was forced to crawl to him. Whilst sitting next to him he continued to ignore her. This unknown man came up to her with ankle tape and she was given a bag of ice.

ETA: Video of this can be seen here, thanks to ChaChaKid. Quite concerning, I must say. She CRAWLS over to the seats, without assistance.

*****

I heard Peggy say to some unidentified lady afterwards that the elite gyms are either going to have to "get on board or get out". Oh joy- more broken Aussies!

*****

From what I heard from my coach, Peggy was NOT happy at all. To quote his Russian-English "This results, no good. 8 Australians, and no result. Long talks with coaches."


Hm... I can't WAIT to find out how the post-AYOF camp plays out...