Rio 2016 MAG & WAG All-Around Results

MAG Full Results 
1) Kohei Uchimura 92.365
2) Oleg Verniaiev 92.266
3) Max Whitlock 90.641

I finally have time to quickly blog about this. I think I used all my excitement and energy on tumblr.

The MAG AA was exciting! I did saw it live. I had so many emotions. There were points where I gave up and accepted that there would be a new champion. But then when it came to highbar I knew Kohei was able to do it. He is world champion on highbar. He really performed enough for the win. When he perfectly stuck his dbl dbl dismount I knew it was his gold medal. He did all that he could and he really brought it at the last minute. He was not gonna lose his AA streak. Kohei is AMAZING! Winning 8 major consecutive AA titles in a row! In an interview he said this Olympic games will be his last time competing AA. I am going to miss seeing him compete AA but I am still excited to see him compete as a specialist. He is really motivated for Tokyo 2020. Kohei is a hero to many and he is my hero too.

His rivals Oleg Verniaiev and Max Whitlock definitely put pressure on Kohei. Oleg was also amazing. At times I started to accept that he would of won but it was not meant to be. His highbar has always been a weak event for him. He has a huge fan following and for the next quad he can be as dominant as Kohei has been. It'll be exciting to see if he can.



WAG Full Results 
1) Simone Biles 62.198
2) Aly Raisman 60.098
3) Aliya Mustafina 58.665

On the women's side I was only able to watch the first two rotations. I later watched the last two rotations on replay. It was no surprise that Simone Biles won gold. She was amazing. I kept saying ooh and wow when she kept sticking her floor passes. She is an amazing gymnast. She completely dominated the 2016 quad. And she can very much as well do it in the next new up coming quad. This girl is on fire! When I saw Aly and Simone get emotional after their floor routines I started to get emotional too. Usually I am not an American fan but I am slowly becoming one. They both did the best yesterday night. I am happy for them. And then there is Aliya Mustafina. Her strong bar routine and strong competitive mentality helped her to secure the 3rd place. I am happy she can win AA 3rd again at Olympics. Still rooting for a gold medal on bars for her.

   

Aly Raisman 2015 USA National FX Day 1

The main talk about this routine is the split 1/2 after the double pike. It's not well executed and I don't think she even hits 180. Or what kind of leap was that?

One thing I like to note about the code is that this corner rule is kind of a disaster. Basically you get gymnasts just dancing in the corner and nowhere else. Aly basically dances only in the corners. And those additional dance jumps after leaps are one of the most annoying things about floor routines today.

Either than that Aly is very good on floor. I Like how she does DLO as middle pass :).

  

Aly Raisman FX Jesolo 2015

The floor Olympic champion is back. If she gets everything credit her D-score is 6.4. I still dislike some of her style but her difficulty is exciting. I like how she replaced her 3/1 twists for DLO.

Edit: boo, the video has been deleted.

 (photo edit source: giveuslifeagain)

2013 Floor Connection Updates

I haven't seen any new newsletter on the official FIG website but Gymnastics Canada has new updates on their website. I'm not sure why FIG is not updating 2013 newsletter to their websites but argh.

There are many new updates that you'll find useful. I'm going to touch on the floor connections. 

There will no longer be any "D(salto) + A (Dance)" connection value but it will have to be a dance element that is rated "B" or higher. Salto's that are rated "E" or higher connected with "A" dance elements are still eligible for 0.1 connection value.

D (salto) + A (dance) 0.1CV NOW: D(salto) + B(dance) = 0.1CV & E(salto) + A(dance) = 0.1CV

So no more of this allowed:

WHEEEEEEEEE Bye Bye

  (Source: hus-bands) 

But this is allowed:

WHEEEEEEEE!!!!

(Source: Starkofwinterfell)

Part 4: Favourite Things From This Quad

Alright this is the final part. I won't do much explaining tonight. I might have missed some of my favourite moments. There were so many great gymnastics this quad. If you guys have any favourites please comment. Here are some honourable mentions:

Kohei Uchimura 2011 WC FX EF. Also for being the king of the quad. Four time AA gold medalists in a row! Now that's history for gymnastics.

Chen Yibing 2011 WC SR EF

I'm starting To Like The Leap/Jump Out of Tumbles

Yup I said it, I'm starting to like the leaps/Jump out of tumbles. At first I wasn't used to leaps out of backwards tumbles but I have gotten used to it. At first I hated them with a passion but it does make gymnastics more exciting. I like how explosive some of the leaps are. I like getting caught off guard then BAM a nice huge leap or Jump. But of course it must be well performed and not look dodgy.

(Source: hus-bands)

(Source: monigymnastics)

(Source: starkofwinterfell)

2013-2016 WAG Provisional CoP

EDIT: This post is out of date now. A new revised code has been made. My new analysis can be read here: 2013 - 2016 WAG CoP Analysis

The 2013-2016 WAG & MAG CoP has been accepted. I haven't seen the men's code yet but the women's code can be found here, WAG CoP. Even though the CoP has been approved by FIG I think there will be some changes from the provisional one. There is probably another different provisional CoP that all gym fans cannot view. I'm looking forward to the new finalized CoP.

I'm just going to share what I found interesting about the new rules. Most of these stuff are already known so I'm probably going to bore some of you.

Vault: 

This is new, (DVT1 + DVT2)/2 + 10.00 - (VT1 ex deductions + VT2 ex deductions) =Final score. This would mean that Maroney's '12 VT EF would have not medalled in London. EDIT: Maroney would still have medaled.

Many difficult vaults have been downgraded. The Amanar to 6.3, Cheng to 6.4, Rudi to 6.2. The Mustafina (which is actually not named after her but easier to say because it's quicker than saying, round off, 1/2 on, stretched 1/1 twist), this vault could technically also be called the Pavlova etc. Mustafina was not the first gymnast to perform that vault. Anyway, it is downgraded to 6.0.

Uneven Bars: 

There will no longer be any E+E turns for 0.2CV, the Chinese loves to do these connections. The Chinese will find other creative ways to work the code though. The new code will favour release skills + release skills. They are making it harder for gymnasts to rake in the high d-scores. Oh and there is no longer a close bar element with non flight requirement.

Balance Beam: 

Not much has changed. There are new mixed connections. (D) Acro + (A) dance e.g Front Aerial + Split jump = 0.1CV. D+D mixed is rewarded for two tenths, e.g Onodi + Sheep Jump = 0.2CV.

Floor Exercise:

IMO floor has the most interesting changes. There is now an "H" value for a skill being worth eight tenths. The double double tuck is an "H" skill. There is also 0.3CV. For example a C + E (Double salto) indirect will give a gymnast 0.3CV e.g Raisman's 3/2 twists indirect to double arabian. A 3/2 indirect to triple twists will remain 0.2 CV. The code didn't really specify but I'm also pretty sure Ponor's whip + whip indirect Tsuk would be 0.3. Afanasyeva's whip + whip indirect 3/1 twists will remain 0.2CV.

Missing a FWD/SWD & BWD requirement is now 0.3 deduction and not 0.5 anymore. One lunge is accepted but more than one is a 0.1 deduction.  

There is mixed C/D(Salto) + B(dance). This might look even worst than the leap out of tumbles. I just started to warm up to the leaps/jumps out of tumbles because it can be pretty when done well. I just wished that ugly leaps/jumps would be deducted severely or not credited. The C/D + B could be disastrous. Could you imagine double tuck + sheep jump, lol. Or front full twist + full cat leap?

There are also turn connections now. I can envision a lot of ugly turn connections being performed, ugh. The formula are D+B (with step allowed) and B+B. There can be potential for some pretty turns but they will have to be performed nicely. Example double L-turn +  full attitude spin. A cool spin I'll like someone to try is Memmel + illusion turn, something similar to this:

(Source: dance-moms.tumblr)

Risky but beautiful. It''ll be interesting to see how the new floor connections will look like. Who will be the first to try the spin combos and who will do the mix combo? Lauren Mitchell? She wasn't the first to work the leaps out of passes but she was the first to popularize it in the '09-'12 code. Many people actually felt that she should have won 2009 Worlds FX.

There will be 0.1 & 0.3 for lack of creative choreography. "Creative choreography, originality of elements and movements means that exercise has been constructed and is performed using new ideas, forms, interpretations and originality, thereby avoiding copying and monotony."  I really like this about the code. Now hopefully they will apply the deductions. Ksenia Afanasyeva has some very original choreo. How long till everyone starts to copy her and the Russians. Russians are notoriously known for the talk to the hand poses. I see Ponor channeling the hand pose, I wonder who inspired her? How long till we see other gymnasts start to do leg choreography? To be fair to Ponor, I see Maria Paseka channeling Ponor's famous 2004 choreo CLICK HERE

(Source: starkofwinterfell.tumblr)

(Source: liukin.tumblr)

(Source: starkofwinterfell.tumblr)

 

________________________________________________

Hopefully we'll see some interesting and innovated things from this new CoP. Let the new trends begin.

Afanasyeva's '12 Olympic Floor Final Routine

Not a bad routine except for the out of bounds. In fact on the BBC slow motion feed she didn't even go out of bounds on the double layout. The BBC commentators even noted that she might have not been out of bounds on the double layout, she got deducted for it though. Regardless, it was not a medal worthy performance with the 1/1 twist being completely out of bounds. In a recent interview about her gymnastic future career she stated that if everyone went perfect in the Olympic floor finals she could have only place as high as second place. This clearly means that she thinks no one could of touched Raisman if Raisman went perfect. It's going to be hard for a lot of gymnasts to beat Raisman in the new quad. Raisman will benefit a lot from the new floor rules.

Gymnastics Olympic Event Finals Day 3

I'm really excited about this finals. The gentlemen will compete on parallel bars and high bar. The ladies will be on beam and floor exercise. The event finals will begin live at 9:00 AM EDT. Good luck to all the ladies and gentlemen. Start list: CLICK HERE  

The competition will start in about 6min I'm watching it live here: BBC

EDIT 1:

FULL RESULTS
1) Feng Zhe (CHN) Very high difficulty 7.0. Good clean stuff.
2) Marcel Nguyen (GER) Good difficulty 6.8 and difficult Tsuk dismount.
3) Hamilton Sabot (FRA) Good 6.7 difficulty and very clean routine.

EDIT 2: FULL RESULTS

This was a weird competition. Too many mistakes. Thank you China for being awesome. Afanasyeva showed GOOD SPORTS-MANSHIP. Ponor wining third is a travesty. I was rooting for Raisman to take 3rd. What a shame! Ponor was too wobbly and had many many execution faults. This will be one of the most controversial event finals. Congrats to the daredevil Deng Linlin, you rock. I thought Sui should have won but hey China 1-2, cheer up Sui.

1) Deng Linlin (CHN)
2) Sui Lu (CHN)
3) Catalina Ponor (ROM)
3) Aly Raisman (USA)

Edit 3: Raisman in 3rd Catalina in 4th. WTF this final was crazy. What is wrong with the judges! Get it right the first time!

EDIT 4: Oh god Sui Lu is such a DIVA!

EDIT 5: What an AMAZING high bar final! One of the best in history. Zonderland finally gets a well deserved gold medal. Hambuechen really stepped it up I'm happy for his silver. Zou in 3rd.

1) Epke Zonderland 2) Fabian Hambuechen 3) Zou Kai FINAL RESULTS

EDIT 6:

1)ALY RAISMAN. She is so powerful and such a phenomenal tumbler. Powerful gymnastics is just as beautiful as artistic and elegant gymnastics. Raisman may not be elegant but her attitude and determination is beautiful. She is a class act. She has such a difficult routine it's crazy. She finally gets a well deserved GOLD! It's really easy to like Raisman as a person. She seems like such a nice girl. Congratulation Aly Raisman :)

2) Ponor did a wonderful job. She had two stuck landing on DLO and dbl Pike. She really fought out there for a medal. I may not like her routine but she deserved this silver. She's freaking 24! Cool.

3) ALIYA MUSTAFINA! I somehow knew she could do it. She is a born champion. She just knows how to compete. I'm happy she got this. We at least got to see grace and elegance on medal. Mustafina is boss and I'm looking forward to seeing more of her in the next quad.

6) Afanasyeva. Once a headcase, always a headcase. I knew it was coming. She majorly went out of bounds on her third pass. She stuck her triple full from connections though :D. It wasn't meant to be Afan. She's still a wonderful gymnast.

8) Izbasa - I was rooting for her to take gold if Afan couldn't do it. She failed on her last pass. Everything else was going good though. It was really unexpected. Hey she has a vault gold LOL and she still has her 2008 floor gold.

FULL RESULTS

SO PREDICTABLE, THE USA TEAM

I just got back home from the amazing Canada Day fireworks and was able to watch the last few minutes of the USA trials. The team was predictable; Wieber, Douglas, Raisman, Maroney & Ross. Congratulations to all the girls.

Full results: click here

Thoughts on 2012 USA Nationals

Results: CLICK HERE 

USA is looking very EXCELLENT. At this point that Olympic team gold medal is theirs. As much as I like artistry, which the USA lacks in, they have strong and powerful gymnastics. Strong and powerful gymnastics can be just as beautiful as elegance and grace. I am still a fan of Russia but Russia really needs to bring it in London. Oh and the Romanians will not back down. I think USA and Romania has the most mentally stable team and will be the most competitive/aggressive team in London. Russia better be prepared because those two teams will eat them alive if they show any signs of weaknesses.

Of course I do like to criticize though. USA was pretty weak on beam and the scores were a teeny generous on all apparatuses in my opinion. But of course, it was a domestic meet so the scores will be a bit overscored.

Nastia Liukin: Did not have the best showing yet she still made it to trials. I don't see her making the Olympic team. I feel Bross is actually in a better position of making the team before Liukin. Yes, Bross before Liukin.

McKayla Maroney: Apparently she had an concussion from wiping out of her triple full? She will be at trials. I hope she is OK. I need to see her win VT gold in London.

Jordyn Wieber: Blah, I don't really find her interesting. She is a very good gymnast but she doesn't have something that I like, I'm honestly not sure what it is, meh. I would honestly be ok if she won AA gold in London though. My real beef with her is her beam. Her front handspring has no real flight connection into her standing 1/1. Take it out.

Gabby Douglas: She is one of my favourite American gymnast and her bars is one of my favourites this quad. As much as I want Tweddle to win UB gold in London I'm starting to favour Gabby and Mustafina to take the title. USA NEEDS HER BARS. Gabby is inconsistent on beam though and always messes up her layout step out on beam.

Kyla Ross: Hmm, I still like her for bars and beam. She finally got a mini fluff from NBC, lol. I think she will make the team. I'm so happy she does a safe, clean, beautiful DTY. IMO she doesn't need the Amanar to make the team. She scored 15.250 for a DTY on day 2.

Aly Raisman: She is CONSISTENT. Her Amanar is still scary and her bars are still atrocious but she's going to make the team. She really can't do anything about her artistry on BB & FX but that's USA for ya. I can't believe I'm saying this but it's because I'm being objective, if Raisman hits her FX routine and all her other competitors crumbles I would be satisfy with a gold for her on floor. But of course it's iffy to predict the future and I hope she doesn't win FX EF. I'm not sure what's going on with her 3/1 full but she's not getting it fully around and she's not even doing it from connection. Most gymnasts these days are doing their 3/1 full from connections.

Thoughts on U.S. Classic Gymnastics

Results: CLICK HERE

So many gymnastics stuff to blog about today. I just finished watching U.S Classics online. I'm going to admit I don't know much about classics but it has something to do with qualifying to USA National's. This meet was particularly exciting because Nastia Liukin is back and I also got to see how the Americans are doing. This meet was not so bad considering most of the gymnasts were not peaking and were not giving it 100%. This meet was't suppose to be full of spectacular gymnastics. I think the Americans are being a bit cautious and will take the next meets more serious and will make it more competitive. I still think the Americans are strong as a team and will peak well for the Olympics. The only concern I have about the Americans is ARTISTRY. I know it gets boring talking about their artistry but they really lack it. Their main contenders are the ones who really lacks artistry or are mediocre. The ones that might not make the team are the most artistic.

Nastia Liukin- Considering she hasn't been in the gym for awhile and to comeback and do an ok routine is pretty cool. I thought her score was a bit high though. Her leaps were not pretty and they were wonky. I harshly criticized the Russians on beam and so I will not spare Liukin's beam, she did not deserve 14.9. She really needs to stop dipping her butt down so low, it's not elegant. I do respect Liukin for keeping it real though. When Borden interviewed her she honestly said she would be upset if she didn't make the Olympic team.

Jordyn Wieber- She only did bars and beam. Bars was a bit rough for her. Beam was much better and she was solid. She needs to work on her artistry.

Kyla Ross- She didn't do anything spectacular but she is still a strong contender. Her Amanar is scary though. She has been going out of bounds a lot in recent competitions with her Amanar. She scored very good on bars 15.45. I still like this gymnast but she needs to spend more time at the ballet barre.

Gabrielle Douglas- She was really impressive on bars. USA needs her bars. On beam she was wobbly but if she can hit her routine she can be wonderful. Her FX was ok and she can at least get her 3/1 full around. She really needs to ditch her FX music asap.
McKayla Maroney- She did the Amanar and the Mustafina. She is the best female gymnast in the world on vault. I really hope USA figures out a way to have her on their team.

Alexandra Raisman- She was the AA winner. She is so consistent. I think she will make the USA team. She's not the most aesthetically pleasing gymnast in terms of execution but she stays on and in bounds on the apparatuses. She is so sloppy on bars though and it's not even funny. She really needs to work on her artistry on FX and BB. Her 3/1 full on FX was under-rotated.

Rebecca Bross- Is only going to focus on UB & BB for now on. She forfeited training AA. Her beam was wobbly but still ok except for her under-rotated Patterson dismount. She also desperately needs to work on her beam artistry, ugh.

-I was also annoyed that Tim Daggett said Maroney's Amanar was the #1 most AMAZING piece of skill on a apparatus in Tokyo from both the men's and women's side. I think Yang Hak Seon's 3/1 FHS was the most impressive!