Just Because...

An inspirational Gabby Douglas video edit. I hope she makes it to Rio 2016.

The United States of Amanar

: D I have to admit the Americans were amazing at London's team finals! When they came out and nailed all their Amanar vaults I just knew it would be their gold medal. They were aggressive and confident. They rocked it that night.

Part 3: Favourite Things From This Quad

Sui Lu and Ksenia Afanasyeva. Most gym fans consider these two gymnasts "headcases" or basically inconsistent gymnasts. Usually falling and making silly little mistakes. It's not completely a bad thing to be considered a headcase. Most of the time headcases are the type of gymnasts you want to see succeed because they deserve to be recognize for their beautiful gymnastics. They are like the underdogs that you are rooting for. Sometimes I want to give up on these type of gymnasts but it's fun rooting for them. When they hit their routines it can be a special moment.

It was amazing how Sui Lu transformed into this consistent gymnast in 2011. She totally rocked in the WC event finals. Her beam was near perfect. It amazed me how confident she was. When she went to compete FX I was shocked at her upgrade. I was not expecting a stag out of the triple. She lost the gold to Afanasyeva but she proved that she can be an artistic and solid gymnast.

News Roundup

According to New York Post Olympic AA bronze medalist Danell Leyva might join Broadway's Spider-Man show, lol.

Aliya Mustafina will definitely go for Rio 2016. If Mustafina makes it to Rio 2016 she will be 21 at the games and will be turning 22 that year. The article also talks about her University plans. Education seems like a big commitment for her right now. She plans to compete at the Universiade (University) Games in Kazan, Russia. Her next 2012 competition should be the Stuttgart Cup in Germany (Dec. 1-2). Hopefully she will compete :).

Anna Dementyeva is not over yet, YAY! She will be competing at the 2nd Mexico Open (Oct 11-13). This was the same competition where Afanasyeva won the inaugural Mexican Open in 2011. Dementyeva will be joined by Russian MAG David Belyavskiy. Other competitors, Sergio Sasaki (Brazil), Luis Sosa, Yesenia Estrada and Ana Sofia Lake, all from Mexico. Other countries that confirmed their place in the competition are USA, Italy, Australia and Colombia, there is no official roster yet.

According to People Magazine Gabrielle Douglas will write a book called, Grace, Gold and Glory, My Leap of Faith. I think I'll pass. 

Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Anna Pavlova. She turned 25 today. She will always be remembered for her elegance and ZERO vault. She should have known better!

Women's Olympic All-Around Finals

I'll be watching BBC coverage. Competition starts live in about 18min at 11:30 AM EDT. I'm not heavily invested in this competition. I'll be cheering for Komova and Douglas. Mustafina is a sentimental favourite so I'll be watching out for her too. Oh and then there is Iordache. I'm hoping she can stay up there too. She hasn't had the best Olympic experience so far. As for Deng and Huang I have no hope, I just want them to hit. If they both hit, they're already winners in my book. Good luck to all the ladies and pleaseeeeeee make it a clean competition.

EDIT 1: GABBY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well deserved GOLD! This is amazing. You are the best. You are 1# Olympic AA Gold. So happy right now.

So disappointed for Komova. Just wasn't enough. She should be happy because of the silver. What I liked about her tonight was that she fought for her floor. Even she knew it wasn't enough. The judges made the right decisions.

Aliya freakin' Mustafina is BOSS! She still got 3rd with a fall. I am happy for her.

Tonight there was inspiration and history in the making.

Results: CLICK HERE

I'm going to watch the live medal ceremony. It's on right now  http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/live-video/p00w2zwy

EDIT 2: Yeah, Huang and Deng hit, lol. Good job girls.

Just Because

Good luck Gabby!

 

Douglas's Olympic Trial Routines / D-Scores

I just realized that Douglas won the Olympic trials. I only got to catch the team announcement yesterday. This is very exciting news. As much as I want Komova to win the Olympic AA title I would be thrilled if Douglas won. I guess I will be cheering for both Komova and Douglas. Douglas could be the first black gymnast to win an AA gymnastic title. It would be very inspirational and emotional if she won. Sometimes the world just needs a little bit of inspiration.

I've seen some really disrespectful comments around the internet that the reason why Gabby is so popular is because she's black. Even if that's the case it doesn't matter. She is a phenomenal gymnast. She's not a mediocre gymnast. She has the ability to win AA at the Olympics. My favourite event to watch Douglas on is bars. She has it all, the intricate mixed grip pirouettes, the sky high release skills, complex close bar work, and her ability to connect most of her skills together are astounding. I am a fan of Gabby Douglas.

I am going to do a D-Score calculation for Douglas's routine. According to The All Around WAG Rankings, Douglas has been given the highest AA D-score of 25.5. Obviously not everything in her routines were given credit and that was not her maximum potential score.

I will use the video below to calculate her d-scores. I will give her the most benefit for her routines. These were not her best routines and she was not given credit for everything she intended to connect/complete. The only thing I will not accept from her is the front pike on BB. She tries to do pike but it is clearly tucked.

VT: Amanar 6.5

UB: I omitted some skills that do not significantly contribute to her D-score. She usually connects her first two pirouette for one tenth, I'll count this in her d-score to maximize her total.

Healy + Endo elgrip 1/2 + P. Tkatchev (E+D+E) 0.3CV
Inbar 1/1 + Tkatchev + Pak (E+D+D) 0.3CV
Inbar (D)
DLO (D)

3.5 + 0.6CV = 4.1 + 2.5CR = 6.6 D-Score

BB: I omitted some skills that do not significantly contribute to her D-score. She fulfills all the compositional requirements (CR).

Front Aerial + FF + LOSO (D+B+C) 0.2CV
Standing Tuck 1/1 (F)
Split Leap + Back Pike (C+C) 0.1CV
Switch 1/2 + Back Tuck (D+C) 0.1CV
Front tuck (D)
Switch Ring Leap (E)
FF + BHS + DBL Pike (B+B+E) 0.2CV

3.4 + 0.6 = 4.0 + 2.5CR = 6.5 D-Score if everything gets credit

FX:
3/2 Twists + 3/1 Twists (C+E) 0.2CV
DBL Arabian + Stag (E+A) 0.1
Switch Ring + Gogean (C/D)
DBL L-Turn (D)
Full In Tuck (E)
DBL Tuck + Split Jump (D+A) 0.1

3.3 + 0.4CV = 3.7 + 2.5CR = 6.2 D-Score if everything gets credit
____________________________________________________________

6.5 + 6.6 + 6.5 + 6.2 = 25.8 Is her maximum potential AA total, according to her olympic trial video.

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!

Quick Thoughts on American Cup (SCAM) 2012

Did Leyva really win? I'm not an expert on MAG but it seems like his HB score was overscored. I hope people talks about this or at least educate me about this. It just didn't feel right. But of course my MAG knowledge is very limited. I have to re-watch this competition because I watched it in sh*tty streamed quality.

On the WAG side, BLAH. The Americans lack ARTISTRY; it was SO HARD to watch, painfully hard actually and I'm not lying or exaggerating. If you top it off with some of their execution faults it just makes it worst. They may have Amanars but they do not have bars, grace, beauty, and ARTISTRY.

I really liked Douglas though. Douglas was only doing exhibition AA which meant her scores did not count. She had the highest AA total score so that meant that she would have won. Oh but wait her FX artistry and music needs to change ASAP!