Little Beauties Of Gymnastics/2020 Olympian Watch: Norah Flately.

   Most of the times, you can't tell who the future Olympians are, its like who's going to be on the team in 2016? 2020? But, sometimes, you find that little diamond in the rough, and this little diamond in the rough  is not old enough for 2016, but she is for 2020. In six years. At only 12, Norah is a beauty of the sport, and as one of the only junior gymnasts recognized by legendary Marta Karoyli, she has been to a handful of camps. She is an amazing beam worker, and has been encouraged by Marta. Marta said this in an interview: "Young Norah has a lot of potential as a gymnast, and if she would be old enough, she could definitely be a contender for the 2016 Olympic Team, when she turns senior, I think she can make it at Worlds, and the Olympics in 2020". Well there you have it! The toughest judge in the World just said that Norah Flatley can contend for Worlds. Norah has gone international. She went to Pacific Rims, and other events, Norah is a real contender, and I cannot wait to see her as a senior in 2017.

Rising Stars: Madison Kocian

Guess who just turned Senior? My personal fave junior from 2012, Madison Kocian!!!!!!!! Maddie is an amazing talent. She has the potential to be a great all-arounder. She actually placed on the National Team, but did not go to World Championships. But when she gets more difficulty and confidence on beam, she probably can. If anything shoots Maddie down, it is beam. She lacks the confidence needed on the event that is the hardest in the sport. I believe that if Maddie fixes some areas (Beam, smoother transitions on bars) She has real potential for Rio, and she is great on bars, but if anything Maddie struggles on her high to low bar transitions, but if Maddie puts more work into the transitions, Maddie can definitely contend, Marta loves her. She has lean lines, and she is a beautiful all-around gymnast. I believe she can contend, and I think Marta is leaning towards putting her on the 2014 National and Worlds Team. Madison has lots of potential, but she needs to hit it on game day. Madison, if you are reading this, I am so happy that you recovered from your ankle injury in 2012 and I am so excited to see you at Nationals, Worlds, and maybe in 2016, the Olympic Games!!!!

Alicia Sacramone: Still Linked To Her Sport

   Alicia Sacramone was one of the greats in the sport, winning vault gold in 2010, but sadly tearing her Achilles in 2011. After she retired after not making the Olympic team in 2012, we thought that she did her last vault. But, that is not true.........We will see Alicia during the Pro Gymnastics Challenge 2014! Alicia hasn't cut all ties to gymnastics after all, Alicia has to have something to do while her husband is off in the NFL. So, Alicia agreed to do the PGC. I loved seeing her there at the inaugural event in 2013. She had dynamic tumbling, and a great vault. I am so so so looking to the PGC, happening in Spring 2014, unfortunately, PGC was not kind enough to give us any info. Sad! But, whenever it is, I will be watching, and blogging!

Gym Chat: How Does Being Tall In Gymnastics Help?

    Around my gym, a lot of girls have been asking, mostly the ones who have gone through growth spurts. "How does being tall help your gymnastics? It just gets in the way!" Well, I would like to argue. True, on vault, it may present some minor problems, or does it? Often, some gymnasts who think its because of their height that they have trouble, its just in the mind. A tall gymnast can do anything the shorter ones can. They can pull those big vaults. A tall gymnast can be an amazing all-around athlete. Their tallness certainly helps them on bars, giving them the capability to have that "International Look" Long, clean lines, beautiful grace. On beam, it does not make much of a difference either, you can still do tumbling passes, despite your height! You can do a back handspring full twist swing down rather you are 4''3 or 5''5. And it also comes in great use during floor, I think your tallness gives you more power, so there, you do not have to be a short little princess to be a great gymnast.

Svetlana Khorkina and Nastia Liukin: They proved people wrong

      So,  you know how in gymnastics, we think that gymnasts have to be short to be in the sport? Well thats not true, and to prove it, Nastia Liukin and Svetlana Khorkina were champions. They were both above 5 feet, and at first, judges, fans, and other gymnasts thought that they were too tall, but when these gymnasts started swiping the competitions, winning everything, they were proved wrong, Nastia won the all-around gold at 22 years and she was 5''6. Svetlana placed in the top five, a little less awesome than Nastia, and she won all the other competitions she entered,  besides 2000 Sydney, and 2004, Athens, at the height of 5''7. Wow! So, for those of you who thought that the wonderful sport of gymnastics was only for short people, you are wrong. Many of the greats have been tall. And thanks to Svetlana and Nastia, we now all know that!!!!

Judging Her Gymnastics: Aly Raisman

   Aly Raisman.........2012 Team Captain of the Fierce Five (Who won gold), team gold medalist, floor gold medalist, beam bronze medalist. Aly was, and still is my favorite gymnast to ever walk the earth (Sorry Nastia!) Aly was a solid all-around gymnast. So, its time for...............Lets judge her gymnastics!



What I liked: I liked everything about Aly, she was tough, determined and her vault, beam, and floor had ton of power, even though she did not compete vault during the team final, she dominated the Yurchenko 2 1/2 in Qualifications, boosting her team to the 1st place qualifying position. At first, Aly did not want to do the Amanar, because she had issues with the vault, but she had to because all four/three gymnasts competing (four in qualifiers, three in finals) had to do the amanar to get an edge over Russia and China. Which inevitably, they did, they won the gold over them



What I didn't like; Aly was solid on all four events, but if she had to have a weak spot, It would be on bars, Aly has a hard time hitting the handstands and getting air off the bars. She could have potential on that event, if she practices it more than any of her events, but Aly will get it.


 

Judging Her Gymnastics: Shawn Johnson

Shawn Johnson.............One of the most smily gymnasts in the hall of fame, she was also on that 2007 gold winning team, that team that got into the hall of fame. Now, for your favorite part of this segment....... The judging!


What I liked: Shawn was an amazing power athlete, her floor exercise was chock-full of great tumbling passes, her vault the Amanar, a walloping 16.5 difficulty, she averaged a 15.9. And she had and artistry on beam, using her power for the tumbling runs.


What I didn't Like:  Even though she was a great all-arounder, Shawn Johnson was a power athlete, she didn't pay attention to grace, handstands, she was all power. Unlike Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson had a low difficulty on bars. She never made it into finals on this apparatus, and that could have made her a better all-around gymnast, but Shawn always ignored the artistry aspect of gymnastics, just like Nastia did with the power aspect. She could have used a lot more artistry than she had.



     Even though she was lacking grace and artistry, we won't remember Shawn for the things she did badly, we will remember Shawn Johnson for the things she was great at. We will remember Shawn as that girl who got into the gymnastics hall-of-fame, we will remember Shawn as a winner.

Remembering: Christy Henrich

Christy Henrich............Her gymnastics were amazing,  she revolutionized gymnastics, adding the exact amount of artistry, grace, and power, the perfect mixture for gymnastics, she trained at GAGE, one of the best  coached gymnastics clubs in the country. She was an amazing athlete, notice the word "was" I am not just saying that because she is retired, but because she is dead. After a judge told her she was too fat, this happened at an international meet in 1889. This was blunt. He told her "You are fat, lose weight" This damaged Christy's self-esteem, and she began to starve herself. Christy died from Anorexia nervosa, and we lost a great gymnast. The anorexia got so bad that it started to affect her heart. We lost Christy because of multiple organ problems, just after her 22nd birthday. So, thanks to that judge, Christy died. If I were the cops, I would have charged judgey there for murder, because it was his fault that Christy died! But, I wasn't alive then so..... yeah. But, the gymnastics community found a way to get rid of that nasty judge. FIRE HIM! Justice! Anyway, with the death of such an amazing gymnast, Christy left a bigger mark: She changed the way of how judges viewed the sport, with her death, the judges and officials decided to keep an eye on both judges, and the gymnast who they talked to.

Judging Her Gymnastics: Nastia Liukin

   So,  I decided that it would be fun if I judged someone's gymnastics, not so much mean as weighing it out, I will tell you what I liked, what I didn't. But with this gymnast........... It will be hard to do, but I'll try....................Its Nastia Liukin!!!!!!!!!!!

   What I Liked: Ever since Svetlana Khorkina retired, we didn't see a lot of artistry, we saw power, at least in the senior standings, but when Nastia turned senior, she brought a great amount of artistry, with brilliant bar sets, beam sets, and floor sets. She shocked the world when she won four National Championships. She brought artistry back to the sport, she brought grace.

What I didn't like: This section is hard to do, but I guess I would have to say Nastia lacked power in her gymnastics, especially on vault and floor, she threw small skills on floor, and only had a single twist on vault, compared to her "arch-foe" Shawn Johnson who had an Amanar down

     Despite her lacking in the power department,  Nastia was one of the greatest gymnasts, the greatest since Svetlana Khorkina. She was an artistic wonder, all the little gymnasts in the USA want to be like Nastia, and that proves that you are a great gymnast, when others want to be like you. 

Breaking News

 Hello gymnastics fans, I have HUGE breaking news, not even the top gymnastics blogs know about this. I was picking around the internet, and I found a little "Easter Egg" on one of the websites. And I am not telling you which one, but all I can tell you, its not a gymnastics blog on Blogger. LOL, listen, this is news only for my viewers. Aly Raisman has confirmed her comeback! In late 2014-2015, we will see Aly on the podium once again trying for Rio 2016, No one, and I mean no one has been able to make a second Olympics since 2000, in Sydney. I am so very excited to see Aly trying again. Alexandra Raisman is a pure talent in the sport, sure she'll be 20 and going against the younger generation, but Oksana Chusovitina is going to be 41, and that is a lot older than some of the gymnasts competing for the Olympics in Germany. I think Aly can do it, she is only four years older than the competition, compared to Chusovitina who has a 20 year disadvantage, and can only vault. Aly is solid on all four events, maybe a little behind on bars, but I bet she is in the mix, she can go to trials, and get on the team.

Remembering the Greats: Nastia Liukin

 When she first bounced into her first competition as a junior, five years old, we knew that little Nastia had potential. We watched as the little one flourished into a great gymnast. In 2005, Nastia won the Nationals, as well as the Worlds, and went on until Shawn Johnson came into the scene in 2007, won Nationals, but Nastia won the most important title in gymnastics, the Olympic All-Around. She made her father proud, but she decided she wanted to do it again.  She tried in 2012, to make the Olympic team, but she never made the Olympic team, but winning 2008 Olympic gold  was amazing, we all wanted Nastia to make it again, but she missed the cut, and as Nastia waved to the crowd one last time, she gave her bars routine, and left the sport forever. Just like her teammate Shawn Johnson did a year earlier, we know Nastia for her brilliant lines, her grace, her artistry. She was one of the greats, she had the qualities of the greats, Nadia Comeneci and Svetlana Khorkina. We will miss her, and we know that some of the WOGA gymnasts will gain her traits, but they will never replace Nastia in our hearts.

Devastating Retirements: Shawn Johnson

    Shawn Johnson......... She was amazing. She was the first girl to do the Amanar since Simona Amanar. She was an amazing athlete. We know Shawn not only because of her stunning gymnastics, not just because she won every competition she entered until 2008 all-around, not just because of her beam win in China, but because of her million-dollar smile. Even non-gymnastics fans knew Shawn because of her smile, when they see Shawn J. They are all like "Look at that beautiful smile!!" But in 2011, Shawn Johnson competed for the last time, at Nationals, after not making the Worlds team, Shawn gave it up. She performed her last dismount. She didn't try for the Olympics the next year, partly because of the injury she acquired in a skiing accident, but mostly because she decided she wanted to be a normal girl. "The old Shawn is gone, I am no longer that 16 year old girl, I am now 20, my gymnastics won't be the same, but neither will my love for it, I just wanted to see if I can try again, make the World Team, but now that is not possible, I will be retiring" Shawn said to NBC. I watched that interview, and my mother had to comfort me went that interview ended, I was enticed by Shawn's beam work, and I am sure I am not alone when I would say, "I miss you Shawn!" but, no matter how much time passes, none of us who were around in Beijing, will never forget her 2 1/2 vault, her floor work, her bars work, and her explicit beam work, and most importantly, none of us will ever ever ever ever forget her million dollar smile.

WOGA Gym: Loses Record of Having All-Around Champions Every Olympics

  WOGA Gymnastics. WOGA is a great gym. WOGA spat out some of the greats, 2004 Olympic All-Around Champion, Carly Patterson, and 2008 champion, Nastia Liukin. Valeri Liukin, (yes, Valeri is Nastia's father, Liukin isn't THAT common of a name, on second thought, no one has that last name). Valeri is a perfectionist. He was a team and horizontal bar gold medalist for the former Soviet Union team. Valeri tried teaching men's gymnastics, but thought he would like torturing girls better. Valeri Liukin soon went to build WOGA, and in bounced little Carly Patterson. In 2004, Carly would make her coach proud when she would win the gold medal over Russia's great, Svetlana Khorkina. And that enough, made the world proud, Carly beat a Russian! Anyway, after Carly won gold, little Nastia, who was training, fixated herself to follow in Patterson's footsteps in 2008, and she did, it was between her and Shawn Johnson for the gold, Chow was hoping for gold, but Nastia knew she couldn't let this escape, she couldn't let the chance to bring pride to WOGA, two times in a row, Olympic Champion coming from that gym. So, when Shawn took a step back on her final pass, Nastia knew that she could do it. "I just have to stick all my landings" Nastia said to her coach, and father, Valeri. "I know you can. I have faith in you, this is what you have been training your whole life for. This floor routine" Valeri said. And you know what? that I know you can, and that I have faith in you was all that Nastia needed to win gold. At the 2012 trials, in California, Valeri's gymnasts had struggled, Rebecca Bross, who had had a horrific knee injury at the 2011 Nationals (A full-blown injury, a dislocated kneecap) and his daughter, Nastia Liukin. Both girls had Valeri's key traits: Perfectionists, determination, and focus. But, something went wrong, and at the end of night two, both girls had three strikes against them. They both decided to specialize on bars and beam. Nastia: a harsh leg bend. face plant from the bars, and a fall on her dismount. Bross: huge leg separation on bars, fall on bars, and what shot her down? The fall on her Patterson dismount. Valeri did have one more shot, a little-known just senior gymnast, but inexperience caught her, and Valeri did not go to London, he had no gymnast to take. But Valeri has a lot of hopefuls up his sleeve for Rio. And I have been watching videos, interviews, and everything, and I know who they are!



1. Katelyn Ohashi
2. Madison Kocian
3. Alyssa Baumann
4. Nadia Cho (Notice her first name, I bet Valeri is excited to have the next Nadia Comeneci watch her in training!)
5. Asia DeWalt
6. Samantha Ogden
7. Lauren Farley


     With seven potentials.......all turning senior before Rio, one or two of them have to make it, I mean that would be really sad if he didn't, I mean he has seven potentials, he might have to close the gym out of shame after this one, and imagine if he didn't qualify anyone into 2020? That.........that itself is a horrific horrific, failure, but if I know Valeri, he will get someone into 2016, and then 2020, and then 2024, 2028, but then again, I am getting ahead of myself. Well Valeri, I hope to see you in Rio with one of these seven girls, maybe even two, three? But, again, I am getting ahead of myself! Go WOGA!

Team Uzbekistan's Secret Weapon

  Uzbekistan is not the best gymnastics country in  the world, they haven't sent a full team to the Olympics in a while. But, they have recently acquired a new secret weapon. Do you know who that is? It is a gymnast, when she first started her career, and went to her first Olympics, she started in Uzbekistan, but because her son had leukemia, she had to move to Germany to get her son treated, to pay for this treatment, this great gymnast represented Germany, but after the 2012 Olympics, her son recovered. She then went back to her home country, and represented them: Thats Uzbekistan. Please tell me you figured out? NO? Well, ok, here's a table of her achievements. (Table Cred: Wikipedia)

Olympic Games
Gold	1992 Barcelona	Team
Silver	2008 Beijing	Vault
World Championships
Gold	1991 Indianapolis	Team
Gold	1991 Indianapolis	Floor Exercise
Gold	2003 Anaheim	Vault
Silver	1991 Indianapolis	Vault
Silver	2001 Ghent	Vault
Silver	2005 Melbourne	Vault
Silver	2011 Tokyo	Vault
Bronze	1992 Paris	Vault
Bronze	1993 Birmingham	Vault
Bronze	2002 Debrecen	Vault
Bronze	2006 Aarhus	Vault
World Cup Final
Gold	2002 Stuttgart	Vault
Bronze	2002 Stuttgart	Balance Beam
Asian Games
Gold	2002 Busan	Vault
Gold	2002 Busan	Floor Exercise
Silver	2002 Busan	All-around
Silver	2002 Busan	Balance beam
Bronze	1994 Hiroshima	Vault
Bronze	1994 Hiroshima	Uneven bars
European Championships
Gold	2008 Clermont	Vault
Silver	2011 Berlin	Vault
Silver	2012 Brussels	Vault
Bronze	2007 Amsterdam	Vault

    One last hint, she is considered ancient in the sport, and is trying for Rio, she is an amazing vaulter with power. She'll be 41 when Rio rolls around. Still no?

   ITS OKSANA CHUSOVITINA!!!!


      I am sure that after she was away from Uzbekistan, and suddenly came back, the Uzbekistan team will be glad to have Oksana back, and and Oksana will be a huge part in helping the Uzbeks will be glad to have Oksana back. I can't wait to see Oksana competing in 2014 Worlds/International competitions as an Uzbek Gymnast.

USA vs. Russia: Situations when Americans and Russians were pitted against each other

  There were some situations in 2012 when the Russians and the Americans were fighting each other: Here are some examples


1. Vault Final: It was McKayla Maroney (USA Representative) and Maria Paseka (Russian) after Maroney fell on her second vault, Paseka thought that winning silver was inevitable. But, because Maroney's form was perfection, Maroney left with the silver, instead of Russian, Maria Paseka, who left with bronze, despite a horrible vault in team.
2. Uneven bars finals- It was two against one, but Mustafina won gold over Gabby Douglas, who disappointed me when she fell on bars, and landed her sorry little butt in 8th place.
3. All-Around Final: It was two verses two in this final. It was Aliya Mustafina and Viktoria Komova vs. Gabrielle Douglas and Aly Raisman. Aly Raisman lost the bronze to Aliya Mustafina because of difficulty, but Gabby Douglas snatched the gold from a gymnast who has already had a pretty bad Olympics, and would continue to do so, Viktoria Komova
4. Beam Final, it was Ksniia Afaneyseva and Aly Raisman, they both wanted to medal, but only one of them did, and that is Aly Rasiman, (Komova and Douglas were in contention but dropped to 8th (Komova) and 7th (Douglas)
6. The floor final, Mustafina was aiming for  gold, but Aly got it
7. The Team Final: USA USA! They won the gold over the Russian team for only the second time.

Remembering the Greats: Nadia Comeneci

     Nadia Comeneci one of the few gymnasts who was successful in redefining the sport of gymnastics. She was the first gymnast who had the perfect mix of artistry, grace, lean, long lines, and power. She was the greatest gymnast in Romanian History, she was the first, and one of the only Romanian Gymnasts to win the gold medal, in the individual all-around, the world was devastated when Nadia did her last beam routine, sticking every landing and making it worth it. My friend, Katsya, said that she cried when she watched Nadia stick her last landing. Nadia was beautiful, artistic, and a huge figure in this sport. She came in as a little girl, coached by legendary Bela Karoyli, she competed at Romanian Nationals, and amazed the audience when she delivered a stellar floor routine, and the judges that tried to kick her out 90 seconds before, never wanted her to leave. After Nationals, even though she was too young to make it, she was too young. But when Nadia saluted to the judges, the judges applauded, and Bela was swarmed with offers to take his little 13 year old to Worlds and beyond, to the Olympics, to fame. Nadia was amazed, how famous she was after 90 seconds.

Olympic Games Gold 1976 Montréal All-Around Gold 1976 Montréal Uneven Bars Gold 1976 Montréal Balance Beam Gold 1980 Moscow Balance Beam Gold 1980 Moscow Floor Silver 1976 Montréal Team Silver 1980 Moscow Team Silver 1980 Moscow All-Around Bronze 1976 Montréal Floor World Championships Gold 1978 Strasbourg Balance Beam Gold 1979 Ft. Worth Team Silver 1978 Strasbourg Team Silver 1978 Strasbourg Vault European Championships Gold 1975 Skien All-Around Gold 1975 Skien Uneven Bars Gold 1975 Skien Balance Beam Gold 1975 Skien Vault Gold 1977 Prague All-Around Gold 1977 Prague Uneven Bars Gold 1979 Copenhagen All-Around Gold 1979 Copenhagen Vault Gold 1979 Copenhagen Floor Silver 1975 Skien Floor Silver 1977 Prague Vault Bronze 1979 Copenhagen Balance Beam Summer Universiade Gold 1981 Bucharest Team Gold 1981 Bucharest All-Around Gold 1981 Bucharest Uneven Bars Gold 1981 Bucharest Vault Gold 1981 Bucharest Floor

  We were amazed. Romania, even the world was amazed. Nadia then went on for bigger, better things, she won everything she entered. From Romanian Nationals to the Olympics. She won a lot, more than I can count, but luckily, not more than Wikipedia can count, here is a table of what Nadia wo

 Lets give a hand to Wikipedia, thanks Wikipedia, for spending time and making this table


    As you see, there a lot more gold than there are silver or bronze, that's just good old Nadia, gold defines her.

How is this crisis in Ukraine Effecting their Gymnasts?

   So, there is this horrible thing going on in Ukraine, but since I am am a gymnastics blogger, I will talk about how this travesty is effecting the Ukrainian gymnasts.


    1. Ukraine's gymnastics program has come to an absolute halt- gymnastics training centers in Ukraine are being closed, evacuated.
  2. The gymnasts are scared, to scared to keep training at home, or somewhere else, they can not focus on their dreams
3. Ukrainian gymnasts can't fly anywhere, they can't go to Worlds
4. If they can't go anywhere internationally, the Ukrainian gymnasts can't qualify to the Olympics
5. If they can't qualify to the Olympics, they can't go.
6. It'll be hard to assemble a team to try and qualify for Rio, it will also be hard to get a single gymnast in. They will be lucky if they do so.


   So, this crisis, is huge. I pray that this will be over soon, so Ukraine can get a team/gymnast into Rio.

Vault Chat: The Amanar

   No one performs the Amanar more beautifully than McKayla Maroney (Not even Simona Amanar!) But, with the new COP, The Amanar has been downgraded. I loved that vault, and I was mesmerized when she vaulted. But, it is downgraded, and I will miss it sorely. But, new COP, I still think the Amanar will still be performed, by the people who are behind in vaulting, because, with these new COP, this vault will be downgraded, and would become routine. So, as Maroney says goodbye to the Amanar, and hello to the triple, we give a heavy-hearted wave.

Dismount Chat: What I think of the Swing-Leg Type Dismount

     I think the swing leg dismount is rare in gymnastics these days. And truth be told? It's sad, just because the judges cut back on artistry these last few years does NOT mean that you can decrease your difficulty by 1/10 to put a little ounce of artistry in! The swing leg type dismounts are graceful, and beautiful. They require artistry, as well as grace. I love it when gymnasts stand at the center of the beam and swing their leg up, it really illustrates their flexibility, and adds  any amount of twists, but you only really see that in collegiate gymnastics. not so much in elite, or even Junior Elite. Who wants to bring back the swing leg dismount? Then comment below.

Kyla Ross: Living in the Hall of Fame

  Kyla Ross, she is one of the two Fierce Five members who came back immediately. In 2011, she was not well known, just because she was a junior but in 2012, she exploded into the gymnastics scene. Marta loved her, she was always talking about her. No matter who interviewers were trying to talk about: Jordyn, Gabby, McKayla, Marta always directed the conversation back to Kyla. Even though Kyla did not qualify into any individual events, she helped the team win gold. The fact that she didn't qualify into any other events is why she came back, and she loved the sport. She wanted to experience another Olympics,  and this time, she wanted to win more. Go Ky Ky!

Elizabeth Price Tumbling Her Way To Fame

   Elizabeth "Ebee" Price. She is an amazing gymnast. Ebee made the US Team as an alternate! That takes a lot of skill, making her coaches proud! If any of the Fierce Five got injured, Ebee would be there to deliver stellar performances. But, not of them got injured, so Ebee could not compete, but she still had a fun time hanging out with the Fierce Five. Ebee then came back in 2013 like a Cannonball, competing in events, and placing greatly. But in 2014, she competed in her first huge international event, the AT&T American Cup. She won it! She was competing with the best of the world, some Olympic Team Members, some World Team Members, older athletes, some younger athletes (with more stamina) She then swept the competition! Congrats Ebee! You are officially in contention and on the road to Rio De Janeiro 2016!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ponor's Last Olympic Games: Devastating

    Catalina Ponor..... She has a glorious 2004 Olympics, pushing her team to the gold medal, winning the floor and beam gold in 2004. She was dominant, but she retired for a little bit, missing out in 2008. But she did come  back for 2012. But, she had some problems in qualifying, including a ton of balance checks on balance beam, bailing out a tumbling pass on floor. She also had a HUGE beyond HUGE balance check on beam on the finals, losing the bronze to Aly, who had a much better performance. Getting the bronze on D value above Cat. And on floor, it was obvious that Aly had the better routine, sticking every landing, and getting a massive (for floor at least) 15.600. Catalina followed that with a 15.200 floor routine. Giving Aly a 5/10 lead. So, Catalina lost everything.

1. She lost the team final gold medal to the Americans
2. She lost any hope of a beam medal to Aly Raisman
3. She lost her floor gold medal to Aly Raisman.



       I wish Catalina was still in the sport, she could have redeemed herself in Rio.

The Sportsmanship Award: Team USA

   Gold Medals, Silver Medals, Bronze Medals, those are all GREAT to win, but what about the sportsmanship award? Those are the absolute greatest to win. They define a single gymnast on the team. On the USA team, we have a tie! A tie between Aly Raisman and Jordyn Wieber. I could not decide! So, I decided to do both, here are the reasons why I nominated both


1. Aly Raisman- She lost the bronze all-around medal to Aliya Mustafina, and was still happy. She shook Gabby's, Viktoria's, and Aliya's hands when she saw them on the sidelines. And in the floor final, when she won gold, she did not gloat! She shook the hands of the 2-8th place finishers. She hugged Jordyn when her last chance at an individual medal slipped away. When she grabbed the bronze on beam above Catalina Ponor, she gave her a hug and said "It will be ok" Aly is a co-champ because of that reason

2. Jordyn Wieber- She missed out on the all-around final, and after crying for a few minutes, she congratulated Gabby and Aly for making it. And most importantly, she came back like a bouncy ball in the team final, and pushed her team to gold, sticking every landing, swinging bars, doing tumbling, her artistry apparent. She was amazing.

Why are WOGA's gymnasts so dominant?

   Even though the WOGA gymnasts didn't make the team, they still are dominant in this sport. Why? Because they are trained by an Olympic Champion, Valeri Liukin. Valeri is a hard coach, and he trains stellar gymnasts, with stellar form. All the WOGA gymnasts have stellar bars sets, with stellar form. They stick every landing. Why? Because Valeri Liukin is a perfectionist. He wants everything to be perfect. And, I believe they can make it next Olympics. And one of those gymnasts competing at the trials will be Katelyn Ohashi. She has stellar form on bars. She has one of the highest beam scores in the World (Perhaps the highest) She will be at the Trials, unless injury prevents her from doing so.

Who is WOGA's best shot at Olympic Stardom?

   So, WOGA was not represented at the 2012 Olympics. No WOGAans made it. But Valeri has been training some gymnasts. In My opinion, Katelyn Ohashi, newly dubbed senior is their best shot. Ohashi has experience on the international stage, she competed for the US, with Simone Biles, at the AT&T American Cup, and won it. She won over Simone Biles, National and Worlds Champion. When she vaulted, she had stellar form. And not to forget the beam, bars, and floor sets, which were just as good. She stuck every landing, while Simone fell off the beam, and had a sloppy landing on floor. I expect Ohashi to make the team, she is the best of the WOGA family. She has that international look that the judges would love. She has tight form, stellar look, and beautiful tumbling and skills, and not to mention her artistry level is through the roof! So, Katelyn, I guess I will see you in Rio.

2012: No WOGA Gymnasts Made it to the Olympics: Does that put pressure on Valeri Liukin?

  So, in 2004 and 2008, WOGA was at its peak. Everyone was coming in hoping to train with Valeri Liukin at WOGA because he had trained 2004 Olympic All-Around Champion, Carly Patterson, and 2008 All-Around Olympic Champion, his daughter, Nastia Liukin. WOGA was a very good gym. Business was booming, Valeri was spotting, and it was good. In 2012, he sent two gymnasts to Nationals, both messed up, he then petitioned both to the Olympic Trials, both messed up. In the end. not Rebecca Bross or Nastia Liukin made the team, both were devastated, and Valeri was on the sidelines shaking his head. He watched as the Fierce Five was named, none of his "apprentices" making the team. And no new kids wanted to train at the legendary WOGA gym. Valeri was very sad, and this pushed both of his star gymnasts to retire. Valeri hopes to get someone to Rio. Valeri feels pressure to get a  gymnast on the 2016 team. Valeri wants to relive the glory. He wants to go to the Olympics, he wants to get past the trials.

Nastia Liukin: A Younger Version of Svetlana Khorkina

    I know its a little late, with Nastia being retired and all, but who did she remind you of? Her lean lines? Perfect Form? Loves bars? Ugh really? Its Svetlana Khorkina! Nastia Liukin is a spitting image of her, she is also Russian! I mean seriously guys....... Anyway, they are spitting images of each other. They have the same qualities, basically the same gymnastics, and the same look the international judges love. And the craziest thing? They are the same height! That is cray-cray. Nastia was artistic, powerful, and like Khorkina, she won everything! The only two differences were: She was from the USA (Nastia) and Nastia won an olympic gold medal

Team Captain: Team USA

     Even before Team USA stepped in North Greenich Arena, we all knew that Alexandra "Aly" Raisman would be the team leader. Why? Because of such a great leader she was in 2011, at the World Championships, and she is such a great person, and is strong. She is efficient, bold, daring, and funny. That's why she was the team captain. In her floor routine, she led the team to gold. She stuck all her landings, increased her difficulty, stuck the landings, and sealed the deal. Aly was great! Go Team USA!

Reinventors of the Sport: Svetlana Khorkina

   On my new segment: Reinventors of the sport, I like to talk about people who have changed the sport for the better. This time, we will be talking about Svetlana Khorkina. Svetlana reinvented the sport with her artistry, her lines, and her beauty. Svetlana proved that a gymnast does not have to be tiny, lithe, petite, or short to be the best gymnast. She just has to have endurance, faith, hope, and strength. At 5'5, and growing, she shocked the world when she won multiple world championships, and placed second in the Olympics, second only to Patterson, in 2004. Svetlana is solid on all four events, and was portrayed as one of the best gymnasts in the world. I loved watching videos of this amazing girl, doing what she loves. Svetlana, of Russia, forever will be an gymnastics star, a gymnastics idol, a gymnastics trailblazer, and a gymnastics re-inventor.

Alicia Sacramone: Leaving The Scene

  Alicia Sacramone.......2008 Olympian, 2011 Worlds Team Member (Had to leave Tokyo because of ACL Tear) and 2012 Trials Trier. Alicia was amazing, sure she fell off the beam on her front tuck mount, but that happens! Ever since then, Alicia has been training, training, training in the gym. Alicia then came back to the sport at the US Classic in 2011, the first step-ladder rung for the World Championship Team, she then moved onto the Visa Nationals, where unfortunately, she had a fall on floor, following it up my some issues on beam. But, it happens, as we saw in the Nationals, Alicia was not the only one who had mistakes, especially after Bross's injury, which had a negative effect on everyone, especially Alicia and Aly, who were both beside Bross when she was competing in 2010. So, it had a negative impact on these two girls, and other girls who were competing aside Bross, and who were close, like other gymnasts, but also, Bross's injury effected the younger gymnasts, like Gabby Douglas, Jordyn Wieber. So, Alicia had a nervy Nationals, but made it to the team, mainly because of the circumstances she was under, and the experience she had. But, after she didn't make the Olympic Team, she saw no reason to continue, and is now married to Brady Quinn, a quarterback. Also, Alicia posed for body issue, naked. Her reasoning for this was "It's a huge honor and a cool opportunity. I wanted to show that you don't need to be 13 or 14 years old to be a gymnast. You can be older and still have good resIt's a huge honor and a cool opportunity. I wanted to show that you don't need to be 13 or 14 years old to be a gymnast. You can be older and still have good results.

When I first got the offer I was a little nervous. But then I thought, "You've worn a leotard in front of a billion people; this isn't that different." Plus, I work out really hard and I'm proud of my body. 

   But, Alicia has not given up performing as a gymnast completely, she has competed in the 2013 Pro Gymnastics Challenge, and is expected to compete again in the 2014 Pro Gymnastics Challenge, later this year. I am looking forward to see Alicia, the old Alicia

Lauren Mitchell: Why She was the Australian Leader

   Out of the five gymnasts on team Australia, some gymnastics fans often ask: Why Lauren Mitchell? Why not Georgia Bonora? Why not Emily Little? Well, let me tell you. This was because that Lauren was the only gymnast in Australian gymnastics history to even medal in the World Championships, in 2010, she won a gold medal on floor! And, who would want to put a gymnast as a team leader who hasn't won any gold at all? Or even any medals. Mitchell is exceptional. Some of the Australian Gymnasts who were on the Olympic Team, had never been on the international stage before, Lauren has been on the 2008 team, which gives her experience. I hope that answered your questions gymnastics fans, the question why Lauren Mitchell was the team captain

Team Australia: Dreams of Team Finals decimated

  So, in 2012, the Australians tried hard to get into the team final, and failed, in 2012. I was so sad when Italy got in over them! In my opinion, I thought Australia was better than Italy, and could have placed higher than they did. So, I was devastated. But, in 2016, I expect them to make it over Italy, just for the sake of redemption. I believe that the Australian gymnasts are strong, motivated, and smart enough to slip into the team final, like they did in 2008, I do not believe they can medal, but I bet, if they make it to the team final, they can place in 4th, 5th place. Go Australia! You can do this!

Team China vs. Team Romania

So, as we all know, in 2012, team Romania beat China for team bronze. And the Chinese gymnasts and coaches were none to happy. They had won gold in Beijing, a home game, but in London, they were not as lucky. The Chinese wanted more than anything to defend the gold, but when that chance slipped out of their grasp, they figured: Why not silver? But then Russia took their spot. So their only hope for medal, was bronze. But then, at a surprising last two rotations, Romania snatched the medal, because floor and vault were two of their best events, but China was not good at vault or floor exercise, so, thats how the Romanians took the bronze. To place fourth in gymnastics, is devastating. Just out of the medals. And the Chinese had to deal with it, but in Brazil, I expect them to come out, and be in contention for medals. Also, I expect the Romanians to defend their medal titles, and try to make it 11 medals straight. So, let the war between Team China and Team Romania Begin!

Team Romania: A Steady Team.

Romania has one of the strongest women's gymnastics team in the world, this is evident for three reasons: They have been in the medals at the past ten Olympic Games, which, by itself, is amazing. In 2000 and 2004, they won the team all-around! Wow! But, there has been a drought for gold since then, but still, getting gold twice is not bad. And they have great athletes, Simona Amanar (Notice the last name? Thats right, this is the girl who first did the Amanar), Catalina Ponor, and most importantly, Nadia Comeneci, all-around champ. They bred some great gymnasts, and are in the process of breeding more. I am excited to see the up-and-coming seniors who are going to represent Romania at Worlds, International, and Olympic Meets. The only thing I would recommend is that they breed some bar workers, because Romania needs them if they want to get silver, or even gold. But, Olympic Bronze, not to shabby. And the greatest thing about their bronze in 2012? They beat 2008 Team Champions, Team China. To beat China is an amazing thing, because, the Chinese have grace and elegance, and are really good at bars and beam. But, they did beat them, and I hope to see Romania beat China at Worlds, and hopefully, the Olympic Games!

Team Brazil: A Home Game

   Well, in 2016: A New Olympics in Rio De Janeiro. For Brazil, this will be a home game for them, they are hosting the Olympic Games. I think that the Brazilian Olympic Selection team will have to spend the next two years forming the team if they want their team to place in the Finals like Team GB did in London. Also, the gymnasts who are selected need to start going bigger on their routines, like training at least a double twisting Yurchenko, and a triple twist combo on Floor. I have been watching Brazilian gymnastics, and I personally think that they can raise the DODs of every routine. I think that the Brazilian gymnasts play it safe, which is why they didn't qualify into London's team finals, and Italy did. So, if they want to qualify into the team finals on their home turf, they gotta pick up their game!

What Do I Think About: Simone Biles?

    Simone Biles has all the qualities of the Fierce Five. She has Gabby's Ferocity. Aly's Grace. Jordyn's power. Mac's height. And Kyla's artistry. Which coincidentally, is everything you need in this sport we call gymnastics. Simone Biles is an amazing gymnast, and she is the current National Champion, and the current World Champion, once again taking over one of Jordyn's qualities: Her winning everything she enters trait. Simone has all the necessary components of an Olympic Gymnast, but as we saw at the American cup in 2013, Biles can struggle with confidence when under pressure. She fell off the beam on her back tuck with one twist, which was rather uncharacteristic of Biles, but it can happen, and Biles was coming off a win at the National Championships, and was probably under an enormous amount of pressure to show the World what she can do. But like a twig, Biles snapped under the pressure, giving up the title to her fellow team member, Katelyn Ohashi. But, coming in second in an international competition like this is pretty major for a new senior. But, lets not forget, Simone went from second place, to first, at the World Championships later that year. Which, in fact, gave her more publicity in the gymnastics world, than she would have had if she had won the American Cup.

McKayla Maroney: Record Holder

  As all of us gymnastics fans know, a record in the sport is extremely hard to come by. But, not for Maroney. Despite Mac's devastation in 2012, she came back in 2013, and defended her 2011 vaulting world title, the first woman in HISTORY to defend a vault title! Congratulations to McKayla! She can do anything and everything she puts her mind to. I love McKayla, and she is a great vaulter. She is training the triple twist, which if she makes the team, she can make it to Rio De Janeiro in 2016. I have been watching McKayla do the Amanar since her junior days. Go McKayla! And try to make it a three-peat in 2014. Win vaulting gold again!

What I expect for team: Russia

Russia, as a team, had a hard Olympics in 2012, getting whooped by team USA. But, Rio is a whole new Olympics! I expect Russia to come out there fiery and exploding. But, rumors have been spread about Mustafina retiring, which would be good for the USA, but horrible for Russia! I expect Russia to learn the Amanar Vaults, and I hope that the Russians won't put Grishina in their floor lineup, same goes for Ksenia Afaneyseva, because both of them fell! Also, they can't afford balance checks, they need to get their range of balance under control.

Sarah Finnegan: Dynamic

  We saw Finnegan at the 2012 Trials, she had an amazing floor routine, with Dynamic floor routines, on both nights of competition. She was amazing! But the problem with her was, she had just turned senior, and needed more time. I have seen her in previous competitions, where she has been strong, steady, and amazing. I fully expect to see Finnegan in Rio in 2016. If you go to the trials one quad, and don't make it, you are likely to make it to the 2016 trials, just because of how much raw potential you had. I am excited for Finnegan, as she continues this journey.

Rebecca Bross: From the Podium to the Stands

Rebecca Bross......... She was an amazing gymnast. In 2010, she dominated the competition, winning Nationals, and then the American Cup. She dominated. She then went on to Worlds, where she won four medals. And then she returned to the sport, in 2011 for Nationals. She had trouble in night one, falling off the balance beam twice, falling on floor once, landing out of bounds on floor once. And on bars, where she had missed handstands, and the fall on the dismount. On Beam, she was attempting the Patterson Dismount, the Double Front, but fell, almost hitting her head on the beam. Night two went worse, she started on bars, more missed handstand, and a  grip error. On beam, she fell off the beam, both on a skill and on the Patterson Dismount. Then on floor, two falls, three out of bounds. But on vault, thats what really sucked. She was doing the double twisting Yurchenko, but she was twisting into the ground! She did not get enough amplitude, and was twisting when she hit the ground, resulting in the injury, a dislocated kneecap. Bross would have series of surgeries, that would not result in her coming back until 2012. But, when she came back, she was still struggling. At Visas, she fell on both of her events, beam and bars, those were the only two she was competing in, and then at Trials, she fell on beam, and on bars, resulting her to fall in the rankings, and because of this, Marta decided to not include her in the discussions, not even in the alternate discussion. So, from the podium to the stands, that is Rebecca Bross's devastating story.

Nastia Liukin: What went wrong in 2012?

  Nastia Liukin, 2008 Olympic All-Around Champ, wanted to try to go to London back in 2012. But, some things went wrong, cutting Nastia from the team. But, for all you people who know squat about gymnastics and are always asking this question: What went wrong? I will tell you what went wrong in the events


2012 Classic: Nastia was dressed to impress Marta, but she only competed on beam, and had a shaky routine, not impressing Marta, because she was only competing on one event, and it was not at its prime



2012 Nationals: Luckily, Nastia added bars, or was it lucky? Because, at the Visas, Nastia competed on bars, and had a huge struggle with her Pak Salto transition. She lost the combination, had to take extra spins around the bar, exhausting her, and making her do a simple, elementary dismount.


2012 US Trials: On Beam, Nastia stumbled on her side summie, making her lose balance, stumble around the beam for 20 seconds, and making her rush to catch up in the routine. On bars, Nastia missed handstand, and her legs folded, and because Nastia is not a power gymnast, she does not have as much endurance as that of a power gymnast, so Nastia had trouble handling the dismount, and not to mention that she fell on a Jaegar, and on her dismount.

McKayla Maroney: Her Events

     McKayla Maroney is known for her amazing vaulting skills, but she is also known for the "McKayla Maroney Not Impressed" but, what about her other events? How are beam, bars, and floor going for Mac? Here's what I see during her routines

Vault: Well, the vaulting is pretty much perfect, great height, stellar form, great landings, the only thing that I would suggest Mac would do would try to control her landings, which, I admit, is hard to do when you have as much power as a lion and more speed than a cheetah.


Floor: This is also a strong event for Maroney because of her power in vault, but one thing that isn't used in vault? Facial Expression and artistry.


Beam: Mac is actually good at artistry on this event (Mostly because they don't have to put a lot of artistry into this code of points) But, what she struggles with is confidence on the beam, beam is the make it or break it event on the women's side. When she does her standing back tuck on beam, she's not as confident as she is on the vault, or when she goes for her double back off the beam, she is not as comfortable sticking it as she would be sticking the Amañar.


Bars: Mac actually has a lot of potential on this event, her height on her vault helping her here, but its just a matter of concentration. Mac, I believe, has a hard time concentrating on handstands and releases.





    So there are Mac's events!