Looking At the Last Three Games: Remembering the Highlights

  As Rio gets closer and closer, we start to remember the past Games before. In this post, I will be analyzing the last three Games: 2004, 2008, and 2012

2004: Even though Athens was not the best competition for USA, It was for Romania. Romania dominated in Athens, Greece. Taking the team gold medal, and the beam and floor titles, going to their own Catalina Ponor. Even though the USA didn't have the success they wanted to, they had a huge success in the all-around, Carly Patterson won the all-around gold, becoming the queen of gymnastics, and starting a three-peat. Some other facts are that Monica Rosu of Romania won the vault, congratulations to Monica, and that France's Emilie Le Pennec won the bars competition, making history for France.

2008: USA didn't win as a team here either. They had falls in the last two rotations, and it was disastrous. But they still managed the silver. And I was super happy for Team China, not only winning their first ever team gold, but they won it on home turf. This was a great accomplishment for Team China. Another note was that Romania won their ninth team medal in a row. In the all-around, it was one-two for the USA, Nastia Liukin with the gold, and Shawn Johnson with the silver. It was so great to see Nastia finally regain her mojo, for Shawn had been beating her in competition after competition. I bars, China  had another gold medal, He Kexin, winning the gold because of her amazing bar set, Nastia Liukin winning the silver, and Yang Yilin winning yet another bronze. One of my favorite Finals was the beam. Shawn had just come off losing on the all-around, and this was her last shot. Thank goodness, because that fire made her become Olympic Champion on the event, with teammate Nastia behind her. And finally, in the floor finals, Romania's Sandra Izbasa won the gold with Shawn and Nastia coming behind her on the floor

2012: These were the most previous Olympic Games, as you know. There were so many great highlights. USA won their first gold since 1996, Canada made their first Team Final, and Great Britain did great in front of a home town crowd. Other highlights of the team final included Mac's perfect vault, Aly's amazing beam and floor sets, and Mustafina's amazing bar set in TFs. Ladies and gents, that's just the team final. After McKayla fell on her second vault, Sandra managed to get a gold, with Mac closely behind, and Maria Paseka in third. In bars, Aliya Mustafina rocked it, winning the title, defending champion He Kexin in second, and home girl Beth Tweddle winning the bronze with a dynamic set. In beam, it was Deng LinLin way in the front with teammate Sui Lu, the World champ from the year before in silverg, and Aly Raisman in bronze. In floor, Aly delivered a dynamic set and won it,, with Catalina Ponor in second and Aliya Mustafina in 3rd. Some notable moments are:

-Aliya Mustafina being the most decorated gymnast

- Aly Raisman winning three Olympic Medals

-Canada making it into their first Team Finals

-Catalina Ponor losing out on a medal, then winning one

-Aly Raisman losing out on a medal, then winning one 

And so many more. These last four games have really been some to remember, haven't they?

Larisa Iordache vs. Catalina Ponor

Even though Romanian Legend, Catalina Ponor's comeback is not official, many are comparing her to her Olympic teammate, Larisa Iordache. Catalina retired after London, but 16 year old (at the time) Larisa Iordache, kept on going. She had great individual success while Catalina was at home watching. And her success was multiplied by 2 in Nanning. Larisa had jumped up on top. Many started comparing Lari to 1976 Olympic Champion, Nadia Comeneci. All the gym fans have heard of Nadia. And, Larisa Iordache. When I heard that Catalina was possibly coming back, I started talking to people on Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter. And many people were like me, freaking out. Everyone on the Gymteret knew, that if Catalina came back and tried to take titles on beam and floor (Which are Larisa's two best events) Larisa would give her a fight to the finish. More so on floor, probably, since Larisa does not have the best track record in Balance Beam Event Finals. But if the two girls were both representing Romania in the Finals, it would be a fight between the two. Once Cata announces her comeback, I will be blogging like crazy! And when she doesn't, I will be blogging like crazy, but less more enthusiastically. 

                                                            Vs.

What She Needs To Do To Go To Rio: Kyla Ross

Kyla has been a topic on this blog a lot lately. Kyla became an Olympian in 2012, as a first year senior, a great accomplishment in anyone's book. After winning the team gold, and standing on that podium, Kyla went to watch her teammates in the individual parts ot the Games, and she decided she wanted individual success at the Games. So she and her best friend McKayla Maroney continued on. Individually in 2013, Kyla won three silver medals in the AA, Bars, and Beam Competitions. This was a great way to prove that she wanted to succeed individually. In 2014, however, she was not as lucky. At Worlds, she won bronze in the All-Around, and she won gold in the team, and was a major part of it, but individually, she only won the bronze. 

   In order to make the Rio Team, Kyla NEEDS to upgrade. She can't get by on the routines she has now. Not with Simone Biles, Bailie Key, and a bunch of new seniors on the radar. She ABSOLUTELY ABSOLUTELY NEEDS to upgrade. I talked about her upgrades on "Questions on The Gymternet"  which I just recently published. The Upgrades I really want to see her do is the Amanar on vault, and upgrading from that double tuck on beam. Its time to rid that double tuck, and a bunch more upgrades. If Kyla wants to make the Team, and have Individual Olympic Success, she needs to upgrade. Amazing form isn't going to get her by this quad, it did last quad, but it won't this one.

What She Needs To Do To Go To Rio: Aliya Mustafina

   So, I wanted to talk Rio. So I decided to draw up a series of Posts: What She Needs To Do To Get To Rio. I am really excited about this series, and as I see new talent  arise, and if I come up with someone, I will do one of these posts. Why not kick off the post with Russian legend, Aliya Mustafina

   For years, Aliya has been on the gymnastics radar, she has been ever since she debuted as a senior in 2010 and dominated on the scene. Aliya has already became an Olympian, and has had mass success in London, winning two bronzes, a silver, and a gold. In London, many gym fans thought she would be a lock, and she still is. However, we have seen some noticeable change in Mustafina. The girl we thought was so indestructible, sort of self destructed in Antwerp. Only a few saw it, but we noticed Mustafina wasn't really herself, she would probably have taken the gold on the bars in Antwerp, but had some uncharacteristic mistakes. But she did win the title on beam, voiding those thoughts. But n Nanning a year later, it was definitely noticeable, when she barely got her team into the bronze medal slot, and individually, didn't medal in the all-around, or bars competitions, and managed to get bronze on beam, but missed an element, and was overjoyed when she got the floor bronze. But as we all know, bronze isn't classic Mustafina. She was undergoing some stress: She was going through coaching changes, losing her long time coach, Alexander Alexandrov, she also was carrying the whole Russian team on her back because her teammates from London, and some other veterans, were all injured, and finally, she was not feeling well. 

   What Aliya needs to do for the Olympics is she needs to learn not to let all the crap get to her. She has been doing that for a long time, I know, but because she is going through this triad of problems, its become a little overwhelming. Everything that's going on, Mustafina can't do much about it. She can't convince the Russian Delegation to bring Alexandrov back, she can't magically heal her teammates' injuries, and she can't snap her fingers and rid the sicknesses. I know Mustafina is the strong athlete we saw 4-5 years ago, and if she is like that, she can make the team. She just needs to learn how to manage this better, not to let all the crap get to her. 

Hot Topics Around the Gymternet: The Two Per Country Rule

The Two Per Country Rule has always been a problem, at least to the fans. In my opinion, it became a HUGE debate after London when Jordyn Wieber got x-ed out of the all-around. I read an article on Triple Twist, a well known gym blog, and decided to voice my opinion. If you are a long-time reader, you know one of my first articles was about the Two Per Rule. But I have changed a  lot since thin, and my writing has as well. So lets review it, shalll we?

     In my opinion, the Two Per Rule does more harm than Good. I honestly don't get why it exists. The FIG wants to see the top eight in event finals, and the top 24 in all-around, duke it out. But how can one see the top duke it out if some of the best aren't even there? I dont even think it was a true all-around in London, because Jordyn was not in it to win it. Supposedly, the Two Per rule gives lesser known countries the chance to compete in event finals/All-Around, but countries like Iceland or Spain or India rarely even qualify. And an all-around is much more fun when you have a stronger field. In my opinion,the FIG should rid this rule because of the fact that it makes the all-around a lot less fun. Strong countries like USA, Russia, Romania, China, and now, Great Britain have so many great athletes who have so much potential, but they get completely x-ed out if they don't have as great routines as their teammates. The whole thing is truly unfair. If someone has a petition going to outlaw the stupid rule, I'll sign it.. 

The Retired Girls- The Trailblazers

When we think about the retired athletes in gymnastics, girls that come to mind are Cheng Fei, Alicia Sacramone, Catalina Ponor (Although she may have a comeback in the works), Elizabeth Tweddle, and so many more. Here are some of the retired girls I most adore, along with some short Stats.

Alicia Sacramone

Country: USA

Years As Elite: 2003-2012 

Biggest Accomplishments: 2008 Olympic Medalist (Silver in team ), 2010 World Team Silver medalist, and vault champion.

Best Event: Vault. She can also put good scores in on floor, and can do a good beam set

Weak Event: Bars. We never really saw Alicia compete bars

Year Retired: 2012, right after Trials

Quick Notes: Alicia didn't have the best Olympics, she fell on beam and floor in team finals, and did not get gold on vault, this forced her into retirement, but she realized that wasn't helping anything, and that she wanted to end her career on a high note, so she came back, won the vault title in 2010, and she carried on to 2012, where she made it to the Trials Process but did not make the actual team 

Reason Of Retirement: Alicia realized that she ended her career on a high note, and she was sad that she did not make the London Team,but she loved that she had a Vault Title, and she wanted to leave it at that.

Her Legacy: Alicia is most known for the way she came back after her disappointing Olympics, and came back successfully! Alicia inspired many gymnasts to come back, like Shawn Johnson, Chellsie Memmel, and Nastia Liukin. She also inspired many young gymnasts out there, telling the

Cheng Fei

Country: China

Years As Elite: 2004-2012

Biggest Accomplishments: 2004 and 2008 Olympic Team Member, Gold with the 2008 Olympic Team, multiple word-stage vault gold medals, and a bronze in 2008). She got a vault named after her (Round-off half on, 1 1/2 twists off)

Best Event: Vault, can also do a great floor routine

Worst Event: Even though it isn't known, based on performance history, it seems like bars would  be Cheng's Worst Event

Year Retired: 2012, she sustained an injury, and was not able to make the team, she quit soon afterwards 

Quick Notes:  Fei has a vault named after her. She is considered one of the best Vaulters in history. Even though Cheng never had a gold medal at the Games, she has multiple World-Stage medals.

Reason of Retirement: Cheng sustained an injury to her Achille's Tendon in 2012, making it so that she couldn't contend for China's team, and she knew she could not hold out another cycle, so she retired, taking her many gold medals and her Olympic bronze with her. 

Her Legacy: Cheng proved that China can be powerful, and inspired many young Chinese gymnasts to try and be powerful.

Beth Tweddle

Country: Great Britain

Years As Elite: 2001-2012

Biggest Accomplishment: 2004, 2008, and 2012 Olympian, she won the bronze on bars in front of a home crowd In London 2012, as well as winning a plethora of golds on bars and floor over the span of her career.

Best Event: Bars, and she's also good at floor

Worst Event: We've only really seen Beth compete on the bars and the floor, we've really never seen Beth All-Around

Year Retired:  2012, right after the Games

Quick Notes: Beth was one of the best British gymnasts, and one of the best bar workers on all time. She has many daring releases in her routine that makes her deserving of all the golds she won.

Reason of Retirement: Beth knew that she couldn't continue in gymnastics forever. The only reason why she kept going after Beijing was so that she could compete in front of a home crowd. She did so, and won a bronze! Beth wanted to end her career on a high note, and she definitely did so.

Her Legacy: I think that Beth started a line of great British bar workers, being followed in that line by gymnasts like Ruby Harrold and Becky Downie.

Daiane Dos Santos: 

Country:  Brazil

Years as Elite: 2004-2012

Biggest Accomplishment: She has gotten two moves named after her on floor, and has scooped up many gold medals in various competitions on the event. She won the World Title in 2003

Best Event: Floor

Worst Event: We've really only seen her on floor, and sometimes on vault. She is not an all-around athlete, but judging by the power she has, the worst event would be bars. But thats just guessing on the power. Power and bars often don't mix, with the exception of Beth Tweddle.

Year Retired: Right after the Games in 2012

Quick Notes: Daiane has two moves named after her on the floor exercised, the double arabian fronts in both pike and layout. It is also to be noted that she won the 2003 World Title on Floor, and in doing so, became the first Brazillian World Champion, and became their best female gymnast.

Reason of Retirement: It was unclear, Dos Santos instantly dropped off the map. It is a little weird because she had a great shot for making the Rio Team, she was pretty much a lock. But If I were to guess, it would be that she just decided she was done. 

Her Legacy: Daiane inspired many Brazillian gymnasts, and left her mark on the gymnastics world as a whole.

Dasha Joura

Country: Australia

Years As Elite: 2001-2012

Biggest Accomplishment: Making the Beijing Team, winning floor at a World Cup

Best Event: She is a good all-arounder but excells at floor

Worst Event: Vault

Year Retired: 2012

Quick Notes: Dasha is known for her bubbly personality and style

Reason of Retirement: It was pretty unclear, but it may be that she had an injury and could not go to London, and decided to retire afterwards.

Her Legacy: Dasha was one of the best Australian Gymnasts in history.

Deng LinLin

Country: China

Years As Elite: 2008-2012

Biggest Accomplishment: 2008 and 2012 Olympian, in 2008 she helped China win their first evver Team title, and in 2012, she won the beam gold medal. She was also the captain of the 2012 Olympic Team.

Best Event: Beam

Worst Event: We really only know Deng as a beam specialist. Her Beam makes you say "Dang Deng!"

Year Retired: 2012

Quick Notes: Deng has been promising on the balance beam since we first saw her in competition in 2004. She was the captain of the 2012 Team because of her experience

Reason of Retirement: Deng ended her stellar career on a high note: She was the Team Captain of Team China, and indivdually, she won beam. That's a great way to wrap up a career!

Her Legacy: Deng continued the line of great beam workers, and regained China's dominance on the event at the Olympics, proving that they are still, beam queens. 

Nastia Liukin

Country: USA

Years As Elite: 2005-2012

Biggest Accomplishment: 2005 Uneven and Balance Beam World Champion 2007 Balance Beam world champion, and of course 2008 Olympic Champion.

Best Event: Bars, she is also good on beam

Worst Event: Vault

Year Retired: 2012 after Trials

Quick Notes: Nastia is known for her exquiste form and style, especially on the uneven bars. She has move named after her on the beam, and in 2010, before her comeback, Nastia got a competition, called the Nastia Liukin Cup, A meet for level 10s. Even though Nastia did not make the 2012 Team, she cannot be disappointed in her career as a gymnast. She has had mass success and can call herself the Queen Of Gymnastics.

Reason Of Retirement: Nastia had a disappointing performance at Classics, face planting on her release move. She knew it was time to retire and go onto other things. But like I said, she can not be disappointed. She has World and Olympic Medals! She has a huge fan base, and is one of the most loved/appreciated gymnasts in history. 

Her Legacy: The legacy that Nastia left was pretty big. So big that I can't even describe it. Nastia inspired so many young gymnasts out there, its incredible. Nastia proved that you don't have to be a World AA Champ to be an Olympic AA. After Shawn came onto the scene, Nastia was pushed into silver, all the time, but she finally did it, she finally won.

These are some of the gymnasts who have left legacies in the sport, in my opinion, as I think of more, they will be added to the list

About Me: Triplewhip

So I have been writing for a year on this blog. And I have got to say, I have loved the whole experience. Its been fun being able to write about gymnastics and having you, the viewers, read about it, read my pieces. Anyway, I figured, I'll tell you a few things about me

1. I fell in love with the sport in 2006, the year Vanny won the AA gold, making history for Italy

2. When I discovered gymnastics, my parents tried to watch it with me but bailed in between 2006 and 2008.

3. In my gym, the coaches suspended flags from the ceiling of all the different countries, I can name a gymnast from almost every one of them

4. I like the color pink

5. I hate bland leotards. The ones with no style like the ones in the olden days just give me nausea.

6. I am a huge fan of Grey's Anatomy, Jane the Virgin, Child Genius. Dance Moms, DWTS, Castle, and Open Heart

7. I'm just a teenager, a normal teenager, who takes tumbling classes.

8. I love leotards. Even though I'm not an actual competitive gymnast, I have a whole drawer of leotards (Coming up on two drawers)

9. My Favorite gymnast is Aly Raisman

10. I want to have a career in a gymnastics related thing. Maybe judging, commentating, or writing for magazines like International Gymnast.

11. Gymnastics is my life, school is just a hobby.

12. I first came up with the idea of starting a blog in 2012, when my parents stopped listening to me about gymnastics, and I needed to vent it out somehow

13. I already have my Team For Rio mapped out.

14. During the summer I swim, hang out with friends, and of course watch gymnastics

15. After starting the gymnastics blog, I had to find ways to keep venting my gymnastics energy, so I signed up for my tumbling class, with girls who know gymnastics, I started an Instagram, username is @doubletwistingdoublelayout. I have a Tumblr @doublelayouthalftwist, and I have a Twitter @themosalto16. And I comment on YouTube Gymnastics Videos. Any other forms would be great, just reccomend them below. 

 So now there are 15 facts about me that you know!

Gymnast of the Day: USA's Chellsie Memmel

When we think about gymnasts getting their start in gymnastics, we typically think of parents putting them in classes because they are always bouncing around the house, climbing on counters, and the parents put them in classes because they dont want them to get hurt. But Chellsie's parents were actually coaches, so she spent time in the gym, with the encouragement of her parents. While Chellsie was bouncing around the gym, Chellsie's parents taught her basic gymnastics. When they saw the promise in Chellsie, they realized that they lacked expertise, and enrolled her in classes with Jim Chudy at Salto Gymnastics at the age of 8. 

Chellsie began competing elite in the year of 2000. In 2003, Chellsie became a senior elite gymnast. She placed in bronze medal position at hte National Podium meet and American Classic. She was then invited to compete at the Pacific Challenge with Canada and Australia. At the Pacific Challenge, she won the all-around, with teammate Carly Patterson right behind her in the silver medal position. 

   At the 2003 Nationals, Chellsie had just conquered a hamstring injury, which, like any injury, had messed with her training time. She made mistakes in her floor routine, causing her to place in tenth in the all-around competition. At the 2003 Worlds Selection Camp, Chellsie made the Pan-Am Team, but not the Worlds Team.  When Worlds came around, many girls on the Team were injured or sick, so Chellsie was chosen to compete on the team. Chellsie was the only girl to compete on all four events in the team finals, and she led her team to their first ever Worlds Gold Medal. Individually, Chellsie won the uneven bars gold medal, but she tied with teammate Hollie Vise. 

  In 2004, Chellsie competed at the American Cup, placing third behind teammates Carly Patterson and Courtney McCool. During the Training Camp in April, Chellsie broke a bone in her foot, and was unable to compete at the 2004 Nationals, or the 2004 Olympic Trials, thusly, not making the Athens Team. She petitioned to the Olympic Selection Camp, but did not perform to the best of her abilities. Marta advised her not to compete on vault and floor, but to focus on bars and beam, her best events. After the sadness of not making the Olympic Team, Chellsie was able to go to the World Cup and win the UB Finals. So there were ups and downs to Chellsie's 2004 season. 

In 2005, Memmel started out her season competing at the American Cup. But she did win uneven bars and placed in 3rd on beam. By the U.S Classic, Chellsie was competing in the all-around again, but placed 4th. She then proceeded to place 2nd at Nationals behind Nastia Liukin. She did qualify to the 2005 Pan-Ams, there, she won the all-around title, and the uneven bars and beam competitions. She was then named to the Worlds Team along with Jana Bieger, Nastia Liukin, and Alicia Sacramone. She won the All-Around Title by just 0.001 over Nastia Liukin. She also took silver medals on bars and beam, both behind teammate Nastia Liukin. The success at the 2005 Worlds inspired Chellsie to go pro, and she gave up her NCAA scholarship eligibility.

    In 2006, Memmel started the year by competing at the Pacific Alliance championships, where she tied for first in AA with Nastia Liukin. Memmel then injured her shoulder while training an overshoot at the Pacific Alliancce Championships. She decided not to compete at the U.S Classic in 2006 so she can recover. Two weeks later, she competed watered down routines at the Nationals, where she placed 4th in the all-around, and she was named to the 2006 World Team. At Worlds, Memmel was still dealing with her shoulder injury, the U.S did well in qualifying, Memmel qualfied first for the all-around finals, and also qualified to the UB and FX finals. In the all-around finals, Chellsie fell off on a Hindroff release in the second rotation. On beam, Chellsie was able to save herself when she landed a front tuck, with one foot off the beam. Unfortunately, the bars fall re-injured her shoulder, tearing it, and withdrew from the floor rotation, as well as the individual event finals. 

   In 2007, Memmel's injury was still haunting her. She competed on floor on day one of the 2007 Nationals. After USA's success at the 2007 Worlds, Memmel was inspired to make her AA comeback. She would make it in the "Good Luck Beijing" Meet. It was considered a test meet for Beijing. The girls would compete on the same apparatus that they would in Beijing the following year. 

In 2008, Memmel made the Olympic Team, but once again, had an injury, so she could only contribute on bars, contributing to the USA team's silver medal finish. Memmel did try to make a comeback for London, but she missed a handstand, putting extreme pressure on her shoulder, ice was applied, and she was out.