International Gymnast Focus: Marta Pihan-Kulesza

   Poland. Before the 2012 Olympics, I never knew that they had a gymnastics federation. But as I was watching Subdivison 2 of the London Summer Olympics, as Poland's Marta Pihan-Kulesza mounted the balance beam, I knew. I watched her as she threw all these skills that I never seen such artistry, such grace. She was lacking in the power department, something this Polish 27 year old phenom could easily fix. I have recently started following Marta's career as a gymnast, watching her routines from her earliest days as a gymnast (Thats right, her JO days). Even as a little 5 year old, Marta was amazing. I always was excited to see her routines, it seemed like Marta added difficulty and new stunts every competition, which in Poland were only like 2 weeks apart. I wish Marta would continue to compete, and hopefully make the beam final there, and maybe even medal like she did at Euros. I wish she would do that, because she can make history for Poland Gymnastics, being an Olympic medalist for the first time.

International Gymnast Focus: Greek Gymnast Vasiliki Millousi

   Lets Talk about Vasiliki Millousi. She was Greece's sole female qualifier in London. Vasiliki didn't compete internationally before London since Sydney 2000. A twelve years difference. Vasiliki `decided to come back in 2010, so that was 10 years retirement, and she was still amazing. Vasiliki had a quiet first year back in 2010, not going to the Worlds in the Netherlands, Vasiliki and her coach decided that she shouldn't enter any international competitions until she had a year's training. After she trained her full year, Vasiliki went to Euros in 2011 and became a finalist on her best event. Vasiliki also watched Russian Gymnast, Aliya Mustafina fall during the first rotation of the All-Around. Thats right, Vasiliki is an all-around gymnast. Just like any Euro gymnast, Vasiliki was horrified when she saw the great Aliya Mustafina go down with a torn ACL. Vasiliki was getting set to go to floor exercise when it happened, which is only two feet away. She was chalking up when see saw Aliya fall. Vasiliki was in 10th before Aliya fell, and as the competition went on, she secured a 8th place spot. Vasiliki loved her 8th place spot, making her a Greek Comeback Legend. In addition to being a balance beam finalist at Euros in 2011. She won the 2012 Olympic Test Event Beam Finals getting her into London as Greece's sole female qualifier. Her dream in London was to make it into beam finals, and hopefully medal, that dream did not make it, because of the top eight rule, Vasiliki did not compete on vault in qualifiers, making her ineligible for the all around final, so Vasiliki just competed in Subdivision 1 of the 2012 London Olympic Games. But her performance was amazing. There is no word around the gymternet about Vasiliki being retired or not, but I hope she isn't.