Men's and Ladies' Gymnastics | Page 9 | Golden Skate

Men's and Ladies' Gymnastics

janetfan

Match Penalty
Joined
May 15, 2009
Mustafina comes from a mixed religious family. Mom is Orthodox Christian.. Dad is Muslim; the kids will "choose" when they are older....She hasn't yet. There are actually quite a few Russian gymnasts from Muslim families.. Nabieva (at least Dad is)... A couple of guys, not all of them were in the Church.

That sounds right to me. BTW, not every Muslim is ultra religious. I had a good Turkish friend who was muslim and he used to love his gin and tonics.

IN USA there are ultra-religious Christian and Jewish athletes who won't perform on their holy days but it is becoming more rare.

I doubt if the majority of Russian muslims have all that much in common with Saudi's or muslims from nations like Iran where religion is the most important part of their cultural upbringing.

Only a few years ago most muslims could not openly practice their faith in the Soviet controlled countries.

Whatever, I really like Mustafina. What a character! Have to wonder if she had not blown out her knee how she might have done in London.
 
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Blades of Passion

Skating is Art, if you let it be
Record Breaker
Joined
Sep 14, 2008
Country
France
I don't know enough about gymnastics to have a definitive opinion, but after one gymnast's performance I said aloud to a friend "that routine should get a full point in deductions"...and when the score came out it received exactly 1.00 in deductions. That made me happy.
 

skateluvr

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 23, 2011
Well, I did not see The floor finals as it was so late. I wanted to see it on TV and just had to go to bed. So I did not see the Floor Ex that Gabby and Komova did. Who else did they show?

I have to register with Charter to watch replays on NBC it seems. I just think Komova like all the Russian move more beautifully than any American other than Nastia. The form of Mary Lou, Carly and yes Nastia were all better than Gabby, and we saw so little gymnastics. Catalina Ponor was amazing. I watched past routines. It seems like we had Raisman who really surprised me as number two becuuse as Retton said before the events started Raisman was "sloppy" her feet mostly I think, and Retton said in one interview Komova was the one to beat (I can see that). In another inyerview, it was Weiber, a powerhouse woman. I wonder if someone could talk about how it is that little Chinese and Russians can do these vaults but US ladies (well, two) look like steroids are used.

Gymnastics on FX from what I saw is no longer about dance, bounce, spring, beautiful lines. 2004 I did not watch. 2008 had Nastia and amazing litle Shaun, but again, the coverage was of the chinese and we all know the deal there. I am no big gymnastics fan only because it does not get much coverage and I watch what I find as opposed to knowing when the shows are on. I like very little TV nowadays to be honest.

I am happy for Gabby and she didn't make big mistakes, but her beam was meh to me. She does fly on bars. And her confidence was high, vault was good. I saw her floor ex from qualifications and other events the last two years on Youtube. I watched Komova's last several events and honestly liked her so much better. Her floor is beautiful! I can't say if Gabby's is more difficult tumbling. I liked her (Komova's) routine 2 points more. But these girls felt it was fair Gabby won. Mustafina injured was too bad. This girl healthy should easily take the AA.

I hope for the best to win the ind. events. Gabby has made history and no one has more than 2 gold medals in Gymnastics. So now I want to see some stellar girls step up to their individual reputations.I hope luck and skill spreads the medals around to other countries. A lot of girls are feeling dejected, I am sure. USA is already so blessed and golden. History made in a few ways. Since we have seen so few routines of other "special" girls, I'll rely on who they say is event gold champ, if they even tell us that. Raisman was lucky to be in the top two. I think Weiber has the power and is cleaner.I really want a gold for Jordyn. She is much better than raisman and I was sorry she could not do all around. I must say I was surprised to see at this level Ally getting as far as she did with bent knees, form breaks, legs not together, pidgeon not pointed toes.Gymnastics is changing a lot just like skating, and I don't think i like the direction. Gymnastics of the past was about elegance and I feel the Russians/ Romanians are treated badly by their coaches. They cry a lot. I swear they must beat them. I saw a training piece where Komova was being yelled at and crying. Komova is like a little waif. A nadia/korbut blend. I want a gold for this girl. I hope she can deliver. They look a bit starved while our girls look very healthy. Is there a "thing" with these teams where the coaches or Russia?Romania discourage training that bulks up the girls too much? Nastia looks like a weakling next to ally/Jordyn. It does seem the tumbling is already harder on FX 4 years later. I watched Nastia's Bejing all around last night and the beaty and connections were there but her FX looked easy. I always thought Shaun Johnson was the best anyway, so what do I know?

If anyone has a link to the FX portion of the all around, or even the whole event replay in any broadcast, can you put them in? Thanks.

They said NBC broke even. How can that be with all those commercials? They should be making some money.

Anyway, I want to see The equestrian events but they are in the morning. You'd think Zara Philips and the royals would merit prime time. Americans adore this bunch!
 
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skateluvr

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 23, 2011
What the? All around gold for Gabby =90 million dollars? Hey, brutal sport for sure, but no wonder everyone else is crying...gee, I feel really bad now for the Romanians...they would likely get the medal and a few thousand dollars in such a poor place. Again, big money destroys sports...all sports...this is not what the Olympic move,ment should be. Was nastia on the cereal boxes. It seems way excessive for one endorsement and damn good cereal is so expensive already! I jokes about Wheaties, but mary Lou was the first American to go AA. I winder what she got in 84. Anyone know about the money side of these "games?" What is Phelps worth and is he still getting contracts 3 Olympics after he hit big???

If it is really about world peace, they should have inter country teams and all the little faces on a cereal---it's a global economy...I want all the girls on the box! Our team and throw in Komova and Mustafina (their gym looks kinda poor!)
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
I agree, skateluvr.

In a way, it makes me feel better about skating being so much less profitable these days. You really have to be doing it for love most of the time.

I imagine Michael Phelps has been making a lot of money with endorsements all along. Some of the more glamorous female swimmers, such as Dara Torres and Natalie Coughlin, have appeared in commercials. I can't resent that; after all, they have worked like dogs for years so as to qualify for repeated Olympics, and there's no pro swimming circuit.

I suspect that the hunky Ryan Lochte will get a lot of magazine space. He could give Evan Lysacek and Fedor Andreev some pretty good competition as a model. Hey, I'd buy a magazine with him as the cover guy! But in the U.S., the winner of a women's gymnastics gold, especially the all-around, has a special status. And this girl, with her thousand-watt smile, will make out like gangbusters. Mary Lou Retton was in huge demand right from the get-go after her gold, and at the age of sixteen her future was assured. I believe she earned her living as a motivational speaker for years. Speaker fees can be very high and are based on popularity.
 

dorispulaski

Wicked Yankee Girl
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Country
United-States
If NBC is breaking even, that is much better than was predicted. I seem to remember some doom & gloom that these days the Olympics was a losing proposition for a network. The Summer less than the winter, but both losers. Break even is good! And the games are not over. The final totals are not in yet.
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
Apparently more people here watched the opening ceremonies than in many previous Olympics. This Games is getting a lot of attention because of the swimmers as well as the gymnasts, and I think because so many Americans are Anglophiles and love seeing stuff about Britain. The fact that William and Kate are often seen in the stands might also help, as well as the fact that tennis is being held at Wimbledon.
 

ice coverage

avatar credit: @miyan5605
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Feb 27, 2012
Alexandra Raisman ‏@Aly_Raisman
Just met princess Kate with @jordyn_wieber @kyla_ross96 & @gabrielledoug she is so beautiful & so nice! I told her I loved her style lol :)
8:03 AM - 5 Aug 12​

Jordyn Wieber ‏@jordyn_wieber
Can't believe I just met Princess Kate Middleton! She was in the crowd at the competition and she stood up to talk to us! #honored
8:04 AM - 5 Aug 12​

What a thrill for them [and for Kate ;)]! My only regret is that the superstar Maroney might have missed this once-in-a-lifetime encounter -- presumably because of the vault final.
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
How great to hear about the meeting. I hope she'll meet with them again after the conclusion of all the events. After all, as you point out, this is a thrill for her, too. Man, what a year for her to become royalty! She gets to attend all the Olympics events. Including that tennis final match, at Wimbledon itself!
 

ice coverage

avatar credit: @miyan5605
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Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Apparently more people here watched the opening ceremonies than in many previous Olympics. This Games is getting a lot of attention because of the swimmers as well as the gymnasts, and I think because so many Americans are Anglophiles and love seeing stuff about Britain. The fact that William and Kate are often seen in the stands might also help, as well as the fact that tennis is being held at Wimbledon.

NBCSportsPR @NBCSportsPR has been tweeting viewership updates galore, such as:

189 million have watched the Olympics on the nets of NBCU through 8 days, 4 mil ahead of Beijing, which set record with 215 million viewers
12:33 PM - 4 Aug 12

With most-watched Opening Ceremony in Summer Olympics history (40.7 mil) each night has at least 28.5 mil., a first for a Summer Olympics
12:33 PM - 4 Aug 12

Through 8 nights 34.5 mil avg viewers and 19.2 hh rating on NBC is best for a non-U.S. Summer Games since Montreal in 1976
12:34 PM - 4 Aug 12

Every night of London Olympics tops same nights from Beijing Games in viewership and HH rating. #Olympics
12:34 PM - 4 Aug 12

Early on, London had more NBC viewers even than Atlanta:

28.7 mil for the Olympics last night on NBC, most for the first night of Summer Olympic competition on record. Atlanta (26.3 mil) #Olympics
12:17 PM - 29 Jul 12

NBC's 2-day Olympic viewership of 35.6 million is best on record for a Summer Olympics. (Atlanta, 33.3 mil, Beijing 29.5 mil). #Olympics
12:18 PM - 29 Jul 12

Additional stats re London opening ceremony:

40.7 million average viewers for last night’s Opening Ceremony on NBC is most-watched ever for a Summer Games…even tops Atlanta (39.8 mil)
10:03 AM - 28 Jul 12

Opening Ceremony gives NBC highest-rated Friday night on ANY network in a decade…since SLC 2002 Opening Ceremony on NBC (25.2). #Olympics
10:05 AM - 28 Jul 12​
 

Serious Business

Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 7, 2011
Some clarifications about NBC, ratings, and making money: The most recent statement from NBC is that they came close to breaking even and may possibly even make some profits. Don't believe NBC for a second, this is just bunkum directed at angry investors. Most ads are already sold. Whatever money they're going to make off these Olympics is all mostly made and set in stone. There are last minute ad buys, but with so many of the marquee events with American contenders over, if they didn't make a profit already on these, they're not about to start now. Even now, NBC has started replacing live Olympics coverage with interviews and specials on Michael Phelps to try to get its ratings momentum going, now that their biggest star, Phelps, will no longer be competing.

Now there are some ways the huge ratings could have helped NBC in the future. For instance, when selling ads for Sochi Olympics, NBC could try to use the success of the London Olympics as an example. This will be scoffed at. General Anglophilia and the very tight relationships between the US and the UK fueled the ratings for the London Olympics. Well guess what? The Sochi Olympics will take place in a country the US has had a frigid relationship with, even now. To make things worse, NBC coverage have been fanning the anti-Russian sentiments during the women's gymnastics coverage. Skating coverage has been doing that for years, too. Remember when that little toad Jay Leno mocked Irina Slutskaya's last name? Americans in general will not be feeling the same warm fuzzies they have towards the UK hosts when Sochi rolls around. If anything, the success of the London Olympics' ratings in the US portends under-performing ratings for Sochi. Another driver of the NBC ratings is the unprecedented Olympic star Michael Phelps. There is no equivalent in the Winter Olympics (or the Summer Olympics, really). As for the Rio Olympics, the good news is that Americans don't have any animosity towards Brazil. But there's no special regard, either. It'll be just like any Olympics hosted in an exotic locale. And unless Phelps unretires, the ratings will be business as usual, as will the ad rates.

Another way the Olympics is supposed to help NBC is to help them launch hit new TV shows that will give them ratings for years beyond the Olympics. So yeah, remember all those hit shows the Vancouver Olympics launched? Heck, remember any hit shows on NBC? There's The Voice... Despite the massive platform of the Vancouver Olympics and the Super Bowl, NBC has failed to launch even a moderately successful regular lineup. That's why outside of sporting events, which NBC loses money on, the network is often in 5th place (after CBS, FOX, ABC and Univision).

When NBC first bought the rights to these Olympics for about 1.2 billion dollars (they also bought the rights to other Olympics as part of a 4 billion + deal), the general consensus was that they paid about 500 million dollars too much. NBC stock immediately tumbled on the news of their imprudent purchase. And now, in an economy that's become much worse, NBC honestly expects anyone to believe they're even close to making a profit on the London games? Please.

Instead, the main effect of NBC's record ratings of these games will be as follows: NBC execs have already publicly stated that the massive ratings are a giant seal of approval for how they've been covering the Olympics. Tape-delays are great! Everybody knowing the results in advance actually boosts ratings, said one delusional exec. Coverage that focuses on American athletes to the complete exclusion of competitors from any other country is the way to go! In the Sochi Olympics, we'll be very lucky to see more than 4 programs in each segment of the men's competition (3 if the US only qualifies 2 men). Scott Hamilton and Sandra Bezic will be politely reminded by the network brass to stop being so nice about non-American competitors (if NBC can force the Russian-born Nastia Liukin to do an anti-Russian gymnastics fluff piece, Canadian Bezic will be made to fall in line as well). If the opening ceremonies contain a performance from the Bolshoi ballet, expect that to be replaced with an interview with Shaun White, because ballet just isn't "tailored for the U.S. audience".
 
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Joined
Jun 21, 2003
What the? All around gold for Gabby =90 million dollars?

"Sports marketing experts have said Douglas, the first African American to win all-around gold, could earn between $2 million-$3 million with endorsement opportunities. Douglas has no idea, she said.

""I just Googled my name and I read, 'Gabby just signed a $90 million contract!' What? They were saying three to four million dollars," Douglas said, poking fun at online fiction."

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olym...2012-08-05/gabby-douglas-more-gold/56804264/1

I joke about Wheaties, but Mary Lou was the first American to go AA. I winder what she got in 84.

"Also, "she's signed to represent the overall P&G brand, as well as our beauty brands (Olay, Pantene, CoverGirl, Secret)," a P&G spokesman told Ad age in an email.

"The P&G and Kellogg deals will likely preclude competing personal care and food brands from making similar deals. But other categories seem wide open, such as apparel, Mr. Andrews noted. Still, he added, she is not likely to reach the sponsorship saturation of Mary Lou Retton, whose stardom and endorsement power lived on for years after becoming the first American woman to win all-around gold at the 1984 Olympics."

http://bottomline.nbcnews.com/_news...douglas-gold-worth--in-endorsement-deals?lite

Mary Lou Retton's agent was Shep Goldberg. A decade later he took on another famous athlete, Michelle Kwan. By this time Mary Lou had been out of the public spotlight for quite a while and she felt that Goldberg was devoting too much attention to Kwan and not enough to her, so she switched agents.

As for Gabby Douglas, the big controversy now seems to be her hair.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olym...London-Olympics-Gabby-Douglas-hair/56802774/1
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Most ads are already sold. Whatever money they're going to make off these Olympics is all mostly made and set in stone.

Well, they got something from the Mitt Romney campaign for the ad with Kristi Yamaguchi praising Romney for how well he ran the Salt Lake City Olympics.

I think Kristi was mad because President Obama invited the Shibutanis to lunch with the Japanese Prime minister and and not her. ;)
 

Serious Business

Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 7, 2011
Well, they got something from the Mitt Romney campaign for the ad with Kristi Yamaguchi praising Romney for how well he ran the Salt Lake City Olympics.

I think Kristi was mad because President Obama invited the Shibutanis to lunch with the Japanese Prime minister and and not her. ;)

:laugh:

In gymnastics news, total shocker: McKayla Maroney sat down on her second vault during the second vault finals, total freak accident. She still scored well enough for a silver. But the woman widely acknowledged as the greatest vaulter ever will not be an Olympic champion on the apparatus. And while vault specialists have longer lifespans than other types of gymnasts, it remains to be seen if team USA in 2016 will still have room for her if she wants that gold. I wouldn't be too pressed, though, if I were her. She's already shown the world her Amanar in its perfect form in the much higher profile team finals event.

In floor, Zou Kai won floor with a more difficult and varied routine than silver medalist Kohei Uchimura. Uchimura's form, though, was breathtakingly perfect as always.

In pommel horse, top qualifier, Briton Louis Smith, kept the crowd riveted as he was the very last one to go! He performed his routine perfectly. He tied with Krisztián Berki of Hungary in total score. However, Berki had the higher execution score, which was the tiebreaker, and Smith had to settle for silver. Can't disagree, though. Berki's form on the pommel horse was unbelievable, just starkly superior to everybody else. With a difficulty score just .1 below Smith's, the results make sense. The British crowd must have still felt extra jubilant, as Max Whitlock, another Briton, who only qualified in 8th (the cutoff) for the apparatus, did the routine of a lifetime and won bronze!
 

let`s talk

Match Penalty
Joined
Sep 10, 2009
:laugh:

In gymnastics news, total shocker: McKayla Maroney sat down on her second vault during the second vault finals, total freak accident.
Yeah, M.Trankov called judging in gymnastics summer figure skating ("летнее фигурное катание") :laugh:. The dude is right aftherall seems to me.
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
Interestingly, NBC showed a little retrospective of Olga Korbut from the 1972 Olympics this afternoon. I had forgotten how delightfully graceful her routines were, especially her floor routine. Of course the difficulty level in those days was much lower, so there was more possibility to execute a routine close to perfectly. (Except for the moment when Olga had a near-complete meltdown on the uneven bars in the All-Around.) But nowadays, I watch with my heart in my mouth most of the time. I still have my blood pressure only because this year my time zone lets me see the results before I sit down in front of the TV screen. Otherwise I'd find it terrifying to watch some of those routines.
 

ice coverage

avatar credit: @miyan5605
Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Well, they got something from the Mitt Romney campaign for the ad with Kristi Yamaguchi praising Romney for how well he ran the Salt Lake City Olympics.

I think Kristi was mad because President Obama invited the Shibutanis to lunch with the Japanese Prime minister and and not her. ;)


Hi, Mathman,

I know that you're joking about Yamaguchi feeling left out of the Japanese PM opportunity.

But thought you'd be interested and pleased to know that Kristi Yamaguchi ‏@kristiyamaguchi recently tweeted about participating in the Tomodachi program, which Sec. Clinton had referenced at the event to which the Shibutanis were invited:

Had a special evening w/ 300 school kids from Tohoku region visiting CAL Berkeley w/ the Tomadachi program. #hopeinspires
11:10 PM - 2 Aug 12

Meant "Tomodachi"
11:12 PM - 2 Aug 12​
 

SGrand

Final Flight
Joined
Dec 22, 2011
Interestingly, NBC showed a little retrospective of Olga Korbut from the 1972 Olympics this afternoon. I had forgotten how delightfully graceful her routines were, especially her floor routine. Of course the difficulty level in those days was much lower, so there was more possibility to execute a routine close to perfectly. (Except for the moment when Olga had a near-complete meltdown on the uneven bars in the All-Around.) But nowadays, I watch with my heart in my mouth most of the time. I still have my blood pressure only because this year my time zone lets me see the results before I sit down in front of the TV screen. Otherwise I'd find it terrifying to watch some of those routines.

Oh I watched that too, was so entertaining, and very cute to see what was done 40 years ago compared to the craziness of today's gymnastics. He form was so perfect and I love her smile, a true entertainer, she totally changed gymnastics.
 

seniorita

Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 3, 2008
I missed the finals yesterday, the sea was calling:cool: I ve managed not to know the results so far until I ll go home and watch tonight!!:popcorn:
 
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