Men's and Ladies' Gymnastics | Page 12 | Golden Skate

Men's and Ladies' Gymnastics

janetfan

Match Penalty
Joined
May 15, 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. .




Here is Dominique Dawes interviewing Olga.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GidXQhpHIs0

Some interesting thoughts from Olga and she does mention the "squirrel" as her favorite from the London games.
A few other interesting views about changes in the scoring system and the equipment.

Thinking back, as much as I loved Olga's floor routines I didn't realize the floor had no spring back then.

I did not make a list of favorite Olympians (I have too many) but if I did Olga would be right up at the top.
 
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DianaSelene

Medalist
Joined
Aug 2, 2011
What is really funny is that I thought of ally as our rachael, but did not post it. The commentator just said they call her reliable Raisman! i can't believe it! Well, two girls did not win an individual medal, and given that jordan is the WC and a very good gymnast. It was not her event. But I know I could do a good job commentating as I am having esp no joke. Reliable Rachael Flatt = reliable all Raisman. Not nice lines, how true. I actucally prefer Shaun Johnson-she was adorable, but it is hard to have lines with her build and her very short legs. Something about Shaun was so magnetic next to cool taller, thinner nadia, who never smiled until she had won the allaround. This team will be fab 5 forever. Does team gold count as 5 golds? mckayla got silver on vault, Gabby got gold on all around and raisman got bronze (that was weird and I'm not sure fair as her coach did not want to contest it-strange) on beam and ally gold on all around. Gabby was really done after that all around. Fate, her prayers, it changes her family. She isn't as "wealthy" as the other girls so I am glad it is her if anyone.

So 8 medals in total for the American girls? I have no memory of how 1996 team did (7golds) on individual. I think Mustafina is very happy and deservedly so. Of who they showed, Ponor, Komova and Mustafina were the beautiful girls from the expected great teams. And the chinese were so perfect on beam. So far ahead of the rest.
jonathan Horton did a great high bar. These men look, um incredible! Zonderland, wow! from the Netherlands. Worth seeing. Great for them. an gold medal.

Didn't the American girls get 5 medals? I thought it was Team, AA, and Floor golds, then a vault silver, and a beam bronze. There was one medal from the men: a bronze for Leyva in the AA. Team gold does not count as 5, it counts as 1.
 

heyang

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
NBC's broadcast didn't mention that Epke Zonderland and Jonathan Horton are good friends. The Beeb commentators said they're pen pals and plan to train together. And the two did hug and talk after bar.

Also, now that artistic gymnastics is over, time for a tally of the standout achievements of the amazing US women's team:

Gabby Douglas: contributed the most points to team USA's gold medal win; won the biggest prize, the all-around gold
Aly Raisman: wins the most medals, a team gold, a floor gold and a beam bronze
Mc Kayla Maroney: got the single highest score of any female gymnast at these Olympics for her vault during the team finals
Kyla Ross: youngest member of team USA

And nothing for Jordyn Wieber! :p :biggrin:

Jordyn did contribute to Team Gold, as did Kyla. Ali also placed 4th in the all-around, which is nothing to sneeze at either especially since the tie breaker was needed.
 

heyang

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
BTW, Men's high bar was amazing.

Team US Men's needs a lot of work over the next 4 years.
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
Here is Dominique Dawes interviewing Olga.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GidXQhpHIs0

Some interesting thoughts from Olga and she does mention the "squirrel" as her favorite from the London games.
A few other interesting views about changes in the scoring system and the equipment.

Thinking back, as much as I loved Olga's floor routines I didn't realize the floor had no spring back then.

I did not make a list of favorite Olympians (I have too many) but if I did Olga would be right up at the top.

Thanks, Janetfan. What a wonderful interview. Both ladies, Korbut and Dawes, come off well in it. I loved when Olga explained the difference in the scoring system back then. I agree that Korbut would go on my list of favorite Olympians. More so than Nadia, even, because of her wonderful personality. I also had a special affection for her floor routine. Nadia was more aloof and businesslike and didn't project personality as well as Olga.

I do remember some comment in 1984, when Mary Lou was performing, about the floor being sprung at that point, so I assume that this was when the new floors were instituted.
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
I don't see why they can't have a tie. It would be a lot less painful. I hate watching people who think they've won and then have to back away. The gymnastics federation should have said, "Phooey on you, IOC. We're the marquee sport of the Summer Olympics, and we're doing things our way."

At least Ponor got a medal, and for a far more distinguished performance (that slinky floor exercise) than the disputed beam. It was a real pleasure to watch her. She has the interpretive power of a mature artist--she doesn't look like a wind-up toy that's been programmed by the coach. Too bad she's not a figure skater. There's not much scope for musicality in gymnastics floor routines these days. I wish I'd seen the medal ceremony.

By the way, did everyone see Nelli Kim there supervising the judges' panel during the deliberations over the balance beam protest? She was on that great Soviet team in 1976, and she was the only other gymnast besides Comaneci who got perfect 10's. Hers were on the vault and the floor exercise. I'm glad she's still involved with gymnastics.
 

skateluvr

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 23, 2011
I don't see why they can't have a tie. It would be a lot less painful. I hate watching people who think they've won and then have to back away. The gymnastics federation should have said, "Phooey on you, IOC. We're the marquee sport of the Summer Olympics, and we're doing things our way."

At least Ponor got a medal, and for a far more distinguished performance (that slinky floor exercise) than the disputed beam. It was a real pleasure to watch her. She has the interpretive power of a mature artist--she doesn't look like a wind-up toy that's been programmed by the coach. Too bad she's not a figure skater. There's not much scope for musicality in gymnastics floor routines these days. I wish I'd seen the medal ceremony.

By the way, did everyone see Nelli Kim there supervising the judges' panel during the deliberations over the balance beam protest? She was on that great Soviet team in 1976, and she was the only other gymnast besides Comaneci who got perfect 10's. Hers were on the vault and the floor exercise. I'm glad she's still involved with gymnastics.

Ponor handled her loss of medal, at her last Olympics by shaking her head, but her federation did not rush over. It was instigated by Bela Karolyi in the stands. Mihi (sp) Aly's coach said "for what?" so I guess it pays to complain because there is leeway in gymnastics and skating to change a mark and thus a medal. No one gets perfect scores now but I think a perfect score was deserved twice for mckayla maroney. too bad she couldn't do it on the indivdual vault. She was definitely ripped at her silver, disappointed in herself, I am sure. Gabby seems to smile through it all, though she will be her own self. It is interesting she at one point in Desmoines was not working and not good attitude. Apparently she had her phone and laptop taken away. It reminds us these are sheltered kids, and not Robots, yet some coaches/countries really apply the pressure. Bela may be a tough old nut but he does what it takes to produce champions. It has been very interesting to watch him lead USA gymnatics over the years.

I will forever be in Jordyn's corner and if she competes, I hope she does great again. Her heartbreak was understandable, and I hope she realizes the team gold would not have happened without her. She is very gracious...thee are a lot of pictures of mckayla out there, apparently she is not very popular. I think when they tour and do all the shows on TV, that might be forgotten. I woonder if the other 4 will get endorsements? I truly hope they all get something. They are all reasonable cute, and I am hoping Kyla stays in and does well. I think she'd be a marketable athlete. I have so enjoyed watching the gymnastics but wanted to see more countries, more gymnasts And Komova and Mustafina show us the beauty that is still Russian gymnastics. I loved the chinese on beam. I didn't watch much of the mens but it is amazing what they do know for tumbling. A wonderful Olympics for the USA and when Mustafina is fully healed, watch out. I regret that we, at least I did not see the 37 year old woman from ? do her thing do her thing. I hope these routines show up on youtube eventually.

Thanks all for your comments and participation in the summer games.
 
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dorispulaski

Wicked Yankee Girl
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Country
United-States
Here's Oksana Chusovitina at the 2012 Europeans!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t86LqpaeLzk

She is an amazing and inspiring lady.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oksana_Chusovitina

She has competed in 6 Olympic games for 3 different national teams :eek:

She has medalled at Worlds in the vault 9 times.

In late 1997 Chusovitina married Uzbekistani Olympic wrestler Bakhodir Kurpanov. The two originally met at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, where they were both competing.[7] The couple's son, Alisher, was born in November 1999.[2][4]


In 2002, Alisher was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).[8] Seeking advanced medical treatment for their son, Chusovitina and her husband accepted an offer of help from Shanna and Peter Brüggemann, head coaches of the Toyota Cologne club, and moved to Germany. [9] With prize money earned from gymnastics competitions, along with the help of the Brüggemanns and members of the international gymnastics community who fundraised and donated to the cause, Chusovitina was able to secure treatment for Alisher at the University of Cologne's hospital. [1][4][10][11] While Alisher underwent treatment in Cologne, Chusovitina trained with the German team

She went on to become a German citizen and compete for Germany.

In the floor exercise, Chusovitina is credited as the first woman to successfully perform a layout-full-out on floor.[4] A vault specialist, she is the only top female vaulter in the world who does not perform Yurchenko style vaults. Instead, she competes only front handspring entry and Tsukahara-family vaults. Chusovitina is also credited with two bars moves in the Code of Points: a hop-full pirouette release and a full-out dismount.[4]
 

DianaSelene

Medalist
Joined
Aug 2, 2011
Chusovitina was an olympic champion in 1992 where she competed for the team medal with the Russians in the Unified Team.
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
Thanks for the information about Chusovitina. What a magnificent story: not just her strength and longevity in her sport but her willingness to move the earth for her son, and also the generosity of the gymnastics community. Everyone in this story is wide awake with the lights on inside.
 

skateluvr

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 23, 2011
Except for NBC who did not fluff her nor show her on vault...it boggles the mind.:eek:hwell:
 
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