Artistic Gymnastics (MAG/WAG) Live Chat

[VickB]

Rhys McClenaghan congratulations who competes both Ior Ireland and Northern Ireland

Rhys McClenaghan (@rhysmcc1) • Instagram profile

154K Followers, 1,523 Following, 1,155 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Rhys McClenaghan (@rhysmcc1)

www.instagram.com

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Rhys McClenaghan congratulations who competes both Ior Ireland and Northern Ireland

Rhys McClenaghan (@rhysmcc1) • Instagram profile

154K Followers, 1,523 Following, 1,155 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Rhys McClenaghan (@rhysmcc1)

www.instagram.com

You know, there are few things that are able to bring together all sections of the community in Northern Ireland, but Rhys McClenaghan is one of them. The way the gymnastics governing body tried to ban the three NI gymnasts (including Rhys) from competing at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, saying that they couldn't represent Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games because they had represented Ireland in other international competitions, caused absolute uproar. (Funnily enough, the FIG didn't appear to have any problem with it before Rhys went to the 2021 Olympics... )

No other sports governing body have a problem with athletes from Northern Ireland competing under their own flag at the Commonwealth Games. But the FIG were treating it as a country switch. Unlike in figure skating, in gymnastics you don't have to sit out an embargo if your previous Fed agrees to the switch. But, the FIG doesn't allow you to switch again for 3 years, which would mean the NI gymnasts would not have been able to compete internationally again until summer 2025. And that would include missing these Olympics. No serious athlete would go through all this just to compete in one event. It would be career suicide. So, it was effectively a ban from that event.

The Commonwealth Games mean a lot to athletes from NI because, in a lot of sports, it is the only time that we are able to compete internationally as ourselves. (And for quite a few of our athletes, it is the only opportunity to compete internationally at all, due to the competition for places on the British and Irish teams).

The prospect of not being able to take part any more was a particular blow for Rhys, because he was the reigning Commonwealth Pommel Horse Champion from 2018.

Thankfully, the FIG eventually backed down after a LOT of pressure. But the whole episode gained Rhys (and the other NI gymnasts affected) a LOT of support from right across the community.

Although he ultimately wasn't successful in defending his Commonwealth title (England's Joe Fraser won in 2022), Rhys became the golden boy of Northern Ireland sport.

And now he is our Olympic Golden boy!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[TT_Fin]

None of our TV channels or local net channels shows Gymnastics today. Is there possibility to watch it through some other channel?

 

[Ichatdelune]

Okay I was too busy watching archery (5mm closer to the center insanity) but seems like ZJY did well... and his shoulder is iced... my man you have p-bars left...

 

[Ichatdelune]

Petrounias my king oh lord

Oh dear not as precise as he can be...

 

[Ichatdelune]

Ouch

 

[Ichatdelune]

So I wasn't paying full attention but I am very happy with this podium

 

[4everchan]

None of our TV channels or local net channels shows Gymnastics today. Is there possibility to watch it through some other channel?

do you have a vpn ? everything can be watched on CBC if you are Canadian

https://www.cbc.ca/sports

 

[4everchan]

UB.... i am rooting for the one gymnast who will manage perfect form. No split legs or duck feet please

 

[4everchan]

Okay I was too busy watching archery (5mm closer to the center insanity) but seems like ZJY did well... and his shoulder is iced... my man you have p-bars left...

wow.... koreans are good in archery. I heard it's a mandatory sport in school ? Are you a master of the bow yourself ?

Interesting how some countries have specialty events, completely unpopular in other countries... Korea and Canada at summer games are pretty opposite in terms of where they get their medals.

 

[Ichatdelune]

wow.... koreans are good in archery. I heard it's a mandatory sport in school ? Are you a master of the bow yourself ?

It's not mandatory but a lot of schools do have archery clubs, as for myself I can't even pull a bowstring let alone shoot an arrow with it

 

[Ichatdelune]

ZYH off?????????

Oh dear that must be so hard for her...

 

[4everchan]

It's not mandatory but a lot of schools do have archery clubs, as for myself I can't even pull a bowstring let alone shoot an arrow with it

I don't think I have ever seen a bow and an arrow in person lol. Poor girl... this was a tough fall. The coach was there to catch her but did her really manage to help her ?

 

[Ichatdelune]

Alice D'Amato delivers!

 

[4everchan]

d'Amato was good but I don't know.. it wasn't perfectly pretty nor engagingly exciting.

 

[4everchan]

Damn it... Downe is down... She was so good until then... sigh.

 

[Ichatdelune]

NOOOOOOOOOO

I so wanted her to pull a Vanessa Ferrari and it's heartbreaking

 

[4everchan]

That was flawless !

 

[Ichatdelune]

QQY is not making it easy for Kaylia Nemour to win the thing

I do love Chinese beam and bars, so pretty and clean when hit

 

[4everchan]

Nemour was way more exciting to watch. More amplitude. One move wasn't perfectly straight up... but it could be enough.