Boo yah! Zhang Nan is the new beam coach. Awesome beam routines coming this way from China? Me thinks yes, (not that they're not already awesome on beam).Head cases coming through for China? Alas quite probably true. Zhangy was a great beam worker, but an absolute headcase, though not Ukrainian style. She's probably my favourite beam worker (Chinese and generally) when it went right.
So who are my favourite Chinese beam workers other than Zhangy, I wondered. Here's a few:
1. Yang Bo
Like I was going to miss her out. Never won a world title. Ever. That's depressing. Dismounts were her nemesis right up until Barcelona 92, when she fell off the beam, but the dismount was fine. Gorgeous leap named after her, and everyone remembers the awesomeness that was her flic - layout - Rulfova combination.
2. Kui Yuanyuan
Ah the controversey surrounding the 1997 worlds beam title she blatantly should have won. Only got the bronze. Who can forget her three split leaps to three layouts and her full twisting layout to two feet? Not me.
3. Xiao Sha
Her flic - flic - layout all to two feet at the 2007 worlds still makes me happy. Her sheep jump and switch split ring leap were beautiful. She has such wonderful extension. Oh I loves her. She only ever attended the one worlds and totally screwed up prelims, so her world champion potential was never realised.
1. Yang Bo
Like I was going to miss her out. Never won a world title. Ever. That's depressing. Dismounts were her nemesis right up until Barcelona 92, when she fell off the beam, but the dismount was fine. Gorgeous leap named after her, and everyone remembers the awesomeness that was her flic - layout - Rulfova combination.2. Kui Yuanyuan
Ah the controversey surrounding the 1997 worlds beam title she blatantly should have won. Only got the bronze. Who can forget her three split leaps to three layouts and her full twisting layout to two feet? Not me.
3. Xiao Sha
Her flic - flic - layout all to two feet at the 2007 worlds still makes me happy. Her sheep jump and switch split ring leap were beautiful. She has such wonderful extension. Oh I loves her. She only ever attended the one worlds and totally screwed up prelims, so her world champion potential was never realised.
4. Liu Xuan
My list isn't overly unpredictable, but it wouldn't be complete without the 2000 Olympic champion. She had such poise and elegance on the beam, but her layout to two feeet showed her power as well. Leaps and jumps are known to be awesome for the Chinese, her switch split ring and her ring jump were no exception to that rule.
Of course they have had so many great beam workers, Mo Huilan, Wu Jiani, Lu Li, Li Li and Qiao Ya to name but five more.
My list isn't overly unpredictable, but it wouldn't be complete without the 2000 Olympic champion. She had such poise and elegance on the beam, but her layout to two feeet showed her power as well. Leaps and jumps are known to be awesome for the Chinese, her switch split ring and her ring jump were no exception to that rule.
Of course they have had so many great beam workers, Mo Huilan, Wu Jiani, Lu Li, Li Li and Qiao Ya to name but five more.
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