New Web Magazine

Sorry I have posted for a while, and this is just a quick one. Check out (if yo uhaven't already) Couch Gymnast's new web mag, put together by many fans of gym, including an article from yours truly.

http://thecouchgymnast.squarespace.com/

Happy New Year =D

Happy new year to anyone reading this. We've been through yet another year of changes in gymnastics, but what are you looking forward to in 2010?

1. Aliya Mustafina and Tatiana Nabieva

Two of Russia's big hopes for their gymnastics future become senior this year, and hopefully we'll get to see them in action at the team and event final Euros in the early part of this year. Tatiana Nabieva is the current European Junior AA champion, and is capable of skills like an Amanar, (it wasn't a triple twist attempt, she herself called it her Amanar), triple twist on floor and a Grigoras on beam (with tonnes of height, HERE). Mustafina came second AA at the Japan Cup and does an ENORMOUS Markelov on the bars (HERE).

2. The rise and rise of artistry

2009 saw a return of artistry (though not completely, the 1980s and before may never be reached again), and I was pleasantly surprised at just how great an improvement there was. Here's Munch looking forward to even more in 2010.

3.The return of Oksana Chusovitina


She has announced (yet another) come back after injury. The scary thing is she probably can do it. I can only imagine she enjoys it so much she just can't find anything to do at home. Without being disrespectful to the Grandmother of the sport, let's hope she either gives up floor or finds fountains of artistry unknown until now. Perhaps a vault specialism is in order?

4. The return of Anna Pavlova


Now this one makes me really happy, she's coming back again, and as she was scheduled for a competition only a short while ago, it looks like she's in good form already. I'm not sure about Euros, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for worlds.

5. Japan

What with worlds in Japan in 2011, and what is effectively a temporary training centre set up for a couple of years, Japan look to be on the rise. Koko Tsurumi began this last year with her bronze and silver at worlds, and with crazy juniors like Mai Murakami in the ranks, this quad should hold success for Japan. They're artistic, technically awesome and are ready to contend.

6. Huang Qiushuang


She was senior last year but was overlooked for worlds, this year I want to see her in Rotterdam. She has a beautiful DTY, and gorgeous full twisting double layout bars dismount and great floor presentation. Challenge for the all around? Totally. Great team player? Definately. I can see no reason for her to be left off the team this year.

Munchie's Festive Fun Package

Some random bits and pieces here, a few routines from this year that I think are generally awesome. A quick look back at some high points.

Or HERE

I love the way she connects EVERYTHING. Slightly un-human perhaps, but amazing. People who don't work out of Shaposhnikovas / Maloneys annoy me a lot, I think the little swing before you do a handstand/overshoot looks awful, but she doesn't do it. And her dismount rocks aussi.

Or HERE

I think this floor exercise is pretty awesome, mainly because of her leap series. Most people are like *run forward switch split, run forward a bit more, split leap full*. That's boring. She does crazy turns and stuff inbetween. She isn't the most accomplished dancer in the world, but I love it anyway.

Or HERE

Ana Porgras. I don't think I know of anyone who doesn't like her. She's a fabulous gymnast, and hopefully signals a return to more artistry. I love her floor as well, but I think she has the best beam routine of the year, so here she is. Enjoy.

Another beautiful floor routine from Kyoko Oshima. I love her floor work, she is elegant, but she can tumble well too. I liked her Hernando's Hideaway floor routine as well, but I think this one is even better.

SCAM line up

Wow, I'm just post happy the past few days. This one contains actual news however.

Ok, so Rebecca Bross has been announced as one of the two American lasses going to the SCAM next year. Presumably that's only if she doesn't break in the between period. She'll probably win, unless she falls on eveything. Not only does she have high difficulty, if with poor execution sometimes, she has the added advantage of being American.

No announcement for the second competitor at the moment. Bridget Sloan was apparantly offered the spot but turned it down, she wants a break. Unfortunate really, of the two I prefer Sloan. Any bettings on who'll get the other spot? Samantha Shapiro still hasn't had her big break yet what with being constantly injured, maybe this will be her year. Or maybe they'll break out mini A-Sac, she becomes senior next year doesn't she?

Hehehe

WOOOOOO! I IS BIG SCARY GHOST! WOOOOOOO!

Junior Gymnastic Whizz Kid

Ok, so there are some pretty awesome juniors out there right now, and I'm talking worldwide. China has its endless supply of talent so nothing's changed there. Russia are looking strong too, with Soviet child Viktoria Komova of the amazing talent, (please don't let her break before she's a senior. In fact, don't let her break at all). There's also the Mustafina sisters, Tatiana Nabieva and Kristina Goryunova's younger sister. I love Goryunova. I hope her sister does better though. Like being able to land a DTY without nearly concussing herself.

The USA has it's familiar pool of strong juniors with Jordyn Wieber, Kyla Ross, Bridget Caquatto and Mini A-Sac. Japan are shooting up the rankings with their latest wonderkid of the 'sure, a double double as a second pass is no problem whatsoever' variety. Even Britain is looking promising, with Jenny Pinches, Danuscia Francis and Nicole Hibbert due to become seniors shortly, and the Romaeo sisters (I don't think I've spelt that right) Venus and Angel.

But here is one of my favourites: Step forward Larisa Iordache of Romania

How fantastic is she? Incredibly talented girl Romania have going on here. Amazing flic - full twisting tuck back and GORGEOUS dismount. Fully round no questions whatsoever about that. Not bad on the double turn either. My only concern is will she last? I hope she does. So many juniors look promising then fade away into nothingness (I'm looking at you Shantessa Pama). I don't know how old she is either. From what I have read she should be eligible in 2012, but if anyone actually knows please comment and tell me. =D

She isn't the only amazing junior Romania have either, even with Porgras being a senior nowadays. Amelia Racea is pretty groovesome too, and evey single junior floor routine I have seen have been so much better than the seniors! I mean poor Steliana just could not dance, but Izbasa and Tamirjan can pull off a floor routine alright. But they're all amazing. Please let the save Romanian gymnastics. Someone needs to.

ITALIA

I was just thinking about all the fantasic crazy new Italian gymnasts and decided to do a post about some fabulous Italian gymnasts! They've always had that something different about them, but especially recently, so here we go, a whirldwind tour of Italian gymnastics.


FRANCESCA BENOLLI


2005 European vault champion, and the bronze medalist on the same event at the 2008 Euros, she is most known for her power on vault and her lovely floor routines. They're all lovely, go check them out if you haven't already, go on! Her 2005 routine was so different from everyone else, and balletic and pretty and I could go on for ages but won't. She was the first Italian European champion, so she'll go down in history for that. She has her weaknesses unfortunately, she had, (has she retired, anyone know?), the potential to be a good beam worker but always seemed nervous on that event unfortunately. But she's still wonderful.

MONICA BERGAMELLI

The grandmother of Italian gymnastics has been to three olympics (Sydney, Athens and Beijing) and whilst isn't astounding was a very solid gymnast. She had in the past (around 2002) quite a nice double twisting Yurchenko, and was a member of both Italian teams who took away European medals (2002 - bronze and 2006 - gold). It'll seem quite weird now that she's retired (she has, hasn't she? I don't know anything anymore), as she's been around so long.

VANESSA FERRARI

And where would I be if I didn't include this powerful little lady? A member of the Italian European gold medal team of 2006, she went on to win the world all around of the same year becoming Italy's first ever world medalist, let alone champion. She also took the bronze on bars and floor that year. There seemed no end to her in early 2007, becoming European AA and FX champ, though she always struggled with consistancy. Unfortunately her career is in jeopardy due to her injuries, but she still managed FX silver at Euros this year. I'm not a huge fan of her bars, but her beam and floor are impressive. I was always amazed at how flexible she was in 2006.

LIA PAROLARI

One of the most stylish (I sound like Christine Still :S ) Italian gymnasts ever in my opinion. I think she does the best Memmel on floor, and what she lacks in strength she makes up in her dance moves and her choreography. Her Comaneci on bars is fantastic, thanks to her long legs making in look quite scary, though I disliked the simplicity of her beam dismount at Beijing.

CARLOTTA GIOVANNINI

The other Italian Euros vault champ (2007) and silver medalist on the same event in 2008 (though she should have won considering Chuso fell on her second). Queen of the awful leotards. What did she think she was wearing in the Beijing vault final????? Still aside from that a fabulous gymnast, first Italian to reach an olympic event final. Her bars dismount (double pike arabian) keeps great form throughout as well.

ELISABETA PERSIOZA

I have probably spelt that wrong. Sorry to her if I have. She is one of the great new Italian gymnasts that burst on to the scene at worlds. Her flexibility is great and I love her forward scale, when she get's it a bit smoother it will be a great skill, and very original (I so hope people don't take it and run with it like they did when Nistor started the whole arabesque thing). She's also quite powerful despite her flexibility, I'm hoping she carries on how she's started.

PAOLA GALANTE

Scares me for several reasons. 1. Her flexibility is awesome. I'm loving her 1.5 turn on beam in split. 2. Her inside stalder Tkatchev. It doesn't look like it should work!!! and 3. The leotard she wore in the AA at worlds this year. What was with that? Still she's refreshingly different and I'm looking forward to seeing her career progress.

And finally a little blast from the past, a great though underated gymnast by the name of Patrizia Luconi: