Recent content by RichardL

2002 was a dark year, and I blame it all on athletes struggling to learn D dance elements on floor. RIP Liz Tricase etc

I didn't hate this series from Yezhova either, at least not when she did it like this...

I have to disagree with the satisfaction of the series, though I won't argue about the relative difficulty. A series with repulsion is automatically more satisfying to me than two connected skills that do not involve the body tumbling in a continuous direction. But I defer to the rules!

I didn't love it when Olympic champion Sanne Wevers did the side aerial to side aerial series, and I'm glad she learned a "true" acro series later on.

Vodka

Memmel, Wieber, and Sloan are the only World AA champions to not compete in the AA finals at an Olympics that they otherwise did compete in (not including Biles since she competed in two AAs).

I do still wonder "what if" re: Produnova, though... she looked so good on UB/BB in EFs (even with the mistake on bars; I still think the judges were trying to give her bronze) that I wonder if she could have still pulled off the win in what ultimately became of that field. But I have no idea...

Chiles '24? Listunova '20? (my vote) Wieber '12? Produnova '00 (qualified but withdrew)? Strug '96 (qualified but injured) / '92? Strazheva '88?

I've known these parents too, and it's so bizarre, even when the kid is genuinely talented. If you're so obsessed with your child's future, why not invest in areas that are actually likely to produce outcomes? Even most Olympic athletes end up going to the Games and then continuing on with...

I was a club coach and I just can't imagine how it must feel as a L10 trying to get in front of college coaches this season for possible recruitment. Or to be a parent who now has to decide what to do moving forward. And not to mention what a bizarre (probable) end to one of the most prominent...

This is such a big step. Horrible for the gymnasts and the families affected even if of course the writing has been on the wall etc. I wonder how many will relocate just because of this...

I hate that my opinion of Paul Juda had to suffer because of this.

I see a lot of young US gymnasts who will capitalize on the new rules and not destroy their bodies learning a double double that they can never properly land without causing permanent damage to their bodies. This will be a win win unless Biles or Carey wants to compete again and cause drama.

I thought flappergirl was being sarcastic!

I hope Caylor is soaking up the experience of being very visible at Worlds and thinking hard about the next season rather than showing up with more or less the same routines right now. Always funny to me that the NCAA gymnasts are still very much among the best but only show up in the...