Subdivision one: USA, Colombia, Canada, Mexico
Rotation two:
Jorge Hugo Giraldo, rings (COL): Great full twisting double layout dismount, but a bit of swing in the rings before. Small hop.
Scott Morgan, vault (CAN): Handspring Rudi, nice landing, just a small hop. He is totally elated! Cheerfully talking with teammates, big smile on his face.
Hugh Smith, vault (CAN): Handspring front double full to terrific landing. That was beautiful! Judges think so too: 9.5 E score! 16.1. Second vault: Handspring Rudi, step back. Nice job. 15.35 for that one.
Aldo Torres, high bar (MEX): Hit routine with full twisting double layout with a hop. This Mexican gymnast loves it, pumps his fist.
Sho Nakamori, pbars (USA): Good routine with double pike dismount, small hop. 14.6.
Rotation three:
Adickxon Trejo, rings (VEN): Pull to cross, planche, front double pike to cross. Planche. L-sit. Press. Giant. Giant to full twisting double layout with a small hop. Not bad. 13.05/5.4.
Regulo Carmona, rings (VEN): Perhaps the best in South America on this event...inverted cross. Maltese. Cross to invetered cross. Iron cross. Planche. Full twisting double layout with a hop. Some of those positions were a bit questionable as far as being held for two seconds...full twisting double layout a bit piked, small step forward. He's still jazzed about it, though. Everyone seems a bit more relaxed compared to Worlds. 15.3/6.7.
James Brochero, vault (COL): Nice DTY, step back.
Sho Nakamori, high bar (USA): Hit routine with lots of stalders/inbar elements. And a Kolman, bent arms on the giant swinging out of it, but did not break swing. Full twisting double layout with a hop, double fist pump. 13.55/5.3.
Jossimar Calvo, vault (COL): DTY, small hop. Very nice! 15.65/6.2.
Aldo Torres, floor (MEX): Running double front. Layout Thomas. Tucked Thomas. Russians. Rather weak press handstand, not too smooth. Front layout full, small hop. Side somie into the corner. 1.5 to front layout to single stag, a bit choppy. 2.5 with a step to end, landed a little lock legged. 13.5/5.7.
Paul Ruggeri, high bar (USA): Already received 16.1 on vault today...One arm giant, tak half to Tkatchev layout, Tkatchev layout half, Tak full to hecht, jam to inverts, double double layout with a step forward. 15.2/6.9.
CJ Maestas, high bar (USA): Stalder Rybalko, Kolman very nice, Tak full...double double layout. Maybe some leg form with that dismount, but good landing.
Rotation four:
Javier Balboa, pommel (MEX): Gets through most of it cleanly, then comes off at the end. Looked like exhaustion more than anything. Takes full advantage of his 30 seconds after the fall. Only the dismount was left.
Luis Sosa, pommel (MEX): Hit routine brings the Mexicans to their feet.
Tariq Dowers, high bar (CAN): Very nice routine with full twisting double layout dismount, nearly stuck. 13.4.
Brandon Wynn, floor (USA): Front layout full to immediate double front. Whip half to front double full. A bit of rings on floor exercise! Front 1 3/4. Double full. Press to planche handstand. Full twisting double tuck to his head -- whoa. Just got lost in the air it seems. Yikes. Hands down on 2.5 twist to end.
Jossimer Calvo, pbars (COL): Cross handstand on one rail from a giant -- beautifully done! Interesting routine that ends with giant to full twisting double tuck from the end of the rails, old school style. I'd be happy if those dismounts from the end of the bars caught on again. 14.5.
Daniel Corral, pommel (COL): Beautiful routine! This is really his event. 15.3/6.1.
Donothan Bailey, floor (USA): Arabian 1 3/4. Front double full to front tuck half. Twisting second pass. Thomas. Press to planche. Running front 1 3/4. 2.5 to end, very nice. 14.55.
Rotation five:
Tariq Dowers, floor (CAN): Full in tuck, good landing. Arabian double front, small step forward. Russians. Press. Double full, chest low. Front layout to front layout full to single stag. 2.5 twist with a small step. 13.8.
CJ Maestas, pommel (USA): Got 13.5 on floor...gets into real trouble on traveling Russians, loses form and kicks the horse with a foot but amazingly does not come off...scissors to handstand, pirouetting dismount. 12.45/6.3.
Jossimar Calvo, high bar (COL): Tak full to hecht, layout Tkatchev, Kovacs. Blind, jam to inverts, nice form throughout. Double double layout, stuck. Well done!
Javier Balboa, rings (MEX): Double double tuck dismount, well landed. 13.35.
Hugh Smith, floor (CAN): Layout Thomas. Twisting second pass. Double full side pass. So clean in all his work. Press. Front 1 3/4. 1.5 to front layout full with a couple steps back after landing with his shoulders too far back. 2.5 with a step forward. 14.4/5.7.
Rotation six:
CJ Maestas, rings (USA): Good strength positions and stuck double double tuck dismount! 14.8/6.6.
Jorge Pena, floor (COL): Layout Thomas. Layout Arabian 1 3/4. What looked like a triple full side pass. Press. Front handspring, front layout full, fron tuck half. 2.5 with a big step forward to end. He looks thrilled.
Sho Nakamori, rings (USA): Stuck full twisting double layout. 13.6.
Jorge Hugo Giraldo, floor (COL): Hops around after 1.5 to front layout full. 2.5 twist to end. Looks happy to have gotten through that without a major problem.
Jossimar Calvo, floor (COL): Whip to double Arabian. Was that a 3.5 twist? 2.5 to front tuck full. Running Randi -- this guy could give Flavius Koczi a run for his money. Front double full to front half. Wow. Roundoff, triple full to end. WOW. Claps his hands and plays to the crowd a bit. A name to watch! 14.8/6.4.
Javier Balboa, vault (MEX): Rudi.
Javier Cervantes, vault (MEX): DTY, step back, clean in the air.
The Colombians get together in a circle and put their hands together and yell something. The Mexicans are up on the vault podium taking a curtain call, and the crowd approves.
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Subdivision two: Brazil, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Chile
Rotation one:
Sergio Sasaki Junior, pommel (BRA): Hit routine. Little form break near scissors, but whatever. He's pumped!
Petrix Barbosa, pommel (BRA): Much better body position off the horse than Sasaki. Hit routine! Gives thumbs up to the camera. 12.45/4.2.
Luis Rivera, floor (PUR): Fun fact: The 2007 Pan American champion Puerto Rican team have all returned for this meet, minus one person...Arabian double pike, landed low, big hop back. Front double full to punch front, big hop forward. Layout Thomas. Tucked Thomas. 1.5 to front layout full. Does roundoffs with the same unusual technique -- that is to say, a little underarm swing in his hurdle -- that Paul Ruggeri of the U.S. does. 2.5 twist with a step. Good routine, but might have been a bit less hoppy. 14.65/6.1.
Luis Vargas, floor (PUR): Running front 1 3/4 to begin. 1.5 to front layout full. Russians. Press. 1.5. Double full. 2.5 with a hop to end. 14.2/5.6.
Jose Quilla, rings (PER): A Peruvian. Not a lot of strength -- this is a very simple routine for this level. Struggling in one handstand. Giant to full twisting double tuck dismount. 11.8/5.1.
Tomas Gonzalez, vault (COL): A big threat for the vault, floor and -- who knows? -- maybe even all-around titles. 16.15 for his Tsuk double pike! Second vault is Yurchenko 2.5, done with a step forward. Very strong. 15.9/6.6, which means 9.3 execution. Very nice!
Rotation two:
Pericles da Silva, rings (BRA): Really nice toepoint...Good strength skills, especially considering that he's the first up. 1.5 twisting double tuck with a hop, and as he lands you see behind him the whole team jumps to their feet. A very complete routine, a nice mix of swing and strength. 13.8/5.8.
Alexander Rodriguez, pommel (PUR): Hit routine. Big smile.
Petrix Barbosa, rings (BRA): Hit routine with stuck full twisting double tuck dismount. He looks relieved to be done with that.
Sergio Sasaki Junior, rings (BRA): Good Maltese. Double pike front, double tuck front. Giant, overshoots handstand just a bit but pulls it back. Double twisting double tuck with a small step back. Good routine. 13.85/5.4.
Rafael Morales, pommel (PUR): Has to muscle on his second element, but does not give up and does not come off. Regains his form quickly and does well for the rest of the routine, but weak dismount, not in handstand at all. 14.0/5.7.
Angel Ramos, pommel (PUR): Very nice routine, with some complicated stuff. But not enough in the tank for his dismount -- he comes to a dead stop and can't press up. So gets off and walks around the podium for a bit, then salutes the judge exasperatedly and sits down at the edge of the podium before coming down. Hmmm. 12.4/5.3.
Oscar Figueroa, vault (ESA): Tsuk half tucked.
Arthur Zanetti, rings (BRA): Butterfly -- that looks hard! Really great routine from the reigning World silver medalist on rings. Full twisting double layout with a small hop, well controlled. 15.55!
Rotation three:
Mauro Martinez, floor (ARG?): Arabian double pike, tiny hop. Front double full to front half. 2.5 to front tuck full. Russians. Press. Double full side pass. Impressive difficulty -- and ooh, Arabian double front to end, basically stuck! Whoa. That was great.
Sergio Sasaki Junior, vault (BRA): Handspring double front, hop forward. Powerful -- and, he keeps his legs glued together in the air. 14.25/5.9.
Arthur Zanetti, vault (BRA): Diego Hypolito is shouting at him from off the podium, coaching him along. Handspring double front with a step forward. The Brazilians are pumped! Zanetti is pumped! Everyone high fives and hugs. 15.8/6.6.
Mario Berrios, pbars (CUB?): What seemed like a pretty simple routine, performed decently, with a double tuck dismount (hop back). 12.45/4.2.
Diego Hypolito, vault (BRA): Roundoff, half on, front double full off with a step forward. Nice job. 16.05/6.8.
Rafael Morales, rings (PUR): Front double pike, front double tuck. Planche with the rings swinging. Front giant. Giant to 1.5 twisting double tuck, looked stuck for a second, then took a small hop. Nice routine. 13.45/5.6.
Angel Ramos, rings (PUR): Roll to cross. Planche. Front double pike, front double tuck, a little trouble coming to sit position after it -- looked like he was shifting his grip on the ring, actually, and just took an extra second. Giant to full twisting double tuck. Nice dismount, nice lines throughout. 13.35/5.2.
Tommy Ramos, rings (PUR): Double layout, stuck. 14.95. Both Puerto Rico and Brazil are really doing well so far -- they may take advantage of being in the second session and knock the U.S. out of gold medal position...
Rotation four:
Victor Rosa, pbars (BRA): Hit routine. Double pike dismount with a small hop. Great way to lead off Brazil on this event. 13.9/5.6.
Tomas Gonzalez, floor (CHI): So much power...Double double tucked, small hops back. Front double full to front tuck full, steps to the side and OOB with one foot. 2.5 to Rudi, excellent stick. Whip to tucked Thomas. Layout Thomas. Back extension roll half turn. Triple full to end, maybe ever so slightly underrotated but good landing. Great routine. That should make finals even with the OOB. 15.05/6.5.
Rafael Morales, vault (PUR): Tsuk 2.5, two huge steps foward and out of the alley. Doesn't look altogether pleased as he sits waiting for his score. 15.2/6.6.
Luis Rivera, vault (PUR): Tusk 2.5, much better control than Morales, but still steps to the side out of the alley.
Sergio Sasaki, pbars (BRA): Big routine, with double tucks between the rails, a front straddle somie to his upper arms and a killer STUCK double pike dismount. Great stuff. 14.55/5.8.
Angel Ramos, vault (PUR): Tsuk double full, small hop back, excellent in the air. 15.6/6.2. Second vault: Handspring Rudi, not a lot of height but a pretty good landing, just a small hop to the side. He's excited about it and plays to the Puerto Rican contingent in the crowd, which yells back happily.
Carlos Campana, floor (CUB): Arabian double pike, small hop. Front double full to front tuck. Thomas. Double full. Russians. 1.5 to Rudi. 2.5 with a big step forward.
Rotation five:
Byron Lopez (ECU) has hurt his left ankle doing a 2.5 twist on floor. The camera cuts to him writhing around in pain as a trainer looks him over and then shows the 2.5 twist he hurt his ankles on from two different angles. Ouch.
Petrix Barbosa, high ba (BRA)r: Layout Tkatchev. Tkatchev half. Front stalder. Endos. Jam. Full twisting double layout, small hop forward. Thumbs up for the camera -- and makes a heart with his hands. Awww. 14.1/5.9.
Sergio Sasaki, high bar (BRA): Tak full to hecht, Tak half, stalder 1.5 way out of handstand, some of the same combinations Barbosa used for inbar elements, and full twisting double layout with a hop. 14.0/5.8.
Nicolas Cordoba (ARG), rings: Already clocked a 14.1 on high bar, his specialty...nice line and swing, aided by his excellent toepoint. Full twisting double tuck with a hop. 13.45/5.4.
Angel Ramos, pbars (PUR): Misses his hands just a little on mount sequence of a giant, does a banana handstand, falls over and has to come off. Whoops. Bad news for Puerto Rico. Rest of the routine was clean. Double pike with a little hop forward. Pacing up and down while he waits for his score. 12.6/5.6.
Diego Hypolito, high bar (BRA): Hecht to Geinger combo, cool. Stalder to stalder full. Jam to inverted giants to Jaeger. Hop full. Full twisting double layout with a small hop, salutes and runs off the mat pumping his fist.
Byron Lopez, floor (ECU): Props to him for going out there and doing a routine on what was obviously a hurt ankle. Dismounts with a layout and hops off the floor.
Rotation six:
Luis Rivera, high bar (PUR): Tak full to hecht. Tak half. Tkatchev. Blind. Jam to inverts. Full twisting double layout with a step back. 14.45/5.9.
Petrix Barbosa, floor (BRA): Arabian double front, jumps back to save it. Whip to Arabian 1 3/4. Running front 1 3/4. Press. That strength position Danell Leyva does where your feet go in front of your face...1.5 to front layout full, steps OOB. 2.5 with a step to end. He's happy about it, but his landings could have been cleaner.
Angel Ramos, high bar (PUR): Tak full to hecht, Tak half to blind to Endo, one armed giant, double twisting double layout, STUCK, and that is the reaction of the day, folks. Yelling and fist pumping and dancing aorund and bringing the Puerto Ricans to their feet and hugging and talking to the camera. Ramos is still talking to the camera and indicating the flag on his shirt five minutes later...
Sergio Sasaki Junior, floor (BRA): 1.5 to double front, stuck. Ooh. Layout Thomas. Tucked Thomas, picture perfect. Press. Strength move to press, half turn, front tuck full to front half. Roundoff, 2.5 twist. Covers his face for a second like he's going to cry, but I guess he was just overwhelmed at Brazil's great competition. The guys look at the scoreboard and yell "Hey!" as they see something.
Tommy Ramos, high bar (PUR): Hecht. Jam. Stalder. Stalder full, a little crooked. Hop 1.5. Front stalder. Double double layout with a hop. Not nearly the same reaction as the other Ramos on the Puerto Rican team. 13.8/5.6.
Diego Hypolito, floor (BRA): Whip to Arabian double pike. 1.5 to Randi. 2.5 to front double full. Press. Tucked Thomas. Layout Thomas. The Brazilians are grabbing each other and holding on tight as he goes for his final pass. Triple full, step back, but hit routine with extremely hard combinations. 15.6/6.8.
Now Brazil is standing around next to Hypolito, who is flat on his back on the ground, exhausted by that effort.
Alexander Rodriguez, high bar (PUR): Tak full to hecht, excellent. Tak half. Weiler with full spin. Endos, nice. STUCK double double tuck, and OMG, is he chewing gum? He is! He grins, almost nonchalantly, and just continues chewing...OK, and then there's some yelling as he comes off the mat. 14.7/6.0.
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