Doha World Cup: Smaller nations made history at the third Doha World Cup event held in Doha, Qatar. South Africa's Jennifer Khwela won her country's first World Cup gold on vault, while Jordan's Ali Al Asi took the title on rings.
The Chinese won almost everything else, with Huang Qiushuang taking the title on uneven bars and 15-year-old Wu Liufang winning balance beam and floor exercise. On the men's side, China won four golds, including Huang Yuguo on floor exercise, Cao Yulong on vault and Dong Zhendong on parallel bars. Dutch star Epke Zonderland won high bar, while Krisztian Berki finished first on pommel horse.
The biggest story in Doha, however, was the triumphs of countries not known for producing international stars. In addition to Khwela and Asi, Turkey's Goksu Uctas finished third on floor, Croatia's Tina Erceg and Khwela were second and third on beam and Qatar's Nasser Al-Hamad fourth on vault. (International Gymnast Magazine)
Photo galleries galore: Martina Eggeling's pictures highlighting bars, beam and floor at the 2010 Cottbus Cup, Jessica Frankl's photos from last month's Pacific Coast Classic, and Associated Press images of the rhythmic gymnastics Garantiqa World Cup. (Examiner.com)
"I think more than any other year it is open": Oklahoma coach K.J. Kindler on who could win the NCAA championship, her team's stunning 2010 success, the NCAA format changes coming in 2011 and who she sees as OU's biggest post-season threat. (Inside Gymnastics)
It's going to be good: The Trofea di Jesolo Tournament taking place just north of Venice, Italy this weekend has attracted many of the top junior gymnasts in the World. Big names who will be in attendance include Viktoria Komova, Anastasia Grishina, Sabrina Vega, Kyla Ross and Mai Murakami. Seniors Cassie Whitcomb, Amanda Jetter, Alexandra Raisman, Ksenia Semyonova and Vanessa Ferrari will be there too. This competition is wide open. (Examiner.com)
Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs interview: The 2008 Olympian and UCLA sophomore on changing her bars dismount, her snazzy floor choreography and whether she'll compete internationally for Canada again. (International Gymnast)
School records and senior nights: That about caps off the NCAA men's gymnastics week in review. The big winner last weekend was Michigan, which rocketed back into NCAA Championship contention with a huge 364.45 against Ohio State. (Examiner.com)
Something else to look forward to: Some of China's best will be at the Wild Rose Invitational April 2-4 in Edmonton, Alberta. The Chinese are sending Olympic gold medalists Jiang Yuyuan, Deng Linlin and 2009 World bronze medalist Sui Lu to the meet. It will be the first time any have competed outside China this year. (Examiner.com)
And the inductees are: USA Gymnastics will induct seven new members into its Hall of Fame this year. The honorees are Olympians Dominique Moceanu (1996), Wendy Bruce (1992) and Kip Simons (1996) who is now coaching the Air Force Academy men's team, new U.S. men's national team coordinator Kevin Mazeika, two time trampoline Olympian Jennifer Parilla and her coach Robert Null, and Ellen Garlicki Nyemcsik, a former rhythmic gymnastics World Championships team member, who has done wonderful things for the sport in the U.S. (USA Gymnastics)
Empowerment, creativity, strength, intelligence and independence: Those are the attributes encouraged by Nastia Liukin's new "Supergirl by Nastia" clothing line, which will be retailing at JC Penney's stores across the U.S. The clothing, which will include pants, fleece outerwear, tops, dresses and shrugs for 8-12-year-old girls, will be available at Penneys stores in late July. The collection is a partnership between the retailer and Warner Brothers, which also sponsored the Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup earlier this month. (Associated Press)
Don't understand the COP?: For those confused about the code of points, the FIG is here to help. (Full Twist)
Where boys gymnastics programs are big: Chicago-area gymnastics programs for young men are thriving, even that there are fewer teams for boys to belong to. (Chicago Tribune)
Gymnastics coach appreciated: After the fire that destroyed her gym, coach Carole Cotten of Dynamics Unlimited Gymnastics in Dunkirk, N.Y., will receive a certificate of appreciation from her city for evacuating nearly 30 small children from the Masonic building that housed the gym as it burned. An invitational to raise funds that will help rebuild the gym happens next month. (The Observer)
Spring, Haagensen, Ruggeri among top 20 Illini: The Daily Illini, the student newspaper at the University of Illinois, ran a series of articles counting down the top 20 Illini athletes of the past 10 years. First year Illini head coach Justin Spring, who won team bronze with the 2008 Olympic team was no. 2, while Paul Ruggeri, a two-time NCAA high bar champion and currently one of the best all-arounders in the country, came in at no. 8. 2009 World team member Wes Haagensen, who competed for the Illini from 2005-2008 and now trains at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, was no. 18. The no. 1 Illini athlete of the past decade, according to the paper? Basketball player Dee Brown. (Daily Illini)
Mental edge: The Corvallis Gazette-Times explores the "mental choreogrpahy" of the Oregon State women's gymnastics team. (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
The casualwear industry has been good to Li Ning: The three-time-Chinese-Olympic-gold-medalist-turned-sportswear-mogul's company reported that profits rose 31 percent profit in 2009. (Business Week)
Hey, the World Cup final in 2011 will have an all-around competition: Cool. This will be another opportunity to see the best in the world in action. The prize money -- 100,000 Swiss Francs (about $93,000) -- will be sure to draw top competitors. (FIG)
Speaking of prize money: 2009 World champion Kohei Uchimura and 2009 silver and bronze medalist Koko Tsurumi were both handsomely rewarded by the Japanese Gymnastics Association for their performances at the World Championships last October. Uchimura received three million yen (about $33,000) for his all-around win, while Tsurumi, who won bronze all-around and silver on uneven bars, received 1.1 million yen ($11,000) (Japan Today)
From the brink: On the 17-hour drive from Utah back to Missouri after her freshman season as a Ute, Sarah Shire talked to her parents about quitting the sport for good. She's now no. 1 in the country in the all-around. (Columbia Tribune)
Great Britain-Germany-Romania friendly: Romania defeated Great Britain by a very slight margin at this meet; held following a training camp. Romanians Diana Chelaru and Ana Porgras went 1-2 in the all-around, followed by Britain's Niamh Rippin. Gymnastics Issues has a good recap. (Gymnastics Issues)
Petition -- More gymnastics recognition please!: Mez at Australian Gymnastics Blog recently visited the Australian National Sports Museum. She found lots of cool stuff, but not much related to gymnastics, and would like to see that changed. You can sign her petition to the National Sports Museum of Melbourne here. (Australian Gymnastics Blog)
Sarah Shire bonus: The senior, happy at Missouri and doing some of the best gymnastics of her career, discusses her focus. Her teammates discuss her as well. (Columbia Missourian)
Follow Gymnastics Examiner Blythe Lawrence on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GymExaminer or click the "Subscribe" button above to receive the latest gymnastics news and results via e-mail.
Comments