The return of Aliya Mustafina: The big news of the week comes from the surprisingly good return of the 2010 World champion, who finished sixth all-around at the Voronin Cup just eight months after tearing her ACL. The feisty Mustafina did not even wear a knee brace on bars and beam and showed a level of difficulty that while not to her standard, was nonetheless very impressive for someone coming off knee surgery. Viktoria Komova won the all-around as well as the titles on bars, beam and floor. (International Gymnast Magazine)
Who's going to the London Test Event?: The FIG revealed the complete roster this week. For the most part, the top 24 in the all-around in both the men's and women's competition will qualify to the Olympic Games. (Gymnastics Examiner)
A new training video from Nastia Liukin: The Olympic champion looked fit and determined in a new video from NBC's Dallas affiliate. With footage of Rebecca Bross training bars as well. (NBC)
John Orozco goes pro: The 18-year-old New Yorker has decided to give up his NCAA eligibility. (via John__Orozco on Twitter)
UCLA photo gallery: Snaps from The Bruins' "Meet the Team" event last week, by photographer Bill Weymouth. (Gymnastics Examiner)
Valeriia Maksyuta interview: The Israeli gymnast, who does gymnastics like a Ukrainian because she grew up in the Ukrainian system, has high hopes for the Olympic year. (International Gymnast Magazine)
Props to Penn State (at a time when the school may not be getting many props): These props come from the fact that the program has attracted several extraordinary international level gymnasts, including London Test Eventers Tommy Ramos and Luis Vargas, both of Puerto Rico, as well as Israel's Felix Aronovich, a Ukrainian-born pommel horse talent who is a junior this year. All will compete for Olympic berths at next month's test event. (Penn State Nittany Lions)
Celine van Gerner injury update: The Dutch star, who had surgery for a fracture in the tarsal bones of her foot in November, hopes to resume full training at the end of January. That does take her out of the Test Event, which is a blow for the Netherlands. (Omroepflevoland.nl)
The U.S. men's choices: Evan Heiter gives a rundown on who's in the running for the Olympic team. (Gymnastics Examiner)
Canadians announce Test Event Training Squad: The lucky women headed to the Canadian Test Event Trials a few days after Christmas are as follows: Brittany Rogers, Bianca Dancose-Giambattisto, Madeline Gardiner, Victoria Moors, Anysia Unick, Talia Chiarelli, Dominique Pegg, Kristina Vaculik, Natalie Vaculik, Mikaela Gerber andChristine Lee. (Gymnastics BC)
Mexican Open: Not even a 6.5 earthquake could dampen the festive atmosphere in Guadalajara during the first Mexican Open. The U.S.'s Danell Leyva and Russia's Ksenia Afanasyeva came away with the victory sombreros, as did the mixed team of Leyva and Canada's Christine Lee, who finished second all-around. (Gymnastics Examiner)
Kyle Shewfelt on London: The 2004 Olympic floor champion will be on hand as a CBC commentator at the London Test Event. In this article, Shewfelt shared his thoughts on the qualification process with The Calgary Herald. (Calgary Herald)
A sweet new job for Ashley Kupets: The former Georgia stalwart (and big sis of 2004 Olympian Courtney Kupets) has turned her penchant for artistic cakes into a small business. Check out her website here. (Sweet Ashley Cakes)
On Leon Stukelj: Don't know who that is? You should. STOI! gives a fitting tribute: "He died in 1999, a few weeks short of his 101st birthday. I don’t know the cause, but you can bet it was probably a rope break when he was abseiling, or being eaten by a shark whilst swimming the Mediterranean." (STOI!)
2012 World Cup meet schedule: The FIG has posted it here. (FIG)
A new floor routine for Sui Lu: No more "Scent of a Woman" for the 2012 Olympic year. Sui's new routine is to a more upbeat Indian piece, but the real highlight of this news clip is the interview with animated choreographer Adriana Pop. The Couch Gymnast has a translation of Sui's comments on the routine. (via rkwy1212 on Youtube)
Get to know Valeria Pereyra: She'll be carrying the hopes of Argentina on her young shoulders at the London Test Event. (The Couch Gymnast)
RIP Vladimir Kondratenko: The husband and coaching partner of Elvira Saadi passed away this week after a battle with cancer. Given the number of tribute posts to him by his current and former gymnasts, he will be sorely missed. (Dynamo Gymnastics)
Japan's Junpei wins in Texas: Junpei Oka was especially impressive to take the elite men's title at the annual Valeri Liukin Invitational in Frisco. Behind him were Americans Jesse Silverstein and John Orozco. (Gymnastics Examiner)
British men training through Christmas: Because with the Test Event right around the corner, there's no time to waste. (The UK Guardian)
Jonathan Horton injury update: The two-time U.S. champion seems optimistic after foot surgery following the World Championships. "I feel better right now than I have in years. By the time my foot has healed, I'll be able to really start pushing hard," he said. Seems like Horton might even be ready for an event or two at the Pacific Rim Championships in March -- though he did say that while promoting the event in Washintgon state. (USA Today)
Whips, hop fulls, punch fronts...: The E Panel wonders: Why don't we see more of those these days? (The E Panel)
Remember the name: At 13, young Aussie Alexandra Eade has already competed internationally and is regarded as a top prospect for the 2016 Olympic Games. (Melbourne Weekly)
Casey Jo Magee to Western Michigan: The former Arkansas star will join the staff at Western Michigan University, where she will continue to train under WMU third year head coachDave Kuzara. (Western Michigan University Broncos)
Lauren Mitchell's new training focus: An endorsement deal with Visa has eased the 20-year-old's financial worries going into the Summer Games. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Kohei Uchimura named to Japanese Olympic Team: When you're as good as he is, you don't have to try out. (Mainichi Daily News)
ESPN to broadcast NCAA Gymnastics Championships through 2024: Now let's hope the coverage is at least being streamed live. (ESPN)
10 cool facts about Vanessa Atler: Full In Full Out catches up with the former national team darling, now a California coach. (Full In Full Out)
'Tis the season...: Of unusual photo shoots. Like Daniel Keatings's latest, doing pommel horse in front of a giant wind turbine in the open winter air at a clean energy farm. "I had to keep running back to the car between photos just to warm up - what a wimp!" he writes. (Daniel Keatings' blog for Opus Energy)
Accolades for Epke, Angel: Epke Zonderland was named Sportsman of the Year in the Netherlands this week, while young Angel Romaeo of Wales was honored by becoming BBC Wales's Young Sportswoman of the Year. (GymPower and BBC)
Daiane dos Santos reunites with Oleg Ostapenko: The 2003 World floor champion and the Ukrainian coach who "taught her to fly" reunited briefly for training earlier this month. The sessions have seemed successful: Ostapenko was able to make some corrections to dos Santos's present skills, which should help her and the Brazilians at the upcoming London Test Event. (Gymblog Brazil)
On Kyla Ross's chances: Brigid McCarthy analyzes the chances for the two-time U.S. junior champion, who turns senior next month. (The Couch Gymanst)
How to improve your Hall of Fame: Kristal Sergent Boulden visits the International Gymnast Magazine's Hall of Fame in Oklahoma and blogs a few suggestions. (Double Front)
'Tis also the season...: Of holiday wish lists. Both Andy Thornton (Andy's Angle on American Gymnast) and Mielieta Gonzalez (Gymmin' Miel) are doing "12 days of Christmas"-themed posts. Here's mine for the sport of gymnastics. (Various)
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