To browse through Gordon Estes's videos from last month's Valeri Liukin Invitational in Frisco, Texas, is to realize that the kind of slump men's gymnastics had in Japan from 1984 to 1997 or so is not going to happen again, even after the (hopefully far away) day when the great Kohei Uchimura decides to hang up his grips.
Danell Leyva won the all-around, Jonathan Horton chatted with friends in the audience and Chris Brooks showed off a more edgy hairstyle -- and a new combination on high bar. Here are 10 routines that shouldn't be missed.
Jumpei Oka, JPN, floor: All of the Japanese are superclean gymnasts, but what sets Oka apart is a lightness and a quickness that gives this routine a hint of elegance. This guy has great lines on pommel horse, and very good swing on parallel bars as well. Never mind that he nearly blows a knee landing his Tsuk 2.5 on vault -- he still wins the event. Watch the floor routine here.
Sho Yokoyama, JPN, high bar: As one of the bigger talents among the talented Japanese squad that showed up in Texas, Yokoyama’s high bar lacked the gasp-worthy release moves seen in World Cup or World Championship meets, but his form is so textbook and his gymnastics so clean that this routine had to be included. Notable is the airy layout Tkatchev followed by layout Tkatchev half. Great dismount, too. Watch it here.
Danell Leyva, USA, pommel horse: Leyva’s high bar routine is so well known that sometimes we forget he’s one of the U.S.’s steadier, cleaner gymnasts on pommel horse. This routine is a nice reminder. Watch it here.
Dylan Akers, USA, rings: This is not his best event (it's almost no one in the U.S.'s best event unless you're Brandon Wynn) but in him you can see the potential for the future. He has the "international look" we hear so much about among the women. His gymnastics is very pleasant, and he makes it look easy, even if some (OK, most) of the positions in this routine need to be held a split second longer. Watch it here. Need more convincing? Watch his high bar routine here.
Hiroto Sato, JPN, floor: Just a wonderful exercise overall. The Japanese men are so pleasant on this event. Here truly is polished gymnastics. Bonus: He stuck his vault, something we so rarely see in men's gymnastics these days. Sato had big problems on parallel bars, which ended his chances for a top 10 finish at this meet. but in terms of potential, I think he has as much as any young man Japan sent to this meet. Watch it here.
Ryohei Kato, JPN, floor: The smallest, youngest looking member of the Japanese team did the most impressive floor routine of the day. He didn't have the polish of some of his teammates, but he had the skills and the landings, and that's what matters most on men's floor today. Watch it here.
Shohei Fujiwara, JPN, all-around: He does the least controlled rings routine I've ever seen from an elite gymnast, but his bodyline and assuredness on pommel horse and high bar distinguish him as an unquestionable talent. Watch pommel horse here.
Alexander Ruzshitsky, RUS, floor: Comparatively, there is little difficulty in all of Ruzshitsky's routines. But when it comes to lines and form, he is second to none. Ruzshitsky's got the basics down for an elite gymnast, which is important. If he can add more difficulty, he could evolve into one of the jewels of the national team. Watch it here.
Dmitriy Stolyarov, RUS, pommel horse: The routine is fine (pretty good, actually), but what I really loved was how he did a male equivalent of Daria Joura's salute before beginning. Watch it here.
Chris Brooks, USA, high bar: Brooks is always thrilling to watch on this event. New in this routine is connecting the layout Tkatchev to immediate Tkatchev half. Watch it here.
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