The Couch Gymnast linked to the Youtube channel Ginnastica Artistica Gymnasium TV, which will become the new favorite of all hard-core U.S. fans for the next four days. Why? Because the U.S. women are in Jesolo, and said channel has training videos.
Here's a few notes (and links):
Gabrielle Douglas, beam: Like Shawn Johnson, Douglas is all about the tricks on beam. There is little choreography here that doesn't appear to be filler, but never mind, because what skills! Front aerial to very easy looking back tuck with a full twist, a front pike, sheep to back pike, switch half to back tuck, and so on. Watch it here.
Jordyn Wieber, cool as ever on beam: If she does it like that say, in a World final, Wieber will kill with this routine. My impression from the American Cup is that Wieber competes with fewer mistakes than she makes in training (though they don't call it "practice" for nothing), but if she is doing beam like that in the training session, she is really going to do it well in the meet. Note how Martha Karolyi bellows "Bend your legs!" as Wieber hangs on for the dismount. Watch it here.
McKayla Maroney, beam snippet: Maroney, best known for doing the best Amanar ever to be done in a competition, is evolving nicely on beam, based on the 10 seconds we can see here. She's also gotten taller, which has elongated her lines and leaves great potential for amazing choreography on floor. See it here (after Wieber's set).
Kyla Ross, bars: The ultra-clean, ultra-consistent U.S. junior champion has upgraded by getting friendly with inbar stalders. Also improved are her handstands, which are straighter than they were last summer. There's not a lot you can deduct from this routine. Watch it here.
McKayla Maroney, vault: This girl can do an Amanar and make it look like she's doing a 1.5. She gets my vote for first woman to throw a Yurchenko triple in competition. See that amazing Amanar in training here.
The U.S. ladies gumming it up at the chalk bin. Watch it here.
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