The Anna Li training video: The former UCLA star is serious about making an elite comeback. This week Li released a highly impressive training video featuring upgraded tumbling on floor and super skills on bars, including a caught Jaeger half, a Tkatchev half to immediate straddle back half transition (similar to what we've seen from world bars champ Beth Tweddle) and her signature Tkatchev to an immediate Geinger combination. She has the potential to do a huge routine on this event, which is one of the U.S.'s weakest. (Gymnastike)
The NCAA gymnastics week in review: What happened on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in women's gymnastics, as well as last weekend's men's report. Includes D-II and D-III teams. (Gymnastics Examiner)
New Rec Gymnastics blog launched: Finally, a blog that touches on an underappreciated side of gymnastics. Rec Gymnastics is penned by Gymnastics Coaching's Rick McCharles, who hopes to draw some much-needed attention to this aspect of the sport. "There are a huge number of Rec coaches. But no Rec blogs," Rick said. Check it out here. (Rec Gymnastics)
Introducing "The Discussion": Bloggers from around the world contributed to two posts this week. Questions answered: Whether Viktoria Komova is a better all-around gymnast than Aliya Mustafina, and what men's NCAA gymnastics teams should do to help their causes. (Gymnastics Examiner)
The Chellsie Memmel comeback video: The 2008 Olympic silver medalist did three events with watered down difficulty at the Circle of Stars Invitational, which also featured her younger sister Skyler, a level 10 gymnast, and Samantha Peszek's sister Jessica (also a level 10). Videos on Gymnastike. (Gymnastike)
Anja Brinker injured: The German Olympian, a standout on uneven bars, tore her Achilles tendon in training this week and will likely be out of competition for the rest of the season. (International Gymnast Magazine)
Dawes blogs: 1996 Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes is writing about health and fitness for Yahoo Weekend Edition. (Dominique Dawes blog)
Cottbus Cup competitors: Dutch talent Bart Deurloo is hoping to gain experience in this all-important Olympic qualifying year. Germany's Philipp Boy will also be competing, as he sees the meet as a chance to test himself before April's European Championships. Not competing will be German star Fabian Hambuechen, who recently tore his Achilles tendon, throwing the rest of his season into question. (GymPower)
Year of the Freshman: Utah is just one NCAA team relying heavily on its freshmen group this season. (Deseret News)
USA Gymnastics gets in bed with Hilton Hotels: Hilton will become the corporate sponsor of USA Gymnastics, and will give money to have a new gym built that will hosue state of the art training for the 2012 Olympic Games. (Houston Chronicle)
Smiley Stephanie McAllister: The Salt Lake Tribune profiles the happy Utah junior, currently ranked 11th in the nation in the all-around. (Salt Lake Tribune)
In Alabama, a fifth-year senior reaches her potential: Alyssa Chapman was a very quiet member of Alabama's team for four years. She went through the senior night celebrations last year, but was personally asked by coach Sarah Patterson to consider giving a fifth year a chance. No Alabama gymnast has ever had a fifth year under Patterson's long tenure as coach. Now Chapman's an all-around contributor. (Al.com)
Who's not going to Europeans?: Answer: Most of the Dutch national team. GymPower reports that, for varying reasons, Arjen Butter, Carlo van Minde, Mayra Kroonen, Wyomi Masela, Sanne Wevers, Suzanne Harmes, Dianne Teunisse and Marlies Rijken will not participate at the European Championships. Butter, Kroonen and Masela are recovering from injuries; everyone else wants to focus on being healthy and qualifying for the Olympics in Tokyo in October. (GymPower)
Aid for underprivileged countries: The FIG has announced a plan to give out "study grants" of 5,000 Swiss francs (about $5,000) each year to 12 gymnasts in men's and women's artistic, trampoline and rhythmic to aid with their training and educations. The program took effect retroactively on January 1 and will remain in place until January of 2014. (FIG)
Lance Alberhasky feature: The Iowa-bred gymnast is now proudly representing his city and state for the Hawkeyes. (Daily Iowan)
Cerasela Patrascu interview: Beatrice Gheorghisor asks the recently retired Romanian about why she's stopping now and her future plans. (Gymnastics No Ceiling)
Aussie routine of the Year?: The Australian Gymnastics Blog wants your vote! (Australian Gymnastics Blog)
If you love NCAA gymnastics: ...then you should buy football tickets, says NCAA President Mark Emmert. The truth is, revenue from sports like football (and at some schools, men's basketball) supports the (mostly) non-revenue sports, like men's and women's gymnastics. (Fanhouse)
British men in Mexico: Team Great Britain is preparing for the upcoming European Championships with a training camp in sunny Cancun, Mexico (not a bad place to have a training camp!) There, the Brits will rendez-vous with the Japanese men for joint training sessions, Daniel Keatings writes in his latest blog post for sponsor Opus Energy. (Daniel Keatings Blog)
Gervasio Deferr retires: The two-time Olympic vault champion, now sporting a stylish beard, said in a statement to the press that he likely would have made the Spanish Olympic team in 2012, but that he's not convinced he would win. "Losing burns up my body," he said. Deferr plans to coach and has also joined the Spanish Gymnastics Federation. (Typically Spanish)
Russian stars of today and tomorrow: Rewriting Russian gymnastics has a list of the current national senior team andjunior national selection squad Russian women's teams. (Rewriting Russian Gymnastics)
Australian stars of today and tomorrow: Keishlieta Gymnastique has the scoop on the Austalian men's national squads. (Keishlieta Gymnastique)
Keeping up with Nicolae: The Couch Gymnast keeps up with former Romanian National coach Nicolae Forminte, who seems to have landed a gig in Italy helping train the women's national team. (The Couch Gymnast)
Quote of the week: "I don't want to get injured...so I think I'll stick with this training plan." -- Chellsie Memmel takes a not-so-subtle shot at Martha Karolyi's national team training tactics
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