Inside Gymnastics December 2015 Preview

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publisher’s page DECEMBER 2015

Record-Breaking Worlds!

Grace Chiu

Glasgow 2015 was one for the history books!

American Simone Biles became the first woman to win three consecutive all-around titles. Kohei Uchimura of Japan continued his reign with an unprecedented six consecutive titles. Max Whitlock became the first British man ever to earn an individual gold medal at World Championships (pommel horse). And in one of the most interesting competitions yet, an unprecedented four women, which was 50 percent of the finals field, earned gold on uneven bars! Check out our feature on page 40 to see how each gymnast arrived at her score of 15.366.

Included on the highlight reel from World Championships had to be the heartfelt performance of the women from the Netherlands who earned their first trip back to the Olympics since 1976. And they did it in stunning fashion. In a time where artistry has in many cases fallen in favor of big tricks, Team NED entered this World Championships with a fresh approach, and it paid off. The buzz began in training where everyone began to take notice of their dramatic presentation.

Then, as the qualification rounds began, gymnastics fans on social media joined the conversation, and the buzz built. Judges also rewarded their artistry and consistency, and King Kohei makes his case for ‘Greatest of all Time.’ ultimately the team secured its first Olympic berth in decades. So what’s behind this dramatic upswing? I had a chance to catch up with choreographer and coach Patrick Kiens for a piece in this issue in which he talks about performance art merging with gymnastics for their signature style. I hope coaches, choreographers and judges throughout the world take notice of this movement, and I hope that everyone involved in the sport will re-focus on the artistic side, something that is inherent with the fundamental roots and fan appeal of the sport. I applaud everyone involved with the program in the Netherlands for making audiences and viewers feel something with their performances. They were definitely one of the grand highlights of the competition for me.

Another thing that struck me at this World Championships was the emotion displayed by the athletes. There have been times in the past when someone won a gold medal and I asked them how it felt and I got, “I just wanted to hit four-for-four, and I’m happy I did that.” (And with a blank face and no show of emotion when said to boot.) Triumphs should be felt and celebrated.

Athletes have worked all their lives for a moment like this, and I just want to encourage them to soak up the moment. At this World Championships, there were so many times when just that happened, and it warmed my heart. Our Table of Contents photo captures a beautiful moment between Biles and coach Aimee Boorman. When Whitlock earned his pommel horse gold, he just kept shaking his head in disbelief and let the emotions out to the delight of the British crowd who felt every bit of it with him. And who wouldn’t love seeing Uchimura look directly into a camera, count to six on his fingers and end with a big grin on his face?! This is sport. And this is why we love it.

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Grace Chiu

[

inside gymnastics

]

DECEMBER 2015

17 11/18/15 10:35 AM

chalking up Tune-in Alert!

Olympian John Roethlisberger and Inside Publications (that’s us!) are teaming up to produce Drive to Gold™, a weekly sports talk radio show to be broadcast on a leading Atlanta AM radio station, WCFO, Newstalk 1160, The Talk of the Town. Drive to Gold™ will focus on Olympic sports and will feature news, editorial segments, athlete interviews, guest opinion segments and more. After the initial broadcast in Atlanta, the show will be available weekly to a national audience, as well as via download and Podcast. For more, visit DriveToGold.com!

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“ Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.”

- Vince Lombardi

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POWER MONKEY CAMP 4

news | notes | quotes | chatter | social | scene | entertainment | #trending

chalking up

These were the closing remarks by Chad Vaughn, U.S. Olympic weightlifter at the fall Power Monkey Camp last October. Vaughn and former U.S. national champion gymnast Dave Durante successfully collaborated yet again in coaching a week-long training camp for elite competitors and fitness enthusiasts, inspiring them through educational sessions, lectures and campfire stories.

As the dust settled and the 150-plus campers, coaches, special guests and staff headed home, there was a collective feeling of appreciation for the knowledge gained and friendships made. The week had been jam-packed with fitness seminars, outdoor activities and a whole lot of fun, all situated on the beautiful Lake Frances in Crossville, Tenn.

Upon arrival at camp, participants were assigned their bunks and split in to small groups. Throughout the week they rotated through 10 structured two-hour stations that touch on a variety of training areas such as injury rehab/mobility, rowing, jump rope, gymnastics (handstands and tumbling), bar work, ring work and weightlifting (squat, snatch and clean and jerk).

From Olympians to CrossFit Games athletes, Power Monkey has some of the world’s best coaches and clinicians in their respective fields.

For participants, getting to eat, sleep and train alongside their fitness icons during the week creates an inspiring environment like no other!

The campers had a plethora of additional daily activities available to them outside of the main stations including morning yoga, a ropes course, running trails through the woods, swimming in the lake, paddle boarding, fishing, beach volleyball, massage and open gym time.

Renowned chef Paleo Nick and his crew of culinary ninjas kept the staff and campers fed with healthy and delicious paleo meals. Along with the daily meals, a canteen is open throughout the day with a dedicated smoothie bar and an area to decompress from the long hours in the gym. It’s a hotspot for both campers and staff to play some ping pong, grab a snack and camp apparel, or just hang out during the down hours.

Each night a specialty seminar is presented on a varied group of topics including, but not limited to, endurance training, programming, gym ownership, diet and nutrition, improving the mental game, high level gymnastics and trampoline demos, video analysis and work capacity testing. After hours, everyone heads to the campfire for s’mores and sharing stories.

As Power Monkey Camp continues to grow, new components are added to make for a unique, educational and fun experience. The next camp will be held April 24–30, in Crossville, Tenn., and the 100 coveted spots go quickly!

scene SOCIAL # loving This month we’re loving…

Marian Dragulescu on Facebook

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#OlympicJourney Cirque du Soleil on Periscope

For more information on the camp or to sign up visit PowerMonkeyCamp.com. All levels are absolutely welcome.

Quote It! [Aly and I] both support each other and cheer each other on. We aren’t like, ‘Fall!

Fall! [then], Oh hey, love you!’ [Laughs] We don’t do that, because we’re a team and we stick together and we stay strong together.

GABRIELLE DOUGLAS SAID WHEN A REPORTER ASKED ABOUT DOUGLAS AND TEAMMATE ALY RAISMAN FIGHTING FOR ALL-AROUND SPOTS, WHICH ARE LIMITED BECAUSE OF THE TWO-PER-COUNTRY RULES AT WORLDS.

@Cirque

#BehindTheScenes

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a look at 10 hot topics the gymnastics community is buzzin’ about!

Tweet us @InsideGym to let us know what’s getting your attention!

Photo By Grace Chiu

{1}

Comeback 101! - Many have tried and many have failed, but Gabrielle Douglas (pictured) could teach a course of how to ace a comeback. Back in competition for less than a year, the Olympic champ ascended to number two in the world. Can she repeat in Rio?!

{2}

Overthrown - With 10 of the last 11 titles, the Chinese men came into the World Championships expected to win. But a somewhat lackluster qualification carried over to team finals, and a superior Japan finally earned gold for the first time in Kohei Uchimura’s era.

{3}

Raising Questions - In July, Alaina Kwan and Kylie Dickson of California competed as American elite gymnasts at the U.S. Classic. Months later, the duo gained dual citizenship for Belarus to compete at the World Championships despite never setting foot on Belarusian soil, causing outcry from some.

{4}

Four Times a Champion - Some wacky things happened during event finals at World Championships, but the weirdest had to be the FOUR-WAY TIE for gold on uneven bars! American Madison Kocian, Chinese Fan Yilin and Russians Viktoria Komova and Daria Spiridonova all took home the top prize.

Grace Under Pressure - The Dutch women defied the odds showcasing gorgeous dance, unique routines and stylish execution to earn a full team berth at the 2016 Olympics (more in this issue!).

{6}

{5}

Clocking Out - Judging at the World Championships this year was often slow, drawing the ire of competitors and fans alike. Getting it right is the most important thing, but expediency should be part of the process.

Ring Bling - Auburn gymnastics made history with a terrific rise in 2015 and their Super Six rings to celebrate are stunners! Follow @InsideGym on Instagram to check it out!

{8}

{7}

We Flip For Chip - Michigan gymnast Cailee Hills’ father was diagnosed with cancer last year, and the team has rallied around her to support the family. Visit bit.ly/WeFlipForChip to see how you can help.

Flying High - Team USA’s trampoline and tumbling athletes are gaining greater awareness, thanks in part to their high flying videos online! The team has just returned from November’s World Championships in Odense, Denmark.

{10}

{9}

Sign on the Dotted Line - The early signing period for NCAA recruits ran Nov. 11 - 18. Who are you looking forward to seeing in the NCAA ranks? Check out a recap of the early signing period on InsideGymnastics.com

Back in competition for less than a year, defending Olympic champ Gabby Douglas soars to second in the world.

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WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

2015

madison KOCIAN - USA - Kip, cast to handstand - Clear pike full E - Kip, cast to handstand - Komova II + Pak E+D 0.2 CV - + Komova (clear pike Shaposh half) E 0.2 CV

3E, 5D = 3.5 DV + 2.5 CR + 0.6 CV

Difficulty

6.6

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- Kip, cast - Clear pike half D + Jaeger D 0.1 CV - Kip, cast to handstand - Stalder full D + full-twisting double tucked D 0.1 CV

+

Execution

8.766

=

15.366

daria SPIRIDONOVA - RUS - Kip, cast - Clear pike half D + piked - Clear pike D, clear pike full E Jaeger D 0.1 CV (no CV, D has no turn) - Kip, cast, swing half (devalued giant half) - + Komova II E 0.1 CV - + Pak D 0.2 CV - Pike full D + full-twisting double tucked D 0.1 CV - + Komova E 0.2 CV - Kip, cast

3E, 5D=3.5 DV + 2.5 CR + 0.7 CV

Difficulty

6.7

+

Execution

8.666

=

15.366

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TIEDUP

all

By Grace Chiu

For the first time in the history of the World Championships, four gymnasts tied for gold in an event final, the uneven bars. The closest previous result was a three-way tie on pommel horse (1903 and 1992) and on high bar (1922). Here’s a look at how each of the uneven bar gold medalists arrived at her score of 15.366!

viktoria KOMOVA - RUS - Kip, cast - Komova II E + Pak D 0.2 CV (same as Fan) - + Van Leeuwen (pike Shaposh half) E 0.2 CV (D+E both flight) - Kip, cast

- Clear pike half to handstand D + piked Jaeger D (devalued Cappuccitti [layout Jaeger] E) 0.1 CV - Kip, cast - Pike full D + piked Tkachev E 0.1CV - Kip, cast to handstand half - Full-twisting double tucked D

3E, 5D = 3.5 DV + 2.5 CR + 0.6 CV

fan Yilin - CHN - Kip, cast to handstand - Clear pike full to handstand E + Komova II (clear pike Shaposh) E 0.1 CV (connection value E+E with 1 flight) - + Pak Salto D 0.2 CV (E+D both flight) - + Chow (Stalder Shaposh) D 0.1 CV (D+D both flight) - + Gienger D 0.2 CV (D+D low-high both flight)

- Kip, cast - Clear pike half to handstand D + Lin turn (reverse grip front giant full one-arm) E 0.1 CV (D+E turns) - + Bi turn (el-grip front giant full one-arm) E 0.1 CV (E+E turns) - El-grip front giant half (C) - Giants, double layout D

4E, 4D = 3.6 DV + 2.5 CR + 0.8 CV

Difficulty

6.6

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+

Execution

8.766

=

15.366

Difficulty

6.9

+

Execution

8.466

=

15.366

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