Visa Championships were a NIGHTMARE!
Starting from day 1 and going all the way through to day 2.
It's my honest opinion and belief that the elite gymnastics system needs to be changed. I miss the 10.0 start value system. I think it was a safer and was definitly a more artistic approach to the sport of gymnastics.
I couldn't believe the amount of falls we saw. It's unusual to be able to count the amount of gymnasts without falls on one hand and not the other way around. I'm actually not sure if that's accurate, but there was indeed a much lower, MUCH LOWER, amount of gymnasts who stayed on the equiptment verses the ones who fell. It's a sad day when that is the case...
Unfortuantly, due to my living situation and lack of cable and a good wireless internet connection, I have not yet seen all of day 2 of the championships and have only seen the youtube version of day 1; uploaded by: FlippinTitan2010
Where to start...?
I think I should just say before hand that watching these has brought me a little bit of joy and longing to return to the sport I left behind. Even just to be a part of it, in a coaching or judging sense. Lately it feels as though all purpose in my life has gone from me, without gymnastics I feel lost...At the same time, I wish I didn't need gymnastics to make me feel my life has purpose. Nonetheless, writing about it is giving me some hope and allowing me to mix two of my biggest loves in life together: Writing and Gymnastics... Hmmm, can anyone say career? I think I should get out of this school and become an entrepreneur in the writing field... But that's beside the point. Back to Visa's...:
First off, I actually really like Jordyn Weiber's leo for day 1. Bizarre yellow color but she looks good in it.
Next thing is, I am so AMAZED by Chellsie Memmel's comeback! Seeing the footage of her first meet back a couple of weeks ago I was completely astounded! Plus I was asking why the f**k she was back and then I watched her. She looks better than I've ever seen her look before. She looks like she's lost more weight, her skills are solid and beautiful, I am so proud of this girl! Way to make me wanna make a comeback Memmel!...
Gabrielle Douglas has potential, but I feel she is still inexperienced. We'll see if time can change that. For now, 3 falls from beam at a meet is not a good thing...At all...Especially when Martha Karolyi is watching. Fortuantly, for Gabrielle, Martha had a lot more to worry about than just one gymnast...
I love the changes and improvements Alicia Sacramone has shown this past 2 years. Even though she fell on a pass in her floor routine, she is still a huge asset to the team on more than one event. She could potentially be in the line up for all three events she is still competing on! Her beam night one was UNREAL! Both she and Chellsie are just so strong mentally! It was wonderful to watch! And I love ASAC's floor routine. I think the music is perfect for her power and she is no longer doing the sexy, sloppy and prostitute like poses that she did before in so many of her past routines. Thank you Alicia for growing up. 2008 changed her not only as a gymnast, but as a person. She is a much different athlete and human being! Bring on 2012 Asac!
Going back to Jordyn Weiber. She is incredible! As much as her coach drives me completely insane, she is one that much of the world has had an eye on for years! Since 2006, at 10 years old, when she competed at JO Nationals, I think many people knew that she would be one to watch for in the future. They were so right!
Mckayla Maroney...I have a lot to say about this one. Her 2.5 twisting yurchenko is NOT HUMAN!!! I have never, ever, ever seen someone perform that vault like that! I just want to watch it over and over and over again! However, I find the rest of her events to be mediocre...I am unimpressed with her music choice. It doesn't fit her. Her tumbling is good when it's done well. Otherwise, mediocre is the only word I have for the rest of her gymnastics...
Rebecca Bross. :( Poor Rebecca Bross... Maybe if she cracked a smile more often, she'd have more good fortune...Or maybe she and Valerie are pushing much too hard. Either way, if you haven't already heard the news, after an unsuccessful round on day one, she had a horrendous mishap on day 2. Watching her on her vault on day 2 I knew it wouldn't end well before she was even on the mat. It looked as though she tried to pull out of her DTY early, and then in that split second, she was crumpled on the floor, crying out and holding her knee. My stomach gets sick just imagining her desperate cries as Valerie jumped to the mat to try to calm her. I had to watch that vault over and over again, I was so aghast and felt an unbelieveable sorrow for her. Brossy has been through so many injuries, I don't know how's she's going to make it to 2012 at this rate. I think she and Valerie need a new plan...
Aly Raisman. Aly has been Miss Consistent these past couple of years. But there is no denying though that her lack of toe point reminds me all too much of Jana Beiger, and as I recall, I think that was a huge reason Jana didn't make the '08 team...Also really thankful she didn't pull an amanar, I don't think she's ready for that vault...
The Caquatto sister's make a great team! It's neat seeing two siblings competing together and not just against each other. They are both huge assets on bars for the United States. Bridgette needs to seriously fix her hair though...I said that at the last meet I saw her compete at. The flyaways are such a distraction and it doesn't look professional at all... Nonetheless, I love watching her on bars!
Anna Li did not make the national team. Sad day... :( I was rooting for her. Just a few too many falls I guess. I hope this motivates her to work hard and make a comeback! However, her bars could also fill a void for team USA's lack of depth on that event. And doesn't she look like Nina Kim? I keep thinking it is Nina and then I have to remind myself that Nina is done with gymnastics, at least I think she is...
It's so impressive and awesome to see all of these older gymnasts coming back, including the college athletes; Anna Li, Mackenzie Caquatto, Alicia Sacramone, Chellsie Memmel and a newer face, Casey Magee. I was very intrigued by the fact that she had never tried for elite and that her gymnastics improved during her college years. This is exciting news to hear and something you don't hear in this sport. Her gymnastics is unique, but I think the likelyhood of making Worlds or Olympics isn't really realistic. It was still nice to see a new face with a cool story, as well as an impressive skill set.
Sabrina Vega... Oh dear! I really like this gymnast! I love her smile, love her gymnastics, love that her coach is Theadora Ungureanu. But someone needs to tell her that every extra swing she takes is .3 deduction! She would've been better off just jumping off of bars... Oh well, better now than worlds or the Olympics right?...
I know I have to get to her eventually. Shawn Johnson... The most over exposed gymnast on the fricking planet. The less I say about her the better. Mostly impressed with her comeback, kinda wish she didn't make a comeback but I think she'll improve more and more over the next year.
Amanda Jetter didn't make the national team...Anyone else surprised? I read from "The Couch Gymnast" that she face planted her dismount on beam. I didn't see enough of her competition to know what else went wrong.
Why is Nastia on the Gymnastics Commity? I think that is slightly unfair... Am I wrong to think that?...
Poor Martha has to be looking at these last two days and thinking to herself that the USA is in trouble... Knowing her and Bela, they'll get the program back underway and the country will be ready for Worlds and the 2012 Games. They have had the experience and I've seen other teams around the world go through the same obstacles and come out stronger. This is only the first step in these girls road to the games...
2012, here we come...
