Sooooooo, does anyone have the footage from the Pac Rim Gymnastics Champs in Australia this last weekend? I have found some footage on youtube but most of it isn't the greatest. I saw Bridget's bar routine and felt thourougly disappointed for her... We, as humans and gymnasts, need to remember that sometimes things happen. No matter how prepared we are, bad things still occur. Bridget was a reminder for the world that she is human. All elites are, no matter how incredible of athletes they are.
But that look of disappointment on her face says it all...
Meanwhile, my training has been put on hold while the Western and Eastern United States came together to perform on the national stage! Girls all over Washington did awesome! Evanni from my own gym earned 5th place! This is quite an accomplishment and I am super excited for her! Mary, Julia, Bria, and Margaret also all competed and did well! I am sad to say that this will be the last week I will spend with them, not even the whole week. I will be going into the gym Thursday around 6pm to bring ice-cream and treats to the level 4's and then Friday will be my last day coaching. Part of me is sad, but I am also jubilant that I will be free of work and will get to continue to pursue my passion in my own gymnastics world!
Continuing on that note, I will get to start training more. This will be the last easy(ish) week I will probably have for a long time so I am taking advantage of it! Though I am still training more than I had been, I didn't manage to get myself in the gym today. Yesterday, however, I managed to get to Grace and spent 2.5 hours exercising and honestly, I am finally looking and feeling stronger! Tomorrow will be much longer in training than I have done since last Monday. Early morning I have my cycling class, then classes all day long and then 4 hours at gym. That being said, I better head off to bed.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
Kayla Williams-Without a Gym
I first watched Kayla a little less than a year ago at J.O. Nationals as she performed a stunning floor routine. She started with a double layout, moved onto a 2 salto pass of back 1 1/2 twist to a double pike, a frickin triple full for a side pass and ended with an equally difficult full in pike! At the time I knew she was an amazing level 10, but I never thought she would have the opportunity to go elite.
Less than a year later she is thrown into the elite world. In this day in age, a sixteen year old gymnast going elite is unheard of! Apparently, Steve Rybacki was the one who suggested that Martha Karolyi take a look at Williams skills. Otherwise, I doubt Martha Karolyi would ever have taken a gymnast who had already hit sixteen years of age.
Kayla went onto compete at the Covergirl Classic and then at the Visa Championships. Last October Kayla was chosen to compete on the world stage at the second most prestigious event next to the Olympics. She would compete with three other gymnasts from the United States and would become the first ever woman from the U.S.A. to win gold on vault with two sky high, flawless vaults at the World Championships!
Her story is an inspirational one that says, anything is possible!
Today I came across a sad article. After having some controversial issues between Kayla and her coaches, she is now in need of a new gym. She has been looking for gyms in the state of West Virgina where she lives but has been turned down again and again. At this point in time, she is still looking for a gym in West Virgina but she may have to settle at a gym outside of the state. Kayla has not been training for 2 months and if she hopes to be prepared for a national training camp in May, she better get her butt in gear and find a place to get herself back into top shape.
Good Luck to you Kayla! I would love to see you continue in elite gymnastics and eventually college gymnastics so keep your spirits up!
http://www.universalsports.com/news/article/newsid=47090.html#world+champ+williams+left+without
Less than a year later she is thrown into the elite world. In this day in age, a sixteen year old gymnast going elite is unheard of! Apparently, Steve Rybacki was the one who suggested that Martha Karolyi take a look at Williams skills. Otherwise, I doubt Martha Karolyi would ever have taken a gymnast who had already hit sixteen years of age.
Kayla went onto compete at the Covergirl Classic and then at the Visa Championships. Last October Kayla was chosen to compete on the world stage at the second most prestigious event next to the Olympics. She would compete with three other gymnasts from the United States and would become the first ever woman from the U.S.A. to win gold on vault with two sky high, flawless vaults at the World Championships!
Her story is an inspirational one that says, anything is possible!
Today I came across a sad article. After having some controversial issues between Kayla and her coaches, she is now in need of a new gym. She has been looking for gyms in the state of West Virgina where she lives but has been turned down again and again. At this point in time, she is still looking for a gym in West Virgina but she may have to settle at a gym outside of the state. Kayla has not been training for 2 months and if she hopes to be prepared for a national training camp in May, she better get her butt in gear and find a place to get herself back into top shape.
Good Luck to you Kayla! I would love to see you continue in elite gymnastics and eventually college gymnastics so keep your spirits up!
http://www.universalsports.com/news/article/newsid=47090.html#world+champ+williams+left+without
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
2000 Olympic Bronze medalist team is now USA...
It's official! The Chinese bronze medalists of the 2000 summer games have been stripped of thier bronze medal due to an underaged gymnast. This controversy should've been taken care of 10 years ago instead of now when we are still wondering about the age of the 2008 Chinese gymnasts. I wonder if it's going to take another ten years before any concrete evidence shows up about the 2008 Olympic team. Maybe there weren't any underaged gymnasts from the last games, but now that proof shows up that China was willing to cheat 10 years ago, why would we think that they wouldn't cheat in another Olympic games?
Dong FangXiou is the unlucky victim in this controversy. I loved her gymnastics and wish she didn't have to deal with a crime the government decided to impose on her. She was 14 at the time according to reports found. Here is a look into the life she faced as a gymnast under the Chinese system:
And might I add, she was a PHENOMENAL tumbler!
Dong FangXiou is the unlucky victim in this controversy. I loved her gymnastics and wish she didn't have to deal with a crime the government decided to impose on her. She was 14 at the time according to reports found. Here is a look into the life she faced as a gymnast under the Chinese system:
And might I add, she was a PHENOMENAL tumbler!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
ACL's
Wow, there seems to be a lot of torn ACLs lately. First Mia Tabbutt's, then Ivana Hong's, and I just read in IGC that Shawn Johnson tore her's skiing?! I pray them all speedy recoveries.
On another note. Region 2 regionals is going on this weekend in Auburn, Wa! Come watch some awesome gymnastics! :)
Sorry this post is so short, but I have to get up early in the morning and that gives me like only 6 hours of sleep.
Night!
"Enlightenment is not for the weak of heart...Enlightenment is for the warrior."
-Ken Thorton
On another note. Region 2 regionals is going on this weekend in Auburn, Wa! Come watch some awesome gymnastics! :)
Sorry this post is so short, but I have to get up early in the morning and that gives me like only 6 hours of sleep.
Night!
"Enlightenment is not for the weak of heart...Enlightenment is for the warrior."
-Ken Thorton
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Al Fong and Ivana Hong
Ok, so this is actually old news more or less.
I just recently learned that Ivana tore her ACL. Yikes...Sounds like she has a long road ahead of her. Hasn't most of her life been a long road though? While she was training at GAGE she reported that Al Fong "made" her continue to train on a fractured shin. I've heard many opinions on the aligation and I honestly don't know what to believe. I have heard some claims that Ivana's mom was the main reason Ivana left GAGE. Maybe Fong had asked or "pressured" Ivana to keep training on an injury, but how many other elite coaches have done the same to their gymnasts.
According to Alyssa Beckerman, her coach, Mary Lee Tracy had told her to keep training on a broken wrist to make the 2000 Olympic team. Alyssa was swallowing down tons of painkillers because the pain was so excruciating. At a training camp, the situation became took a horrible turning point. Alyssa knew the painkillers had taken a toll on her body. At one point she went into the bathroom and threw up blood. Most likely from an ulcer caused by the pills. She even says that the coaches didn't believe anything was wrong with her and she literally had to drag someone to the bathroom and show them.
Or how about Vanessa Atler, whose last coach was none other than Valerie Liukin. The same coach Ivana is now training with. After Vanessa's ankle injury she had to take some down time. Because of it, she had gained some weight. When Valerie found out he was furious. Vanessa went into a cycle of gaining and losing weight from an eating disorder. Come 2000 Olympics, Vanessa didn't make the team. She claims that Valerie told her that the reason she had not qualified was because she was "too fat!" I was appalled when I read this. And yet, Ivana moved from Fong to Liukin...
However, I am also reminded that Fong has had two gymnasts from his gym die. Both for seperate reasons, either way, he somehow continues to coach. How can someone still coach after having just ONE gymnast die? How is he able to keep coaching after 2 of his gymnastics have died? To me, that's just nuts! Maybe there's more to the stories I've read and re-told for you. Maybe there are more emotions I am not getting a full picture of. Maybe these stories are just rumors. After all, Terin Humphrey and Courtney McCool both turned out successful in the sport. Either way, Ivana is now under Liukin's eye. And at this point in time, she's got a long way to go to get back to where she left off from...
I just recently learned that Ivana tore her ACL. Yikes...Sounds like she has a long road ahead of her. Hasn't most of her life been a long road though? While she was training at GAGE she reported that Al Fong "made" her continue to train on a fractured shin. I've heard many opinions on the aligation and I honestly don't know what to believe. I have heard some claims that Ivana's mom was the main reason Ivana left GAGE. Maybe Fong had asked or "pressured" Ivana to keep training on an injury, but how many other elite coaches have done the same to their gymnasts.
According to Alyssa Beckerman, her coach, Mary Lee Tracy had told her to keep training on a broken wrist to make the 2000 Olympic team. Alyssa was swallowing down tons of painkillers because the pain was so excruciating. At a training camp, the situation became took a horrible turning point. Alyssa knew the painkillers had taken a toll on her body. At one point she went into the bathroom and threw up blood. Most likely from an ulcer caused by the pills. She even says that the coaches didn't believe anything was wrong with her and she literally had to drag someone to the bathroom and show them.
Or how about Vanessa Atler, whose last coach was none other than Valerie Liukin. The same coach Ivana is now training with. After Vanessa's ankle injury she had to take some down time. Because of it, she had gained some weight. When Valerie found out he was furious. Vanessa went into a cycle of gaining and losing weight from an eating disorder. Come 2000 Olympics, Vanessa didn't make the team. She claims that Valerie told her that the reason she had not qualified was because she was "too fat!" I was appalled when I read this. And yet, Ivana moved from Fong to Liukin...
However, I am also reminded that Fong has had two gymnasts from his gym die. Both for seperate reasons, either way, he somehow continues to coach. How can someone still coach after having just ONE gymnast die? How is he able to keep coaching after 2 of his gymnastics have died? To me, that's just nuts! Maybe there's more to the stories I've read and re-told for you. Maybe there are more emotions I am not getting a full picture of. Maybe these stories are just rumors. After all, Terin Humphrey and Courtney McCool both turned out successful in the sport. Either way, Ivana is now under Liukin's eye. And at this point in time, she's got a long way to go to get back to where she left off from...
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Grace Level 4's
Level 4, 5 & 6 sectional Championships happened all over the state of Washington. Southern Sectionals was hosted by, none other than: Grace Gymnastics!
Set up on Friday was lovely...Not really... It's not my favorite past time I must admit. The point is, it got done.
Today level 4 Grace girls competed! They all did superb! We had a total of 6 girls make sectional/state team, 1 make 1st alternate, 14 make gold team, and the rest all qualified to silver or bronze state with scores of 31 or higher!
Top 6 who made sectional team(in no particular order):
1. Aluna Cables
2. Jasmine Parker
3. Jaelyn Sloan
4. Amy Eibel
5. Kaitlin King
6. Juliana Redding
Alternate
Emi Maya
I am soo proud of all the girls that competed this weekend so far and wish the level 5's and 6's luck for tomorrow! Onto State Championships!
Set up on Friday was lovely...Not really... It's not my favorite past time I must admit. The point is, it got done.
Today level 4 Grace girls competed! They all did superb! We had a total of 6 girls make sectional/state team, 1 make 1st alternate, 14 make gold team, and the rest all qualified to silver or bronze state with scores of 31 or higher!
Top 6 who made sectional team(in no particular order):
1. Aluna Cables
2. Jasmine Parker
3. Jaelyn Sloan
4. Amy Eibel
5. Kaitlin King
6. Juliana Redding
Alternate
Emi Maya
I am soo proud of all the girls that competed this weekend so far and wish the level 5's and 6's luck for tomorrow! Onto State Championships!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
College Gymnastics: My Opportunity
I was given a wake up call this morning. And not just a "wake up" call in literal terms but in changing my life. I had an old friend, who at this point will remain unnamed, call me up. She literally told me to get off my butt and do what I need to to follow my dreams. For weeks, maybe months, I have been in misery because I still had unfinished business in the gym. Yet I couldn't train while I was coaching, not really at least. And honestly, I was still just making excuses.
For the last year I have been trying to figure out what I could do to regain my dreams I had left behind. I could not come up with a concrete plan. I wonder if that is why God sent this person to me. It's as though God had a very genuine plan for my life in meeting her that day so many years ago. For awhile, I wondered if things really had not happened as planned, that there was no such thing as destiny. And now, I am once again questioning fate and reality. Was this message an important message that had been thought out before my own birth onto this earth? I will soon find out.
Today I am coming out of retirement.
I know I'm not ready to let go yet.
I have unfinished business.
With that said, I have to also inform you that I am done coaching at this point. As soon as season is done, so is my coaching.
I am returning to my sport.
To go for a dream I had long thought was over.
Starting now.
I am going to try for college again. Not college in general, but college gymnastics. After I talked to my friend and she told me my beam and floor could make the line up for team. Even if the events weren't quite there, she still suggested I go train with the college gym team for the summer. She then told me to talk to my own coach, Brian, and see what he thought about the idea. So I did.
After I had told him the idea. His response was simple. "You need to get stronger, you need to be in the weight room everyday." He told me I had the potential and could get the skills college coaches were looking for, but I had to get in shape first. Everything he said was positive and he seemed to think I had a decent chance as well. For the first time in a long time I had people supporting my dreams. Behind my goals 100%.
I told my friend about the conversation I had just had with Brian. We were both pleased at what Brian had thought. "Let's do it!" She said to me. In a few weeks we will go talk to the college coach. I pray to God that the conversation will go well. Maybe the reason why I have never gotten the nerve up to directly ask the college coach about being on her team is because I was afraid of rejection. I was scared to be turned down. I am still nervous about it, but I know that I'm more prepared for it. There has been a good portion of this year where I gave up on myself. And because of it, I am willing to be told "no", but that doesn't mean I'm gonna give up.
It took a past figure in my life to make me believe in myself again. She seems to have been the only one who hasn't given up on me. The only one who is willing to put herself out to me to help me achieve something worthwhile. I can never tell her how grateful I am that God put her in my life. She helped save my gymnastics as well as my life. For if she had not saved my gymnastics, I would have found no life worth living, I would not be where I am in the world today without her, I would not have accomplished as much as I have without her and there is no way I would have an opportunity like the one placed in front of me today.
For the last year I have been trying to figure out what I could do to regain my dreams I had left behind. I could not come up with a concrete plan. I wonder if that is why God sent this person to me. It's as though God had a very genuine plan for my life in meeting her that day so many years ago. For awhile, I wondered if things really had not happened as planned, that there was no such thing as destiny. And now, I am once again questioning fate and reality. Was this message an important message that had been thought out before my own birth onto this earth? I will soon find out.
Today I am coming out of retirement.
I know I'm not ready to let go yet.
I have unfinished business.
With that said, I have to also inform you that I am done coaching at this point. As soon as season is done, so is my coaching.
I am returning to my sport.
To go for a dream I had long thought was over.
Starting now.
I am going to try for college again. Not college in general, but college gymnastics. After I talked to my friend and she told me my beam and floor could make the line up for team. Even if the events weren't quite there, she still suggested I go train with the college gym team for the summer. She then told me to talk to my own coach, Brian, and see what he thought about the idea. So I did.
After I had told him the idea. His response was simple. "You need to get stronger, you need to be in the weight room everyday." He told me I had the potential and could get the skills college coaches were looking for, but I had to get in shape first. Everything he said was positive and he seemed to think I had a decent chance as well. For the first time in a long time I had people supporting my dreams. Behind my goals 100%.
I told my friend about the conversation I had just had with Brian. We were both pleased at what Brian had thought. "Let's do it!" She said to me. In a few weeks we will go talk to the college coach. I pray to God that the conversation will go well. Maybe the reason why I have never gotten the nerve up to directly ask the college coach about being on her team is because I was afraid of rejection. I was scared to be turned down. I am still nervous about it, but I know that I'm more prepared for it. There has been a good portion of this year where I gave up on myself. And because of it, I am willing to be told "no", but that doesn't mean I'm gonna give up.
It took a past figure in my life to make me believe in myself again. She seems to have been the only one who hasn't given up on me. The only one who is willing to put herself out to me to help me achieve something worthwhile. I can never tell her how grateful I am that God put her in my life. She helped save my gymnastics as well as my life. For if she had not saved my gymnastics, I would have found no life worth living, I would not be where I am in the world today without her, I would not have accomplished as much as I have without her and there is no way I would have an opportunity like the one placed in front of me today.
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