At the start of the week in Rotterdam, the only uncertainty was whether or not Kohei Uchimura would even compete all-around. He seemed to be wincing and favoring his left shoulder during podium training and prelims. With prelims and yesterday's team competition out of the way, it became clearly certain that Uchimura would not only compete all-around, but would completely dominate. Yes, Uchimura became only the second gymnast to become a repeat world all-around champion, and the fifth two-time winner ever. Uchimura toyed with the field, [...more]
China fended off Japan on both team's final event (HB) to prevail in the team championship. Japan had at least a mathematical shot at overtaking the Chinese, but their fate was sealed after Kaz Tanaka took a tumble on the high-flying event. It was on still rings where the Chinese were able to ultimately distance themselves from the field, as their combined scores on the event (an average of an incredible 15.60 per man), left every team in the dust by almost two full points. Chen Yibing's 16.00 topped everybody's score by at least 4/10 of a point. On everything else, [...more]
No real surprises on Day 2, except perhaps that the Russians didn't finish stronger than many had thought. Although, they will likely move up in the standings if they perform to their potential in the team finals. The Chinese men simply dominated the day's competition. In fact, they finished more than a point higher than the Japanese did yesterday, and over 5 points ahead of the 3rd place Americans. Except for floor and pommel horse, the Chinese put up impressively consistent numbers on [...more]
Day One of qualifying for the men is in the books, and we have five more rotations to go. Today's prelims featured Japan, USA and Great Britain. Well, they ended up the day in exactly that order. Tomorrow, China, Russia and Germany are the top teams left to go in the prelims. Twenty-four hours of qualifying. The folks covering this stuff have got to be exhausted. Especially after the first two days of the women's qualifying rotations.
Day One highlights consisted mainly of Japan's Kohei Uchimura and his team's [...more]
We're a few days away from competition, and it's apparent that a few flies have landed in the ointment. Kohei Uchimura may not compete in the all-around, and... Oh, that's really about it. In terms of the all-around competition, if Uchimura is unable to compete all six, that's a huge deal, and throws the competition into a free-for-all. We already knew that Fabian Hambuchen wasn't going to compete all-around. As for things like Yuri van Gelder's alleged cocaine relapse, and whomever was left off the Chinese squad, it's more or less irrelevant. Quite frankly, [...more]
We need a serious come hell or high water commitment from the entire gymnastics hierarchy to be forceful in guaranteeing the future of men's collegiate gymnastics. The same amount of bravery and strength our gymnasts exhibit every single day needs to go towards the promotion of our sport. Now. [...more]
Chancellor Robert Birgeneau lowered the boom on Cal's prestigious men's gymnastics program today by officially announcing the sport has been de-funded effective upon completion of the upcoming 2011 season. Birgeneau also gave the heave-ho to men's baseball, men's rugby, women's gymnastics and women's lacrosse. Yes, thanks to Title IX, the men had to be cut for quota purposes.
It's a sad day for Cal gymnastics, whose demise was [...more]
Check out his birthday video. [...more]
ust a few weeks after an exciting 2010 VISA U.S. Men's Championships, six of our top gymnasts completed a successful competition in Guadalajara at the recent 2010 Pan American Games. Team USA, comprised of Glen Ishino, Jake Dalton, Wes Haagensen, Alex Buscaglia, Dylan Akers and Bryan Del Castillo, walloped Brazil, Canada and the rest [...more]
2010 was a break-out year for Jesse Silverstein in men's gymnastics, starting out the season with a 19th place AA finish and capturing the 5th best parallel bars score at Winter Cup. Then came his epic battle with Sam Mikulak at JO Nationals, where he placed a very close 2nd in the AA, took first on pommel horse and placed in the top 5 on the rest. Competing for the first time as a Senior, Silverstein cracked the top 10 (9th) in the AA at VISAs, and finished in 8th place on pommel horse, rings and vault. Yes, his arrival as one of America's top elite gymnasts is a [...more]
