2013 Gymnastics Wishlish

For the first post of the year, I thought I would compile a list of some of the things I would like to see happen in the year of 2013. The post-Olympic year is always interesting in gymnastics, since some old faces of the past quadrennium stick it out and the new generations push forwards and look to establish names for themselves early.

#10 For Canada's Christine 'Peng Peng' Lee, a freshman at UCLA to have a fun, energy-free season after failing to make the 2012 Olympic Team due to injury, after a very sucessful and exciting come-back. Peng is an entertaining perfomer and a good all-around gymnast with a fun style and unique skills. She is a HUGE asset for the Bruins.

#9 For the beautiful Maria Livchikova of Ukraine to have a healthy and successful competitive season. This elegant tall blond gymnast has never quite lived up to her potential.

#8 For little Raluca Haidu (Pitic) to medal at Worlds (hopefully in the all-around!). She is one of Romania's hardest-working gymnasts who was not part of the Romanian Team in London.

#7 For Bristish gymnastics to really take off and become a dominant force in artistic gymnastics. Enrolments should be sky-rocketing thanks to the success of the British Men's team, who took a team medal for the first time in Olympic history. The Women's team also had a good showing at the Olympics, making the team final with stars like Hannah Whelan and Rebecca Tunney who also made the all-around) and Beth Tweddle taking a medal on bars. There are many talented juniors who will continue the legacy, including; Angel Romaeo, Gabby Jupp, Raer Theaker and Charlie Fellows. Team GB performed very well at the 2012 Junior European Championships, finishing 4th in the team final and showing their potential as talented gymnasts for the future

#6 For Kyla Ross to win an all-around title, without being overshadowed by superstars Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman and Jordyn Wieber.

#5 For Team China to find their mojo. Something wasn't quite right about their performance at the Olympics. I mean only two medals on beam? Seriously China, sort yourselves out please.

#4 To see Elizabeth 'Ebee' Price be selected for the World's Team (she definitely merits being there, her vault and bars are ridiculous).

#3 To have a gymnast from a non-gymnastics country to win a medal at the World Championships. It's so unexpected and exciting when this happens! And means the world to the gymnast, the coach and all the supporters back at home. My money is on the talented young Ana Sofia from Guatemala!

#2 For Bridget Sloan of Florida Gymnastics to become NCAA bars champion- seriously, that girl is amazing. Hell, she's a World Champion!

#1 For Rebecca Bross to continue in gymnastics as an event specialist on bars and beam. Becca has had a rough road since injurung her knee at the 2011 US Nationals. No injury is easy to come back from and it is clear that she fought hard to be a contender for 2012. The thought of Becca not being on the US Olympic Team in 2009 or 2010 was unthinkable, but sadly became a reality again showing that gymnastics is a fickle sport. Becca is stong on bars and beam and could realistically help the team if she is in good shape. Besides, she would fit easily into a leadership role and help guide new members of the team.

Article by Imogen Browne @Iflip4gymblog

Danusia Francis: From British Elite to UCLA Freshman

"I'd always thought gymnasts who carried on competing past the age of 21 were crazy- now I'm one of them"- Blog post from Danusia on Metro Blogs

British gymnast Danusia Francis, 18 is one of UCLA's newest recruits. Known for her unique artistry and vivacious personality, Danusia has been a solid member of Team GB over the last couple of years. She was a member of the 2011 World Championships team and has performed well in two European Championships.

Danusia competes on floor exercise at the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo (Photo credit: www.stillsport.com)

Danusia on beam at the 2011 British Championships, showing off her unique style

UCLA showed interest in Danusia after they saw videos of her on Youtube (and who could blame them?). She commands attention when she performs and has a great overall presence on floor and beam, which is what you want in at the collegiate level. I cannot wait to see what Miss Val does with her floor routine for the 2013 season! Here is Danusia's routine from the 2012 British Teams Championships.

Danusia on floor exercise at the 2012 British Teams Championships

I am glad to see that more and more elite gymnasts continue their careers by competing in college gymnastics. In a sport that has been dominated by young girls (think 14 year old Nadia Comaneci), it is great to see it truly become 'Women's Gymnastics'. I hope that in the future, gymnasts will feel as though they can continue to be competitive, even after they have finished school at age 18- look at Vasiliki Missilousi, Catalina Ponor, Sandra Izbasa, Alicia Sacramone and Oksana Chusovitina.

"...I looked up to them but I never thought I would be able to do that [gymnastics] physically or psychologically. But being given this opportunity definitely inspired me to fell it was possible for me and that I could do it"- Danusia on competing past the age of 18

College gymnastics is fun to watch, teams become the gymnast's family away from home and meets are extremely competitive and hyped up by the media! It is great to see gymnasts from other countries competing alongside with the Americans such as; Becky Wing (GBR), Marissa King (GBR) and Shona Morgan (AUS). Congratulations to Danucia on being offered a scholarship to UCLA- we wish you well for your studies and competitions!

See also- The Couch Gymnast's interview with Danusia

http://www.thecouchgymnast.com/?p=4605

Danusia's Blog Post on Metro Blogs

http://blogs.metro.co.uk/olympics/id-always-thought-gymnasts-carried-competing-past-age-21-crazy-now-im-one/

Article by Imogen Browne (@ImogenMireille)

Peng Peng Lee- UCLA's newest recruit

Christine Lee, or Peng Peng as she is known in the gymnastics world burst into the international scene as a junior in 2007 at the Pan American Games in Rio. The young Canadian impressed gymnastics fans around the world with her trademark beam mount flairs (usually reserved for Men's gymnastics). She performed many difficult skills, especially on beam and floor. Although the execution was not quite there, it was obvious that she would be the one to watch over the coming years.

Peng Peng demonstrates her artisitc flair during her Balance Beam routine in the Team Final at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio

Unfortunately for Peng Peng and fans alike, she sustained an injury to her back in 2008, which forced her out of elite gymnastics. Late 2010 and early 2011 saw her return to international competition. At the 2011 World Championships, held in Tokyo, Lee was the highest scored Canadian athlete after in qualifications with an all-around score of 54.632.

Peng competes on un-even bars during the team final at the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo

Peng competes on beam and wears her trademark white lily in her hair

Peng Peng had an extremely strong debut in the Olympic year in 2012, performing well at both the London Test Event in January, and at the Pacific Rim Championships in March. Now a mature and composed competitor, she is most impressive on beam and floor. Her beam routine combines unique choreography with difficult skills including a standing full twisting back-sommersalt. Her movements are assertive, confident and performed with such fluidity that you can't help but be drawn into her performance. She could have easily medalled in London with a routine like this. 

Peng's stellar balance beam routine from the beam finals. She earned a massive 15.30 for this routine

Peng was not able to represent Canada at the 2012 London Olympics due to a torn ACL. The timing of this injury was most unfortunate, but Peng was able to remain positive and travelled to London to support her team as the 'honorary' team captain. She is obviously well loved by her team mates, as they wore her trademark white lily in their hair during the team competition at the Games!

Peng is continuing her gymnastics career at UCLA, where she will train under the Miss Val, the infamous Bruins coach. I can't wait to see what she will do with her floor routine (it's like Mattie Larson all over again). Peng, we wish you the best of luck at UCLA and look forwards to seeing your wonderful wonderful gymnastics for years to come. Welcome to LA.

Go Bruins! (Photo from Peng's twitter account)

Article by Imogen Browne (@ImogenMireille)