Here's what happened today…
1. In the next episode of "Chalk Divas," the U.S. took over 10 minutes to chalk the p-bars during podium training.
In that amount of time, you could have intercourse – twice (if you're the average Joe or Jane).
Needless to say, the Americans didn't have much time to actually get on the p-bars.
And we wonder why Sam Mikulak had overtime problems at Worlds last year………
2. The pressure is on Manrique Larduet.
Carlos Gil, the main coach for Team Cuba, believes that Manrique will qualify to Rio in Glasgow. To do so, he will have to win an individual medal during event finals.
Randy Leroux is expected to qualify during the Test Event next year.
3. In case you missed it, there will not be a North vs. South Korean vault showdown in Glasgow this year. Yang Hak-Seon, the 2012 Olympic vault champion, is out with a hamstring injury.
4. Also injured: Dinh Phuong Thanh of Thailand (shoulder). He won a gold medal in the all-around at the SEA Games. While he may not be a favorite for an all-around medal in Glasgow, Thailand is counting on him for a berth to the Olympic Test Event.
5. More injuries: During podium training, Tomomasa Hasegawa of Japan fell from the high bar, further injuring his left hip. He's out.
Naoto Hayasaka, the alternate, will replace him.
6. Team Spain is shooting for the top 12. López, Abad, and Tallón will compete in the all-around. The European floor champ Ray Zapata will compete on floor, rings, vault, and p-bars.
Isaac Botella, a vault finalist at the Olympics, will fly to Glasgow – just in case Spain needs him. He has been suffering from back problems, so hopefully, they don't need him.
If you're wondering where Fabian González is, you're not alone. He retired from the sport so that he could study.
7. Daniel Corral, the 2013 silver medalist on pommel horse, broke up with his coach. He'll be heading to Ivan Ivankov in Houston. It turns out that Steve Butcher recommended Ivan to Daniel.
8. Epke Zonderland: The floppy hair, the flexed feet, the wild arch on his pirouettes…
This is what World Champions are made of.
Honestly, I'd rather watch Epke on parallel bars. Typically, he's cleaner on that event.
9. Chris Brooks: Magic Mike XXL. You'd think that they'd make shorts with drawstrings.
10. Danell Leyva had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad podium training.
He barely did anything on p-bars (partly because it took the U.S. forever to chalk the bars). He fell off high bar. He fell multiple times on floor. He almost Paul Hamm-ed his vault.
He barely did anything on p-bars (partly because it took the U.S. forever to chalk the bars). He fell off high bar. He fell multiple times on floor. He almost Paul Hamm-ed his vault.
He says that the errors are the result of being too confident.
Last year, the U.S. men qualified to finals in third with a 270.369. That was 3.000 points behind China, and 14.209 ahead of the 8th place team, Germany.
I'd be shocked if Team USA didn't qualify directly to Rio. (Top 8 qualify.) Like, the only thing keeping Team USA from qualifying directly to Rio is the Loch Ness Monster.
That said, I wouldn't be surprised if they found themselves off the podium.
That said, I wouldn't be surprised if they found themselves off the podium.
Tim Daggett, though, is always the Team USA supporter:
I've seen the US have really rough podiums before and come back strong. Japan had even more mistakes on HB than USA #Glasgow2015— tim daggett (@timdaggettnbc) October 22, 201511. Paul Ruggeri was one of the most consistent gymnasts in podium training for the U.S.
12. Luke Wiwatowski of Team Australia lets us know what he thinks of the new setup (i.e. the judges not sitting on the floor by the podium).
A bit hard initially to identify the judges with the new separated set up. But feels cool to be more 1 on 1 with the apparatus #glasgow2015— Luke Wiwatowski (@lukewiwa) October 22, 201513. The gymnasts now have a rockstar entrance, but it's a bit awkward for the gymnasts…
The rock star entrance is cool (with dry ice!) But I need to practice this! #glasgow2015 I don't know what to do with my hands— Luke Wiwatowski (@lukewiwa) October 22, 2015Luke, the answer is always jazz hands and/or kick line.
If that isn't your style, copy Chris Brooks.
If that isn't your style, copy Chris Brooks.
Work that stage like a modeling catwalk. Easy, breezy, beautiful Chris Brooks.
14. Gym gods, thank you for Bart Conner! Thank you for International Gymnast!
Bart Conner and crew were all over pommels today. Here are a few of the key players. (Yesterday, we saw Max Whitlock and Louis Smith.)
Bart Conner and crew were all over pommels today. Here are a few of the key players. (Yesterday, we saw Max Whitlock and Louis Smith.)
Tommasone PH - Podium training
Posted by International Gymnast Magazine on Thursday, October 22, 2015
Berki PH - Podium training
Posted by International Gymnast Magazine on Thursday, October 22, 2015
Ude PH - Podium training
Posted by International Gymnast Magazine on Thursday, October 22, 2015
Lord knows that I'm all about a good straddle position and toe point. So, I vote for Berki and Ude!
15. Oleg Verniaiev decided that Under Armour really can go *under* anything – including leotards.
For all I care, he could wear this:
As long as we can see his pointed toes and as long as he wins medals, there will be champagne in San Francisco.
By the way, Coach Rick predicts that Kohei will win the all-around, but he thinks that Oleg will come the closest to challenging him.
16. Cold hands, warm heart. That's what my gymnastics coach always told me.
By the way, Coach Rick predicts that Kohei will win the all-around, but he thinks that Oleg will come the closest to challenging him.
16. Cold hands, warm heart. That's what my gymnastics coach always told me.
17. Gross incident of the day:
Blood on the PH has stopped team Ukraine #Glasgow2015— tim daggett (@timdaggettnbc) October 22, 201518. Just something to think about…
Just think how good at life you would be – if you had Chris Brooks cheering for you every step of the way.— Uncle Tim (@uncletimmensgym) October 22, 201519. Marian Dragulescu has promised me a photo of him and Bruno Grandi. In the meantime, here's a video of his floor training from today:
Okay, that's the end of the line for me. Did you come across anything good today?
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