Tweet The February issue of British Gymnastics online magazine “The Gymnast” is out now to read. View it here.

Tweet The wonderful London 2012 Test Event appears to have set standards and expectations bigger than was first thought. FIG President, Professor Bruno Grandi today issued a letter discussing the FIG’s use of live streaming during the Test Event. This was the first event in which FIG offered live streaming, something many fans worldwide have been crying out for, for a number of years, more so in the most recent years as technology has developed.

His letter today very much indicates that the FIG are likely to live stream other events in the …

Tweet Tony Retrosi over at Gym Momentum has an excellent post on Sportsmanship. With the competition season beginning for many gymnasts and coaches, this is a great post to read. Sportsmanship is vital in any sport, especially gymnastics. I like to see the winner of a competition shake the other competitors hands before taking to the podium to receive their medal.

To get good at winning, you have to get good at losing.
The bottom line is that you or your team is NOT going to win every competition you go to. …

Tweet The MTC today issued a newsletter which features the new moves submitted and approved at the World Gymnastics Championships in Tokyo last October. The communication is excellent, it features links to YouTube videos of the elements where possible.  They are as follows:
Floor

The “Penev” – F Value – submitted by Eddie Penev (BUL) – Jump backward with 1/2 turn to Double Salto Forward stretched with 1/2 turn

Vault

The “Yang Hak Seon” – E Value – submitted by Yang Hak Seon (KOR)- HANDSPRING FORWARD AND SALTO FORWARD STRETCHED WITH 3/1 TURNS

Parallel Bars

The “Sasaki” …

Tweet Yet another fantastic artistic drawing.

Although it didn’t look like this at the London 2012 Test Event!

Tweet Yesterday Ireland’s second ever Olympic Gymnast Kieran Behan was presented with a cheque for €20,000 to cover his grant from the Olympic Council of Ireland by Pat Hickey, President of the IOC to help him in his preparations for the London Games.  The event took place at Dublin’s prestigious Shelbourne Hotel where Behan was interviewed by the national newspapers, national television and radio broadcaster RTE whilst also posing for a series of photos on the furniture.

Kieran with IOC Secretary General, Dermot Sherlock  and IOC President, Pat Hickey.

Coach Demetrios Bradshaw, Gymnastics Ireland …

Tweet Australia’s Women’s National Coach Peggy Liddick was granted her Australian citizenship yesterday during the countries national day celebrations. Reports say that Liddick, originally from the United States was accompanied by the whole national team to celebrate her citizenship. Liddick said:
“When the position of national coach for women’s gymnastics became available in Australia in 1996, I saw it as a sign that I was destined to become an Australian.”
“I feel a sense of pride and patriotism when the Australian flag is raised and Advance Australia Fair plays over the speakers when one …

Tweet Last week on the back of his visit to the London 2012 Test Event, Rick Mc Charles of Gymnastics Coaching paid visits to five gymnastics clubs in Ireland, one in the Western Region (Renmore) and 4 in the South Dublin Region (Excel, Trojan, Janz and Sugarloaf GC). As he pointed out, despite the economic crisis in the Eurozone, especially in Ireland the demand for places within gymnastics classes around the country is high. Of course, with the London Olympic Games coming up we can expect more girls and boys …

Tweet I came across the Coach’s Eye app for iPhone and iPad a couple of weeks ago. We’ve had some great fun in the gym with it and some lessons have definitely been learnt, it has been advantageous for both young and older gymnasts. It’s a fantastic app, a must have for those who don’t have video analysis in the gym.

In short, Coach’s Eye is a video analysis app. As the website describes it:
Whether you’re working on a golf swing, football drill, soccer kick, or yoga posture…Coach’s Eye delivers “ah-ha” …

Tweet The semi state electricity company Electric Ireland has been named as the Official Energy Partner to Ireland’s Olympic Teamm. Last Monday, January 9th marked 200 days to the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. To celebrate Electric Ireland’s sponsorship of Ireland’s Olympics Team, Countdown Clocks were installed at the ESB Head office on Lower Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin and also at the Electric Ireland Offices in Swift Square, Santry Co. Dublin.

At the official announcement back in September, CEO Padraig McManus said:
“ESB have a long tradition supporting sport in this …

Tweet The American multi-national corporation Proctor and Gamble (P&G) are set to partner with 2010 World Vault Champion Alicia Sacramone to promote their beauty range.  Her involvement is in addition to P&G’s partnership with USA Gymnastics and its global marketing partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in support of the Olympic Movement, which will reach through the next five Olympic Games from London 2012 through the 2020 Olympic Games.

Group President of  P&G Beauty,Gina Drosos explains the reason behind choosing Sacramone:
“Our goal is to inspire young women with the message that when …

Tweet I’m continuing to love this series of drawings from the World Championships Facebook page.

Tweet Less than 4 months after receiving surgery for torn foot ligament, USA’s Jonathan Horton, World High Bar Silver medallist will return to competition at the annual Winter Challenger Cup in Las Vegas next month. Scheduled for February 2nd to 4th, Horton intends to only compete on Rings and Pommel Horse. He will choose not to dismount on Rings to save his foot, which currently still has screws in place.  It may sound odd, but he has his reasons. Ireland’s Kieran Behan did the same at the 2010 World Championships, …

Tweet On Thursday night Chile’s  Enrique Tomas Gonzalez Sepulveda  claimed the gold medal at the London 2012 Test Event Floor Final. Tying with Great Britain’s Daniel Purvis, Gonzalez picked up the gold medal with a top score of 15.466,  edging Ireland’s newest Olympian Kieran Behan out of the medals. Gonzalez showed that he is seriously in contention for an Olympic medal, he previously ranked 6th in the 2011 World Championships Floor final and placed 15th in the All Around at the 2010 Worlds.

Gonzalez has secured himself an Olympic spot, placing …

Tweet I am shocked to hear this news this morning. Our beautiful 2010 World Beam Champion has announced her retirement from the sport of gymnastics, just aged 18 years old. Ana had a tough year this year, not making the beam finals at Worlds must have been the final moment for her before confirming her decision to retire as well as an unfortunate series of injuries.

Many fans will be shocked and saddened by this news.  You can read the Google Translated version of the Pro Sport article here. We will await official …