Full Twist
A Gymnastics Blog
Little Links 15/6/10
Jun 15th
Normally I’m not a football fan although I don’t mind watching World Cup matches as the players featured are (supposed to be) the best players in the world. Who to support though? Ireland have only just about gotten over the “Hand of Henry” and the World Cup begins, reminding Ireland that France are (perhaps) playing in their place. So, with the World Cup in mind, here’s a football related Little Link.
Fatigue in Football: Physiology in Performance
Top 10 World Cup Injuries – Hamstring Strain, Groin Strain, Metatarsal Fracture, Medial Collateral Ligament, Anterior Cruciate Ligament, Ankle Sprains, Meniscus Injury, Leg Fracture, Calf Injury, Achilles Tendon Rupture
Since posting this video back in May, its ranked up over 15 million views! Nike Write The Future
I’m also loving the Coca Cola “History of Celebration” ad.
£30,000 for 15 minutes of Spelbound?
Jun 14th
According to STV and Unreality TV, Spelbound are charging £30,000 for 15 minutes of performing since their Britain’s Got Talent win last weekend!
What do you think? Would your company pay that much for a 15 minute performance? I reckon I might encourage the girls in gym to get a group routine together and poach some local companies..what do you reckon!?! 
Beth Tweddle: Addicted to Gymnastics
Jun 13th
I came across an article in The Independent on Sunday by Alan Hubbard. Beth Tweddle discusses Spelbound, her company “Total Gymnastics” and the 2012 Olympics.
Tweddle, the best gymnast Britain has ever produced, who came away with two individual golds and a team silver, puts it down to “a new belief, particularly among the younger gymnasts, hard work, the right coaching and Lottery funding”.
The 25-year-old “Tweds” has become the sport’s talisman having made her international debut in 2001 and winning Commonwealth, European and two world titles. “A lot of people have asked me ‘why do you keep going?’ ” she says. “The motivation is still there and I have one dream: to win a medal in 2012. Any colour will do. I am very hopeful about our chances in the Olympics because there is great strength in depth, particularly among the women.”
Gymnastics has a new look, and female competitors have a new shape. Amanda Kirby, the most successful club coach in the country, explains that there is more emphasis on strength and athleticism. The sport hasn’t changed, neither have the skills, but the training workload has. The time when young gymnasts were all skin and bone has passed. Now you need all-round fitness and a bit more muscle. Kirby, who has coached Tweddle since 1997, says: “The great thing about Beth is her mental strength. She is not exceptionally talented physically but she works tremendously hard. Her determination and dedication are phenomenal.”
Dedication is certainly the name of her game. The line between perfection and pain is as delicately balanced as a pair of feet on the beam, and she has had to bounce back after a number of injuries which have seen her undergo three shoulder operations and half a dozen on her ankles.
BlogRoll Updated
Jun 10th
I’ve been discovering more and more gymnastics blogs and websites recently so today the blogroll was updated to add in a few newbies, at least to Full Twist anyway! Some of them haven’t updated in a while but hopefully they will. If you haven’t noticed the list of links (Blogroll) before, it’s on the right below the Archives and Tags.
It’s always kind to link to other blogs who’s work you appreciate, so if you’ve found you’re not there (or I’ve not credited you with using news that you first posted), please leave a comment below and your site will be added to the list and equally any blogs or websites that you really enjoy!! Happy reading!!
What next for Spelbound?
Jun 8th
On Saturday night more than 19 million people tuned into see Spelbound win Britain’s Got Talent 2010. Judges Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden commended them on their win and told them they would be “perfect” to open the 2012 Olympics. I’m sure they celebrating their well deserved win on Saturday night, but what is next for Spelbound?
Today some of the members of the group found themselves back to reality as they returned to school. 16 year old Abigail sat her GCSE maths exam today. Three of the Spelbound team members Abigail, Katie and Amy attend the same school. School principal Ann Haydon organised a celebration for the girls with their classmates but it seems they are well accustomed to having local “celebrity sports stars” at their school
The school is developing a real expertise in gymnastics and we have nine girls who represent Great Britain. We were already celebrating three of our pupils winning gold medals at the British Gymnastics Championships two weeks ago and Nicole Hibbert won a silver medal at the European Championships as part of team GB competing with Beth Tweddle. But Spelbound’s success is something very different and has caught the imagination of the British public.
Since Sunday there have been many articles about Spelbound. Most articles mainly focus on how much Spelbound would like acrobatic gymnastics to be considered any Olympic Sport. This article from the Scotsman reports how Spelbound have received offers to perform in Las Vegas shows. I read a very short but heart warming snippet about Douglas Fordyce who plans to use his
SPELBOUND member Douglas Fordyce has vowed to use his winnings to help his parents, whose business was wiped out by the recession.
He said: “I want to help them out after all they have done for me. Mum and dad lost their business last year and I would love to be able to step in and help pay off their debts.”
Douglas is a “base” in the troupe and his role holding up the others makes him one of its strongest athletes. He has been working as an administrative assistant at a college to help pay for his training for the show and the forthcoming world gymnastics championships.
“It’s been Catch-22,” he said. “We have to work to fund our training, but then we struggle to find a job that’s flexible enough to fit around the training.”
Some of the members of the group will attend the World Championships so I don’t think it’s the last we’ll see of them! I’m eager to see what they’ll pull out for the Royal Variety Performance in December though.
What do you think is next for Spelbound in the coming months? Where do you think they can go from here?
FIG Congratulate Spelbound
Jun 5th
Congratulations was given this evening from the FIG’s Facebook page to Spelbound on their win. The group have come away with a prize of £100,000 ($144,500 USD / $175,500 AUD / €120,000) and a performance at the Royal Variety Performance.
It’s quite similar to the British Gymnastics Facebook update:
FIG
Congratulations Spelbound, winners of Britains Got Talent 2010!!! you have done Gymnastics proud!!!
