Junior Grand Prix kicks off international skating season

Even with the delayed world championships, it seems like a long time since we've had a chance to watch major international figure skating. The new season kicks off this week with the first leg of the Junior Grand Prix (JGP) from Riga, Latvia

Last year's JGP graduates Adelina Sotnikova and Elizaveta Tuktamisheva have moved on up and are ready to compete with the seniors this year. This years JGP series could give us a glimpse of the future. Skaters eligible for the JGP this year will also be eligible for the 2014 olympic games in Sochi.

Here are a few names to look out for at JGP Latvia
(Full list of entries here).
Canadian junior men's champion Nam Nguyen (pictured) who beat skaters several years his senior and well over a foot taller than himself to claim his 4th national title (he also holds novice, pre-novice and juvenile golds) and also skated at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Gala. He is pipped to be one of Canada's brightest takents for the coming 2 quadrennia. Read my previous post on Nam here.
Russian Ladies Polina Shelepen and Polina Agafonova. Both have medalled on the JGP before and will be contenders this season aswell. 
American Yasmin Siraj, who won two silvers of the series last year and placed 7th at the JGP final.
2 time World Junior Champions, and last year's Senior GP bronze medallists Wenjing Sui & Cong Han who seem to still be competing on the junior circuit alongside their senior exploits. No conclusion has been made following a controversy over Sui's age last year, questioning whether she was old enough to compete on the senior circuit.
These and many more could be names we hear more about over the coming years.

The rest of the JGP season looks like this...
31/8-4/9 Riga, Latvia*
7-11/9 Brisbane, Australia
14-18/9 Gdansk, Poland*
21-25/9 Brasov, Romania
28/9-2/10 Innsbruk, Austria*
5-9/10 Milano, Italy
12-16/10 Tailinn, Estonia*
(*includes pairs skating event)

8-11 December - JGP and GP finals - Quebec City, Canada
Also, the ISU site has announced that the 2012 GP and JGP finals will infact be held in Sochi, Russia.

You can also preview the entries for the senior Grand Prix series (starting with Skate America 21-23 October) here.

German World Teams Announced

See a theme here? There's going to be a run of these posts as the countdown to Tokyo continues. Germany held it's National Championships this weekend and from there named it's men's and women's world teams.

Women's World Team (14th in Rotterdam)
Elizabeth Seitz
Kim Bui
Oksana Chusovitina
Nadine Jarosch
Pia Tolle
with Marie-Sophie Hindermann, Lisa-Katherina Hill or Anja Rheinbay in the final spot.

Men's World Team (3rd in Rotterdam)
Philip Boy
Fabian Hambuchen
Marcel Nguyen
Eugen Spiridinov
Sebastian Krimmer
with Helge Liebrich, Thomas Taranu or Andreas Toba in the final spot.

The Men should definitely be looking at Olympic qualification and a few medals on the side. For the women a top 8 team finish in Rotterdam may be too much to ask, but top 16 with a view to making it to the second qualification event in London is very reasonable. Individual performances from European medallists Seitz, Bui and Chusovitina should also be a treat for us the audience.

Countdown to Tokyo - 39 Days.

Canadian World Team Announced

I the wake of their recent selection meet, Canada too has announced the gymnasts they will send to the World Championships in Tokyo.

Dominique Pegg
Talia Chiarelli
Kristina Vaculik
Peng Peng Lee
Mikaela Gerber
Coralie Leblond-Chartrand
Madeline Gardner

Canada is another one of those countries on the edge of an olympic team berth. I wish the Canadian girls all the best in their quest. It's great too to see Chrisine 'Peng Peng' Lee complete her successful comeback from injury to make a world championship team. Is it too much to hope to see her special and individual beam work in event finals?

Russian World Team Announced

Russia has announced it's team for the World Gymnastics Championships in October. It includes A good smattering of all-arounders and a mix of 'youngsters' and 'veterans' (if you can say that about 16-19 year olds!)

Russia clearly has confidence that Viktoria Komova will be ready to give Jordyn Wieber a run for her money for the all-around crown.

Russian World Team 
Viktoria Komova
Ksenia Afansyeva
Anna Dementyeva
Yulia Belokobylskaya
Tatiana Nabieva (VT and UB)
Maria Paeska (VT & FX)

Alternates - Yulia Ishina & Alyona Polyan

Hopefully other teams will follow on soon. With GB and Romania facing off on Onesti this week it shouldn't be too long until they pick their team too.

Gymnastics can be so cruel.

This morning I woke up and went straight away turned on my computer, having set time aside to watch last night's coverage of the Visa Championships. Firstly I was slightly miffed when the Universal Sports front page told me everything I needed to know before the first minute of video played. Jordyn Wieber wins, Rebecca Bross is injured. Damn it!

Universal sports/NBC did some great, poignant filming in the moments following Bross's disaster. Instead of focussing in the carnage of the vault run, they panned around the many many faces of gymnasts and coaches around the arena. Shock, disappointment and resignation. They all knew that in that moment the reigning national champion and multiple world medallists dreams for this years worlds, and possibly a full strength 2012 had flown out the window.

Bross's injury status is not yet confirmed. The initial spot diagnosis was a dislocated kneecap. Bross has come back from a lot, winning world medals on a stress fracture of her ankle, but this one will take some coming back from, and probably another trip under the surgeons knife, followed by best part of a year of rehab. The clock is ticking. The one year to london mark has been and gone.

Meanwhile, Jordyn Wieber did what everyone expected her to do. Win her first national title in devistating, consistent fashion.

All-Around

1.  Jordyn Wieber, DeWitt, Mich., 121.300

2.  McKayla Maroney, Laguna Niguel, Calif., 115.150

3.  Alexandra Raisman, Needham, Mass., 114.600

4.  Mackenzie Caquatto, Naperville, Ill., 112.500

5.  Sabrina Vega, Carmel, N.Y., 112.050

6.  Bridgette Caquatto, Naperville, Ill., 111.500

7.  Gabrielle Douglas, Virginia Beach, Va., 110.350

8.  Chellsie Memmel, West Allis, Wis., 109.850

9.  Sophia Lee, Plano, Texas, 109.200

10.  Grace McLaughlin, Allen, Texas, 108.600



Vault

1.  McKayla Maroney, Laguna Niguel, Calif., 30.700

2.  Alicia Sacramone, Winchester, Mass., 30.600

3.  Brandie Jay, Ft. Collins, Colo., 27.825

(And of course Wieber & Maroney with awesome amanars!)



Uneven Bars

1.  Jordyn Wieber, DeWitt, Mich., 29.750

2.  Mackenzie Caquatto, Naperville, Ill., 29.700

3.  Anna Li, Aurora, Ill., 29.450

3.  Gabrielle Douglas, Virginia Beach, Va., 29.450

5.  Amanda Jetter, Milford, Ohio, 28.650

6.  Shawn Johnson, West Des Moines, Iowa, 28.600



Balance Beam

1.  Alicia Sacramone, Winchester, Mass., 30.100

2.  Chellsie Memmel, West Allis, Wis., 30.000

3.  Jordyn Wieber, DeWitt, Mich., 29.900

4.  Shawn Johnson, West Des Moines, Iowa, 29.400

5.  Sabrina Vega, Carmel, N.Y., 28.850

6.  Alexandra Raisman, Needham, Mass., 27.900



Floor Exercise

1.  Jordyn Wieber, DeWitt, Mich., 29.900

2.  Rebecca Bross, Plano, Texas, 29.500

3.  Alexandra Raisman, Needham, Mass., 29.150

4.  Sabrina Vega, Carmel, N.Y., 28.900

5.  McKayla Maroney, Laguna Niguel, Calif., 28.150

6.  Chellsie Memmel, West Allis, Wis., 27.900 

With Bross out the team USA selection commitee has to regroup, and recruiting strong bar workers has become more crucial, now being without Bross and Bridget Sloan, currently 3rd and 4th in the world on bars. That said, there's also room for a strong all-arounder. Step-up Ali Raisman & McKayla Maroney.

Looking to Tokyo: 

Vault - US has no trouble here, put up Sacramone, Wieber & Maroney and they could already have a large lead over the field. 
Bars - The top two consistent workers from Visas were Wieber and Mackenzie Caquatto. Based on that I'd take both of them to Tokyo, particularly as Caquatto can contribute elsewhere and has experience. I don't buy into Anna Li making the team as she had one job to do here and was wobbly on both bars and beam. Also, if youre taking Sacramone, everyone else will have to compete bars in qualifying. Who knows, Shawn Johnson or Gabi Douglas might make the team after all! And for all it's slack, Ali Raismans bar routine may contribute to the US qualifying to London.
Beam - Again not really a problem for the US but consistency is the name of the game. For their likelihood to stay on the beam I'd pick Wieber, Memmel, Sacramone & Raisman.
Floor - The US could do with some big numbers here too, and whilst most of the competitors have moments of brilliance, they also have moments of inconsistency. I'd put up Wieber, Raisman, Sacramone and either Memmel or Maroney.

So based on that event by event plotting, my likely wrong, new-look US team would be.

Jordyn Wieber

Alicia Sacramone

Alexandra Raisman

McKayla Maroney

Mackenzie Caquatto 

Chellsie Memmel

Alternate - Shawn Johnson/Gabrielle Douglas/Sabrina Vega.

It may not be the prettiest team in the world but should be capable of getting the job done.
Hopefully that ice pack on Chellsie's shoulder was nothing too serious either!

Never mind Valerei Liukin, your top junior, Katelyn Ohashi made easy work of taking the US junior title. What, she's too young for the 2012 Olympics? Damn it!

GB vs Spain vs Portugal

In the run-up to worlds, the whole GB senior team are to compete in two international events, to aid the powers-that-be select the 6 member world team. The first of those events, a tri-meet between GB, Spain and Portugal took place today at Pipers Vale Gymnastics in Ipswich.

GB fielded two teams in order to allow all senior gymnasts to compete. Team GB 1 (Hannah Whelan, Jenni Pinches, Charlotte Lindsley, Niamh Rippin, Jocelyn Hunt & Lizzie Beddoe) took part in the team competition whilst GB 2 (Beth Tweddle, Danusia Francis, Becky Downie, Imogen Cairns, Kelly Simm, Laura Mitchell & Laura Edwards) competed on indidual events only for event final qualification or simply for verification.

Rather like the US nationals, there were plenty of errors from the GB girls, allowing Spain (Ana Maria Izurieta, Ainhoa Carmona Urbano, Maria Paula Vargas, Beatriz Cuesta, Claudia Menendez, Claudia Vila & Silvia Colussi) to squeak in and take the team gold. Granted, Team GB 1 was not the team we are likely to see at worlds, but really, they should have walked this!


1) Spain - 217.750 
2) GB 1 - 216.500
3) GB 2 - 193.750
4) Portugal - 137.950

Team Portugal (Zoi Lima, Alexandra Choon & Ekaterina Kislinskaya) could not contend the team competition, as it was a 6-5-4 competition format and they only had 3 gymnasts, but they performed well enough and gained experience. It will be a big ask for this team to qualify to London 2012, Portugal was 32nd at the 2010 worlds (Spain 18th and GB 5th in qualifying, 8th in team finals).

In some level of redemption for the GB team, Hannah Whelan posted a very respectable score of 56.000 to win the all-around gold. Hannah had a few minor errors (out of bounds on floor, a dodgy beam dismount) but nothing very major. She is GB's best AA hope for worlds and on a good day could place in the worlds top 10. Jenni Pinches was a bit more mistake riddden, with a fall on beam.

AA Results.

1) Hannah Whelan (GB) - 56.000
2) Maria Paula Vargas (ESP) - 54.500
3) Beatriz Cuesta (ESP)- 53.850
4) Jenni Pinches (GB) - 53.600
5) Claudia Menendez (ESP) - 53.250
6) Silvia Palaez Coulussi (ESP) - 53.000
7) Jocelyn Hunt (GB) - 52.850
8) Ana Maria Izurieta (ESP) - 52.750
9) Lizzie Beddoe (GB) - 52.550
10= Claudia Vila (ESP) - 52.200
10= Laura Edwards (GB) 52.200


Beth Tweddle competed in the GB 2 team and only performed on floor. She had taping on her neck + shoulder so likely avoided doing bars to protect an injury. Danusia Francis also was taped up at the shoulder and conpeted a watered down competition (she performed her floor routine without tumbling, but had some of the best artistic choreography of the day).   

Becky Downie was also testing the water again following her achilles injury. She cometed solid beam and bars routines with watered-down dismounts. I'd be surprised to see her in Tokyo, but her recovery is coming on well with London 2012 in mind. It's good to see her out on the floor again. A pleasant surprise of the meet was Lizzie Beddoe. She doesn't have the most difficult gymnastics, but showed some beatiful elegant work on beam and floor especially.

Event Finals take place tomorrow and in a slightly prescribed format, each final will have 3 gymnasts from GB, 3 from Spain and 1 from Portugal.

Here were the top scores on each apparatus from today.

Vault (Each gymnast only competed 1 vault)
1) Claudia Menendez (ESP) 14.600
2) Imogen Cairns (GB) 14.550
3) Hannah Whelan (GB) 14.350

Bars 
1) Hannah Whelan (GB) 14.000 
2= Beatriz Cuesta (ESP) 13.850
2= Maria Paula Vargas (ESP) 13.850
4) Jennifer Pinches (GB) 13.750

Beam
1) Hannah Whelan (GB) 13.950
2) Silvia Palaez Colussi (ESP) 13.350
3) Jocelyn Hunt (GB) 13.300

Floor
1) Beth Tweddle (GB) 14.750
2) Niamh Rippin (GB) 13.750
3) Hannah Whelan (GB) 13.700

Click here to see many more photos from the event.
Full Results (British Gymnastics)

Things didn't get much better for GB in the event finals - granted the coaches decided to rest Hannah Whelan and Beth Tweddle from all events and give other gymnasts the experience. Spain came away with all the gold. 

Vault
Gold - Claudia Menendez (ESP) 14.300
Silver- Imogen Cairns (GBR) 14.100
Bronze- Niamh Rippin (GBR) 13.700

Bars
Gold – Ma Paula Vargas (ESP) 14.000
Silver- Beatriz Cuesta (ESP) 13.750
Silver- Claudia Vila (ESP) 13.750

Beam
Gold - Ainhoa Carmona (ESP) 13.250
Silver- Ana Maria Izurieta (ESP) 13.050
Bronze- Laura Edwards (GBR) 13.000

Floor
Gold - Claudia Menendez (ESP) 13.800
Silver- Ma Paula Vargas (ESP) 13.700
Bronze- Imogen Cairns (GBR) 13.650

The GB girls will be boarding a plane on Tuesday evening to compete in the Romanian national championships in Oneti (Nadia's home town). Hopefully this will give us a more promising measure of how they are likely to compete on the world level. 

Messy Day 1 at Visas

Everyone knows the team competition at Worlds is going to be a close one. The team champions will likely be those who go out and hit as close to 12 perfect routines as possible. Putting together a US team that can do that is the job of Martha Karolyi. And her gymnasts didn't help her out much on the first day of the national championships.

Rebecca Bross seemed to be fighting an uphill battle back from her ankle injury. Uncharacteristic mistakes on bars and beam left her in the alien spot of 10th at the half way point. A clean, if not stellar performance of her new floor routine and a vault just about to her feet left her a bit closer to contention in 4th place at the end of the evening. But that is the face of an unhappy defending champion.

Last years Comeback Kid Alicia Sacramone wasn't as seamless as we have seen her in recent past. Her vaults were too overpowered and both had big steps, and a fall on her floor routine (reminiscent of her team final fall in beijing) might seed a few doubts in the mind of Mama Martha as well. Her team-mate Aly Raisman had one of the cleanest nights of all, playing safe on her vault with a double-twist rather than a dodgy amanar. Consistency is the name of the game when it comes to punching a worlds ticket.

Olympic Veterans Chellsie Memmel and Shawn Johnson had solid evenings but they will still need more numbers and more difficulty to prove they are worthy of international competition. Shawn had one of the best saves of the night to stay on the beam!

Even Jordyn Wieber, predicted champion and wearing a gold leotard for good measure didn't have a perfect evening, a large wobble on balance beam and a less than perfect bars showed even she is human but her superior difficulty has left her infront and half-way to the 2011 National title.

It wasn't the coming out party for the new faces either, Sabrina Vega, McKayla Maroney and Gabrielle Douglas all had events they would rather forget, and in the junior event Katelyn Ohashi leads after night one after favourites Kyla Ross and Lexie Priessman also had to count falls.

Martha will not be a happy lady tonight!

Senior AA results (Top 12)

1. Jordyn Wieber, DeWitt, Mich., 59.850
2. Alexandra Raisman, Needham, Mass., 58.000
3. Chellsie Memmel, West Allis, Wis., 57.350
4. Rebecca Bross, Plano, Texas, 56.900
5. McKayla Maroney, Laguna Niguel, Calif., 56.300
6. Mackenzie Caquatto, Naperville, Ill., 56.000
7. Bridgette Caquatto, Naperville, Ill., 55.600
8. Sabrina Vega, Carmel, N.Y., 55.250
9. Grace McLaughlin, Allen, Texas, 54.700
10. Sophia Lee, Plano, Texas, 54.450
11. Brandie Jay, Ft. Collins, Colo., 54.300
12. Gabrielle Douglas, Virginia Beach, Va., 53.450

Top Vault - Alicia Sacramone - 15.500
Top Bars - Anna Li - 15.050
Top Beam - Chellsie Memmel - 15.250
Top Floor - Jordyn Wieber - 14.900

Junior AA results

1. Katelyn Ohashi, Plano, Texas, 60.950
2. Sarah Finnegan, St. Louis, Mo., 57.900
3. Kyla Ross, Aliso Viejo, Calif., 57.500
4. Lexie Priessman, Cincinnati, Ohio, 56.450
5.= Kennedy Baker, Flower Mound, Texas, 56.300
5.= Brenna Dowell, Odessa, Mo., 56.300
7. Amelia Hundley, Hamilton, Ohio, 55.550
8. Kiana Winston, Fort Worth, Texas, 54.750
9. Mykayla Skinner, Gilbert, Ariz., 54.700
10. Brianna Brown, West Chester, Ohio, 54.550
11=. Madison Desch, Lenexa, Kan., 54.450
11=. Ericha Fassbender, Katy, Texas, 54.450

Top Vault - Lexie Priessman 15.650
Top Bars - Katelyn Ohashi 15.050
Top Beam - Katelyn Ohasho 16.100!
Top Floor - Katelyn Ohashi 14.900

Adrian Stan

Apparently I've answered my own question!

Possibly the star character of GYMNAST was straight-talking Romanian Adrian Stan. Surprisingly for such an influential and interesting character - I knew nothing of him until yesterday and he is barely mentioned on the internet.

Apparently he is still the GB team technical director, seen here in a BGTV video from the recent Glasgow Grand Prix where British junior gymnasts participated in a podium training prior to the event.

Also featured are gymnasts Amy Tinkler, Ellie Downie and Shannon Archer.



Also here are youtube links to GYMNAST
(part 1) (part 2) (part 3) (iplayer)

Gymnast

BBC Films did something very right in the production of gymnast. Yes it's been 3 years in the pipeline, showing the selection of the british olympic team for Beijing. It's a refreshing insight into the backstage of British Gymnastics.

Refreshing because, were this the USA- we get the low down on selection pressures and what Martha Karolyi may be thinking all the time. We're spoiled with backstage fluffs and interviews. The British gymnastic world is more of a secretive one. It was a rare treat to see the british girls in their training environments.

I appreciated the fact that the film played out like a film, rahter than a traditional documentary. The only 'narration' came from the subjects themselves. Primarily by Andrei Stan, the National Coach/Co-ordinator of the time, a frank, dry-humoured Romanian and definitely the UK's answer to Bela Karolyi.
(As an aside, does anyone know what happened to Stan after Beijing- is he still on the scene?)

The film shows the british girls progression through 3 trials (I still wonder why countries insist on so many- it just asks for injuries!). The pressure is never down as the clock ticks to final selection.

Having only become an avid follower of gymnastics from 2008 onwards, and not really being familiar with the team players before hand, it's a treat to see a baby faced Hannah Whelan and others in the lead-up to the games. In the last year she has risen from injury to become British Gymnastics poster girl, but in 2008 she was the new face on the scene hoping to make the Olympics her first major international.

One of the most heartbreaking moments was seeing Laura Jones, who appeared to make the team by the skin of her teeth (with 2 falls at the final trial) then be side-lined by injury at the 11th hour. Stan's words to her did little to help her distress. "Yeah it's a bitter pill to swallow, but zat is life. The most important thing is to mend your back... Come back January with pull power. Sadly Laura and and fellow near-miss Hannah Clowes careers faded away after their 2008 disappointment.

By contrast, all 6 of the eventual beijing team members are in the running for another shot at London 2012. Who would do all that again?! Here's what some of the gymnasts themselves thought of the film.


Hannah Whelan: Really appreciates having 'gymnast' as a memory of the Olympics, brought back memories, made me cry and love my dad in it....@michaelajw ♥

Becky Wing: I've already watched 'Gymnast' 3 times (and cried every time haha.) It's amazing to be able to relive the whole journey. Brings back so many memories #emotional

Marissa King: Great replies on ur thoughts on the Gymnast movie! Thank u 2 BBC & all u gymnastics fans out there 4 watching. I hope it was an inspiration!

Becky Downie: Just watched GYMNAST made me cry & brought back such amazing memories. Can't believe I've decided to do it all over again, I must be crazy!! 

 

All That Skate Summer 2011

Yu-Na Kim has once again gathered a collection of figure skating A-listers in Korea for her now annual summer show- All That Skate Summer.

New additions this year include Russia's 2-time olympic medallist Irina Slutskaya and Stars on Ice veterans Kurt Browning , Sale & Pelletier and Shae-Lynn Bourne.

Other skaters in the lineup include
Kiira Korpi
Sarah Meier
Stephane Lambiel
Florent Amodio
Patrick Chan
Shen & Zhao
Virtue & Moir

There will be an open practice and press conference today with shows this weekend. Expect plenty of photos and videos very soon. Yu-Na may not be debuting new programmes but she will skate her 'Homage to Korea' long programme from this season for the first time in her home country.

According to David Wilson who is directing the show: "The concept of the show is the beautiful story of figure skating -- striving to achieve our goals, and reaching the best we can be."

Visa Championships 2011

 

Can the fragile Rebecca Bross defend her title against the seemingly unstoppable Jordyn Wieber?
Can Chellsie Memmel or Shawn Johnson make a return to the national podium after 3 years away?
Can Aly Raisman land a successful amanar without breaking something?
All things we shall know a week from now...

Official Site

Senior Ladies Start List

Name	Club	Current Residence
Rebecca Bross	WOGA Gymnastics	Plano, TX
Bridgette Caquatto	Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC	Naperville, IL
Mackenzie Caquatto	Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC	Naperville, IL
Jessie DeZiel	Twin City Twisters	Rogers, MN
Gabrielle Douglas	Chow's Gymnastics and Dance Institute	Virginia Beach, VA
Jessica Howe	WOGA Gymnastics	Plano, TX
Brandie Jay	GK Gymnastics	Ft Collins, CO
Amanda Jetter	Cincinnati Gymnastics	Milford, OH
Shawn Johnson	Chow's Gymnastics and Dance Institute	West Des Moines, IA
Sophia Lee	WOGA Gymnastics	Plano, TX
Anna Li	Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC	Aurora, IL
Casey Magee	Capital Gymnastics / Texas	Austin, TX
McKayla Maroney	All Olympia AOGC	Laguna Niguel, CA
Grace McLaughlin	WOGA Gymnastics	Allen, TX
Chellsie Memmel	M and M Gymnastics	West Allis, WI
Hallie Mossett	West Coast Elite Gymnastics	Los Angeles, CA
Alexandra Raisman	Brestyan's American Gymnastics	Needham, MA
Alicia Sacramone	Brestyan's American Gymnastics	Winchester, MA
Sabrina Vega	Dynamic Gymnastics	Carmel, NY
Jordyn Wieber	Gedderts Twistars USA	DeWitt, MI
McKenzie Wofford	Zenith Elite Gymnastics Academy	McKinney, TX

Event Schedule

Controversy as Mao Asada misses national training camp.

The Japan Times reported today that olympic silver medallist Mao Asada was conspicuously absent from the latest Japan Skating Federation Camp, stating that Mao was 'exhausted' after the later-than-usual world championships and a number of benefit shows following the Japanese earthquake.

This may mean nothing but instantly suspicion has been raised that Mao may choose to sit out the grand prix season. This would be a shame for two reasons-
1) World medallists Miki Ando and Yu-Na Kim have already stated their intentions to sit out the series, leaving a watered-down and fairly unexciting field.
2) We're still waiting to see a successful return from Mao after her olympic disappointment, last year she was 're-working' her technique and finished a dismal (by her standards) 5th and 8th in her Grand Prix events. It would be a shame to see this hugely talented and elegant skater fade away quietly. She should be out there looking for redemption and new gold for the trophy cabinet.

Mao is due to start her season in November at the NHK trophy in Sapporo, Japan and Cup of Russia in Moscow (the site of the recent world championships where Mao dropped to 6th).  Plenty could happen between now and then.

Stay healthy and keep competing Mao!

"Yu-na Kids" aim for Junior Grand Prix & Pyeongchang 2018.

Arirang News reported this week from Korea where a domestic competition has taken place for junior skaters to earn spots for the JGP series. The competition was won by 14 year old Kim Hae-Jin (pictured) who is the 2010 and 2011 SENIOR national champion and has triple-triples in her back pocket.

Other promising names to look out for are Park So-yeon and Lee Ho-jung. All of these young skaters are age eligible for Sochi 2014 and will be 21 years old for Pyeongchang 2018.

The report has a nice video (with english commentary). These young skaters do look like they have potential. Like most 14 year old skaters worldwide they have most of the big tricks in the bag but need to develop a bit more speed, power and maturity.

With growing investment and interest in korean skating post Yu-Na Kim, these skaters have plenty of support to aid their development. There is definitely a chance they could contend for medals on the JGP and grow into future Yu-Nas over the coming years.

Full Twist Profiles British Gymnasts

This week british gymnastics published the names of it's 'World Class Squads' - similar to other countries National Teams it is a basis from which the teams will be picked for international competition.

The squads are devided into 3 levels
Performance Squad - 16 top senior gymnasts - this is where the 2011 world team is likely to come from.
Potential Squad - GBs top juniors and potential contenders for London 2012
Start Squad - 10 top Espoirs - names we will be likely to hear more about in the 2012-2016 cycle.

Fellow blogger Full Twist will be profiling one of these squad gymnasts in a profile Meet the Gymnast, starting with british AA champion Hannah Whelan.

Here are the lists of GB's World Class Squads

Performance Squad

Potential Squad

Start Squad