First of all, some admin work, because we all know we will check this often after Aug 5th. Until then, only every 2-3 hours:
Schedule for gymnastics at the Rio games [HERE]/ General Olympic Games schedule [HERE]
Also, find the current local time in Rio de Janeiro [HERE]
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Now, let’s catch up with the past few days in gymnastics, news, interviews, pictures and video:
… gymnasts & teams news
Russia is not banned from the Olympics. The team members have been cleared to compete: Mustafina, Paseka, Tutkhalyan, Melnikova, Spiridonova. It is unclear still whether Kapitonova, the team reserve, also got the OK.
Sadly not all is well for Russia. Maria Paseka is struggling with a possible back injury and the final verdict on whether she will compete or not will be given on Aug 3rd. [HERE]
The Russian team arriving in Rio:
Simone Biles is on the cover of Times Magazine [HERE]
A list of Olympic athletes to watch via NPR, Simone is among them, of course [HERE]
USA Gymnastics has purchased the Karoly ranch which will remain the main training center for the women’s programme in the after-Marta era [HERE]
Last weekend, a friendly competition took place in Chemnitz, Germany. Giulia Steingruber won the all around, Germany posted a 174+ total as a team and Catalina Ponor looked great (still some work to do for Larisa Iordache). [Results]
Maisie Methuen to travel to Rio as part of a programme for supporting and motivating young athletes [HERE]
Strangely enough, the three GB alternates will not be travelling to Rio, via @BritishGymnews
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… previews & projections
Kimberly Wooster predicts that these eight nations will qualify to the Olympic team final: [HERE]
China‘s risky team selection, maximizing potential without a safety net? – via Balance Beam Situation, and via Arabian Punch Front
Spencer at the Balance Beam Situation has also previews for Germany, Japan, Russia, Canada and Italy
Floor final predictions:
Find more predictions on the same youtube channel: [HERE]
... interview, fluffs & features
Introducing Team USA– the first 45 minutes of this fluff are the best:
A look at the 38 Individual qualifiers to compete in Rio de Janeiro:
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… skills and training video
Catalina Ponor – full in layout
<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BISqJseDNFw/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Working hard !!! Rio is coming !!!! #roadtorio #catalinaponor #olympics2016 #beastmodeon @sandulucian68</a>
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A video posted by Catalina Ponor Official (@catalina_ponor) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-07-25T16:42:03+00:00">Jul 25, 2016 at 9:42am PDT</time>
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<strong>Dilnoza Abdusalimova</strong> working on a new beam mount:
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIXWLjXhbYu/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">День первый??</a>
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A video posted by Dilya Abdusalimova (@dilya__abdusalimova) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-07-27T12:23:45+00:00">Jul 27, 2016 at 5:23am PDT</time>
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<strong>Nina Derwael</strong> (Bel) training bars:
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BINMElmjcGR/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Can i please copy paste this routine to every competition ??? #lovebars #swinging #gobelgym #gymnastics #roadtorio</a>
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A video posted by Nina Derwael ? (@ninaderwael) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-07-23T13:43:01+00:00">Jul 23, 2016 at 6:43am PDT</time>
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Georgette Vidor was live on Facebook, we can see the <strong>Brazilian gymnasts</strong> working out and dancing<br />
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Ana Maria Branza (now Popescu, a Romanian fencer, silver medalist in Beijing fyi) was live from the shared workout area. I see <strong>Eythora</strong>!!
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<strong>The Russian team training</strong> at Round Lake before Rio departure:
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<strong>… must see routines</strong>
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<strong>Catalina Ponor</strong> killing it on floor in Chemnitz:
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Whatever the predictions, do not rule out <strong>Giulia</strong>, she looks amazing:
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<strong>Pauline Schafer</strong> being amazing on beam:
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More videos <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnSwItFScIc&list=UUthMPmD7RrpCf8vnp1CuwEw">HERE</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiw151izwn5reU-pA_5Wnug/videos">HERE</a>
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<span style="color: #ffffff;">.</span>
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<strong>…Instagram updates</strong>
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via <strong>Kim Zmeskal</strong>: When the round trip bus ride for training takes 3 hours, pallets on a basketball court floor look like a great rest option between workouts! #geterdun #preparedforanything #rockstarreserves #rio2016
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<a href="http://www.thecouchgymnast.com/?attachment_id=5016" rel="attachment wp-att-5016"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5016" src="images/2016/07/Usalternates.jpg" alt="Usalternates" width="536" height="507" srcset="images/2016/07/Usalternates.jpg 536w, images/2016/07/Usalternates-200x189.jpg 200w, images/2016/07/Usalternates-111x105.jpg 111w, images/2016/07/Usalternates-222x210.jpg 222w, images/2016/07/Usalternates-444x420.jpg 444w" sizes="(max-width: 536px) 100vw, 536px" /></a>
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and from the previous days, some ‘arrival of the delegations’:
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<strong>Team Japan</strong>
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<a href="http://www.thecouchgymnast.com/?attachment_id=5017" rel="attachment wp-att-5017"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5017" src="images/2016/07/13879329_10209788267333047_6930680952129811696_n.jpg" alt="13879329_10209788267333047_6930680952129811696_n" width="960" height="718" srcset="images/2016/07/13879329_10209788267333047_6930680952129811696_n.jpg 960w, images/2016/07/13879329_10209788267333047_6930680952129811696_n-768x574.jpg 768w, images/2016/07/13879329_10209788267333047_6930680952129811696_n-200x150.jpg 200w, images/2016/07/13879329_10209788267333047_6930680952129811696_n-140x105.jpg 140w, images/2016/07/13879329_10209788267333047_6930680952129811696_n-281x210.jpg 281w, images/2016/07/13879329_10209788267333047_6930680952129811696_n-562x420.jpg 562w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></a>
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<strong>The Dutch</strong> ladies:
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<a href="http://www.thecouchgymnast.com/?attachment_id=5018" rel="attachment wp-att-5018"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-5018" src="images/2016/07/Capture.jpg" alt="Capture" width="542" height="532" srcset="images/2016/07/Capture.jpg 542w, images/2016/07/Capture-200x196.jpg 200w, images/2016/07/Capture-107x105.jpg 107w, images/2016/07/Capture-214x210.jpg 214w, images/2016/07/Capture-428x420.jpg 428w" sizes="(max-width: 542px) 100vw, 542px" /></a>
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<strong>Team Greece:</strong>
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<a href="http://www.thecouchgymnast.com/?attachment_id=5019" rel="attachment wp-att-5019"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-5019" src="images/2016/07/greecetorio.jpg" alt="greecetorio" width="538" height="540" srcset="images/2016/07/greecetorio.jpg 538w, images/2016/07/greecetorio-150x150.jpg 150w, images/2016/07/greecetorio-200x200.jpg 200w, images/2016/07/greecetorio-105x105.jpg 105w, images/2016/07/greecetorio-209x210.jpg 209w, images/2016/07/greecetorio-418x420.jpg 418w" sizes="(max-width: 538px) 100vw, 538px" /></a>
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<strong>The US ladies</strong>, tired but excited to have arrived:
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<a href="http://www.thecouchgymnast.com/?attachment_id=5021" rel="attachment wp-att-5021"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-5021" src="images/2016/07/USARio.jpg" alt="USARio" width="543" height="413" srcset="images/2016/07/USARio.jpg 543w, images/2016/07/USARio-200x152.jpg 200w, images/2016/07/USARio-138x105.jpg 138w, images/2016/07/USARio-276x210.jpg 276w" sizes="(max-width: 543px) 100vw, 543px" /></a>
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<strong>Russia</strong> arrived on Monday, have taken over the Rio 2016 sign
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<a href="http://www.thecouchgymnast.com/2016/07/28/so-what-did-i-miss-8-days-to-rio-edition/russia28/" rel="attachment wp-att-5029"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5029" src="images/2016/07/russia28.jpg" alt="russia28" width="543" height="355" srcset="images/2016/07/russia28.jpg 543w, images/2016/07/russia28-200x131.jpg 200w, images/2016/07/russia28-150x98.jpg 150w, images/2016/07/russia28-300x196.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 543px) 100vw, 543px" /></a>
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<span style="color: #ffffff;">.</span>
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<p>
<strong>… history of the Olympic gymnastics</strong>
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Dvora Meyers chatted to <strong>the heroes of the 1996 Atlanta team final</strong>, an insightful interview: [<a href="http://www.elle.com/culture/a38123/oral-history-of-the-magnificent-seven/?src=socialflowTW">HERE</a>]
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The most memorable moments of the <strong>1993-1996 quad</strong> [<a href="http://www.thecouchgymnast.com/2016/07/16/memorable-moments-of-the-quad/">HERE</a>]
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<strong>11 of the most fascinating routines </strong>in Olympic history [<a href="http://www.techinsider.io/11-jaw-dropping-olympic-gymnastics-moments-2016-7">HERE</a>]
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<span style="color: #ffffff;">.</span>
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<strong>… 2016 Rio Games multisport and news</strong>
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<strong>The Australian delegation</strong> postponed moving in the Olympic village due to ‘unsafe’ leaking pipes and exposed wires [<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/sport/olympics/rio-2016/rio-olympics-2016-athletes-village-unliveable-20160724-gqcqxy.html">HERE</a>]
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NY Times article about the <strong>Guanabara bay pollution</strong> [<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/07/28/magazine/rio-sarapu-guanabara-bay-pollution.html?smid=tw-share&_r=1">HERE</a>]
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<span style="color: #ffffff;">.</span>
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<strong>Lastly, here is a list of the friends of TCG… or just blogs and websites we love and you must read every day and very week:</strong>
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<a href="http://rewritingrussiangymnastics.blogspot.nl/">Rewriting Russian Gymnastics</a>
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<a href="http://gymcastic.com/">Gymcastic</a>
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<a href="https://thegymter.net/">The Gymter.net</a>
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Coach Rick@ <a href="https://gymnasticscoaching.com/">gymnasticscoaching.com</a>
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<a href="https://balancebeamsituation.com/">The Balance Beam Situation</a>
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<a href="http://www.arabianpunchfront.com/">Arabian Punch Front</a>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GinnasticaArtisticaIta/?fref=nf">Ginastica Artistica Italiana</a> (on Facebook)
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<a href="http://spannysbigfakesmile.blogspot.nl/">Spanny Tampson’s big fake smile</a>
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<span style="color: #ffffff;">.</span>
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Don’t forget to buy Dvora Meyers’ book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/End-Perfect-10-Breaking-Gymnastics/dp/1501101366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469733415&sr=8-1&keywords=the+end+of+the+perfect+10"><strong>The End of the Perfect 10</strong> </a>– the most well-researched, complex, and beautifully written gymnastics book in history.
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<span style="color: #ffffff;">.</span>
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Until the next time friends, take care and love gymnastics!
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<p>
<strong>Article: Bea Gheorghisor</strong>
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<strong>Photo Cover: Nadia Boyce</strong>
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