The inaugural Montreal World Cup was a great success in the men’s field. Seasoned veterans such as Razvan Selariu (ROM), Krisztian Berki (HUN) and Daniel Popescu (ROM) won Floor Exercise, Pommel Horse and Vault, respectively. Danny Rodrigues (FRA), a finalist at the Beijing Olympics on Rings, won this event in Montreal with two Victorian Crosses!

Danny Pinheiro Rodrigues, 2009 Gymnix, Rings

Check out the Victorian Crosses at 0:27 and 0:53!

Aljaz Pegan (SLO) demonstrated the skill named after him (double front-half release) in warm ups on the High Bar but unfortunately didn’t end up competing.

Aljaz Pegan, 2009 Gymnix, High Bar Warm Up

Canadian Nathan Gafuik managed to win a medal in each final he entered: Silver on the Floor Exercise and Bronze on Vault. This World Cup was also a coming out party for Adam Kierzkowski (POL) who won Parallel Bars, and Marijo Moznik (CRO) who won High Bar. There were also several Japanese newbies who produced some fantastic gymnastics: gorgeous handstands on Parallel Bars, a high Kolman (full-twisting double back release) by Yosuke Hoshi, and a stuck Kasamatsu-2.5 by Koji Yamamuro following a lightning-fast run.

Koji Yamamuro, 2009 Gymnix, Vault

Unfortunately, the women’s portion of the competition left much to be desired, expecially on Vault where only Charlotte Mackie (CAN) was a serious competitor (Puerto Rican Maricarmen Rivera produced a decent layout Tsukahara first vault but only competed a handspring as her second vault). Mackie earned a medal of each colour in Montreal, including the Silver on floor Exercise and Bronze on Balance Beam.

Charlotte Mackie, 2009 Gymnix, Vault 2

Round-off, half on, tucked barani

Marine Petit (FRA) was the only Olympian in the women’s field, and she showed steady work on her way to winning Silver medals on both Uneven Bars and Balance Beam. While watching Mattie Larson (USA) on Balance Beam and Floor Exercise, it soon became clear that she was the class of the field. Indeed, she won the two events she entered by about half a point. Her teammate, Samantha Shapiro, won Uneven Bars by a whopping 1.075 despite having an injured foot that prevented her from competing on other events.

Mattie Larson, 2009 Gymnix, Balance Beam

Sometimes the best part about attending a gymnastics competition is spotting the former gymnasts! Coaches on the floor included Teodora Ungureanu, Elvira Saadi, Yelena Davydova and Galina Marinova, while Amélie Plante, Julie Beaulieu and Yelena Grosheva were spotted in and around the arena. I also noticed Yekaterina Privalova and Ioan Suciu as judges. I wonder which other former gymnasts were present that I didn’t spot?!

Gymbyte and I have just returned from L’International Gymnix 2009, and it was an amazing weekend in Montreal! This was the inaugural year as a World Cup event and it was a great success, especially on the men’s side where many of the world’s top competitors were present.

The Junior Cup portion of the competition included female gymnasts from Canada, France, Russia and the USA. The International Cup female competitors competed alongside the juniors, with gymnasts representing Canada, Australia, USA, France and Peru.

My favourite Bits:

– The General Warm-Up. I saw the American girls going through the routine of donkey kicks, needles, walking on hands, twisting leaps, etc…all under the watchful eye of Marta Karolyi. The Russians’ warm-up routine included rows of back extension to 1.5 pirouette on hands to front roll to press handstand to 1.5 pirouette on hands.

General Warm-Up, International Gymnix 2009

– American Jordyn Wieber stole the show, winning all four events thanks to her level of difficulty, consistency and neat form. On Vault she performed a double-twisting Yurchenko, while on Beam she nailed her front aerial, one-hand backhandspring, layout combination and her standing full to back tuck. It was also a pleasure to see that Teodora Ungureanu’s protégée, Sabrina Vega, had been added to the roster at the last minute.

– One of my favourite routines of the evening belonged to Russian junior Yulia Belokobylskaya. Hers is the most balletic floor exercise in recent memory.

Yulia Belokobylskaya, International Gymnix 2009, Floor Exercise

– Canadian Mikaela Gerber’s floor exercise was every bit as gripping as Aisha Gerber’s Dire Straits routine. Both sisters exhibit interesting choreography and nice lines.

Mikaela Gerber, International Gymnix 2009, Floor Exercise

Stay tuned for Part 2…the Montreal World Cup!

Last week I witnessed a performance of The National Acrobats of China with my sister, Gymbyte. It was a fantastic show, and I could tell by their technique that many of the performers were former gymnasts. I wonder if there are any well-known names among them.

One of my favourite acts was the Hoop Diving, where the guys did all sorts of flips through hoops that appeared to be at least 8 feet off the ground. Most of the acrobats went through the hoop on the pre-flight, but the last guy went through on the post-flight. One gymnast even did a full-twisting salto through the hoop! I also loved the Icarian Acrobatics, where the gymnasts flipped on each others’ feet, and the Grand Acrobatics & Martial Arts act which included swords and a huge red flag.

The ladies demonstrated tremendous talent as well, especially the one who continued to pedal around the stage while 10 other acrobats hung off her bicycle! There was another performer who simultaneously balanced decorative ornaments on both feet, both hands and her head, all whilst moving into various contortion poses. Many of the poses performed by the ladies reminded me of Sports Acro, and as always, I loved the one-handed handstand act which always makes me think of Jackie Bender!

Many of the acts were not so much acrobatics but equally impressive skills, such as balancing spinning plates on sticks, juggling straw hats, bouncing large spools on a string, and balancing huge Chinese vases on the head. Such control is required to master these acts!

Check out a video of highlights from their show:

The National Acrobats of China