perfect 10

I have long believed gymnastics to be the best sport on the planet. Recently someone asked me why I think so highly of this particular sport so I decided to put it into writing. I recognize the value of all sports but gymnastics has always held a special place in my heart. Here’s why…

(more…)

• Ludivine Furnon (FRA), 1995 World Championships
• Svetlana Boginskaya (BLR, then USSR), 1991 World Championships
• Mo Huilan (CHI), 1994 World Championships

(more…)

1. Crowd involvement. Some schools have special cheering sections & awards for the most enthusiastic fans. For example, as reported in the April issue of International Gymnast Magazine, Georgia home meets feature the “Best Seat in the House,” where the rowdiest fans are called out of the audience to sit next to the Floor Exercise mat on a leather couch for the last rotation of the competition.
2. The enthusiasm & emotion of the athletes. Unlike elite competitions where most of the athletes remain quite stoic, NCAA gymnastics showcases typical collegiate spirit. When the athletes stick a landing or hit an incredible routine, they typically jump up and down as they salute the judges and then proceed to sprint back to their teammates who are waiting on the sidelines to celebrate with high-fives, hugs, and raucous cheers.
3. The floor routines. The choreography and crowd appeal of women’s NCAA floor routines is unsurpassed.

(more…)