My All-Time Favorite Beam Worker
Yang Bo, without question. Nobody has ever worked on the Beam with as much ease and amplitude as she. She was absolutely exquisite. She never took home the gold from the World Championships or Olympic Games and it was heartbreaking to watch her fumble repeatedly (’89 & ‘91 Worlds, ‘92 Olympics) when the ultimate prize was at stake. I wonder if we’ll ever see another Beam Worker like her.
I considered posting the youtube video of her from the 1989 World Championships but the routine ends in such anguish that I couldn’t do it. It’s the best routine I have ever seen, bar none, until the dismount. I can’t bear to post it. I chose this video instead (the quality is poor) because I feel that it showcases her at her best. It’s from the 1989 China Cup. She was truly in a class of her own. And she rocked the dismount.
Who is your favorite Beam Worker of all time? I’m curious to hear who else you think deserves a spot next to Yang Bo…
November 7th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
I have to agree with you. Yang Bo is my top beam worker. She was an artist and the beam was her medium.
Today, Nastia Liukin is coming close. She is my second favorite beam worker.
November 7th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
nastia isn’t nearly as graceful and poised as yang bo… i really like ponor’s confidence and rhythm on the beam though… but my favorite would have to be yang bo… li li is a close second…
November 8th, 2007 at 8:37 am
My first is Shannon and always will be. Shannon got me hooked (I was already into it). Her grace on beam I don’t think, can be matched
November 8th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
sorry but i disagree. i think any chinese gymnast would more grace than shannon on beam. shannon had tons of difficulty and was ahead of her time in terms of skills but she is definitely not as graceful as yang bo.
November 12th, 2007 at 11:44 am
Li Shanshan is amazing these days
November 26th, 2007 at 6:44 am
I agree 110% with you. Yang Bo is beautiful on beam and there never will be another like her. I love Shannon’s work as well, but Yang Bo had grace and fluidity that is unmatched. She was a joy to watch. I really miss some of the gymnasts of the late 80s/early 90s. They were something else.
December 1st, 2007 at 10:10 am
kui yuan yuan, she was cheated at the 1997 world championships…whatever happened then?
December 6th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
You don’t get much better than Yang Bo although Kui YuanYuan came close, she had the same mastery of the beam as Yang and she did a beautiful laidout full. (of course the height yang bo gets on her ruflova she coulld have done at least a tuck full if she’d tried for it. I love how she does that series with zero hesitation.
December 16th, 2007 at 7:17 am
I also think Yang Bo was the master of beam and always will be. I also think Li Ya, Nastia Liukin, and Catalina Ponor is also great.
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
I think that Catalina Ponor is the best ever, the confidence that she had at Athens was just incredible and she used to be soooo consistent
January 18th, 2008 at 11:31 am
I’d also add Carly Patterson, Svetlana Khorkina, Elena Produnova & Lilia Podkopayeva.
February 6th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I LOVE Yang Bo… I nearly cried for her at Worlds in 89. She was exquisite on beam and I have never seen anyone match her.
February 21st, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Yang Bo is was awesome, so she desreves first, no question. But I also love Xian Kin, Mo Huilan, Lilia Podkopaeva, Nastia Liukin,Shawn Johnson (this one needs an explanation :No, Shawn is NOT the most artistic gymnast out there, but her skills on beam are incredible. She just looks so solid, except for at 2007 Worlds, she always looks like you could throw a ball right at her in the middle of a move, and she won’t budge. She needs to work on getting her eyes of the beam though, that’s a problem). Shayla Worley is also great thses days, I love her mount. Li Shanshan is exquisite, Li Ya was something special, and Catalina Ponor had a presence up there in Athens NOBODY could match.Mostepanova had awseome presence too. Carly Patterson doesn’t deserve a spot in even the top 30. Yes, she landed softly, but that’s about it,Carly was a mechanical robot, nothing to her, and American Princess.