Top Ten Things I Would Like to See Happen this Summer in Beijing
Everyone has their dream teams for this Summer’s Olympics. I certainly have mine. I also have some dream placements and story lines. So here are the Top Ten Things that I would like to see happen in Beijing this August. These are, of course, just my hopes, some more realistic than others.
- Ivana Hong (USA) winning a medal on Floor. Yes, yes, I realize that Ivana may be a long shot for the US Team at this point and that her difficulty on some events leaves something to be desired but her form and style are unbelievable and should be displayed on the world’s greatest stage.
- Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs winning a medal on Beam. Her consistency on her series of aerial to two layout step outs is uncanny. What a feat that would be for the Canadian Women’s Team and I can think of no better way for Carol-Angela Orchard to cap off her incredible coaching career with Canada.
- Speaking of Canada, I would very much like to see Kyle Shewfelt make the Canadian Team and reclaim his Olympic Floor title. He was spectacular in Athens 4 years ago to become the first Olympic Gold Medalist in gymnastics for Canada. He has had an unbelievably tough year attempting to recover from two broken knees and it will be a victory for him just to compete in Beijing. But how great would it be to see him on top of the awards podium once more after all he has been through in the last year?
- I would like to see Cheng Fei (CHN)win the gold medal on Vault. She is the clear favorite (and deserves to be) and I’d like to see her live up to the immense expectations in her home country this Summer.
- Just behind Cheng Fei on Vault should be Oksana Chusovitina. Wouldn’t we all like to see her win a medal at these games? I’m tempted to say that these will likely be her final games but I’ve learned that you never know with Chusovitina. Don’t count her out.
- It would be fun to see someone totally unexpected take the Men’s All Around title. All we hear about is Yang Wei and Paul Hamm. I do enjoy seeing an underdog come in and steal the show (maybe Jonathan Horton?).
- Another favorite of mine for the Men’s All Around is Fabian Hambüchen. I would really like to see him on the awards podium for both the All Around and High Bar.
- I don’t want to get into the Johnson vs. Liukin discussion about the Women’s All Around but there are several other folks I wouldn’t mind seeing up on the All Around podium: Dasha Joura (AUS), Jiang Yuyuan (CHN), Jade Barbosa (BRZ), Anna Pavlova (RUS) & Sandra Izbasa (ROM) to name a few.
- Now that I mention Anna Pavlova, it would be incredible to see her come away from Beijing with a gold medal. After several heartbreaking fourth place finishes in Athens, I think she would be an ideal winner on Floor. She has the whole package with her new routine. Exquisite dance, strong tumbling… I don’t know if her difficulty is high enough to challenge for the gold but I sure hope so.
- And finally I would like for the judging and competitors this time around to be free from scandal. With all the added scrutiny on our sport right now in the aftermath of Jennifer Sey’s much-talked-about book, I would like to see the media able to focus on the incredible achievements of the athletes rather than incorrect start values, questionable coaches, possible eating disorders, contraband cold tablets, and the like.
So that’s my list of hopes. What are you hoping for this Summer in Beijing?
May 6th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
I have quite a few. Firstly I hope that Alicia Sacramone wins floor. I think she really deserves it. I also hope that Nastia wins the all-around. I also hope that either sam or shayla stand up and challenge shawn to make the all-around. I also hope darlene hill makes the team. She’s TREMENDOUS on vault & floor and really GOOD on the unevens. And don’t forget about Daria Joura (AUS). She could win a bronze, maybe silver medal in the allaround. In the beam finals I hope that Lauren Mitchell wins a medal. She’s really good! And I also wish that the scores aren’t messed up like they were in 2004. And on the men’s side I hope that Sasha Artemov does great in beijing. He’s always been right there and should win a medal on pommel horse and on parrallel bars. He really good be great! And I truly wish that nobody wins something big because the other team who could have won falters. Well, that’s about it!
May 6th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Great list. Thanks.
Since the Men’s judging is still under control of Adrian Stoica, I expect there will be major problems again. I hope NOT.
The biggest looming scandal will be accusation that some of the female gymnasts will be underage. That should waste a lot of air time when NBC could be showing routines. Again, I hope NOT.
May 6th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
I too would love to have Ivana do well in the Olympics. But first she has to make it… then again I think she does have a decent shot at making the team. No one else has impeccable form like her. Moreover, I expect to see upgrades in her routines and she will continue to challenge the current crop of top gymnasts.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:19 am
I don’t know if you know this and I don’t know how common this surname is common in Russia but is Anna Pavlova related to the dancer of the same name?
May 7th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I agree with Rick in that more than anything I’d like to see a clean, fair competition that’s free from controversy.
In terms of the US women’s gymnastics team that represents our country, I’d like to see a focus on putting together a team that maximizes performance in each of the four events — so if you look at the scheme below, who would fill in the blanks best?
(1) vault - Alicia Sacramone, Shawn Johnson, ______
(2) bars - Nastia Liukin, _____, ______
(3) beam - Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson, ______
(4) floor - Alicia Sacramone, Shawn Johnon, _____
So I think you have 3 athletes that are a lock to make the team, provided that they are healthy at the time of the olympics: Nastia Liukin (bars, beam), Alicia Sacramone (vault, floor, beam??), Shawn Johnson (vault, beam, floor).
I’d like to see the olympic selection committe go after two athletes that are bars specialist (Shayla Worley, Chellsie Memmel) and one athlete that is a floor/vault specialist (i.e. Darlene Hill, Jana Bieger, Sam Sheehan). It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
May 8th, 2008 at 5:38 am
I think it’s clear that Shawn Johnson, Alicia Sacramone, Nastia Liukin, and Samantha Peszek are going to make the team. Then prabobly Shayla Worley.That leaves one spot. It could be Ashley Priess, Jana Bieger, Chellsie Memmel, Bridget Sloan, Darlene Hill, Amber Trani, Geralen Stack-Eaton, Christa Tanella, Randy Stageberg, or Ivana Hong. Personaly here’s what I think
#1
Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin, Alicia Sacramone, Samantha Peszek, Shayla Worley, Ashley Priess
Reserves:
1:Jana Bieger
2: Chellsie Memmel
3:Darlene Hill
4: Ivana Hong
5: Bridget Sloan
6: Randy Stageberg
7: Geralen Stack-Eaton
8: Christa Tanella
9: Amber Trani
10: Catherine Nguyen
May 8th, 2008 at 10:06 am
I think that’s a good pick Nathaniel. I forgot about Ashley Priess. She will certainly make a great contribution on bars if she’s healthy. I can’t help but to pull for Chellsie Memmel as a sentimental favorite after being such a big part of the World Championships in 2003, 2005 and 2006 and never being on an olympic team. Also, I agree with this blog’s author that Ivana Hong brings impeccable form and artistry that I view as superior to just about anyone. I am puzzled why she is not rewarded better for the quality of her gymnastics — especially floor. I can’t think of an athlete out there that has more aesthetically beautiful tumbling.
May 8th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Thanks!!!!!
I’m only 10 years old!
May 8th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
On the canadian side I would like to see Kristina Vaculik and Elyse Hobfner Hibbs.
Not Nansy Damianova. Maybe Alyssa Brown. It’s just that I know that a lot of other people don’t like Vaculik because of her execution. But she’s much better on bars and beam than Damianova.On floor she’s capable of higher tumbling than Damianova and on vault she can do something harder than a full she just isn’t confident enough do compete it yet. Also, the reason Ivana doesn’t get high scores on bars is because her handstands aren’t completly above the bar. And on floor her start value is only a 5.7. I’m not saying I don’t like her gymnastics it’s just you can’t alwys blame skills on the judges.
May 8th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
My big big wish is to see Anna Pavlova medal on floor but her difficulty score is too low - I’m not even convinced at this point she’ll make it to floor finals with that start value. Shame though because she is single-handedly keeping artistry in this sport at the moment!
May 9th, 2008 at 11:22 am
I agree. Anna Pavlova has something special on floor. Those split scales (or at least I think that’s what you would call them) in her routine are G*O*R*G*E*O*U*S. She is a joy to watch. My only criticism of her is that she looks a little fatigued during the second half of her routine. Alicia Sacramone is more powerful and also has beautiful dance (although not as beautiful as Anna), but looks stronger throughout the routine. I think if Anna Pavlova can improve her overall fitness and endurance that she will be able to add a few difficult elements in the second half of her routine and then she could win floor.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
alright.omg ive been looking forward to so many things happening at the olympics for three years now.but i know it cant all happen at one olympics. i wanted the younger nastia to win the olympic all around.but now…i love shawn too. and heres the reason that i like shawn so much. SHE ONLY TRAINS 25 HOURS A WEEK. it takes somebody truly gifted and dedicated to reach that level with that many hours. I think if she wins , it will send a message across to the chinses, russians, and some americans, that 40 hours isnt NECESSARILY good. i understand that 25 may be too little for some, but i think 40 is too much, for ALL.
heres my dream event final listed results.
vault:
1st:cheng fei(she deserves it, shes the best)
2nd:Jade Barbosa (LOVE her)
3rd:the korean girl…cant remeber her name
bars:(will be the highest scoring final)
1st(tie):He Kexin,Nastia Liukin (i wish)
3rd:Ksenia Semenova (shes just so cute)
beam:
1st:Nastia Liukin(beautiful work)
2nd:Li Shanshan (i dont really like her, but i cant deny her great beam work and difficulty
3rd(tie):Lauren Mitchell and Shawn Johnson
floor:
1st:Shawn Johnson (if she had new choreography)
2nd:Jiang Yuyuan
3rd:Alicia Sacramone
May 9th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
if i could ksnenia to the beam medals, and anna pavlova to floor, that would be even better, looking over it now.
May 19th, 2008 at 4:13 am
A gymnast that is getting no notice:
Randy Stageberg: 2006: tied sacramone for gold on floor at nationals. 2008:wins floor at gymnix international wins new ausem music and 3rd on beam. A Texas Dreams Elite Qualifier she placed 1st n the allaround with a 15.4! Could contribute to USAon floor,beam,and vault.
May 19th, 2008 at 4:15 am
Sorry for typoes!!!!
I meant she got a 15.4 on BEAM!!!
May 20th, 2008 at 9:38 am
I hope no one wins with a fall.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:01 pm
I wud like to see
AA: nastia jiang yang yilin in any order
ub: nastia or yang, chellsie third if she reaches 7.0+ (he kexin is 14)
fx: cheng fei first; second and third is a battle between sandra, sam peszek and shawn
BB: i dont think theyll pick li shanshan cause of her inconsistencies so maybe nastia and shawn and two chinese (cheng and xioa??) for top three
Vt: first cheng, second - hong su yong, third: chusovitina or sacramone
hopefully team gold for usa even tho that seems impossible now
May 25th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I really hope that nastia wins the allaround.
I think she could.
With a high 16 or even a low 17 on bars she could really get ahead of the athletes.
On beam she’ll be able to increase her potential to win with a near perfect 10 in execution.
On floor if she upgrades her 2.5 twist at the end I think she could get around a 15.8 area.
And on vault, a double twist should scored around a 15.2(though she hasn’t competed it yet so I don’t know how good she’ll be.)
May 26th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Nathaniel - keep in mind that the high score this year on floor is Dasha Joura’s 15.7-ish at the Aussie national chamionships. Though i’m quite a fan of Nastia’s (& i think she has a more than legitimate shot at an all around medal), i don’t think that she’s going to break that record.
& a random question: does anyone know why Nastia isn’t training a Khorkina II on vault instead of the YDT?
May 26th, 2008 at 8:32 am
maybe because shes nastia liukin and not khorkina!!!!
May 29th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
I think Melanie makes a good point. I think a Khorkina II would be a better vault for Nastia overall because she doesn’t seem to have the power necessary to get the DTY around with flawless execution; however, she could probably differentiate herself from the field with the Khorkina II because (1) there will be far less comparison to everyone else who does a Yurchenko style of vault (2) the tuck style seems to be easier to land cleanly without worrying about twisting form deductions
May 29th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Do you know if Sacramone is competing bars at nationals?
Her website hasn’t been updated since the world championships so I don’t know.
May 29th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
mike, the khorkina is extremely difficulty, even for khorkina who only landed it very few times in her life (in comp of course)
just b/c they have the same body type doesnt mean theyre always good at the same things: khorkina was always kinda wobbly on beam, prob cause shes so tall and doesnt have a lower center of gravity like the short-powerhouses. beam, however, is one of nastias best events, despite her height.
u cant just say ok im gonna train it and compete it. for liukin at this stage DTY is prob a lot easier cause she already has a good 1.5
May 29th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
and nathaniel, alicia is not training bars anymore
June 9th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
[...] Top Ten Things I Would Like to See Happen this Summer in Beijing Everyone has their dream teams for this Summer’s Olympics. I certainly have mine. I also have some dream placements and story lines. So here are the Top Ten Things that I would like to see happen in Beijing this August. These are, of course, just my hopes, some more realistic than others. Ivana Hong (USA) winning […] [...]