Another Quad Begins

Seven months removed from London a new crop of gymnasts with some veterans are in Worcester, Massachusetts in what will be as start of the long and twisted Road to Rio. American Cup podium training was today for the competition which is on Saturday. Katelyn Ohashi and Simone Biles are making their senior international debut with Kyla Ross doing a beam exhibition although she trained on all four apparatus. After watching both the men's and women's trainings today the ladies get more done more efficiently most of the men's rotations especially on pommel horse and parallel bars then actual routines or skills.

Women's podium training part one in full. Follows the US Women as they train beam routines, vault timers, floor timers and bar routines.


In the second training the ladies did floor routines and vaults.
Simone's Floor

Vault


Katelyn's Floor

Vault


Men's training

Passing Shots: Olympics

Visa Commercials:

Nastia Liukin:

Michael Phelps:

Li Na:

Pacific Rim Gymnastics:

Senior Event Finals:

Charlotte Sullivan from Christchurch New Zealand only 13 years old. She is too young to be at the Olympics or World Championships for a few years still but looking forward to hopefully seeing her there in the future. Listen to Team New Zealand's story here.

Roster announced for USWNT games in Japan

April 1 at  6:30 a.m. ET vs Japan

April 3 at 7 a.m. ET vs Brazil

Both games will be live on ESPN2 and ESPN3

Torch Bearers and Olympic Kits

Andy Murray and other British tennis players will be taking part in the torch relay. 

What Andy Murray will be wearing at the Olympics.  I think it would look better with more red in the shorts or possibly just red shorts all together. 

Highlight Reel: American Cup

The American Cup was held this past Saturday at Madison Square Garden. While the status quo was held up with Jordyn Weiber winning her second consecutive and third American Cup in all. Gabby Douglas put a bit of a jolt into the event when she finished with a higher score then Weiber for her scored exhibition routines.


Full Broadcast

Aly Raisman's amazing Amanar that wasn't shown in the broadcast.

Watch more videos on Gymnastike

Gabby Douglas Routines:

Vault:


Uneven Bars:


Feature on American Cup at MSG and how it seems to bred Olympic Champions


NBC Olympics Gymnastics Promo:

Three Queens

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Mary Lou Retton, Carly Patterson and Nastia Liukin were on the Today show this morning. The American Cup which they have all also won is tomorrow at Madison Square Garden.

1984: Los Angeles

2004: Athens

2008: Beijing

Will there be a fourth member of this exclusive club come July? 

Passing Shots: Girl Power Edition

This is Lara Arruabarrena she won her first WTA title in Bogota this weekend. She moved up 65 spots in the rankings & is now on my radar. Hopefully a better known Spaniard will to be back to trophy biting ways soon.

Ash Barty won her first Pro title this weekend. Laura approves. 

In Doha, Vika keeps winning and Sam made a good run to get her season on track. Sometimes I still can't believe that they won the last two Slams. 

Watch more videos on Gymnastike

Rebecca Bross made her competitive comeback after being sidelined with the knee injury and subsequent surgery following National's last August. Please Valeri please get the girl a new dismount I hold my breath ever time.

Passing Shots

• Bettors Beware there will be crack downs during the Olympics. 
• To be able to qualify for 6 Olympics as a gymnast is nothing short of remarkable. 
• Azerenka will meet Li for the Sydney title. 
• Brits Robson, Broady and Ward advance in qualifications in Melbourne. 
• Janet Evans and Ian Thorpe are still on the comeback trail with hopes to qualify for London.
• How Gymnasts qualified to the Olympics. It is bordering on rocket science. 
• Who qualified at the gymnastics test event. 

Passing Shots

• Andrea Petkovic withdrew from the Australian Open with a stress fracture in her lower back. She posted on her facebook

 "Dear Petkorazzis. I am very sorry to tell you that I had to withdraw from the Australian Open with a lower back stress fracture. I'll recover now to have what you can literally call a comeback!" 

•  Wozniacki loses in Sydney. 
• USA Gymnastics will name Olympic team at Olympic Trials. This is a change of practice from team choseing procedure over the last decade. 
• Canada has qualified a full Women's Gymnastics Team at the test event.
• Spanish seeds advance in Auckland. 
• Laura Robson will face Mel Oudin in the first round of Australian Open qualifications. Here is the full draw.  
• The US Womens National Soccer team is completely at training camp after Solo, Wambach and Coach Sundhage arrived after attending the FIFA Awards. 

Passing Shots

• Jim Redmond father of 1992 Olympian Derek Redmond to carry torch. 
• Venus Williams withdraws from Australian Open. Hope to see you back on court soon! 
• Upsets aplenty for the men in Auckland. 
• The qualifying tournament is about to get underway. 
• The gymnastics test event is in full swing. Photos.
• Roger Federer and Ryan Lochte headline Gilletes Olympic marketing.
• NBC will broadcast the Olympics in 3-D.
• Granny Maria. Not really but at 24 she is one of the more experienced players on tour.   
• America kills the Petko-dance. 
• Feliciano Lopez will be head to toe in Wilson gear. 

Passing Shots

We are Tennis

• What will London's legacy be?
• Petra found out she can become number one in Sydney by reading the newspaper. 
• AOTV is back with many features including my favorite, the Open Drive. 
• No surprises in the Australian Open seedings except Nadia Petrova apparently isn't Nadia anymore. 
• It's just a drill. 
• Podium Training is underway at the Gymnastics test event. 
• Serena is in Melbourne.
• The New York City Marathon will be shown nationally on ESPN2 and ABC starting with this years race.  
• The Gymnastics test event finals will be streamed live on the FIG's youtube channel. 

Gymnastics Test Event

The gymnastics test event begins on Tuesday at the O2 Arena with the teams that failed to qualify a full team at the World Championships to do so where the event will be held this summer. The teams still looking to qualify for the men are Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Spain, France, Great Britain, Italy and Puerto Rico to battle it out for the four remaining spots. The Women's teams looking to qualify are Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Spain, France, Italy, Korea and the Netherlands.  


Schedule of Events

(Pic FIG Facebook)

Jordyn meets Ellen

Start the hype engine. Jordyn was on the Ellen show on Friday she still seems a bit shy in these situations but given that it is all still new to her she will get used to it eventually. I'm sure this is the first of many talk show interviews she will be doing over the course of the year. She also does a short uneven bars set.

Passing Shots: Olympics Edition

• They are projecting that China will top the medal tally in London. Lets just wait an see. 
• Teams for the Gymnastics Olympic Test Events which also serves as a qualifier for the Olympics. 
• Musicals in London's West End are taking a hit in ticket sales and some might go on a hiatus during the Games. 
• Plans are in place for Switzerland to bid for St. Moritz to host the 2022 Winter Olympics for the third time. 
• Jordyn Weiber will be on the Ellen show Friday. 
• Gymnasts to pay attention to in 2012. 
• The first Olympic Trials is for the Marathon on Jan. 14th 

Passing Shots: Video Edition

Happy Olympic Year Everyone!

Serena is ready to start the year in Brisbane

• Rafa and Roger play tennis on a candle lined court in Doha to launch the ATP season. No burns were reported. 
• A study shows that Olympic performance and National Pride are linked. Interesting although not surprising. 

Sam Stosur leaves Lacoste for Asics. 

• Kim Clijsters wins her first match of the year. 
• Verses becomes NBC Sports Network. Expecting lots of awesome Olympic lead up on this channel starting with the US Women's National Soccer teams attempt to qualify for London. 

• A look back at 2011 in the world of gymnastics. 
• After an amazing 2011 Ryan Lochte say 2012 is his year. 

Passing Shots

Andy rides down the Brisbane River.

• Beating the reigning all around World Champion, becoming National Champion then becoming all around World Champion. This year Jordyn Weiber lived up to every expectation placed on her. Can she do it again in London? 
• A trip down memory lane to Roland Garros. 
• Will they have matching Argyle Tracksuits? If not I will be disappointed. 
• What happened in Abu Dhabi. 
• TV Schedules for ATP in Doha, Brisbane and Chennai.
• Brisbane was not kind to the home town girl. Serena, Kim and Ana are all in Sam's half.
• Auckland OOP
• Brisbane OOP
• Rafa changes his racket specifications. 

Passing Shots

Sam speaks to the media

• Aly Raisman hopes to keep living the dream to London. 
• Stosur hopes she can handle the pressure at home. 
• In Abu Dhabi, Roger Federer was wearing his watch. He lost to Djokvic today and will play Nadal who lost to Ferrer in the third and fourth place match. 
• Sharapova and her scarf are off to Oz! 
• I love stories like this: I was at London Olympics in 1948 - I can't wait to see them in 2012
• United States Olympic Committee's Best of 2011 featuring the Bryan Brothers, Ryan Lochte, Missy Franklin, Jordyn Wieber and more.

You mean 2008 Champion Right?

source

Yes because you are just gonna show up at the Olympics after not winning a team title since Beijing and win. It could happen but I still believe it's a two country race between the United States and Russia. Unless they start trading gymnasts like they trade tennis players lately.

Bring It 2012.

Olympic Years are the best years in Sports. With London hosting the games for a historic third time I hope this year is better then ever. Also the Australian Summer of Tennis is about the start which means my sleep is about to stop. Enjoy these promos as a pump up for the coming year and welcome to the blog.

Promo featuring reigning Women's All Around Champion Nastia Lukin for the rebranded NBC Sports Network.

Australian Open 2012 promo

Are you excited?