The test event in London is finished and all the gymnasts who will qualify for the Olympics have qualified themselves or their country a spot (wildcards aside). It was such a great event, and despite the stress of competing in January for the final group of gymnasts, I can’t help hoping that this is the way it rolls every quad.
For complete results from The Gymnastics Examiner, go HERE
For a full list of qualifiers and how and why and how many from the Gymnastics Examiner, go HERE
Some lessons learned in London;
1. Brazil are resilient.
The Brazilian women have been through a truckload of drama in the last while, from coaching issues, drug issues, injury issues, depth issues, in-fighting issues to financial issues. It is clearly not an easy country to maintain a solid, consistent national team training program in. Yet they somehow manage to prevail as one of the world’s best teams. They do this with a pool of talented, elder gymnasts who can pull it off just when it looks as if the chips are down.
2. Sui Lu is not a rock…yet
It was clear after her World beam title that Sui Lu had made significant psychological improvements in her gymnastics, but her beam performance at the Test Event proves that we should not yet assume that she has turned into a rock solid gymnast. Like anyone, she still has nerves.
3. Rookies rock.
Everybody loves an exciting rookie gymnast showing off their stuff in a new gymnastics year. Some particular stars of the Test Event were the incredible Erika Fasana, Anne Kuhm and Anastasia Grishina who all finished in the top ten of the all around. So too is Victoria Moors who won an event final medal. Mention must also go to Francesca Deagostini, Sofi Gomez and Rebecca Tunney who finished in the top twenty.
4. It’s all experience, if you think that way
Rick over at Gymnastics Coaching suggests Russia and China may well wish they stayed home. I don’t think this is the case for Australia, who had also already qualified. Emily Little got some much needed competition workout after an injury stint, and the same can be said for Georgia Simpson, who needed to get back out there at the start of this vital Olympic year after sixteen months off from the sport.
5. With the right choreographer, any gymnast can do a great floor routine.
And Victoria Moors is the proof in the pudding. She is not the most naturally elegant gymnast. She is, however, a magnificent tumbler. And she also has one of the best choreographers around in the formidable Elvira Saadi. Match that with some sassy, sultry music and some VERY cool turns and you have a terrific little floor exercise.
6. Vanessa Ferrari is the bomb.
Yes, she is. Setback after setback, comeback after comeback, she just keeps on giving to this sport. She is as tough, talented and elegant as ever. Even with all the raw young talent that keeps showing up in Italy, she is still not just the leader, but the best they have. She is my older gymnast of the year already.
7. Canada are deep.
Finally. They have such a pool of talent that they can go confidently forward toward the Olympic Games knowing they have a talented group of women to choose from- not just the girls who were at the test event, but other, equally talented women at home. I look forward to seeing what they bring to the Olympics.
8. Wyomi Masela of the Netherlands is a cool customer
. Masela is such a great gymnast. She was steady and consistent in Tokyo last year, while some of her team mates succumbed to nerves. She was great here at London, helping in the team that qualified the Dutch for a spot at the Olympics and winning a vault medal. The sad thing is, that with talents like Top and van Gerner around, there is a good chance she may not be in contention for the spot she really helped make. Read The Gymnastics Examiner interview with Wyomi
9. Grishina is a beautiful bar worker.
Not that you need to be told. But what I worry about with this beautiful young gymnast is, does she have enough difficulty and consistency elsewhere to make the Russian Olympic team? I leave that with you guys.
10. Gymnasts learned lessons too.
Yes, Yamilet Pena Abreu did a wise thing leaving that Produnova vault alone.
11. Italy are terriers.
Never write them off. Just when you think you have escaped, this tenacious team of feisty upstarts will come at you like a bat out of hell, grab your ankles with their nippy little teeth and will not let you go until they win. Love them. Dearly.
12. Poor old Belgium
. I mean, poor old any team that didn’t make it after this round of Olympic qualifications, but Belgium were not expected to do as well as they did or fight as hard as they fought and they deserve total kudos for their efforts here.
13. Elsa Garcia is back!
It was sad to see Elsa Garcia’s inconsistent, almost lacklustre performances in Tokyo last year. She is such an elegant, exciting gymnast, you always expect the best from her. To me, she seemed weak in Tokyo, but here in London she seemed much stronger. I sincerely hope she is the gymnast that gets to go to London for Mexico. It is so sad that she has missed the opportunity in the past and she is still such a key member for the Mexican team.
Article: Brigid McCarthy
Cover photo: Elsa Garcia
This is a syndicated post, which originally appeared at The Couch Gymnast.
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