Just a short one because I only have my phone and blogging on it is a bit painful in terms of long posts. Having a brilliant time at worlds and I have a LOT to write about but today gets a special mention.
First of all, I was invited to breakfast by none other than Ron and Nellie Biles, Simone's parents! They are fans of my blog. I am a big Simone fan so it was a great experience to meet such lovely people, I feel very grateful and honoured. Worlds is even more fun when something completely unexpected like that happens.
Secondly, what a competition! I don't even know what to say and I'm really looking forward to watching the broadcasts. It was obvious vault would be close, but I'm not sure what to think about the podium order. Both Hong un Jong and Maria Paseka had excellent vaults, but I thought Hong would have just edged it. Not quite as dead centre as Paseka perhaps (I'm a need the stream to verify that) and she did have deep hips on one vault, but they were overall much neater as Paseka's vaults are definitely marred by the huge straddle-like leg split she has on blocking. One of those results that could go either way I suppose, but a tie if not an outright win for Hong sits better than me. It was great to see Maria's emotion though after a so-far worse than mediocre showing for Russia.
Simone was always going to have her work cut out for her for gold, given that she has 0.8 less difficulty than either of the other two, so she would really have needed sticks for both vaults, or almost sticks. Although she managed it in qualifying, I think her ranking was fair this time around given her landings.
And bars. LOL bars. On the one hand, this was another that was always going to be close so a tie was not hugely surprising. However, a record-breaking tie like that is beyond bizarre. To me, Viktoria Komova seemed to be just that bit slightly ahead of the pack. Most of the rest had more tiny errors, less dynamic, flattish releases, flexed feet, shallow inbars, bent elbows. Madison Kocian is a fabulous bars worker, very zippy and precise but I do think she has more of these tiny flaws than the rest and falls slightly below their level. I don't think too many would have pegged her for gold. Not that anyone would peg 4 girls for gold anyway.
On the one hand, ties are fun. Gold for everyone! All of the amazing routines are world champion routines! But it does scream of inadequacies in the judging system that so many couldn't be separated. The debate about that will rage for quite a while I think..
I think could see Vika and Fan being tied, and possibly Maddie K and Daria. But all 4?!?! Maddie and Daria seemed like they had more little breaks than the other two, but I'm not a judge so who knows.
ReplyDeleteThe 4 way tie doesn't bother me. The Kocian getting the same E score as Komova makes me want to boycott gymnastics forever. What an insult to Komova who has worked her butt off the years perfecting her technique. Kocian can't even put in five minutes to learn how to point her GD toes! Ew, very unhappy with that result.
ReplyDeleteOpinion on FX and BB EF, as well as Viktoria Komova's comments and her defenders?
ReplyDeleteOn BB, I was so happy to see Sanne Wevers finally get the medal she deserved on a world stage. Her routine is so risky and artistic that it feels good to see a routine like that get a medal. Simone's routine was fantastic as well and she is definitely superhuman - no huge bobbles and she nailed that full twisting dismount for a huge 15.358 (well deserved). For me personally, I wanted Vika to get a beam medal because of that fact that she actually fought for the landings to make sure she stayed on and her form is so beautiful. But I was equally happy to see Pauline Schaefer win a bronze and her tears of joy were endearing.
ReplyDeleteOn floor, I was gutted to not see Sae Miyakawa on the podium. I felt her tumbling form in the air was exquisite and who cannot resist a front layout to double front pass, ala Produnova! I felt like politics and favoritism definitely came into play in this final and some gymnasts might have been more overscored than others. Afanyseva's routine was weird with the music, although her carriage was exquisite, and her landings should not have given her the 15.1 that it deserved. I love Maggie Nichols, but her form in the air isn't as great as Sae's and I kinda felt her routine was just average in comparison. But she's a good gymnast so I have no hard feelings. Simone is Simone, period lol. Overall it was a good championships, I just wished the scoring was more consistent.
I have to disagree with you as far as Afan. Her music, though it may not be your favorite, was spunky, sassy, unique, and intriguing, everything Afan is. Furthermore, to exclude someone from the podium due to their music choice would be ridiculous. Her landings were great because she fully controls her leap landings, not just her tumbles, which people forget to take into consideration. Her Layout and pike were not stuck as she usually does but her middle two passes were solid, and had no more than .3 off on the other two, definirely 15.1 worthy. Maggie always lands with her legs separated and makes landing adjustments. Her leaps are messy and of couse she doesnt have the insane technique that Afan does. Sae had the best tumbles but her choreo was SO lacking, I think she deserved bronze but of course she isnt big four so she was underscored compared to Maggie.
DeleteWha - wait what...? I'm sorry, sassy and spunky and unique? In what world? -_-. Afan definitely deserved silver, but intriguing she was not.
DeleteIt's funny how people keep talking trash about Maggie she didn't do aa came back hit all her routines in team final. I'm sorry but Komova wasn't spot on either she had errors too her hand stands weren't spot on and I do believe Maggie had the best ub it's people who hate to see an American do well on bars and get a gold last I checked in team we were number 1 in finals giver her her do respect her floor was a beauty to watch and I do believe she should have gotten silver
ReplyDeleteI have consistently been impressed with Maggie for the last 2 years and have stated so several times. In fact, I don't make a secret of being a big fan of the US girls. Amongst others but I think it's fairly noticeable. I find their performances amazing to watch-especially in person.
DeleteAnyway, that doesn't mean I don't think some results are weird. Not quite as strange as you confusing Maggie and Maddie. I think it's relatively healthy to accept that even your favourite gymnast has at least some faults, even just minor niggly form things. Maddie has a good few of these on bars, still an awesome bars worker. Maggie has quite a few on floor, they should affect her e-score but they don't take away from the overall performance which is always great. I'm thrilled for her that she had such a good worlds and came through in TF so well, doing herself a lot of favours for Rio.
I actually think Afan should be out or the floor medals before Maggie should...