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2023 Winter Cup. Zeiss wins
[Article] [Results] NBC Broadcast without the commentating] [All Senior routines] [Photos]
I got out of bed to babysit and watch the Red Sox and forgot this was even on. The scoring was really low. I can see why USAG wants to promote the Olympians. I see no one else cares either. I did watch some routines in the commercials and wasn’t really impressed. We got to watch Lexi stand around like we used to watch Simone. Always fun. I am off to find Myli Lew’s on the [Uneven Bars] (this was great until the dismount. A few feet issues but mostly clean. Great handstands. 5.9 start value. Only a half tenth less in deductions than that mess Ashlee Sullivan [Bars] did with a 5.0 start value. THESE JUDGES
Opinions:
**** Skye only did [Bars] and [Beam]. Same with Tiana [Bars] [Beam] (new senior. Low scores in the 12’s) Sam Peszek and Terry Gannon did the announcing with John. I am not sure sounding better than Nastia means you should be commentating but it is what it is. NBC apparently wants a blond, with an ugly style to be on camera. NBC does not have the pulse on what fans want. It’s clear every time they hire someone to do this sport……….. Zoe Miller [Uneven Bars ] Judges give the same execution scoring in spite of the actual execution issues so everyone needs to start pumping the start value.
The [Senior men] are happening now. [Junior Woman] [Senior Woman] They have the juniors listed as training at 7.30 am on Saturday and the senior woman at 8 am on Friday. Not sure why they would be different days but, okay.
Thoughts!
A few years ago I watched Junior National’s and wrote a blog on the potential of the gymnasts vs nitpicking the form issues or cheated leaps, etc…. Some gymnasts I saw something in were Suni Lee, Morgan Hurd, and Gabby Perea. Not a bad list of gymnasts if I say so myself. I am halfway through this set of routines and sadly, no one has stood out so far. Overall though I will say (thanks to the new artistry deductions in the code) I have noticed almost everyone is attempting to add choreography into their routines, so that is nice to see. They are also attempting to dance, also a positive. There have even been some gymnasts on beam attempting to work on their toes which was a staple of gymnasts that succeeded in the 90s. Another positive. From now on I will be looking for some positives, instead of waiting for them to show up. I’ll let you know if I see the potential i saw in Hurd and Suni, but as of now I am just looking for something to type. Back to watching…
Gabrielle Hardie **** has a really nice presence on the beam. She has cheated leaps, and only a 4.8 start value, but she has the presence of a future world champion when it comes to how steady and at home she looks on the beam. She had the third best execution score behind, the winner, Hezley and, Audrey Snyder, but IMO they were overscored. Even with her cheated leaps, she just stands out ahead of everyone I have watched so far. She kind of reminds me of Jordyn Wieber at ten years old. Jazmyn Jimenez had the best floor music. (Not routine) Hezley had the best landings(Explains the score) And while his gymnast Gabriella Pierson was performing, Liukin wasn’t even watching her. He was too busy coaching the girl that won on the sidelines. At the 55 second mark. Watch him…. Izzy Stassi had the best bar routine in this competition yet she finished 4th.Isabella Anzola has potential on floor. She engaged with the audience more than anyone else…. Kieryn Finnel had the best [Beam] routine. (She finished second) Simone Rose also has some presence on [Beam] but she rushed it and had too many bobbles. Ella Kate Parker was lowballed on [Beam] like all MLT gymnasts have been in the past… Now I am bored (Ended at Jayla Hang on beam if I want to start tomorrow)
The gymnast of the junior meet for me is little Harlow Buddendeck. Sure she fell twice on [beam] twice on the [Uneven Bars] and was lowballed on [Floor] but there was something about her that stood out in this meet for me. Maybe it was the tears after her bar routine. Maybe it was the smile after her beam where you knew she was just happy this damn routine was over but for me, the first 55 seconds of her beam routine was stunning. That’s right, I said stunning. She pointed her toes. The head and shoulders were almost back all the way. This has the making of an old school, beam queen. That scale was perfection. Also has potential on floor. If she keeps competing, I expect to see her somewhere down the line shining. (Look at me being positive:) [Vault]
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Podium Training and Lead up to the competition
Rosters Skye Blakely being the one you might recognize.
Not a lot of names on this list but Zoe Miller is back (Horrible form, big start value on bars) Ashlee Sullivan ( showed potential before getting injured last year) Tiana Sumanasekera is finally a senior ( Has great potential but is inconsistent and is now training at Simone Biles gym) Lexi Zeis (alternate to the World team last year) Addison Fatta,(Some World cup success ) Elle Mueller (8th at Nationals in 2022) Katelyn Jong (9th at Nationals last year) Oh and Myli Lew is also a senior. Has a great bar routine but I like the kid and want her to start being consistent, damn it:)
USAG has finally seen the light and is giving us back the youtube videos of gymnasts not shown on Television. You can’t promote a sport behind a paywall, USAG, especially not the juniors.
And Alice D’Amato won the, 2023 Firenze 1st Italian Serie A. Here is her 14.950 bar routine. Others competed but didn’t do the AA. Live from Paris has some videos. Martina Maggio [Beam] Elisabeth Seitz [Bars] And I have decided I will be attending the Olympic trials wherever it is in 2024. 99% if it’s on the East Coast.
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