Flipping With Success

U.S. women win team gold at 2011 Pan Am Games

Candace — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 01:57:30 +0000

GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Oct. 24, 2011 – The U.S. women’s team pulled together to clinch the team gold medal today at the 2011 Pan American Games at the Nissan Gymnastics Stadium in the Lopez Mateos Sports Complex.

The USA earned the title with 219.750 points, followed by Canada at 217.450, and Brazil was third with 209.825. The team finals also served as the qualification round for the all-around and individual event finals. This is the USA’s 12th women’s team title in Pan American Games history.

The members of the U.S. Women’s Pan Am Team are: Bridgette Caquatto of Naperville, Ill./Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC; Jessie DeZiel of Rogers, Minn./Twin City Twisters; Brandie Jay of Ft. Collins, Colo./GK Gymnastics; Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa/Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute; Grace McLaughlin of Allen, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics; and Bridget Sloan of Pittsboro, Ind./Sharp’s Gymnastics Academy.

“I know all these girls have worked so hard,” said Sloan, the team captain. “I am so proud of everybody. We are Team USA and we were able to bring it all together when it really counts and that’s what it comes down to – and that’s all I could really ask for.”

McLaughlin was first up on vault for the U.S. women, landing a one-and-a-half twisting Yurchenko with a score of 14.225. Three gymnasts performed a Yurchenko double full: Jay, 14.925; DeZiel, 15.125; and Johnson, 14.925. Caquatto finished off the event with a13.925, giving the U.S. the highest team total at 59.200.

On uneven bars, McLaughlin again led off for the USA, scoring a 13.350. Posting a 13.725, Jay finished her routine with a full pirouette to Shushanova and full twisting double tuck dismount. Caquatto had an impressive and clean routine that included a piked Tkatchev and a stuck double layout dismount and earned a 14.625. Sloan and Johnson followed on bars with a 13.850 and 14.400, respectively.

DeZiel lead the way onbalance beam with the highest U.S. score, 13.275. Jay and McLaughlin followed with scores of 13.125 and 13.250, respectively. Both Johnson and Caquatto struggled on beam finishing with a 12.875 and 12.975, respectively.

Jay led off on floor exercise, the USA’s final event. Her routine included a pike full-in and a two-and-a-half twist to punch front, scoring 12.375. Sloan posted a 13.025 for her floor routine, which was the second highest score for Team USA. DeZiel earned the Team USA’s highest score on the event, 13.150, for her routine that included a piked full twisting double back, a one-and-a-half through to a two-and-a-half twist, and a double pike dismount. Caquatto, last up for the Americans, executed a front double full to front layout and a pike full-in during her floor routine to score a 12.775.

“I was going through the lineup and getting all teary-eyed because I was so proud of them,” Johnson said. “We have gone through a lot in the last couple of weeks and I think we did a great job.”

The U.S. men compete in the men’s team finals tomorrow in the first of two subdivisions.

The finals schedule is: Oct. 25, men’s team; Oct. 26, women’s and men’s all-around; and Oct. 27-28, individual events.

The members of the U.S. men’s team are: Donothan Bailey of Lake Forest, Calif./University of California – Berkeley; C.J. Maestas of Corrales, N.M./University of Illinois; Sho Nakamori of Albany, Calif./Champions Academy; Tyler Mizoguchi of Houston, Texas/University of Illinois; Paul Ruggeri of Manlius, N.Y; and Brandon Wynn of Columbus, Ohio/Team Hilton HHonors (Ohio State University). The team champions, as well as the finalists for the all-around and individual event finals, will be determined at the conclusion of the second subdivision.

Competition schedule
All times Eastern
Oct. 25 2:00-7:30 P.M. Men’s team finals; qualifications for all- around, individual event finals
(U.S., Sub 1, 2:00-4:30 p.m.)
Oct. 26 2:00-4:00 P.M. Women’s all-around finals
6:30-9:00 P.M. Men’s all-around finals
Oct. 27 2:00- 5:00 P.M. Individual event finals
Men: floor exercise, pommel horse still rings
Women: vault, uneven bars
Oct. 28 2:00-5:00 P.M. Individual event finals
Men: vault, parallel bars, horizontal bar
Women: balance beam, floor exercise

Ways to follow the excitement of the Pan American Games in the U.S.
TV broadcast

ESPN Deportes, U.S. rights holder of the 2011 Pan American Games, is showing between 90-120 hours of live and exclusive footage on both Deportes and ESPN3. The network has been broadcasting a minimum of three hours of live coverage featuring the top events each day and will continue to do so throughout the Closing Ceremony. Coverage will feature a wide range of competitions including baseball, basketball, boxing, soccer, swimming, track & field, volleyball and several others.
Live events may not be seen in some areas and the schedule is subject to change. All listed times are Eastern. View the ESPN Deportes broadcast schedule here.
ESPN2 is also airing the Pan American Games with 20 hours of English-language coverage throughout the event. View the schedule here.
Live internet streaming – Fans can watch select events live at deportes.terra.com.

Results

To view daily schedules and get results from all Pan American Games competitions, visit info.guadalajara2011.org.mx.
ESPNDeportes.com/Panamericanos has the latest news and information surrounding the competitions, athletes and each country with exclusive content, video highlights, live chats with the experts on-site, and live scores.
Team information

USA Gymnastics’ Pan American events page, http://usagym.org/panam, and twitter feed @USAGym, will have results, photos and other information on the U.S. Team’s efforts in Guadalajara.
Follow @USOlympic on Twitter for breaking news updates on Team USA. Also, follow NGB Twitter feeds for additional coverage: Twitter.com/USOlympic/NGB.
Visit TeamUSA.org/events/6958 for the updated U.S. roster (by sport, state and Olympians), the USA Daily newsletter and photos from the Pan American Games.

SOURCE

Women’s gymnastics team finals at 2011 Pan Am Games set for Oct. 24

Candace — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 01:54:52 +0000

GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Oct. 24, 2011 – Tonight, the women’s team finals kick off the beginning of the 2011 Pan American Games’ artistic gymnastics competition at the Nissan Gymnastics Stadium in the Lopez Mateos Sports Complex in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. The U.S. women compete in the final subdivision, which begins at 4 p.m. CT.

The members of the U.S. Women’s Pan Am Team are: Bridgette Caquatto of Naperville, Ill./Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC; Jessie DeZiel of Rogers, Minn./Twin City Twisters; Brandie Jay of Ft. Collins, Colo./GK Gymnastics; Shawn Johnson ofWest Des Moines, Iowa/Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute; Grace McLaughlin of Allen, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics; and Bridget Sloan of Pittsboro, Ind./Sharp’s Gymnastics Academy.

The competition order for the U.S. Women’s Team in the finals is as follows:

Vault
Grace McLaughlin
Brandie Jay
Jessie DeZiel
Shawn Johnson
Bridgette Caquatto

Uneven bars
Grace McLaughlin
Brandie Jay
Bridgette Caquatto
Bridget Sloan
Shawn Johnson

Balance beam
Jessie DeZiel
Brandie Jay
Grace McLaughlin
Shawn Johnson
Bridgette Caquatto

Floor exercise
Brandie Jay
Grace McLaughlin
Jessie DeZiel
Bridget Sloan
Bridgette Caquatto

Countries competing in the same subdivision with the United States are Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela.

The team champion will be determined at the conclusion of the second and final subdivision. The team finals also serve as the qualification round for the all-around finals on Oct. 26 and the individualevent finals, Oct. 27-28. The men’s team finals are scheduled for Oct. 25, and the U.S. men compete in the first of two subdivisions. A maximum of two athletes per country may advance to the all-around and individual event finals.

Competition schedule
All times Eastern
Oct. 24 2:00-7:30 P.M. Women’s team finals; qualifications for all- around, individual event finals
(U.S., Sub 2, 5:00-7:30 p.m.)
Oct. 25 2:00-7:30 P.M. Men’s team finals; qualifications for all- around, individual event finals
(U.S., Sub 1, 2:00-4:30 p.m.)
Oct. 26 2:00-4:00 P.M. Women’s all-around finals
6:30-9:00 P.M. Men’s all-around finals
Oct. 27 2:00- 5:00 P.M. Individual event finals
Men: floor exercise, pommel horse still rings
Women: vault, uneven bars
Oct. 28 2:00-5:00 P.M. Individual event finals
Men: vault, parallel bars, horizontal bar
Women: balance beam, floor exercise

Ways to follow the excitement of the Pan American Games in the U.S.
TV broadcast

Live internet streaming – Fans can watch select events live at deportes.terra.com.

Results

Team information

SOURCE

U.S. women’s team’s podium training goes well at Pan Am Games

Candace — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 01:49:45 +0000

GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Oct. 22, 2011 – The U.S. Women’s Team just completed podium training at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. The women’s team competition, which serves as the qualification for all-around and individual event finals, is Monday, Oct. 24, and the U.S. women are competing in the second subdivision. The men’s podium training is Sunday, Oct. 23, and will compete in the first subdivision in the men’s team finals on Oct. 25.
The members of the U.S. Women’s Team are: Bridgette Caquatto of Naperville, Ill./Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC; Jessie DeZiel of Rogers, Minn./Twin City Twisters; Brandie Jay of Ft. Collins, Colo./GK Gymnastics; Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa/Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute; Grace McLaughlin of Allen, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics; and Bridget Sloan of Pittsboro, Ind./Sharp’s Gymnastics Academy.

“It was so nice being on the podium today, and the girls have been doing great,” said Sloan, who was elected team captain by her teammates. “I haven’t traveled with some of these girls so (we’re) building a new sisterhood. Being team captain is a big role for me but I have taken it head on. All of the girls who made this Pan Am Team should be so proud. Personally, this is the first time I’ll be doing the all-around since 2010 . . . and definitely excited to do it here.”

“I remember going to Brazil – the 2007 Pan Ams – and it being one of my favorite competitions,” said Johnson, who was a member of the 2007 gold-medal team and also won the all-around, uneven bars and balance beam titles. “Just the atmosphere of the Games, it’s like a little Olympics, and I love being here. I’m excited, because I think we have a strong team.”

The artistic gymnastics field features 114 male and female competitors from 18 differentcountries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, and Venezuela.

Competition begins on Oct. 24 with the women’s team finals (the USA competes in the second subdivision), followed by the men’s team finals on Oct. 25 (the men compete in the first subdivision). For both men’s and women’s gymnastics, performances during the team finals determine which athletes advance to the all-around finals on Oct. 26 and the individual event finals, Oct. 27-28. There is a maximum of two athletes per country in the all-around and individual event finals.

The members of the U.S. Men’s Team are: Donothan Bailey of Lake Forest, Calif./University of California – Berkeley; C.J. Maestas of Corrales, N.M./University of Illinois; Sho Nakamori of Albany, Calif./Champions Academy; Tyler Mizoguchi of Houston, Texas/University of Illinois; Paul Ruggeri of Manlius, N.Y; and Brandon Wynn of Columbus, Ohio/Team Hilton HHonors (Ohio State University).

Competition schedule
All times Eastern
Oct. 23 2:00-7:15 P.M. Men’s podium training
(U.S., Sub 1, 2:00-4:15 p.m.)
Oct. 24 2:00-7:30 P.M. Women’s team finals; qualifications for all- around, individual event finals
(U.S., Sub 2, 5:00-7:30 p.m.)
Oct. 25 2:00-7:30 P.M. Men’s team finals; qualifications for all- around, individual event finals
(U.S., Sub 1, 2:00-4:30 p.m.)
Oct. 26 2:00-4:00 P.M. Women’s all-around finals
6:30-9:00 P.M. Men’s all-around finals
Oct. 27 2:00- 5:00 P.M. Individual event finals
Men: floor exercise, pommel horse still rings
Women: vault, uneven bars
Oct. 28 2:00-5:00 P.M. Individual event finals
Men: vault, parallel bars, horizontal bar
Women: balance beam, floor exercise
Ways to follow the excitement of the Pan American Games in the U.S.
TV broadcast

Results

SOURCE

Artistic gymnasts are set to compete at Pan Am Games

Candace — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 01:49:03 +0000

GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Oct. 21, 2011 – After gaining eight medals between the U.S. rhythmic and trampoline teams, the U.S. men’s and women’s gymnasts take to the competition floor Oct. 24-28 at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

The artistic gymnastics field features 114 male and female competitors from 18 different countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, and Venezuela.

Competition begins on Oct. 24 with the women’s team finals, followed by the men’s team finals on Oct. 25. For both men’s and women’s gymnastics, performances during the team finals determine which athletes advance to the all-around finals on Oct. 26 and the individual event finals, Oct. 27-28. There is a maximum of two athletes per country in the all-around and individual event finals.

Women’s competition
Oct. 24 – team finals; Oct. 26 – all-around finals; Oct. 27-28 – individual event finals

The U.S. women return as the defending team champions and a successful competition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the 2007 Pan American Games. They swept the all-around and took home the team gold and seven individual medals.

World all-around champions and 2008 Olympic team silver-medalists Bridget Sloan of Pittsboro, Ind./Sharp’s Gymnastics Academy, and Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa/Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute, will lead the team.

Sloan won the World all-around title in 2009 and was a member of the 2008 Olympic silver medal-winning team; however, this will be her first Pan Am Games and her first major international competition since the 2010 World Championships.

As for Johnson, the 2008 Olympic balance beam gold medalist, this will be her first international competition since her return to competition earlier this year. The Pan American Games, however, is not new to her. At the 2007 Pan Ams, Johnson claimed four of the six available gold medals (team, all-around, uneven bars and balance beam).

Competing alongside Johnson and Sloan are four rising stars. Bridgette Caquatto of Naperville, Ill./Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC, has competed internationally on several occasions, including the 2009 Junior Pan American Championships where the U.S. Team won the team gold and she was second on vault and fourth in the all-around. The Pan Am Games is the first time that Jessie DeZiel of Rogers, Minn./Twin City Twisters; Brandie Jay of Ft. Collins, Colo./GK Gymnastics; and Grace McLaughlin of Allen, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics, have represented the USA in international competition.

At the Pan Am Games, the U.S. women have won the last six all-around titles and 11 of the 13 team gold medals.

Men’s competition
Oct. 24 – team finals; Oct. 26 – all-around finals; Oct. 27-28 – individual event finals

The U.S. men’s team is a combination of rising stars, collegiate gymnasts and veterans. At the 2007 Pan Am Games, the U.S. men gained five medals, including gold on pommel horse, silver on still rings and floor exercise, and bronze in the all-around and team competition.

In addition, 2008 Olympic team bronze-medalist Justin Spring, who is the head coach at the University of Illinois, is one of the men’s Pan Am team coaches and was the 2007 Pan Am parallel bars gold medalist.

In total, the men’s team has medaled at all 13 Pan Am Games, including seven gold, four silver, and two bronze medals.

Competition schedule
All times Eastern
Oct. 22 2:00-6:50 P.M. Women’s podium training
(U.S., Sub 2, 5:00-6:50 p.m.)
Oct. 23 2:00-7:15 P.M. Men’s podium training
(U.S., Sub 1, 2:00-4:15 p.m.)
Oct. 24 2:00-7:30 P.M. Women’s team finals; qualifications for all- around, individual event finals
(U.S., Sub 2, 5:00-7:30 p.m.)
Oct. 25 2:00-7:30 P.M. Men’s team finals; qualifications for all- around, individual event finals
(U.S., Sub 1, 2:00-4:30 p.m.)
Oct. 26 2:00-4:00 P.M. Women’s all-around finals
6:30-9:00 P.M. Men’s all-around finals
Oct. 27 2:00- 5:00 P.M. Individual event finals
Men: floor exercise, pommel horse still rings
Women: vault, uneven bars
Oct. 28 2:00-5:00 P.M. Individual event finals
Men: vault, parallel bars, horizontal bar
Women: balance beam, floor exercise

Ways to follow the excitement of the Pan American Games in the U.S.
TV broadcast

Live internet streaming – Fans can watch select events live at deportes.terra.com.

Results

Team information

SOURCE

Progressive Skating & Gymnastics Spectacular set for Oct. 29

Candace — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 01:48:08 +0000

Some of the world’s best and most exciting names in gymnastics will descend on the quad cities in celebration of two of the most popular Olympic sports. The Progressive Skating & Gymnastics Spectacular, coming to the i wireless Center, Moline, Ill., on October 29, is part of the Pandora NBC Skating Series and will feature Olympic, world and national medalists in figure skating and gymnastics, including Olympic hopefuls for the London 2012 Summer Games.
Leading the cast of world-class gymnasts is 2008 Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin, returning for her fifth appearance in the show. Liukin also earned silver medals in the team event, the uneven bars and balance beam, as well as a bronze medal in the floor exercise at the 2008 Games.

Danell Leyva, who recently won the gold medal in parallel bars and led his team to the bronze at the 2011 World Championships, will also participate. Leyva is also the 2011 national all-around champion and runner up in 2010.

Joining Leyva is Jonathon Horton, who won the silver medal on the horizontal bar and a bronze medal in the team event at the 2008 Olympic Games. He also won the 2010 bronze medal in the all-around at the World Championships. Horton claimed the U.S. all-around title in back-to-back years (2009 and 2010); he finished runner-up in the all-around competition in 2011.

Liukin, Leyva and Horton will be joined by members of the 2004 Olympic silver medal team Courtney Kupets and Courtney McCool. In addition, Chris Brooks, who finished in fourth place at the 2011 Visa Championships and was an alternate for the 2011 World Championships team, will participate.

The cast of gymnasts will join an all-star lineup of figure skaters including two-time Olympic silver medalist Elvis Stojko, 2010 Olympic bronze medalist Joannie Rochette and world champion Todd Eldredge.

Performing live during the show will also be up-and-coming singing stars Greyson Chance, Cody Simpson, Ariana Grande and Shane Harper.

NBC will tape the show for a national broadcast on January 8, 2012, and Olympic champions Bart Conner, Nadia Comaneci and Peggy Fleming will host the show live. Tickets are $25, $35, $55 and $85, available starting on Saturday, September 10 at 10:00 a.m. Tickets are available at the i wireless Center box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 800-745-3000, and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

SOURCE

Liukin explores London in Team USA: Britain Bound

Candace — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 01:46:53 +0000

Episode 1 of Team USA: Britain Bound is live as Nastia Liukin, 2008 Olympic gold medalist, takes on London. Follow her adventures as she visits the O2 Arena – home of the gymnastics competition for the London 2012 Olympic Games – the London Eye, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and other London landmarks.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE EPISODE

2011 World Championships Videos

Candace — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:40:28 +0000

Qualifications
Floor Exercise

Team Finals
Vault

Floor Exercise

USA wins team bronze medal at 2011 World Championships

Candace — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:37:20 +0000

The U.S. men won their first World team medal in eight years when they finished third at the 2011 World Championships at the Tokyo (Japan) Metropolitan Gymnasium. The USA missed the silver medal by a mere 0.010. Tomorrow, Alexandra Raisman of Needham, Mass./Brestyan’s American Gymnastics, and Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt, Mich./Gedderts’ Twistars USA, are competing in the women’s all-around finals (Start List | Live Results | Watch Live).

China won the team title with a total of 275.161. It came down to the very last routine to determine whether or not the USA would have the silver or bronze. Japan’s Kohei Uchimura scored a 14.700 to clinch the silver and edge past the USA, which posted a team score of 273.083. The USA’s previous team medals came in 1979 (bronze), 2001 (silver) and 2003 (silver).

“It was an incredible competition,” said Kevin Mazeika, the men’s national team coordinator and head coach for the World Team. “The guys did an amazing job, and I couldn’t be prouder of them. We are back on the medal podium and that is what is important. (This is the result) of the hard work of the athletes, the coaches, and we are on a mission — the goal hasn’t changed, and we are closer to it now. We will just go back and work that much harder on the road to London. It was such a great competition and an amazing finals.”

The U.S. men’s team includes: Jake Dalton of Reno, Nev./University of Oklahoma; Jonathan Horton of Houston/Team Hilton HHonors (Cypress Academy); Steven Legendre of Port Jefferson, N.Y./Team Hilton HHonors (University of Oklahoma); Danell Leyva of Homestead, Fla./Team Hilton HHonors (Universal Gymnastics); Alexander Naddour of Gilbert, Ariz./University of Oklahoma; and John Orozco, Bronx, N.Y., U.S. Olympic Training Center. Chris Brooks of Houston/Team Hilton HHonors (Cypress Academy), is the alternate.

“Any time you win a medal at the World Championships, it’s something to be proud of,” Horton said. “We didn’t have a perfect day, but we proved to the world that we’re one of the top teams.”

The U.S. men started on floor, and Horton set the stage with a solid routine that included a double-double, two-and-a-half to punch front full and a layout Thomas, earning a 14.966. Legendre had a strong routine that included great height on his tumbling, including a tuck, two-and-a-half-twisting double back followed by an Arabian double pike full out and scored a 15.566. Dalton wrapped up the USA’s efforts with an Arabian double layout, layout Thomas and his triple full dismount. His 15.500 brought the USA’s floor total to 46.032.

On pommel horse, Leyva’s routine included a Tong Fei, triple Russian and a strong dismount for a 14.366. Orozco followed with a 14.433 for his set that included great scissor work into single pommel spindles and a handstand dismount. Naddour posted the USA’s top score for the event at 15.058 for his routine that featured a full Kehr, a single pommel Russian, Magyar to Sivado, Tong Fei and handstand dismount. The team total was 43.857 for third place in the team rankings.

Dalton took to the still rings first for the Americans. He tallied a 14.333 for a routine that included a back uprise Maltese, Azarian, kip Maltese, piked Yamawaki and a one-and-a-half twisting double back dismount. Orozco was up next, performing a back uprise Maltese, back uprise planche and an uprise straddle L. He received a 14.166. Horton anchored the rings and posted a 15.066 for his routine that included a Maltese, Azarian cross, back uprise to inverted cross and his double-double dismount. The team score was 43.565.

The team posted a total score of 47.765 for vault. Legendre, who was first, threw a handspring double-front, half-out, also known as a Dragulescu, for a 16.166. Dalton’s Kasumatsu double twist earned a 16.333. Horton also performed a Dragulescu, earning a 15.266 due to a short landing. The team pulled into fourth after vault, 1.568 points behind leader Japan.

Orozco took the first spot on parallel bars. His routine included a Morisue, giant Suarez, back toss and Stutz, ending with a stuck double-pike dismount and a 15.233. Horton’s 15.000 was earned for a routine that featured a giant double pike, Tippelt, Diamidov, Stutz and a stuck double-pike dismount. Leyva rounded out the apparatus with a 15.366 for his routine with a peach Diamidov, peach full, giant Diamidov-half, and a double-pike dismount. The team score was 45.599 and fourth place in the rankings, barely behind Russia.

The USA wrapped up on the horizontal bar. Orzco posted a 15.366 for his routine with a full-twisting layout Tkatchev called a Liukin, Rybalko, full Takamoto connected to a Yamawaki, finishing with a stuck full-twisting double-layout dismount. Horton also scored at 15.366; his routine featured a Zou Li Min, Cassina, layout Kovacs, Kolman and a full-twisting double layout dismount. Leyva was the last American on high bar, and he claimed a 15.533 for his routine with a full Takamoto to Yamawaki, layout Kovacs, Liukin, layout Tkatchev, Endo full spin and layout double-double dismount, which he stuck. The team score was 46.265, which put them in to third place.

“I can’t even describe to you how happy I am right now,” said Orozco. “I have had the time of my life in this competition.”

“We’re always wanting more and more, and I don’t think we’re going to be satisfied until we get that team gold,” Leyva said. “I think we have the potential to do it, and I’m ready for the Olympics.”

Scores from the preliminary round did not carry forward to the final round.

Fans can follow the action at the 2011 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships via the web, cable TV and network television. Universal Sports will carry a live webcast of the finals, as well as same-day coverage on its cable network. In addition, usagym.org will have photos and updates from Tokyo, with expanded coverage of “USA Gymnastics: Behind the Team presented by AT&T.” NBC Sports will broadcast coverage of the World Championships on Oct. 15-16.

Live webcast. UniversalSports.com will have a live webcast of the team, all-around and individual event finals from Tokyo for $19.99. For U.S. Eastern Daylight Savings time, the live webcasts are scheduled for: Oct. 13 – women’s all-around final, 5 a.m.; Oct. 14 – men’s all-around final, 6 a.m.; Oct. 15 – individual event finals, 12:30 a.m.; and Oct. 16 – individual event finals, 1 a.m. (NOTE: Tokyo is 13 hours ahead of New York City; when it is midnight in Tokyo, it is 11 a.m. in New York.)

Cable TV. Universal Sports will show all of the finals on its cable network during prime time. At 8 p.m. ET each day, Universal Sports will show the men’s team final on Oct. 12; men’s all-around finals on Oct. 14; and individual event finals on Oct. 15-16. The women’s team final will air at 11 p.m. on Oct. 15, and the women’s all-around final, with men’s highlights, will air at 11 p.m. on Oct. 16.

NBC. NBC Sports’ coverage of the World Championships will broadcast the women’s team final at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, and the women’s all-around final at 2 p.m. on Oct. 16.

“Behind the Team.” “USA Gymnastics: Behind the Team presented by AT&T” will provide expanded coverage from the World Championships, including John Macready’s take on the championships and Tokyo, interviews, and more. To enjoy this added coverage, you can go to att.net/teamusa or access it from usagym.org.

Usagym.org will provide enhanced coverage from Tokyo that will include results and exclusive photos from the competition, as well as daily video interviews. USA Gymnastics will also post event updates on Facebook and Twitter.

Team Finals Results
1. China – 275.161
2. Japan – 273.093
3. USA – 273.083
4. Russia – 269.045
5. Ukraine – 264.102
6. Germany – 263.926
7. Korea – 260.393
8. Romania – 245.175

U.S. Individual Scores

Floor Exercise
Steven Legendre – 15.566
Jake Dalton – 15.500
Jonathan Horton – 14.966

Pommel Horse
Alex Naddour – 15.058
John Orozco – 14.433
Danell Leyva – 14.366

Still Rings
Jonathan Horton – 15.066
Jake Dalton – 14.333
John Orozco – 14.166

Vault
Jake Dalton – 16.333
Steven Legendre – 16.166
Jonathan Horton – 15.266

Parallel Bars
Danell Leyva – 15.366
John Orozco – 15.233
Jonathan Horton – 15.000

High Bar
Danell Leyva – 15.533
Jonathan Horton – 15.366
John Orozco – 15.366

SOURCE

U.S. men’s team, four gymnasts qualify for finals at 2011 World Championships

Candace — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:13:57 +0000

TOKYO, Oct. 10, 2011 – Based on scores in the qualification round, four members of the U.S. Men’s Team qualified for individual finals and the U.S. Team advanced to the team finals at the 2011 World Championships at the Tokyo (Japan) Metropolitan Gymnasium. The U.S. men’s performance in the qualification round also secured the United States a berth to London for the 2012 Olympic Games. The U.S. women will compete in the women’s team finals on Oct. 11.

Here are the gymnasts who will be competing in the individual event finals.

All-around

John Orozco, Bronx, N.Y., U.S. Olympic Training Center
Danell Leyva of Homestead, Fla./Team Hilton HHonors (Universal Gymnastics)

Floor exercise
Steven Legendre of Port Jefferson, N.Y./Team Hilton Honors (University of Oklahoma)

Still rings
Jonathan Horton of Houston/Team Hilton HHonors (Cypress Academy)

Parallel bars
Danell Leyva of Homestead, Fla./Team Hilton HHonors (Universal Gymnastics)

Horizontal bar
John Orozco, Bronx, N.Y., U.S. Olympic Training Center

The members of the U.S. Men’s Team are: Jake Dalton of Reno, Nev./University of Oklahoma; Horton; Legendre; Leyva; Alexander Naddour of Gilbert, Ariz./University of Oklahoma; and Orozco. Chris Brooks of Houston/Team Hilton HHonors (Cypress Academy), is the alternate.

The top eight countries in the rankings advance to the team finals, with 24 gymnasts qualifying to the all-around finals. The eight highest-ranking gymnasts for each event will compete in the individual event finals. There is a limit of two gymnasts per country in the all-around and individual event finals. Qualification round scores do not carry forward to the finals.

In the all-around, Orozco and Levya finished second and third, respectively, in the preliminary rankings. Horton was fifth and Legendre was 24th, but they did not advance due to the two per country rule. For the individual event finals, Orozco advanced to the high bar finals, based on his fourth place ranking in the qualification round, and is the third reserve athlete for the still rings. Leyva also will compete in the parallel bars final after finishing sixth in the prelims. Legendre was sixth in the preliminary rankings, and Dalton is the first reserve athlete. Horton was fifth in the still rings rankings and is the first reserve athlete for the horizontal bar. Naddour is the first reserve athlete for the pommel horse.

The finals schedule is: Oct. 11, women’s team; Oct. 12, men’s team; Oct. 13, women’s all-around; Oct. 14, men’s all-around; and Oct. 15-16, individual events.

The women competing for the USA are: Gabrielle Douglas of Virginia Beach, Va./Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute; McKayla Maroney of Laguna Niguel, Calif./All Olympia AOGC; Alexandra Raisman of Needham, Mass./Brestyan’s American Gymnastics; Sabrina Vega of Carmel, N.Y./Dynamic Gymnastics; and Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt, Mich./Gedderts’ Twistars USA. Team member Alicia Sacramone of Winchester, Mass./Brestyan’s American Gymnastics, who tore her Achilles tendon during training, has returned to the States for medical treatment, and Anna Li of Aurora, Ill./Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC, is the alternate.

In addition to awarding World medals, the 2011 World Championships is the first of two opportunities to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games. Countries finishing in the top eight in the team competition automatically qualify for the Olympic Games. Teams that finish 9-16 in the rankings have the opportunity to qualify for the Games by finishing in the top four at the 2012 Olympic Test Event in London.

Here’s a quick overview of the various ways to watch and follow the U.S. Team’s performances at the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo.

Live webcast. UniversalSports.com will have a live webcast of the team, all-around and individual event finals from Tokyo for $19.99. For U.S. Eastern Daylight Savings time, the live webcasts are scheduled for: Oct. 11 – women’s team final, 6 a.m.; Oct. 12 – men’s team final, 5 a.m.; Oct. 13 – women’s all-around final, 5 a.m.; Oct. 14 – men’s all-around final, 6 a.m.; Oct. 15 – individual event finals, 12:30 a.m.; and Oct. 16 – individual event finals, 1 a.m. (NOTE: Tokyo is 13 hours ahead of New York City; when it is midnight in Tokyo, it is 11 a.m. in New York.)

NBC. NBC Sports’ coverage of the World Championships will broadcast the women’s team final at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, and the women’s all-around final at 2 p.m. on Oct. 16.

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U.S. men perform well in qualification round at 2011 World Championships

Candace — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:10:42 +0000

TOKYO, Oct. 9, 2011 – The U.S. Men’s Team earned a total of 361.583 points in the first session of two days of men’s qualification rounds at the 2011 World Championships at the Tokyo (Japan) Metropolitan Gymnasium. The men’s qualification round concludes on Oct. 10, which determines which countries and athletes advance to the final rounds. The U.S. women will compete in the women’s team finals on Oct. 11.

The U.S. Men’s Team includes Jake Dalton of Reno, Nev./University of Oklahoma; Jonathan Horton of Houston/Team Hilton HHonors (Cypress Academy); Steven Legendre of Port Jefferson, N.Y./Team Hilton Honors (University of Oklahoma); Danell Leyva of Homestead, Fla./Team Hilton HHonors (Universal Gymnastics); Alexander Naddour of Gilbert, Ariz./University of Oklahoma; John Orozco, Bronx, N.Y., U.S. Olympic Training Center; and alternate, Chris Brooks, Houston/Team Hilton HHonors (Cypress Academy).

The U.S. men had the highest team totals in the first session for both the floor exercise (60.499) and vault (64.316). The team scores for the other events were: pommel horse, 58.299; still rings, 59.448; parallel bars, 59.923; and horizontal bar, 59.098. Japan was also in the USA’s subdivision, and the two finished in the top two spots in the team rankings for the event thus far, with Japan taking the lead.

“The guys did an absolutely outstanding job today, and I am so proud of them,” said Kevin Mazeika, the World Championships head coach and men’s national team coordinator for USA Gymnastics. “They went out there and competed with their hearts and did an incredible job. I was really pleased with the consistency rate. That’s what we look for in the three-up, three count format (in the finals) because it is going to be about consistency. We’ve got to clean up a few details here and there and sticking as many landings as we can. I’m looking forward to it (the finals).”

In the all-around, Orozco earned a 90.532 for the highest U.S. score in the qualification round and second in the subdivision’s rankings. His top score of the day came on vault, earning a 15.900 for his front handspring double twist. On the horizontal bar, his routine included a full-twisting laid-out Tkatchev, also known as a Liukin, and he stuck his full-twisting, double-layout dismount for a 15.266. His other event scores were: floor exercise, 14.300; pommel horse, 15.000; still rings, 15.033; and parallel bars, 15.033.

“We’re doing great as a team right now and we did really well,” said Orozco. “Pommel (horse) was the highlight of today. We hit all of the pommel horse routines.

“I don’t think I have ever said this, but I am proud of myself,” said Orozco. “Coming back after an injury, I wasn’t expecting these results at all. I tried to go out there and hit all of my routines for the team and do what I am used to doing. I tried to focus on my routines . . . not really about the scores and placements.”

Leyva netted the USA’s second best all-around score at 89.848, putting him in third for the subdivision. He tallied the USA’s best score on the parallel bars at 15.366 for his routine that featured a peach full, peach Diamidov and double-pike dismount. On vault, he earned a 16.100 for his Kasumatsu one-and-a-half. His other event scores were: floor exercise, 14.800; pommel horse, 14.633; still rings, 14.483; and horizontal bar, 15.086.

“I feel like the team really did their job and did what we were supposed to do, what we said we were going to do,” said Leyva. “It’s prelims so there are still kinks to work out and that’s what today was for. (On my performance) I think every single event I did was really good up until high bar. Not that I did a bad high bar routine, I just didn’t do what I feel like I do every day. Now I know where I need to pay more attention.”

For the all-around, Horton posted an 89.689. He posted the team’s highest still rings score at 15.366 for a routine that included an inverted cross and finished with a tucked double-double dismount. His high bar routine that includes a Cassina (a laidout Kolman), Kolman, layout Kovacs and full-twisting, double layout received a 15.086. His other event scores were: floor exercise, 14.900; pommel horse, 13.308; and vault, 16.083.

“I think the team did awesome,” said Horton. “I am extremely excited with how well everyone did. I think we only had one or two missed routines the entire day, and it is just phenomenal in team prelims. I know if you put us in a three-up, three-count format, we are an even better team so I can’t wait.

“Already I’ve had people asking me how does it feel not making the all-around final,” said Horton. “There is that little bit of disappointment, but I will say it again – all I care about is this team. I’ve accomplished a lot of things as an individual already. I want to stand at the top of the awards podium at a World Championships or Olympic Games with that gold medal around my neck with my team.”

Legendre also competed on all six events, tallying an 86.598 total for seventh in the subdivision. He scored the USA’s best on floor, earning a 15.433 for his performance that included a two-and-a-half twisting double-back and Arabian double-pike full-out. His other event scores were: pommel horse, 13.433; still rings, 14.066; vault, 15.233; parallel bars, 14.133; and horizontal bar, 14.300.

Dalton competed in five events for the team. He posted the USA’s best vault score at 16.233 for his Kasumatsu double full. To be considered for the vault finals, he also did a second vault, a handspring front double full, and received a 15.800. His floor exercise that earned a 15.366 included an Arabian double layout and he stuck his triple full dismount. His other event scores were: 14.566, still rings; 14.558, parallel bars; and 13.466, horizontal bar.

Naddour was the star of the USA’s pommel horse effort, earning a 15.233 for his routine that included a full Kehr on one pommel, intricate pommel work and a swing to handstand pirouette dismount.

The U.S. men competed in the first of eight subdivisions in the qualification round, along with gymnasts from Puerto Rico, Japan, Portugal and mixed groups of Vietnam, Peru, Kuwait, and South Africa.

The finals schedule for the World Championships is: Oct. 11, women’s team; Oct. 12, men’s team; Oct. 13, women’s all-around; Oct. 14, men’s all-around; and Oct. 15-16, individual events.

Here’s a quick overview of the various ways to watch and follow the U.S. Team’s performances at the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo.

Live webcast. UniversalSports.com will have a live webcast of the team, all-around and individual event finals from Tokyo for $19.99. For U.S. Eastern Daylight Savings time, the live webcasts are scheduled for: Oct. 11 – women’s team final, 6 a.m.; Oct. 12 – men’s team final, 5 a.m.; Oct. 13 – women’s all-around final, 5 a.m.; Oct. 14 – men’s all-around final, 6 a.m.; Oct. 15 – individual event finals, 12:30 a.m.; and Oct. 16 – individual event finals, 1 a.m. (NOTE: Tokyo is 13 hours ahead of New York City; when it is midnight in Tokyo, it is 11 a.m. in New York.)

NBC. NBC Sports’ coverage of the World Championships will broadcast the women’s team final at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, and the women’s all-around final at 2 p.m. on Oct. 16.

SOURCE