London Olympics 2012 Preview: Gymnastics

What/Where/When:

Artistic Gymnastics, North Greenwich Arena, July 28-August 7

It’s the sport from where some of my strongest childhood Olympic memories come. Gymnastics is–without question– my favorite Summer Olympic sport.

Yet just as with figure skating (my favorite Winter Olympic sport), the tinkering with scoring and more emphasis on technical merit is tainting my experience as a fan. Interpreting the judges scores is too difficult for me (Sorry, experts, but it is!). Yet what I hate most is the increasing emphasis on technical moves. When I watched the US Olympic Trials last month, all I could think was, this isn’t pretty. What happened to artistic gymnastics, a sport which combined strength, acrobatics, balance, and artistry? The routines for balance beam and uneven bars lack the same flow that they used to; and this is, of course, because coaches are trying to get their athletes the highest scores and points for difficulty. Tumbling passes and dismounts are now focused more on full/half twists. As a viewer, the layout, tuck, pike, and whip-back are much more aesthetically pleasing.

It’s still the Olympics, though, so of course I’m excited!

Yao Jinnan on balance beam

Women’s Gymnastics

When I was growing up, Romania and The Soviet Union were brilliant and at times, unbeatable. Now things have changed and along with the United States, China is the team to beat. Two of China’s gymnastics, Sui Lu and Yao Jinnan, have two of the most exquisite routines I’ve seen on uneven bars and balance beam. Although American, it’s hard for me not to pull for these two simply because their skills and talent are so enjoyable to watch.

I’ll be honest when I say that I was not very impressed with the US women’s team during the Olympic Trials. I’m hoping they have ironed out those kinks–especially on the beam and uneven bars. Some of you reading must think I’m crazy. The US is the 2011 world champion in the team all-around, and its star, Jordyn Wieber, is current world champion in the individual all-around. If she wins in London, her image will most likely be found in your local supermarket’s cereal aisle. I don’t know what it is, but Wieber leaves me cold. In fact, most of the team has that effect on me, except for one: Gabby Douglas. Douglas has a smile that can light up an arena. I love this girl, and I love her story! She’s got the perfect combination of determination, innocence, and charm. She’s my vote for the Wheaties box!

Men’s Gymnastics

Men’s gymnastics is still led by the powerhouse of China, but I love the improvements the Japanese program has made to get back into top form. Russia and Ukraine still have a load of talented gymnasts, but China is just so darn good. The US has a shot at gold or silver in an individual event like parallel bars. Who do I love from the US? Danell Leyva and John Orozco. Leyva, who immigrated from Cuba an infant and Orozco, son of Puerto Rican parents, will serve as heroes for so many young children. I’d love to see Orozco’s story encourage more gymnastics programs to be established in inner-city communities.

What I’d also like to see is Great Britain’s Louis Smith win another medal. He took Olympic bronze in 2008, the first individual gymnastics medal for Great Britain in over 100 years! Can you imagine the crowd’s eruption if we could win another Olympic medal on British soil?

I remember 1984 when two of the US men’s team were heart-throbs. Mitch Gaylord would attempt a movie career and Bart Conner posed in his Jockeys. Several of this year’s team members, like Chris Brooks and Leyva, are already getting sex symbol status and making girls say, “I’ll tumble for ya!”

Even though I’m having issues with the sport, gymnastics still my favorite. And like any sport, perhaps it will get back on balance again and soar like it should.

Faster, Higher, Stronger