Dancing With the Stars:
DWTSFan

Figure skating:
Axels Loops, and Spins
World Figure Skating
From the Boards
Required elements
State of the Skate

Gymnastics:
Full Twist
Going for Gold
Gymnastics – No Ceiling
GymNiceTic
Double Front
The Couch Gymnast
Full In Full Out
Gymnastics coaching

And Phil Hearsh’s article also said this:

“I fully respect the rights of everyone to have the relationships they want to have,”  Vidmar said in a telephone interview.  “I respect the rights of all our athletes,  regardless of their race, their religion or their sexual orientation. I will cheer and do all I can, passionately, for every athlete on the U.S. Olympic team.”

But a prominent gay U.S. Olympian, figure skater Johnny Weir, said it was “disgraceful”  to have a person with Vidmar’s views in a position, chief of mission, that makes him the symbolic head of a United States Olympic team.

Source

Wier goes on to say that he wouldn’t want to be represented by someone like Vidmar because he doesn’t support “it is being allowed equal rights as Americans” All well and said Johnny but please do some research. Equal rights also means the right to have a different opinion. Please readers, do not get me wrong. I fully and utterly support Gay marriage. However, Peter has full right to believe something different from I do. Frankly his position doesn’t have a whole lot to do with the personal bedroom life of any athlete. I truly don’t agree with his choices but his personal beliefs shouldn’t be a part of his job description. Just because he’s the head of the US Olympic doesn’t mean he doesn’t support the athletes.

Edit: at around 3: 15 Pacific Standard Time, per the USOC, Peter Vidmar will resign from his position….

Cold Warrior is the latest short film from award winning writer/director, Emily Greenwood, and is being produced by BAFTA nominated production company, Wellington Films.

A Cold War drama/thriller set in Romania in the run up to the 1980 Moscow Olympics follows the story of Ana, a young gymnast struggling with the limitations of her body against the mighty powers of a Communist state that’s pushing her to win gold at any cost. The film is inspired by abortion-doping allegations that have come to light in recent years. It has been said that gymnasts, some as young as fourteen, were impregnated through artificial insemination under the guise of state ordered pregnancy tests. The girls would then be forced to undergo traumatic abortions after a 3-4 month term. The pregnancy and the consequent abortion would lead to a natural boost of red blood cells and hormones giving the gymnast an undetectable increase in strength.

Cold Warrior follows Ana through her training to the Olympic stage where, with the world watching, she finally shows her life-long coach, and her country, just how strong she truly is. The film is being part funded and supported by Screen South. The remainder of the funding they hope to raise through crowd-sourcing website, IndieGoGo. To find out more about the content of the film and to support it, please visit the website www.indiegogo.com/Cold-Warrior.

For fixed donations towards the film’s budget, the team are offering various perks, from a day on the film set shadowing the director, to being granted a credit on the finished film as an Executive Producer. Once you have donated you will be kept up to speed with the development and production of the film, through weekly updates and video blogs from the team. If the target amount of $10,000 is reached on the project’s IndieGoGo page the team will donate $1,000 to the NSPCC.

I decided to look into this story because I have never heard of Soviet doping with pregnancy. I’ve been having issues finding science and or articles about it
Ways to help promote the film can be found at the movie site listed above or what Anna Griffin told me an email:

“If you have a look at our IndieGoGo page then you’ll see that under the list of perks on the right hand side is some really small text. If the ‘Feature It’ button is clicked by enough people then this should get us onto IndieGoGo’s homepage which would be great for lifting our profile to the users of the website. If people who can’t afford to donate (and I totally understand, we’re all feeling the pinch) then just clicking ‘Feature It’ would really help us out too.”

So click around and check out this interesting movie!

I do not blame him. ABC has giving him crappy partners from the beginning and it’s just ridiculous that he hasn’t left before this. It’s the reason Alec left, and it’s a semi reason why Edyta left too. I wish ABC would realize that some of the most favorite pros are leaving because ABC hasn’t been fair in spreading the celebrities around. I think not having Derek on the show this season will help and the fact that really isn’t a huge front-runner this season will help as well. But until ABC changes it’s voting , I don’t think we’ll see these pros again. Which saddens me because Edyta was a huge fan favorite and so was Jonathan. He’s one of the best dancers they have on that show, as well as one of the best teachers.

Chelsea Kane – Disney star
Petra Nemkova – super model; she famously survived the Christmas tsunami in Thailand
Ralph Macchio – the Karate Kid
Romeo – hip hop artist; Master P’s son
Sugar Ray Leonard – boxing icon
Chris Jericho – wrestling star
Hines Ward – Pittsburgh Steeler wide receiver
Mike Catherwood – Loveline host
Wendy Williams – talk show host
Kendra Wilkinson – reality star/Playboy bunny
Kirstie Alley – actress

He needed 42 stitches! 42!

Get well Jeremy!

Here’s a list of stars that I’ve complied that I wouldn’t mind seeing on DWTS:

Stars I’d think likely to do it:
Kelly Ripa (She’s been quoted as saying she would love to do the show). I’d partner her with Mark
Greg Louganis (Olympic Diver)
Lou Diamond Phillips
Jodie Sweetin

Stars I’d love to see but more than likely won’t do it:
Harley Jay
Joe Lando
Chad Allen
Mary Margaret-Humas
Landon Donavan
Brandon Douglas
Nicky Katt
Shawn Ashmore
Don Johnson (for the older folks )
Kurt Thomas
Nadia Comăneci
Bart Connor
Gary Stevens

Stars that wouldn’t do it in a million years
Nick Lachey (Has already said he’d never do the show)
Enrique Iglesias
Jerry Bailey

Who would you like to see?

So, this was originally posted in the Entries thread in the 4CC Forum, but IMO, it warrants its own thread and further discussion.

This was posted in the 4CC Entries thread: Chinese Athlete Ages (document from the Chinese Olympic Committee website)

The following birth dates do not match up with what is posted on the athletes ISU Bios.

Wenjing Sui:
ISU Birthdate: 18.07.1995 (15)
Listed Birthdate: 07.05.1997 (13)

Cong Han
ISU Birthdate: 06.08.1992 (18)
Listed Birthdate: 3.1989 (21)

Bingwa Geng
ISU Birthdate: 03.01.1994 (17)
Listed Birthdate: 03.03.1995 (15)

Yu Gao
ISU Birthdate: 10.07.1992 (18)
Listed Birthdate: 10.07.1988 (22)

HisWeirness found this at a Chinese Skating forum (all links/info reposted with her permission):

Quote:

Geng Ice Baby 1995-03-03 Zhang Kexin 1995-10-17 Lizi Jun 1996-12-14 Zhang Kexin smaller than ice baby a few months. . . do not leak out, Otherwise there are a gymnastics team storm the investigation.

Geng’s Japanese Wikipedia article also lists her birth year as 1995.

She also found the following links at that same website:

http://images.sport.org.cn/File/2007…1531155992.xls
images.sport.org.cn/File/2009/09/22/1505096846.doc
images.sport.org.cn/File/2007/07/30/1828025124.xls

Now, those links have even more info:

Dan Zhang:
ISU Birthdate: 04.10.1985 (25)
Listed Birthdate: 04.10.1987 (23)

Hao Zhang:
ISU Birthdate: 06.07.1984 (26)
Listed Birthdate: 06.02.1982 (29)

Xiaoyu Yu
ISU Birthdate: 02.01.1996 (14)
Listed Birthdate: 02.01.1998 (12)

Yang Jin
ISU Birthdate: 16.05.1994 (16)
Listed Birthdate: 16.05.1989 (21)

Binshu Xu
ISU Birthdate: 28.07.1988 (22)
Listed Birthdate: 29.07.1990 (20)

So, if these birthdates are correct:
- Sui was too young to compete as a junior last year and too young to be on the SGP this year
- Han was not age eligible to compete in the JGP this year
- Gao was not age eligible to compete in the JGP this year
- Geng was too young for 2008 Junior Worlds
- Dan Zhang was too young to compete in the JGP and Junior Worlds in 1999/2000 and too young to compete at the Olympics, Worlds and 4CC in 2002.
- Binshu Xu was too young to compete as a junior in the 2002/2003 season
- Xiaoyu Yu was too young for 2010 Junior Worlds (illegal entry) and is too young to compete internationally as a junior in the 2010/2011 season.

So yeah. Feel free to post any other info you might have or find. Or point out any mistakes I made.
Not suprising, but disappointing and I’m pissed.

ETA: Added info found by jlai on Yu/Jin
ETA: Added Sylvia’s info on BinShu Xu

Source

I highly recommend checking out the source. It has some very interesting information

Per Maks’s Public relations person, Lizzie Grubman confirmed that he is back for Season 12
Via: Lizzie Grubman and DWTSGossip

Ok ladies night!

-          Alexe Gilles

o   First jump is a huge triple lutz but wobbles out of it

o   Double axel but fell hard right in front of the judges

o   I know this music…

o   Okay jump combo but two footed the first one and wobbled out of the second

o   Very nice ina buer!

o   Popped that jump

o   Very slow ending to that spin set

o   She reminds me a little in the face a little like Nastia

o   Popped another jump.

o   Loosing speed…

o   She has some nice moments in this footwork sequence

o   Looked like she completely changed that three jump combo… singled the last two jump

o   Almost didn’t make the ending

-          Caroline Zhang

o   That blue looks really good!

o   OMG her jumps have completely changed!!! Jesus! That flip was amazing

o   Fall on the lutz. Still had the high leg

o   And another fall… Uh oh

o   Wow that spin positions are horrible…

o   Really slow in that spin sequence

o   She looks lost

o   Much better on that jump combo

o   Much better speed over the ice

o   Popped that jump

o   Triple Loop combination and with a Botiano

o   Definitely looks lost in terms of her choreography

o   Lovely layback spin though

-          Joelle Forte

o   Very nice opening jump (flip)

o   Nice triple lutz combo, maybe two footed

o   Decent jump but probably two footed

o   Good double axel

o   I love how everybody now is doing Ina Bauers!

o   Lovely position in that spiral

o   Good jump!

o   Amazing combo there!

o   The sequence is a little slow though

o   Two footed her last jump!

o   Wobbling a bit in that spin

o   Ended early but that was a great program!!!

-          Yasmin Siraj

o   Lovely movements

o   Her skating reminds me a  little of Tara Lipinski in terms of how she does her cross-overs

o   Popped her Flip

o   Ok triple lutz, possible two footed

o   Nice double axel and fell on the triple toe

o   She’s got a great understanding of music and the undertones

o   Lovely loop!

o   Nice spiral too!

o   Good lutz

o   Wobbling a bit on the ending of that spin

o   Good speed and movement in this step sequence

o   Good jump at the end of the program.

o   Good double axel three jump combo

o   Almost missed that ending!

o   She’s going to be nice the next couple of years!

-          Morgan Bell

o   Is this Anastasia?

o   Fought that double axel

o   Fell on her second jump

o   So not a fan of this music.

o   Nice jump but came extremely close to the boards

o   No emotion

o   And down again

o   Again very close the boards and stepped out of that jump combo

o   Not a fan of her catch foot but lovely Ina Bauer!

o   Looks really tired

o   Do not understand this music whatsoever

o   Pooped the second to last jup

o   The last jump was a very nice triple toe loop!

o   Ohh poor girl!

-          Ashley Wagner

o   Love that dress!

o   Good combo!

o   Nice double axel triple toe but two footed the landing

o   Great triple lutz!!

o   I heart her! Gorgeous spiral with a smile!

o   There’s the fire! Fight girl!

o   Nice three jump combo! Looked clean too

o   Lovely!

o   Good loop but maybe two footed?

o   Ohh popped that jump!

o   A little slow in the step sequence for the music but I attribute that to the flu

o   Lovely position in this final spin

o   Traveling a bit though…

o   Uhoh? Did she go over?

o   Score: 110.73, 165.35

-          Vanessa Lam

o   Not liking the gloves… ugly

o   Good speed

o   Very lovely three jump combo!

o   Nice triple flip, double jump combo

o   Good positions in these spins

o   Stepped (spun) out of that jump though…

o   Fought for that jump

o   Needs to angle her free leg more over her back in that spiral sequence

o   Decent speed in her step sequence.

o   Woah music change?!

o   Not a fan of those spread eagles

o   Good jumping combo

o   Two footed that jump

o   I don’t like this step sequence. No really emotion

o   Extremely messy illusion turn

o   Ohhh fell on her triple flip

o   Extremely slow in that ending spin

o   Overall good senior debut!!

o   Score: 163. 9?

-          Agnes Zawadzki

o   Very nice double axel/triple toe

o   Good triple Flip!

o   Traveling a bit on this spin

o   I would have liked to see her hair differently though

o   Doubled that jump

o   Great layback position

o   Huge triple lutz/double?

o   Ugly catchfoot, though not as bad on her…

o   Ohhh and down she fell on that jump. Was leaning in the air

o   Nice recovery however in the next jump

o   Great Ina Bauer.

o   Stepped out of the first jump, but got the next two

o   A tad slow in this step sequence

o   Much better at the end of that sequence

o   Good overall program though!

o   Score: 112.30, 173.84

-          Christina Gao

o   What’s with the messy illusion turns tonight?!

o   Very nice Triple/Triple combination

o   Fought for that jump

o   Not really a fan of this music though

o   Good speed into this huge triple lutz/triple/triple and almost into the camera and boards!

o   Nice jump

o   Gorgeous double axel!

o   Ohhh! And she is down!

o   Her positions in this spin however could really use some work…

o   LOL you can hear Brian in the background

o   Ohh caught her feet there.

o   Not all that great memorable step sequence

o   Traveling a ton on that last spin!

o   Score: 108.77, 167.20

-          Alissa Cizney

o   Such expression!

o   Good speed

o   Nice Lutz combo!

o   Good! Clean!

o   Very nice three jump combo, a little slow at the end

o   Lovely spin combo

o   Oohh fought for that flip landing!

o   Great spiral sequence

o   Good triple lutz in combo!

o   Nice double axel

o   Got that jump!

o   Just gorgeous spinner

o   Great step sequence

o   AMAZING final spin!!!!

o   Score: 128.74, 191.24!

o   It’s so nice to see Jason back at Nationals!

-          Mirai Nagasu

o   Like her dress

o   A little wobbly on the triple lutz but pulled it around for a double toe

o   Two footed the first jump in that combo

o   Nice triple flip!

o   Needs to work on her layback position though! UGLY

o   Good catchfoot

o   Nice jump

o   Clean three jump combo

o   I don’t know about this music… it’s okay but it seems a little dead

o   Two footed that jump

o   Stumbled out of the double axel

o   She has one of the best Ina Bauer’s in the business though!

o   Good program though!

o   Score:  113.91, 177.26

-          Rachael Flatt

o   Opening jump with a nice double axel and spun out on the toe loop

o   Rachael always has good speed

o   Doubled her first lutz

o   Ump Scott opens the door for whom? There’s no-one after her

o   Nice triple flip

o   Wish she’d get a bit lower in that sit spin

o   Needs to straighten and stretch her leg in that spiral

o   Nice combo and landed the triple lutz

o   Nice three jump combo. All clean

o   Clean on that jump

o   The one thing I like about this program is that her step sequence to jazz music is really great

o   Stepped out on that salchow

o   LOVE that she holds the Ina Bauer longer than most! She’s got a good one too!

o   A little slow in this final spin

o   Good program

o   Score:  121.06, 183.38

Final:
1: Alissa Cizney

2: Rachael Flatt

3: Mirai Nagasu

SO EXCITED!!! I’m So glad Alissa has seemed to found it!