Gymmin' Miel!

1. Katelyn Ohashi (WOGA) 56.850
2. Madison Kocian (WOGA) 56.600
3. Arianna Guerra (Stars-TX) 55.400
4. Mackenzie Brannan (Capital)
5. Victoria Moors (Cambridge Kips/CANADA)
6. Lizzy LeDuc (WOGA)
7. Anne Kuhm (FRANCE)

SENIOR:

Brandie Jay (GK's) took out the Senior Vault title with Jordyn Wieber (Geddert's) the Uneven Bars, France's Marine Brevet on Balance Beam and Canadian Anysia Unick took out the Floor Exercise.

ALL AROUND:

1. Marine Brevet (FRA) 55.250
2. Brandie Jay (GK's) 54.200
3. Briley Casanova (WOGA) 54.150
4. Sophia Lee (WOGA)
5. Anysia Unick (Calgary/CAN)
6. Madeline Gardiner (Cambridge Kips/CAN)
7. Mira Boumejmajen (FRA)
8. Brenda Areli Medina (Gym Areba/MEX)

Huge thanks to Intl Gymnast! Full results to come.

Like OMG what of earth has been happening? No explanations as yet but hopefully someone somewhere gets to the bottom of this! Some people are even suggesting that no Irina means a lesser standard from Miss Bessonova and a medal that she seriously in my opinion deserves but may go begging =( very sadness.

Moutier (SUI) FIG Head Office, April 22, 2008. from here

Dear Presidents, dear members of the FIG authorities,

We regret to have to inform you about the following sanctions which had to be taken against Mrs. Irina Deriugina, member of the FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics Technical Committee.

The Presidential Commission, following a proposal of the Disciplinary Commission and based on the FIG Statutes Art. 42.2 c), e), f), g), l) and q), has unanimously decided

• to suspend Ms Deriugina from her function as a member of the RG TC and any other official function within the FIG immediately and until the end of the current cycle (31.12.2008) and to suspend her from any future official function within the FIG until the end of the cycle 2013-2016;

• to exclude Ms Deriugina to participate in any activity of an FIG Committee or Commission with immediate effect and until the end of the cycle 2013-2016;

• to suspend (prevent) Ms Deriugina from participating in any official FIG event (Olympic Games and all other Multisport Games, World Championships, Continental Championships, World Cup Final, World Cup Series and all international competitions organised by the FIG affiliated member federations) as a member of a delegation, valid immediately and until the end of the cycle 2013-2016;

• to cancel (withdraw) Ms Deriugina's RG judge's brevet immediately and until the end of the cycle 2013-2016.

for various infringements listed in the FIG Code of Discipline, Art. 5, points 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 10.

It is understood that Mrs. Deriugina has the right to make an appeal against this decision to the FIG Appeal Tribunal within 21 days.

Kind regards,

Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique

Bruno Grandi, President

André F. Gueisbuhler, Secretary General

Now to see what IG says, oh and:

Owing to an editor's error, IG Online erroneously published the specific infractions the FIG stated Irina Deryugina committed.

CORRECTION: The FIG stated that Deryugina violated points 1, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 10 of Article 5 of its Code of Discipline, which calls for sanctions if an individual:

1) Is in breach of the Statutes, Regulations, decisions, and directives written by the FIG;
4) Damages the image of gymnastics, the FIG, or its members through his behaviour, his words, or his deeds;
5) Adopts an unsportsmanlike behaviour,
7) Acts in such a way so as to influence the course or the result of the competitions in an improper way;
9) Behaves in an offensive way towards the FIG members, gymnasts, or FIG officials.
10) Seriously damages the dignity of a person or a group of persons, in any way whatsoever, in particular due to his colour, his race, a handicap, his sex, his religion or his ethnic origin

Miss Olivia Vivian has been featured in an interview/article on International Gymnast online. It delves a little into her history in gymnastics, then it gets to what I think are the interesting bits: Peggy mentioning the idea early last year - very encouraging to hear this. Now I have no qualms with Peggy and I think she does a fine job and to hear that she mentioned this as an opinion is fantastic because firstly I would love to see some more Aussies successful at NCAA level and I think it would be great for Olivia. I really do believe that an Australian version of the NCAA gymnastics would be a grand idea. I mean we have an opportunity to compete in intervarsity sports (cheerleading included) and I know Edith Cowan University has fencing, football etc clubs - so why not a gymnastics club?? I am sure a lot of the newly retired or former gymnasts would love to compete in a friendly bit of competition!!

Wow Olivia was lucky - the last scholarship remaining! She talks about the coaches at OSU and the application process, which to me is always interesting to read! I personally can relate to what she is saying about the SAT... my friend sat it and was quite successful with it, but I'm not sure how I would feel about sitting something so terribly different, but then again I guess we have our TEE to consider.

And then on to the inevitable preparation for Beijing part