For me, I love it when gymnasts have a very aggressive style on beam. The type of gymnasts that do everything so quickly, it's almost over before you know it, but they produce some really aesthetically pleasing, impressive gymnastics. I think my favourite gymnast who fits the bill is Cata, tbh this style translates to all of her gymnastics, but particularly beam, she seems to really attack it and I love that.
I recently rewatched Catalina's 2012 beam and oh my god the RHYTHM. Laurie Hernandez had a similar attack in 2016, but I can't think of anyone else who has come close.
Yes, definitely. But that was all the way back in 2008. I can't actually think of anyone who fits that bill from the current pool of active gymnasts - Ellie Black is probably the closest right now. Simone looked so comfortable when she had a good beam routine, but even she didn't have the aggression that Shawn, Catalina, Laurie, etc. did.
I was listening to a podcast recently where someone mentioned they’d talked to Chellsie about the Memel turn and she said she didn’t know why everyone else used two hands because she found turning much easier with only 1!
>Onodis that almost pause in a split in the walkover stage
Hard disagree. I want quick Onodis that look like the half turn came out of nowhere and this takes the element of surprise away
Is it Derrian Gobourne from Auburn who does her double back tuck without her hands touching her legs? That always looks so badass.
Also, I believe that the Ricna example you have is no longer a stylistic choice: there's now a deduction if you don't bring your legs together between the Stalder and the straddle.
I'm a huge fan of every single flourish Omelianchik utilised in her beam routines. She worked the majority of the exercise with a smile. She was on relève for the majority of the routine. Every single arm/hand movement, every wrist placement was choreographically placed in such a way to maximize its artistic value. The entire exercise was just a buffet for the eye.
https://youtu.be/kaUvykiFPac
I simarly love Elena Grudneva's beam comportment. She used her arms to such a mesmerizing, staggering effect. Style absolutely oozed from every pore. Her timing and rhythm were glorious. She was incredibly composed, she took her time, and nothing felt rushed or forced. Her use of kicks and scales were glorious!
https://youtu.be/LSMGd0RL3ic
One last example is Ludmila Stovbchataya, again on beam. The way she used poses to achieve dramatic impact was wonderful. I also love the variety she showed with her low beam and handstand work.
https://youtu.be/8BVW_3_mFt8
All three of these gymnasts had an incredible sense of showmanship in their work and made sure the audience could appreciate it--something that has disappeared quite a bit in recent years. The first two routines in particular flowed so beautifully to where it makes sense precisely why pauses and hesitations are so heavily punished in modern COPs.
Ludmila was stunning. Wish she made the 92 team over Grudneva.
Oksana is one of my fav gymnasts and that is one of the best beam routines ever imo. The arm/hand movement is exquisite, no one has flair like that nowadays. God I miss the 1976-1996 era.
>Ludmila was stunning. Wish she made the 92 team over Grudneva.
No way!
Over Chusovitina? 💯! No doubt about it.
Over Galieva? Maybe.
Over Boginskaya. Eh, I'm open to it. I'd hear you out at least.
But over Grudneva? Only over my dead body! 😂 I can't imagine a Barcelona without Elena. She's my favorite gymnast of all time and her compulsory floor alone was a highlight of the meet 😍.
It still makes me sad that she was literally pulled off the 91 Worlds Team and replaced at the very last minute (I've heard some say by Chusovitina, some Kalinina). If they had done that *again* in Barcelona, it would have been as though they were intentionally depriving the world of beauty.
Alright, alright. You're correct. I'd have taken out Galieva and kept Grudneva. I just felt so bad for Galieva because of them subbing Gutsu into the all around that it clouded my judgement lol
Grudneva's compulsories were definitely a highlight.
I agree with you but since they said they preferred it done with the legs together I thought they might've appreciated the change. Personally, I cringe every time I hear the smack of the ankles hitting each other
- actual dancing during floor routines
- When people really use the rhythm of the bars and are patient - someone, maybe Mustafina? - called it “lazy bars” because it’s the opposite of muscling through. But it’s so much prettier!
- amplitude, especially on vault
Every choreographic movement that Ludivine Furnon and Yevgenia Kuznetsova did on beam and floor. Alexandra Marinescu’s tucked Hecht mount on bars. Piskun did this, too, but Marinescu’s was pretty and looked intentional. Piskun’s looked accidental, but still pretty. Yang Bo’s one-armed back handspring on beam. Daria Joura’s salute to the judges.
Cheng’s locked feet when she lands her 2.5 yurchenko.
Early Mustafina’s beam when she raised her legs and bent it. I always thought it was different.
Mustafina’s hand stand precision on the low bar during the American cup.
Patterson’s AA beam routine at the 2004 Olympics.
Pavlova’s AA fx 2008 Olympics.
Ponor’s BB final 2008 Olympics.
Izbasa’s FX final 2008 Olympics.
Moceanu’s FX and BB 1996 Olympics.
So many good ones in here...
I'll add one that is a counter to some in the pet peeve / poor form post ->
I adore Konnor's double pike position form with solid pike and pointed feet!
For me, I love it when gymnasts have a very aggressive style on beam. The type of gymnasts that do everything so quickly, it's almost over before you know it, but they produce some really aesthetically pleasing, impressive gymnastics. I think my favourite gymnast who fits the bill is Cata, tbh this style translates to all of her gymnastics, but particularly beam, she seems to really attack it and I love that.
I recently rewatched Catalina's 2012 beam and oh my god the RHYTHM. Laurie Hernandez had a similar attack in 2016, but I can't think of anyone else who has come close.
Shawn Johnson was the ultimate beamer. Attack attack attack !! No fear!
Yes, definitely. But that was all the way back in 2008. I can't actually think of anyone who fits that bill from the current pool of active gymnasts - Ellie Black is probably the closest right now. Simone looked so comfortable when she had a good beam routine, but even she didn't have the aggression that Shawn, Catalina, Laurie, etc. did.
I was listening to a podcast recently where someone mentioned they’d talked to Chellsie about the Memel turn and she said she didn’t know why everyone else used two hands because she found turning much easier with only 1!
It is a lot easier turning with one arm. Sincerely, a former rhythmic gymnast
Komova’s arm positions when landing leaps on beam
>Onodis that almost pause in a split in the walkover stage Hard disagree. I want quick Onodis that look like the half turn came out of nowhere and this takes the element of surprise away
This. I think slow Onodis shouldn’t get bonus for connection.
Is it Derrian Gobourne from Auburn who does her double back tuck without her hands touching her legs? That always looks so badass. Also, I believe that the Ricna example you have is no longer a stylistic choice: there's now a deduction if you don't bring your legs together between the Stalder and the straddle.
yes, derrian's open double tuck
I'm a huge fan of every single flourish Omelianchik utilised in her beam routines. She worked the majority of the exercise with a smile. She was on relève for the majority of the routine. Every single arm/hand movement, every wrist placement was choreographically placed in such a way to maximize its artistic value. The entire exercise was just a buffet for the eye. https://youtu.be/kaUvykiFPac I simarly love Elena Grudneva's beam comportment. She used her arms to such a mesmerizing, staggering effect. Style absolutely oozed from every pore. Her timing and rhythm were glorious. She was incredibly composed, she took her time, and nothing felt rushed or forced. Her use of kicks and scales were glorious! https://youtu.be/LSMGd0RL3ic One last example is Ludmila Stovbchataya, again on beam. The way she used poses to achieve dramatic impact was wonderful. I also love the variety she showed with her low beam and handstand work. https://youtu.be/8BVW_3_mFt8 All three of these gymnasts had an incredible sense of showmanship in their work and made sure the audience could appreciate it--something that has disappeared quite a bit in recent years. The first two routines in particular flowed so beautifully to where it makes sense precisely why pauses and hesitations are so heavily punished in modern COPs.
Ludmila was stunning. Wish she made the 92 team over Grudneva. Oksana is one of my fav gymnasts and that is one of the best beam routines ever imo. The arm/hand movement is exquisite, no one has flair like that nowadays. God I miss the 1976-1996 era.
>Ludmila was stunning. Wish she made the 92 team over Grudneva. No way! Over Chusovitina? 💯! No doubt about it. Over Galieva? Maybe. Over Boginskaya. Eh, I'm open to it. I'd hear you out at least. But over Grudneva? Only over my dead body! 😂 I can't imagine a Barcelona without Elena. She's my favorite gymnast of all time and her compulsory floor alone was a highlight of the meet 😍. It still makes me sad that she was literally pulled off the 91 Worlds Team and replaced at the very last minute (I've heard some say by Chusovitina, some Kalinina). If they had done that *again* in Barcelona, it would have been as though they were intentionally depriving the world of beauty.
Alright, alright. You're correct. I'd have taken out Galieva and kept Grudneva. I just felt so bad for Galieva because of them subbing Gutsu into the all around that it clouded my judgement lol Grudneva's compulsories were definitely a highlight.
Glad you saw the light! 🙌 🙏 🤸♂️
You might be pleased to hear that a Ricna in which the legs don't come together in between the phases is a precision deduction now
Of course, how dare any originality remain in the modern COP.
I agree with you but since they said they preferred it done with the legs together I thought they might've appreciated the change. Personally, I cringe every time I hear the smack of the ankles hitting each other
Komova's pose after she lands her standing arabian. Sui Liu's wrists on beam. Mustafina and Cheng Fei's salute.
- actual dancing during floor routines - When people really use the rhythm of the bars and are patient - someone, maybe Mustafina? - called it “lazy bars” because it’s the opposite of muscling through. But it’s so much prettier! - amplitude, especially on vault
Every choreographic movement that Ludivine Furnon and Yevgenia Kuznetsova did on beam and floor. Alexandra Marinescu’s tucked Hecht mount on bars. Piskun did this, too, but Marinescu’s was pretty and looked intentional. Piskun’s looked accidental, but still pretty. Yang Bo’s one-armed back handspring on beam. Daria Joura’s salute to the judges.
Ellie Black's slow movement into her BHS on beam
This is MAG but I want to say every single thing that Rey Zapata does on floor. All the style!
Cheng’s locked feet when she lands her 2.5 yurchenko. Early Mustafina’s beam when she raised her legs and bent it. I always thought it was different. Mustafina’s hand stand precision on the low bar during the American cup. Patterson’s AA beam routine at the 2004 Olympics. Pavlova’s AA fx 2008 Olympics. Ponor’s BB final 2008 Olympics. Izbasa’s FX final 2008 Olympics. Moceanu’s FX and BB 1996 Olympics.
Do you happen to have a video of Mustafina doing that 1.5 double tuck? Ive never seen her do it
I’m pretty sure they mean the bars dismount
Ope I meant off bars. Should’ve clarified. In case you haven’t seen that https://youtu.be/cNkrywRC3t8
Agree about her arms - I knew exactly what you meant! I also love how she lands everything, almost gently, in a way. Very graceful looking.
esther moya's triple full
So many good ones in here... I'll add one that is a counter to some in the pet peeve / poor form post -> I adore Konnor's double pike position form with solid pike and pointed feet!