Bridget Sloan takes national gymnastics title in comeback effort

By capturing the all-round crown at the 2009 Visa Championships on Saturday, Bridget Sloan put her name up there with the stars of American gymnastics, winning a national championship in a come-from-behind effort that was as much about her unrelenting tenacity as her surprising grace.

The 17-year-old, a member of last year’s Olympic silver-medal team, opened the meet in a hole after falling off the balance beam on her first routine Thursday, but overcame Ivana Hong and Rebecca Bross with seven straight solid routines after that.

Sloan finished with 117.55 points to beat out Hong by 0.3 and Bross by 0.95. And while she still has a lot to prove, she will certainly no longer be overlooked.

“In 2007, I was the kid nobody knew about, the up-and-comer,” she said. “After the Olympics, everyone knew me and that was really cool. This year, I feel like a completely new person.”

The top three all closed the night on vault with the exact same jump — a laid-out flip with two twists — and though Bross’ and Hong’s were better, they weren’t enough to overcome the 0.55-point lead Sloan built through the floor exercise.

It was quite a startling comeback after the fall on beam netted a score of 13.95 and dropped her way behind.

“I really didn’t know what I was going to do after I fell,” she said. “I didn’t think about winning whatsoever.”

Before Sloan capped her comeback, defending Olympic champion Nastia Liukin reprised her beam routine from Thursday night with a better result, eliminating some wobbles and tentativeness to score a 14.7, 0.25 better than in her debut. She is rounding into shape after taking most of the year off.

Liukin and Sloan are both favorites to be on the four-woman team that heads to London for world championships in October. Liukin is seeking her 10th worlds medal to surpass Shannon Miller as the most decorated American gymnast in history.

“She has some things that aren’t where they usually are,” national team coordinator Martha Karolyi said. “But with two more months, she should be able to accomplish it.”

Other choices won’t be as easy, though Hong and Bross are both squarely in the mix. Both train with Liukin at World Olympic Gymnastics Academy near Dallas, the gym that has produced the last two Olympic champions — Liukin and Carly Patterson.

Also in the hunt will be Samantha Peszek, who didn’t compete in the all-around to protect an injured shoulder. Still, of the six scores of 15-plus that were given out this week on events other than vault (which always scores higher), she earned two of them.

Bross came into the day with the lead, but the 16-year-old lost her grip with one of her hands on the opening uneven bars routine, then fell completely off moments later.

“I wasn’t really nervous. It was just one of those things that happened,” she said.

Those mistakes put Hong in the lead briefly and she made her way through a clean night of gymnastics, but not as high-flying as Sloan’s.

Still, this wasn’t a bad night for Bross or Hong, each of whom are rounding back into form after injuries. Hong’s ankle injury kept her off the Olympic team last year. She was vying for the final spot — the spot that went to Sloan.

Sloan said she’s never shied from the underdog role that naturally came competing on a team with Liukin, Shawn Johnson, a showwoman like Alicia Sacramone and the rest.

“To come back from the Olympics and win nationals, that’s not easy,” Liukin said. “I’m proud of her. She shined in everything she did.”

She also has a fan in Karolyi, who thinks her long lines and graceful precision will play well with international judges. She has also become more consistent than when she was 15 and just getting into the mix. That consistency earned her the spot on the Olympic team — and the national title, too.

“I’ve always loved Bridget,” Karolyi said. “In 2007, she was a little timid and would get nervous. But this is a different Bridget.”

Nastia Liukin highlights field for ’09 CoverGirl Classic

It might sound like the CoverGirl Classic is a modeling event or pageant of some kind.  In fact, it’s  a gymnastics competition taking place next weekend at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa.

2008 Olympic all-around champion and recent ESPY Award winner Nastia Liukin, along with 2008 Olympic team silver-medalist Samantha Peszek are among 132 women expected to compete in the event. Shawn Johnson won this competition in 2006 and went on to win multiple national titles and Olympic medals.

Since winning the Olympic all-around gold medal, along with two silvers and two bronzes,  Liukin has taken up modeling, started her own clothing line, and dabbled in acting. Last night, she was in Los Angeles for the ESPY awards where she became the first gymnast to garner  the “Best Female Athlete” trophy.  Her teammate Shawn Johnson, won “Best Female Olympian.”

But now Liukin is getting down to her real business: being a world-class gymnast.  She plans to perform on beam at the CoverGirl Classic, her first meet since the Olympic Games.

Liukin is using the Classic as preparation for her return to competitive gymnastics at the 2009 Visa National Championships, Aug. 12-15 in her hometown of Dallas, where fans might get a peek at her new, top-secret floor set.

The online gymnastics community has been buzzing ever since Liukin announced in April, via her Twitter feed (@NLiukin), she was getting a new routine. Liukin, who wants to keep her music selection “a surprise,” is shocked  at the level interest her tweet has prompted.

The Classic, which is set to be televised and streamed online via Universal Sports, takes place July 25th. U.S. Olympians Tasha Schwikert and John Roethlisberger will call the action for the Universal simulcast,  from 7-9 p.m. CT, and Liukin will join the broadcast team following the first rotation as a correspondent on the floor.

While it’s great that big sponsors such as Visa and CoverGirl are involved with gymanstics (along with Tyson and others), it does tend to take focus away from the event at hand.  Can we at least keep some descriptive wording in the titles? Maybe the US Classic Gymnastics Competition presented by Cover Girl or the USA Gymnastics National Championships presented by Visa. Just a thought.

In any case, looking forward to seeing Liukin back in action.

2009 ESPY Award nominees announced

The 2009 ESPY Awards are upon us, and set to air Sunday, July 19th at 9pm, with Samuel L. Jackson as host (we’ll miss you JT).  This year there are a whopping 37 categories and Michael Phelps leads the way with four nominations.

The ESPY Awards honor the best achievements, moments and leading athletes of the previous year. Fans determine winners through online (www.espys.tv) and mobile phone voting (www.espn.mobi) that begins today and runs through July 11.

The Arthur Ashe Courage Award will be given to former South African president Nelson Mandela. Dara Torres, who won three silver medals as a 41-year-old swimmer at the Beijing Olympics, will receive the Best Comeback award.

The voting has begun so be sure to cast your vote for your fave nominees….

BEST FEMALE ATHLETE

Natalie Coughlin, Swimming
Nastia Liukin, Gymnastics
Maya Moore, NCAA Basketball
Candace Parker, WNBA
Serena Williams, Tennis

BEST MALE ATHLETE

Kobe Bryant, NBA
LeBron James, NBA
Jimmie Johnson, Auto Racing
Michael Phelps, Swimming

BEST CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCE

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies
Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimming
Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, Olympic Beach Volleyball

BEST BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE

Shawn Johnson, Olympic Gymnastics
Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

BEST FEMALE COLLEGE ATHLETE

Courtney Kupets, Gymnastics, UGA
Kerrie Hanks, Soccer, Notre Dame
Danielle Lawrie, Softball, Washington
Maya Moore, Basketball, UConn
Dana Vollmer, Swimming, Stanford

BEST FEMALE INTERNATIONAL ATHLETE

Marta, Soccer, Brazil
Yelena Isinbayeva, Pole Vault, Russia
Lorena Ochoa, Golf, Mexico
Stephanie Rice, Swimming, Australia
Dinara Safina, Tennis, Russia

BEST FEMALE ACTION SPORTS ATHLETE

Torah Bright, Snowboarding
Ashley Fiolek, Motocross
Sarah Burke, Skiing
Maya Gabeira, Surfing

BEST RECORD BREAKING PERFORMANCE

Usain Bolt, Olympic Sprinter
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers
Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimmer

BEST UPSET

Mine That Bird wins the Kentucky Derby
Oregon State stuns then #1 USC
Tampa Bay Rays win the American League Championship Series
US Soccer shocks Spain in the Confederations Cup semifinals

BEST GAME

Federer vs. Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon Final
Steelers vs. Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII
Syracuse vs. Connecticut in the Big East Tournament Quarterfinals

BEST MOMENT

Florida’s Tim Tebow’s speech
Helio Castroneves wins the Indy 500
US swim team wins thrilling finish in Olympic relay

BEST TEAM

Connecticut Women’s Basketball
Los Angeles Lakers
North Carolina Men’s Basketball
Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Steelers

In that last category, Go UConn!!

Kupets wins top female college athlete of the year

There’s been a lot of discussion around here about which Honda Award winner would garner the top female collegiate athlete award. Top contenders included Colorado’s Jenny Barringer, UConn’s Renee Montgomery and Washington’s Danielle Lawrie.

In the end, it was gymnast Courtney Kupets of Georgia who won the Honda-Broderick Cup, the top prize given to the nation’s top female college athlete.

She received the award Monday at Columbia University.

The award recognizes not only outstanding athletic achievement but also team contributions, scholastics and community involvement.

Kupets is the all-time NCAA leader with nine individual championships and was named SEC, AAI National Senior and NCAA Southeast Regional Gymnast of the Year. …

A National Honor Society member, Kupets was chosen as ESPN The Magazine First Team Academic All-American and is a recipient of NCAA and SEC postgraduate scholarships. She is also a member of the Blue Key Honor Society and a recipient of the Richard B. Russell Student Leadership Award. She won UGA’s Marilyn Vincent Award as the senior female student-athlete with the highest GPA.

In addition to her athletic and academic achievements, Kupets has also worked with Special Olympians, participated in the “Do It For Broph” 5K Run/Walk and joined in the SEC “Together We Can” food drive.

Kupets is a Housing/Property Management major with a 3.8 GPA.

After missing the 2008 postseason with an Achilles injury, Kupets returned to lead Georgia to its fifth straight NCAA championship. The senior won national titles in the all-around, bars, beam and floor competition. Her four titles tied the record for a single national meet.

At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Kupets won the silver medal in the team all-around and captured individual bronze in the uneven bars. She’s also set to appear in the new ABC Family drama ‘Make it or Break it‘.

Kupets, of Athens, Ga., was among five finalists for the 33rd annual award. Softball great Lisa Fernandez presented her with the cup.

Congratulations Courtney – well deserved.

ABC Family sticks the landing with ‘Make It or Break It’

Let’s face it, the marquee event of any Summer Games is Women’s Gymnastics. With its electrifying routines and captivating personal stories, we can’t help but tune into the nightly broadcasts to take in all that is spectacular and dramatic.

Well, the good news is that you don’t have to wait until 2012 for the next installment of gymnastics action. Set to premiere on Monday, June 22, ABC Family’s new original series ‘Make It or Break It’ presents the dramatic story of four talented girls driven by unrelenting Olympic dreams. Set against the backdrop of an ultra-competitive training center, the girls learn that winning isn’t easy in an environment where your best friend is also your worst enemy.

The drama unfolds as gifted newcomer Emily Kmetko (Chelsea Hobbs – ‘Lords of Dogtown’) joins the ranks of three other girls (Ayla Kell, Josie Loren, Cassie Scerbo) who do not necessarily welcome the new competition. At the same time, each girl must contend with her own set of stressful circumstances – ranging from demanding coaches to critical parents… all in the pursuit of gymnastics glory.

‘Make It or Break It’ is sure to delight the gymnast (or fan) in all of us, for behind every gold medal is a captivating story about a girl with big dreams – dreams that do not necessarily come easy. Tune in to ABC Family for the world premiere of ‘Make It or Break It’ Monday, June 22 at 9pm/8c to catch all of the intense competition and gripping drama that accompanies every flip, twist, and somersault.

Click Here

Marketing sports stars: men vs. women

With the World Figure Skating Championships taking place in Los Angeles right now, it’s interesting to note that skating is one sport where the ladies outperform the men when it comes to media and marketing perks.

So what exactly makes a sports star marketable? While success and a charismatic personality is important, it does not guarantee marketability off the playing field. Oftentimes it’s the playing field itself that dictates an athlete’s marketability.

Even the most prolific men’s figure skaters do not receive the same attention as the top female skaters. Just yesterday, Evan Lysecek became the first American in 13 years to win the World Figure Skating Championship. Despite his brilliant on-ice achievements, don’t expect him to appear as a box of Wheaties anytime soon.

Men’s figure skating (like men’s gymnastics) lacks a broad appeal to the general public. I’m guessing most of you probably don’t know who Lysacek is, let alone about his accomplishment at the Worlds.

Female skaters and gymnasts, on the other hand, outshine their male counterparts time after time. Kristi Yamaguchi, for example, has enjoyed several endorsement deals throughout the years, including General Motors, All State Insurance, Heinz Smart One’s and her most recent campaign, OPI nail polish.

After winning one Gold and two Silver medals in the 2008 Olympics, gymnast Shawn Johnson has gone on to appear in ads for well-known companies such as McDonalds, Coca-Cola, CoverGirl and Secret deodorant. And, she reportedly makes a nice income as a current competitor on Dancing with the Stars. Nastia Liukin has had similar marketing success. As one of the most widely-covered and publicized sports in the Summer Olympics, women gymnasts resonate with women 25-54.

Until men’s figure skating (and other sports like it) start to have more media coverage and a wider appeal, male superstars will not see marketing dollars come their way. Where have we heard that before?

(source: First Call)

Nastia Liukin featured in designer Azria’s ad campaign

January 9, 2008 – 2008 Olympic  gold medalist Nastia Liukin’s dream life continues. Liukin, the fashion-loving Texas gymnast, is being featured in breathtaking images for Max Azria’s spring/summer 2009 ad campaign.

From USA Gymnastics:

“After going to the Max Azria runway show this past September, I was blown away by how beautiful his designs were,” said Liukin, who won a total of five Olympic medals at the 2008 Olympic Games and has nine world medals to her credit. “Max offers a distinct mix of classic elegance with a modern twist. When they asked me to model for the Spring 2009 collection, I was so honored. Everyone has been great to work with and I hope my fans like the photos.”

This is Liukin’s first “high fashion” photo shoot and campaign. Lubov Azria, Max Azria’s creative director, told Popcracker, “We met Nastia at our last runway show, and she is everything we were looking for. The spring collection was inspired by movement and modern dance so she was perfect.”

Take a look at the picture – perfect!

Little Women: Gymnastics report in

October 2, 2008 – Surely there are a lot of Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin fans who were secretly hoping the investigation into the ages of the Chinese gymnasts would result in the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team being elevated to gold medalists.

The AP reported, however, that the age dispute has been resolved for the Beijing Games and the ruling backs the Chinese gymnasts. International gymnastics officials on Wednesday closed their 5 1/2 -week investigation into the ages of the Chinese gymnasts at the Beijing Olympics, saying the documentation provided confirms they were old enough to compete.

It seems little girls  grow up quickly these days, especially if they’re Chinese gymnasts. One day they’re just 14, the next day they’re 16.

The Chinese will tell you that Asian gymnasts are naturally smaller. There are no scientific tests that can tell age with perfect accuracy. So real proof has to come from official government documents. And official government documents say they are 16. Case closed.

Controversy has raged because younger gymnasts are considered to have an advantage - they are more flexible and are likely to have an easier time doing the tough skills the sport requires. They also aren’t as likely to have a history of injuries or fear of failure.

While China’s 2008 gold medal gymnasts are in the clear, the team that won the bronze medal eight years ago in Sydney, however, still faces questions. Two members of the 2000 squad—Dong Fangxiao and Yang Yun—remain under scrutiny.

For now, there won’t be any medals returned, or any suspensions announced. No one will be punished for breaking the rules. And Olympic officials won’t have to embarrass the Chinese, who just spent billions of dollars to host an extravaganza on their behalf.

It’s not like the same government that faked multiple aspects of the opening ceremony to make sure everything went according to script would give themselves an unfair advantage during the actual competition.

Olympic Hangover

September 17, 2008 - So the competition for the gold medals is over. But if you’re still jonesing for more Olympic action, check out the following:

Gymnastics Superstars Tour - Gold medal winner Nastia Liukin, silver medalist Shawn Johnson and teammates join musical artists Jordan Pruitt, KSM and others on a two-month 37-city trek across the United States. Can’t make it to one of the arenas? There will be a two-hour special airing on TV on Sept. 26th.

Achieve Your Gold Tour – If you’re a fan of the gold medal winning U.S. Women’s Soccer Team, they’ve hit the road for a a post-olympic tour playing a series of matches around the county. Check schedule here.

Miss beach volleyball? Catch gold medalist Misty May-Treanor when she partners with Maksim Chmerkovskiy on the seventh season of Dancing with the Stars which premieres Sept. 22nd.

May-Treanor will also play herself in an upcoming episode of The Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place.” The episode air date has not yet been announced.

Still want more?  Here’s a vid that recaps some of the great moments from the Olympics. How many athletes can you identify? 

Gymnastics Superstars Tour

September 4, 2008 – If you didn’t get enough gymanstics during the Olympics – you’re in luck. The Gymnastics Superstars Tour may be coming to an arena (or TV set) near you! This isn’t any old gymnastics tour – it’s a totally new way to see the greatest sport of the Summer Olympics –  a high energy, no-holds barred Gymnastics Palooza!

 A nationally televised special airing on MyNetwork TV on September 26th from 8:00-10:00pm (EST) will kick off the two-month 37-city trek across the United States featuring world class gymnastics and music from Disney’s hottest young recording artists.

All around women’s gymnastic gold medalist Nastia Liukin was among the first gymnasts to arrive in Reno this week for the launch of the 2008 tour.

Liukin and the other Olympic athletes were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd at the Reno Tahoe International Airport. They took time to sign autographs and answer questions from fans.

“This show is really about giving back to our fans and thanking them for the support along our whole Olympic journey,” Liukin said.

Joining Liukin will be Beijing gold medalist Shawn Johnson, 2005 world champion Chellsie Memmel and Shannon Miller.

Jordan Pruitt, KSM and other music groups will also perform on the tour which kicks off in Reno 3-5 p.m. Sunday at Lawlor Events Center.

Tour dates & tickets

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