The Three Exodus

Anna Pavlova is not the first one who used Exodus as floor music, and not the last.

Nicole Pechanec, a Stanford gymnast who used to compete for Czech Republic used the music first, in 2007. The dance was fluid and decent, but lacks depth compared to Pavlova.

Anna’s routine is widely loved for a lot of reasons. The choreography is exquisite and subtle. The music cut has an emotional climax built in, and the most important part, Anna’s variety of skills that was in every way an antithesis of the 2008 code — the very pretty front layout full to front stepout, a 1996 pass; the full twisting Shushunova, a 90s Khorkina signature skill now rated a B; the unique back attitude turn with leg held up. Everything considered, this routine is a gold medal winning 1996 floor routine. Anna made this piece of music more than itself, more grandiose, more distilled with real feelings, and ultimately the masterpiece of 2008 Olympics. Even if Nicole used the music first in the international scene, Anna owned the music.

Jiang Tong’s floor routine made everyone upset, including me, and it is sort of ironic because Jiang probably had this routine before Anna. The two bloggers live covering the Bercy World Cup(the all around and the gymnastics examinor) both failed to point out that Jiang’s floor music was identical as Pavlova’s masterpiece (it’s funny how fast people forget about things).

I shall say that Jiang Tong is the least flexible gymnast China has ever produced, possibly the only one who can’t do a switch ring on beam in the entire Chinese senior and junior team. Coach Liu has had anomaly like Bai Chunyue and Wang Tiantian before, but this girl is a new territory — the American gymnast type, somewhat powerful but zero flexibility. The Chinese program relies solely on flexibility to build up D scores, and it will be interesting to see where Jiang Tong is going to end up being. Needless to say, this music really, really has to go.

But here is the point I want to make in this post: why are music choice so homogeneous in current WAG floor exercises? Let’s count, how many gymnasts are using different cuts of the ratatouille music? Even though Anna’s piece is stunning, the music itself is not unique, hence the different versions of it to begin with. Much like figure skating, floor music is not progressing with the music industry whatsoever. Popular Movie OST, classic music, ethnic ballads (abused by the Romanian team) are the only three major choices. I look forward to seeing a floor routine to an edgy Tortoise song or a break dance piece.

Nevertheless, here I present the three routines with groundbreaking modern music, all from European gymnasts:

Youna Dufournet 2009 

Ariella Kaislin 2010 

Gaelle Mys 2008

@2 years ago with 2 notes
#Nicole Pechanec #Anna Pavlova #Jiang Tong #Youna Dufournet #Ariella Kaislin #Gaelle Mys 

Dear Youna,

Love. I’m convinced that you are the most innovative gymnast out there.

<3

Gym Critic 

@2 years ago
#Youna Dufournet 

Everybody Hates Bela Karolyi

Aunt Joyce had posted an interview with Kathy Johnson that is absolutely phenomenal and a must read. In summary: Bela Karolyi is a bigger asshole than he appears on TV; NBC is stupid and evil.

This brings me to again reflect the history of how USAG has been getting their way with Bela-bullying tactics. I must point out that at 2003 Worlds in Anaheim, the Chinese team was penalized for warming up on podium, while Hollie Vise was allowed to pin a  number on her back a minute before she goes up without receiving a neutral deduction. I believe technically, if a gymnast doesn’t go up 30 seconds after the green light she should receive a zero. One must also take into account that Anaheim Worlds podium was the worst, the most cramped in all Worlds history. The roaring audience was sitting a few feet behind the judges and there was no resting areas down the podium with chairs for gymnasts to tape up and warm up at the last minute, which was why the Chinese were warming up on podium at the first place.

Paris World Cup is on the way. My girl withdrew for reasons unknown. He Kexin would only be competing bars. Wu Liufang would be competing three events except for vault, and Jiang Tong would be competing three events but bars. For those who don’t know who Jiang Tong is, I don’t either. The girl is Coach Liu’s hometown girl and was kept on the national team to motivate He Kexin after her old training mates Xiao Sha and Li Shanshan retired. She is also a vault specialist who can only do a Y1.5. Other big name WAG gymnasts include Aliya Mustafina, Beth Tweddle and Youna Dufournet, half of the Worlds bars EF here already. I predict a HKX-Beth-Youna bars placement if Youna throws and catches her Def. 

@2 years ago with 2 notes
#Bela Karolyi #Kathy Johnson #He Kexin #Beth Tweddle #Youna Dufournet 
The Three Exodus

Anna Pavlova is not the first one who used Exodus as floor music, and not the last.

Nicole Pechanec, a Stanford gymnast who used to compete for Czech Republic used the music first, in 2007. The dance was fluid and decent, but lacks depth compared to Pavlova.

Anna’s routine is widely loved for a lot of reasons. The choreography is exquisite and subtle. The music cut has an emotional climax built in, and the most important part, Anna’s variety of skills that was in every way an antithesis of the 2008 code — the very pretty front layout full to front stepout, a 1996 pass; the full twisting Shushunova, a 90s Khorkina signature skill now rated a B; the unique back attitude turn with leg held up. Everything considered, this routine is a gold medal winning 1996 floor routine. Anna made this piece of music more than itself, more grandiose, more distilled with real feelings, and ultimately the masterpiece of 2008 Olympics. Even if Nicole used the music first in the international scene, Anna owned the music.

Jiang Tong’s floor routine made everyone upset, including me, and it is sort of ironic because Jiang probably had this routine before Anna. The two bloggers live covering the Bercy World Cup(the all around and the gymnastics examinor) both failed to point out that Jiang’s floor music was identical as Pavlova’s masterpiece (it’s funny how fast people forget about things).

I shall say that Jiang Tong is the least flexible gymnast China has ever produced, possibly the only one who can’t do a switch ring on beam in the entire Chinese senior and junior team. Coach Liu has had anomaly like Bai Chunyue and Wang Tiantian before, but this girl is a new territory — the American gymnast type, somewhat powerful but zero flexibility. The Chinese program relies solely on flexibility to build up D scores, and it will be interesting to see where Jiang Tong is going to end up being. Needless to say, this music really, really has to go.

But here is the point I want to make in this post: why are music choice so homogeneous in current WAG floor exercises? Let’s count, how many gymnasts are using different cuts of the ratatouille music? Even though Anna’s piece is stunning, the music itself is not unique, hence the different versions of it to begin with. Much like figure skating, floor music is not progressing with the music industry whatsoever. Popular Movie OST, classic music, ethnic ballads (abused by the Romanian team) are the only three major choices. I look forward to seeing a floor routine to an edgy Tortoise song or a break dance piece.

Nevertheless, here I present the three routines with groundbreaking modern music, all from European gymnasts:

Youna Dufournet 2009 

Ariella Kaislin 2010 

Gaelle Mys 2008

2 years ago
#Nicole Pechanec #Anna Pavlova #Jiang Tong #Youna Dufournet #Ariella Kaislin #Gaelle Mys 
Everybody Hates Bela Karolyi

Aunt Joyce had posted an interview with Kathy Johnson that is absolutely phenomenal and a must read. In summary: Bela Karolyi is a bigger asshole than he appears on TV; NBC is stupid and evil.

This brings me to again reflect the history of how USAG has been getting their way with Bela-bullying tactics. I must point out that at 2003 Worlds in Anaheim, the Chinese team was penalized for warming up on podium, while Hollie Vise was allowed to pin a  number on her back a minute before she goes up without receiving a neutral deduction. I believe technically, if a gymnast doesn’t go up 30 seconds after the green light she should receive a zero. One must also take into account that Anaheim Worlds podium was the worst, the most cramped in all Worlds history. The roaring audience was sitting a few feet behind the judges and there was no resting areas down the podium with chairs for gymnasts to tape up and warm up at the last minute, which was why the Chinese were warming up on podium at the first place.

Paris World Cup is on the way. My girl withdrew for reasons unknown. He Kexin would only be competing bars. Wu Liufang would be competing three events except for vault, and Jiang Tong would be competing three events but bars. For those who don’t know who Jiang Tong is, I don’t either. The girl is Coach Liu’s hometown girl and was kept on the national team to motivate He Kexin after her old training mates Xiao Sha and Li Shanshan retired. She is also a vault specialist who can only do a Y1.5. Other big name WAG gymnasts include Aliya Mustafina, Beth Tweddle and Youna Dufournet, half of the Worlds bars EF here already. I predict a HKX-Beth-Youna bars placement if Youna throws and catches her Def. 

2 years ago
#Bela Karolyi #Kathy Johnson #He Kexin #Beth Tweddle #Youna Dufournet 
2 years ago
#Youna Dufournet