MY THOUGHTS AND MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM THE 2008 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

The 2008 Summer Games marked the first Olympics I've watched on TV since the 1992 Barcelona Games. I enjoyed every second of the Beijing Olympics! I was worried about "staying home" for The Games, but like never before I was engrossed in ALL THINGS Olympics. Between the internet broadcasts, television coverage, message boards, and editorials, I was submerged in the Beijing Olympic experience!

I'm recovering from the "Olympic Hangover" of staying up late for 17 days, but what I lost in sleep, I gained in the thrill of the XXIX Olympiad. As I return to my daily routine, I've gathered my thoughts and memorable moments. It helps me get over my post-Beijing let down. Quite simply, I categorized my thoughts into two categories "Things I loved" and "Not so much". I've got them listed in no particular order. The Olympic Gymnastics Competition was all it was cracked up to be. Enjoy the lists!

Our "At Home Olympic Experience" started with a visit from Paul Hamm, Morgan Hamm, and Morgan's fiancée, Megan. Morgan just returned from Beijing the night before (8.8.08) after an emotional and untimely departure from China. More on that: http://www.intlgymnast.com/olympics/ziert/535.html

Morgan and Paul's competitive careers came to a close in a manner that none of us could've predicted 3 months ago. Nevertheless, we were so pleased to have them spend this time at our home.

I have to admit, at first it was odd watching the Beijing Olympics with the Hamms in Ohio. I knew that a healthy Paul and Morgan could've contributed significantly in China; however, once the competition began I could see the genuine happiness they felt for their teammates, and Raj Bhavsar's success helped all of us see "the greater good" in Paul and Morgan's injuries! It was a positive thing, and it's good to see Paul and Morgan's enthusiasm about life after competitive gymnastics. While not directly, no one can dispute that the Hamm's pushed the U.S. Men's Team to new heights in Beijing!

Here are some photos from our "At Home Experience".....Enjoy!

HINT: This photo album was put together in PowerPoint. If you do not have PowerPoint installed on your computer, you can download the PowerPoint Viewer for Windows or the PowerPoint Viewer for Macintosh to view this presentation.

THINGS I LOVED!

• What about Two-Time Gold Medalist Gervasio Deffer!! The controversial Spaniard never lacked in the talent department, and it was particularly sweet to see him finally earn an Olympic Medal on his best event, Floor Exercise.
  
  
• Romania's Bronze medal in the Women's Team Competition and Sandra Isbaza's Gold Medal on Floor reminded critics that Romania's deep tradition in gymnastics is far from dead! I'm impressed with what their program has done with limited resources and huge management changes.
  
  
• NBCOlympics.com's high quality streaming of podium training!
  
  
• While Cheng Fei's performances and efforts as an emotional leader for the Chinese Women left little in the tank for individual glory, she was instrumental in the Chinese Team effort. A TRUE team player, Cheng Fei's Bronze on beam held a very special meaning. I was so happy to see a female gymnast pumping her fists while giving triumphant hollers. Cheng Fei was a thrill to watch. She displayed great sportsmanship when encouraging Alicia Sacramone following the Team Final. You have to see the photos and footage to really understand what I'm talking about. Loved it! That last tidbit brings me to the vast display of sportsmanship I saw as I watched from home.
  
  
• Amid the poor sportsmanship displayed by the media (which I might add we were bombarded with in the U.S). The gymnasts displayed countless acts of sportsmanship that deserve mention and attention.
  
  
• Shawn Johnson was often the first athlete to congratulate her competitors, and I'll never forget how Shawn joined Nastia Liukin for a curtain call during the All-Around Finals. Shawn Johnson demonstrated the Olympic Spirit throughout the Games; therefore, her balance beam GOLD was just a fitting conclusion to the Women's competition.
  
  
• Nastia Liukin's composure DURING AND AFTER the Uneven Bar Final. While she could've justifiably blamed the judging for the quirky bar results, she simply admitted that she had not performed her best routine. Class Act! She has been on the losing end of two major tie-breaking procedures, and Liukin continues to be a gracious champion! Love her!
  
  
• Alicia Sacramone erroneously blamed herself for missing out on the Team Gold Medal. While most of us know Alicia's errors DID NOT CAUSE the team to lose the Gold. She was a good sport by not feeding into the blame placed on the delays caused by cameramen and television.
  
  
• Perhaps the most endearing moment of the Olympic Gymnastics Competition was when He Kexin embraced and lifted teammate Yang Yilin during the Uneven Bar final. While I may never know what He was thinking, I can't help but guess that He believed her teammate had won the gold, and she was sharing in her teammate's success. If those were indeed He Kexin's thoughts, I agree wholeheartedly with her.
  
  
• All appeared right in the Gymnastics Universe when Oksana Chusovitina earned her silver medal on Vaulting at the tender age of 33. SHE'S THE WORLD'S SUPERHERO MOM!
  
  
• U.S. Women's Team WINNING, yes WINNING, the silver medal in the Team competition. They endured an exhausting and at times punishing Olympic Team Selection process, not to mention they experienced severe setbacks in the days leading up to the Olympics.
  
  Just think about it, injuries to Shayla Worley, Mattie Larson, Chellsie Memmel, and Samantha Peszek demonstrated how the DEEPEST TEAM in the WORLD was WHITTLED DOWN TO A TEAM THAT WON THE SILVER MEDAL AGAINST ODDS! Again, just think for a moment. If just one more untimely injury plagued the U.S. Women, an Olympic medal could've been completely out of the picture. These young ladies earned a Silver Medal against odds in a similar fashion that the Men's Team earned a bronze medal. The principle difference was the media perception of each medal. In the men's case it was a victory, and in the women's case it was viewed as a defeat based on the 2007 World Championships. The individual athletes and coaches made America proud on both the Men's and Women's sides!
  

• Jonathan Horton winning a silver medal on high bar. His individual medal was payment for his tremendous efforts during the Team competition. Without question, he was the leader of the U.S. Men's Team. His High Bar routine from the Event Final is arguably the most dynamic and difficult routine the gymnastics world has ever seen!

• Yang Wei tore through six events to be victorious in China! He and Raj Bhavsar reminded us that great things are worth the wait!
  

• The U.S. Men's bronze medal Team Final. The team alternates were called upon and did their jobs to help the U.S. win their "Good as Gold" Bronze Medal. Horton was solid, and the high bar squad appeared to be the best in the world (regardless of scores). Raj Bhavsar told us that he "has been paid back double" for all that he endured over the last 4 years!

• Chinese Gymnastics Domination: We could go on and on about how prepared the Men's and Women's Artistic Teams were, but the Chinese dominated Artistic Gymnastics all the while earning individual Gold Medals in Trampoline and a Team Silver in Rhythmic Gymnastics. Impressive isn't enough to describe Chinese Gymnastics program! They succeeded in all disciplines and categories of gymnastics greatness.

• Individual Gold/Silver coming in and Individual Gold/Silver going out! Story book ending for the Team USA's superstars. I love it! The hard work and attention to detail Nastia Liukin/Valeri Liukin and Shawn Johnson/Chow Liang put in over the last several years came through in China. When you look at the whole picture, the one-two punch of Liukin and Johnson was simply too awesome for the rest of the world to handle. Both artistry and pure athleticism were rewarded in Beijing, and the results prove it.

NOT SO MUCH

• Since ditching compulsory routines after the 1996 Olympics, gymnastics has picked up a new compulsory exercise…CONTROVERSY. The vaulting table was the right height this time, nobody was taking Sudafed, Paul Hamm wasn't in the meet, and Chen Yibing was the decisive Olympic Champion on still rings, so we had to find something else to latch on to.

• I guess it's a sign of the times, but it saddens me to know that this year's age controversy quagmire has taken away (more so than in the past) from the stunning performances of ALL OF THE GYMNASTS, NOT JUST THE CHINESE WOMEN! I often wonder how the Chinese Women's team have/has/had wrestled with the negative attention of the age controversy. As a teen, I recall the pressures that came along with an Olympics at home, and I couldn't image having to compete with scrutiny hanging over my head
  

• The 2008 Olympics marked a time in our sport where we've approached the plateau of physical capabilities. When gymnastics' living legends like Jordan Jovtchev, Marian Dragulescu, Cheng Fei, Hiroyuki Tomita, and Diego Hypolito look as if they can't they've MAXED OUT, IT'S TIME TO CHANGE THE RULES DRASTICALLY!
  

• Olympic order used to mean something! Vaulting, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, and Floor Exercise. I didn't like the order used at the Olympic Women's Event Finals. Having both women's leg events was not only tiring, but the audience loves seeing Women's Floor Exercise as the final event of the women's competition. Can you imagine the 2008 Olympic Women's Floor final followed by the 2008 Olympic Men's High bar final? That could've been an even more spectacular night for the sport of gymnastics!

• Bela Karolyi was "The Grinch" of my 2008 Olympic experience. Has anyone noticed how Bela manages to make historic gymnastics moments his own? His antics of exaggerated patriotism, righteousness, and empathy sandwiched between roars, howls, and imaginary adjectives were just too much! I found myself muting his commentary by the time the Women's All-Around Final had arrived. His comments added a negative and suspicious dimension to the competition, really nothing of utility for the gymnastics fan.

• I trained with Bela for several years, and my family and I spent many holidays with Bela and Martha Karolyi. I can separate the real behavior from the phony performance. In 2008, I had an overdose of the Karolyi phoniness. I was embarrassed by his lack of knowledge of the sport. I felt like I was watching a crazed-aged man talk senselessly about a sport he knew little about. Come to think of it, I see why I felt that way. (I guess I shouldn't be surprised why the questions I submitted were never read during Ring the Bela!)
  

Once again, the BIGGEST competition in gymnastics was filled with lots of drama and great moments. The only certainty is that one can never predict what will unfold! As I let the moments of Beijing digest, I look ahead to what's to come in the next 4 year cycle.

Dominique

CONGRATS TEAM USA!

I'm so proud of the USA Men & Women for their success in Beijing!

They should both be very proud to have represented their country and stand on the medal podium as first time Olympians that will come home with silver and bronze medals! No one can take those efforts away from them and to come home with any medals AT ALL is a SUCCESS! Let's not forget that, Karolyi's.

Although some uncharacteristic mistakes were made on the women's side, I still remain supportive of their efforts especially after the grueling Olympic selection process that they went through, they DESERVED this medal. They should be proud of being the second best country in the world. After all, how many people can say that they're the second best at anything in the world?!?!

p.s. It's a real treat to re-read the interview with Raj Bhavsar before he was named to the 2008 Olympic Team. It makes his Olympic Team medal that much sweeter! Congrats to Raj for never giving up! We've supported you all along!

Congratulations TEAM USA...AMERICA IS PROUD OF YOU!

CHALK TALK: YOUR QUESTIONS...ANSWERED!

Question from Alix: "After all that happened in the selection camp for the 2008 games (gymnasts getting injured, etc), do you still think that the team should have been chosen right after trials? I think the selection process is in definite need of a overhaul but I think that the sport has come a long way--especially with some of the athletes who made the team. How is the gymnastics world different from when you were in it? Thanks for all your insight on gymnastics, and I really love your website and blog."

A: Thanks for your great questions! First off, I still believe the 2008 Olympic Team should have been selected at the Olympic Trials. The process of three two-day competitions (two public, one private) within a six week period is too much to ask of the gymnasts, physically and emotionally. One can argue the "untimely" injuries (of Mattie Larson, Shayla Worley, and Chellsie Memmel) support my belief. Not to mention the gymnasts have to pack up and hop on a 20-hour flight to Beijing one week after the intense selection process comes to a close. Not only is final selection camp unnecessary, but it’s un-American. An "invitation only" audience of less than 60 people is not how the final selection of our Olympic team should be conducted. It belittles the accomplishment of becoming a U.S. Olympian. Five of the six gymnasts on the Olympic Team could've been named at Trials in front of 13,000 fans in Philadelphia. Why deny them the opportunity to be receiving public recognition and put them through another test? It's too brutal on their bodies and minds, and it’s too close the biggest competition in the world! I believe that the best team was selected, but I don't agree with HOW it was selected.

The sport has changed dramatically since my competitive days. The semi-centralized camp system was not in place, but let us not forget the recent success of our gymnasts is due to the efforts of the individual athletes and their coaches NOT the Karolyi camps. Martha simply cherry picks from the best athletes in the country. There's no mystical insight that she possesses.

In general, USA Gymnastics and the media are giving the Karolyi's too much credit for World and Olympic medals. They're not the coaches training these individual gymnasts on a daily basis, yet Martha Karolyi possesses the power to hand pick who she believes is most appropriate. She also determines much of the training plans once the team arrives in Beijing. I commend Shawn Johnson's coaches Liang Chow and Liwen Zhuang (wife) for their healthy and positive relationship with their athlete. Chow has trained Shawn since she was a little girl and that speaks volumes. I respect Chow and Li, and I think they practice the proper approach to training. They "train smarter, not harder". Shawn’s success and health are a testament to this method.

The gymnastics world is a different environment. We no longer have the power houses of the Eastern bloc countries, and the compulsory routines no longer exist. The compulsories made the very best gymnasts stand out because the athlete's fundamentals needed to be mastered in order to succeed. The "perfect 10" is also gone, and I really miss it! So A LOT has changed since I was a competitor; however, my love for the sport hasn’t wavered. It's still the greatest sport in the world!

Question from Michelle: "I have a question about something very confusing to me. When I was a kid just starting out in the gym, I read your book... and it made the Karolyi's seem like excellent people & coaches in your opinion. Now that you're older, you seem to disagree. I'm wondering if it's a matter of perspective, if in your youth & in the middle of your career as an elite gymnast you thought ANYTHING would be worth it in order to be at the top. The reason I ask is that if that's the case, do you believe the gymnast s involved in the national scene now need someone to step in and prevent this from happening? Almost like they can't see the whole picture because they're focusing only on winning and not on the big picture or life as whole? It just seems like that's the general idea you're implying & I'd like to know if it's true or not. Especially after reading several articles in the past couple days as well as seeing the interview last night. You will always be the gymnast who led me to gymnastics. Thank you."

A: Thank you for your kind words, and you hit the nail on the head. At fourteen years old, what else could I say about the Karolyi's? I was never allowed to speak out for fear of punishment. A common question is, "Why didn't you just leave if it was so bad?", and while that seems logical, bear in mind that the Olympics were literally weeks away when things were at their worst and my entire family had moved to Houston in hopes of seeing me reach my goal. Needless to say, it wouldn't have been easy to leave.

In order to see things clearly (not just gymnastics), one needs to step a way and look at the global picture. When you're in it, you're engrossed with the task at hand, and you lose site of the big picture. That's the normal progression of personal growth and maturity. Quite simply, I didn't know that training and treatment could be conducted in another manner. I just thought that, "this is how it has to be". I'm wiser now.


Question from Colleen: "Dominique, What do you think the chances of Team USA winning gold in Beijing are? Especially with Chinese gymnastics on such an upswing, and the games being in their home country. Do you think the Chinese will pull off what the Mag 7 did in 1996, or do you think the US will? Thanks so much for all your blogs and insight. I remember meeting you and playing chicken in the Karolyi pool right before you won Nationals. I forget that we grow up and get married and have babies. Congratulations on all your success!"

A: Mathematically, China is in control of their destiny. Their A-scores (Start Values) are higher than Team USA's A-scores. In fact, the Chinese team possesses about 1.7 points in A-score over the U.S. women. However, if we determined results based on potential, there’d be no need for competitions. Only time will tell of the China's "home court advantage" will truly benefit them. I can tell you from experience that competing at home brings a whole host of new pressures. The key is to use those pressures to one's advantage.

It’ll be a showdown for sure, and I can't wait to watch it unfold! I'm a fan of both teams, and I know that both teams respect one another. This is sure to be a true battle of the gymnastics powerhouses! I don’t think the gymnastics world has ever seen two teams so evenly matched. Have I told you that I can’t wait?!

Question from Corey & Steve: "Dominique, I have been watching gymnastics for years and it seems that the Russians and Romanians were the gymnastic superpowers for so long. They are not even mentioned in contention for gold. What happen to make their dynasties fall so hard and so quickly??

A: The collapse of the Soviet Union was the catalyst for the decline in results. The governments no longer have the money to fund strong sports programs and many of the best coaches from the Eastern Bloc have looked for other opportunities. Many of them have found opportunity in the United States which has helped the Team USA while taking some of the greatest gymnastics minds out of Europe. Good for Team USA, Bad for the former-Soviets and even Romanians. Nevertheless, Russia and Romania could surprise a lot of us in Beijing on both the men’s and women’s sides. You can never count them out; they still have plenty of beautiful gymnastics to show us, and I’ve got a feeling both Russia and Romania are going to come away from the Summer Games with several medals.


Question from Lisa: "Hi Dominique! This question is specifically about blocks and fear. Every once in a while my little gymnast becomes afraid of something she does all the time. And she gets stressed over all of a sudden being afraid. Do you have any words of wisdom on getting beyond that when it happens? Also, as the levels are getting more intense, she finds herself afraid to try some things even though she is reasonably sure she can do it. Once she DOES it, she can't figure out why she was afraid! She is 8, so I don't really stress this too much but, it’s frustrating to her and I hate for her to feel badly. Any advice? THANKS! AND CONGRATS ON THE BABY!"

A: This is very common. Since I've started coaching, I've encountered this with my own athletes. What I typically do is build the gymnast's confidence with basic drills and progressions. Sometimes we need to take a step back to take three steps forward. I emphasize patience. As the athlete displays mastery of each progression, the confidence grows, and before you know it, that once "scary" skill is much more palatable for the gymnast. This takes patience on the coach's and gymnast's part.

Sometimes the coach and athlete need to step back and find out what caused the fear in the first place. Was it a bad experience? Is it fear of the unknown? Once the coach and athlete get to the bottom of what is causing the fear, they can start chipping away at it and move on to building confidence. Your gymnast needs to realize that she is a better gymnast than she thinks, and as she moves through the proper steps she will unlock her great inner-gymnast. Good luck!



Question from Sarah: "Kudos to you for speaking out on the injustices in the sport of gymnastics. It's hard to speak out to begin with, and even harder to do so when you might be going against the grain. What I find so fascinating about your recent comments is that many people are quick to call this "sour grapes," yet seem to overlook the fact that gymnastics is so political and the reason many do not speak out (coaches, athletes, judges, etc.) is for fear of retaliation. What are your thoughts on this? Do you fear that your athletes or even your daughter may not be treated fairly in the future due to your comments? Has this weighed in on your decision to speak out? For the record, I applaud you for having the courage to speak out in efforts to right some of the wrongs in the sport of gymnastics. "

A: First off, thank you for your support! While I knew that it would be challenging, I believe that I'm doing the right thing to improve the future of our sport. I genuinely believe that I will help future athletes and that's what drives me. I've made it clear that I love gymnastics, and I only want to see it improve. Right now, open dialogue is NOT encouraged at the elite level. In fact, it's viewed as negative at the highest levels. Change is never easy in any facet of life, but it's necessary.

For example, if tennis legend Billie Jean King never spoke out, I would've never had the opportunity to achieve what I did in gymnastics. While, I don't claim to be a Billie Jean King, on a smaller scale, I’ll continue to stay the course, because I know that individuals will benefit in the long run. Also, confidentially I'm receiving lots of support from current and past athletes and coaches, so I know that I'm not alone.

I feel it's important that our Elite athletes leave the sport in healthier conditions physically and emotionally.

As for my daughter, I don't think that she'll be affected. I'm determined to help change the Elite scene for the better, and if Carmen chooses to pursue an Olympic Dream, it will be a healthier environment for her. The collegiate gymnastics scene is a perfect example of how high level gymnastics can be an enjoyable experience. Our elite program needs to take a page from the NCAA programs' book!

2016: CHICAGO BELIEVES!

I recently attended a special event in Chicago at Millenium Park to celebrate the city's bid to host the 2016 Olympic games. Here are some of my photos!

Good luck to my new friend, Anjali J. Forber-Pratt! She is a paralympic Track and Field athlete representing the United States in Beijing!