The Olympics are coming! The Olympics are coming!

Oh Man. I just checked www.london2012.com and the Olympics are 23 days away!  Truly, I heart the Olympics.  And I heart my favorite sport even more...gymnastics!!!

Yeah!!  It's gonna be so fun.  I will be here in good ol' New Zealand for the 2012 Games rooting for the USA Gymnastics team.  And some other gymnasts that have been on the international radar for the past few years.  One in particular has been on the radar since the '92 Barcelona Olympics.  Oksana Chusovitina originally competed for the Unified Team in 1992, then her home country Uzbekistan for a few Olympics, and now she competes for Germany where she trains and lives...with her son!  Yup, she's also a mother.  And she won a medal on vault at the Beijing Olympics.  And she could very possibly win another in London - talk about INSPIRATION!  Here on Youtube is Oksana competing in the event finals on Vault just at last years worlds.


The US team was named just a few days ago.  The actual team is of no surprise, really.  The five girls who were named - Jordyn Weiber, Mckayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, and Kyla Ross have been on most people's list for a few months now.  They have the difficulty and scores to bring the most medals home.

Men's and Women's teams, including alternates
*Photo courtesy of  www.usa-gymnastics.org 

Perhaps the biggest surprises were the named alternated - or replacement athletes seems to be the term of the day.  Though Elizabeth Price was expected after her performance in Trials (she places 4th overall), she made a more promising showing (at least to the casual gymnastics fan) on the Elite scene just at the National Championships a few weeks ago.  Talk about potential! On Youtube, here is Elizabeth on floor at the US National Championships a couple weeks ago.

Anna Li was also named.  She is not quite as old as Ms Chusovitina (born 1975), but at 23, she is not a newbie to the sport either.  She had a great competitive career at UCLA before deciding to hop back on the elite training program and oiala!, she's now an alternate for the 2012 Olympics specializing in a fantastic bars routine, if needed.  Here is her incredible bars routine at the National Championships.

Sarah Finnegan is the remaining alternate, and in my opinion was the most expected out of the three named.  She is also young and fairly new to the well-known athletes in the elite scene.  She is known for her beautiful lines and form and would contribute mostly on beam and floor if one of the other girls got injured.  One of her lovely beam routines a couple weeks ago.  

So, if you know me well, you know I LOVE gymnastics.  Like to the max (I don't think blog has ever known this, surprsingly).  My go to sites are The Couch Gymnast, and USA Gymnastics...though there are plenty of others.

I do love other sports as well and find plenty of other athletes inspiring as ever.  In fact, I will also be rooting for fellow North Gwinnett High School graduate, Kibwe Johnson, in the hammer throw.  How exciting!  I remember watching him in awe while he'd practice the discus in high school.  It was genuinely amazing how far he could hurl that thing...and now he has channelled his talents and drive and has trained through the years to become an Olympian - big Congratulations and best of luck!!

There are so many inspiring stories.  Perhaps those individuals will be the theme of my blog during London 2012.  Way to celebrate inspiration!!