Shawn on TV

Here is Shawn making a cameo appearance on "Secret Life of The American Teenager"

Girl got attitude....
How do you rate her acting skills? I thought it was going well untill the "call me" line - somehow a flirtacious Shawn makes me feel a little uncomfortable...
Nastia will be appearing on Gossip Girl soon - I wonder who will be the best actress?

You have to see this....

Ever heard of the 1993 Subaru World Cup?


You have now!
If that priceless gem of a video doesnt make you die laughing then I dont know what will! (thanks to NastiaFan101 who posted this hilarious footage on the wwwgym.com forums). And I had thought that some of Nastia's gala routines were cheesy....
Whoever knew that Valeri Liukin was such a showman? I particularly enjoyed the caveman pommel horse routine.
I wish mens gymnastics was always performed to music - it would cetainly up the entertainment level.

Code Changes

I will complete this entry soon - but first I need to research the code which is confusing me to death right now and I dont think i'll ever understand it!
Bear with me - ill have code updates and what not uploaded ASAP

Weathering the Media Storm

If the floods of press and media releases are anything to go by, all around WAG champion Nastia Liukin is having the time of her life after returning home from the Beijing with some seriously blinging hardwear.

So now all we need to do is sit back, relax and watch the new 'it girl' celebrate (while earning some serious cash) in style. Heres a brief lowdown of some of Nastia's adventures post Beijing.

• Sponsorships and corporate interest are coming in thick and fast. Vanilla Star Jeans have enlisted Liukin as their new poster girl for the Smart Girls Rock campaign.


• The band Saving Jane have dedicated their single, Supergirl to Nastia. Now, Nastia and Saving Jane have released a commerorative charity version, where 10% of the proceeds go to breast cancer charity, the Susan G. Komen foundation.


• Nastia has appeared on Jay Leno, many radio shows (including a pretty funny interview on Kidd Kraddick) and is soon to be a guest on Nickelodeon and Oprah. Milk it while you can, Nast!


• Rumour has it that Nastia is set to appear in a (seemingly straight to DVD) movie called Chalk it Up featuring comedian Mario Cantone (who I have never heard of). Well, she may be budding actress but this news sets the alarm bells ringing, much like it did when Carly Patterson launched her oh-so successful music career.

'Princess Liukin' was even awarded a giant pink gummi bear as a present from candyship.com (gummi bears are apparantly Nastia's favourite type of candy?) How cool is that?

Nastia was featured in a short segment for access hollywood where she dined at celeb hangout Beso, Eva Longorias retaurant. Lets hope Nast isnt going all Hollywood on us. Theres a video doing the rounds on the gossip pages of a glammed up Nastia being escored away from teenage fans by an over zealous publisist.

• Nastia also has a grip, wristband and clothing collection available at gymsupply.com. I wonder if they are selling like hot cakes? I can only imagine that they must be flying off the shelves. It seems that everyone wants a piece of Nastia!


• There are also rumours that several book companies have approached Nastia to release an autobiographical book, as well as a guide to healthy eating, fitness and lifestyle for girls.


• She got the Wheaties Box! (thanks to a kind reader who informed me I had forgotten this one!) And shes not sharing with Shawn! (although a big part of me wants to see Shawn sign an exclusive deal with a rival brand because if that big grin cant shift cereal boxes I dont know what can)

Nastia's agent, Evan Morganstein seems to be doing a pretty amazing job with the new golden girl of the games. Thankfully, Nastia seems to be steering well clear of the Carly route (as in frozen deep fried meat ads) and, perhaps more importantly the Ponor/Khorkina route (although I am sure that Russian playboy are slightly less pleased about this).

I look forward to seeing what the future entails. Lets just hope it involves a few more gold medals in gymnastics, because its in gym, not showbiz, that Nastia is a true star.

Olympic Roundup

Apologies for the time delay in posting....
As far as I am concerned, the gymnastics showcased at these Olympic Games has been some of the best and most difficult ever seen. Heres a few of my highlights...

• China. OK, they may have raised some contoversial questions but I was blown away by their gymnastics. I really thought they would crack under the pressure but they (mostly) performed like true champions.
• Bridget Sloan. She really proved her worth for team USA.
• Nastia winning the AA. She is a breath of fresh air in gymnastics. The one and only Svetlana Khorkina seemed to agree.
• Sandra Izbasa winning the FX. Her routine may not be artistically spectacular, but she performed the routine of her life. I was happy to see her step out from Steliana Nistor's shadow
• Romania winning bronze in the WAG TF. Never, ever underestimate the Romanian team.
• A Hamm lacking USA MAG team taking a bronze. Never count out the underdogs.
• Yang Yilin's bars. Sort out the dodgy kips and I would give her a perfect 10.
• Shawn winning the beam. A gold medal was the perfect end to a great year for the 4'9 powerhouse.
• Oksana C. Olympic silver medallist in her thirtys. Amazing.
• Lewis Smith's bronze medal. Making Olympic history for team GB!

And a few lows....

• (Edit) Daria Joura. She is not my favourite gymnast (that psychotic salute drives me crazy) but I still feel extremely bad that her Olympics dreams were crushed before she even had a chance to prove herself. She was an outside AA prospect and I wish her luck for the future. I am sure she will come out smiling in competitions to come.
• Russias WAG team. They threw away a medal. Such a pity.
• Anna Pavlova. Screw the vault judges for giving her second vault a 0.00. Screw the beam judges for robbing her of a bronze. It seems the Olympics were never Anna's destiny (god I sound like an NBC fluff). Such a shame.
• Cheng Fei. Who ever would have guessed that the most experienced competitior on the team would have 3 falls. I could cry for her.
• The UB EF. Fair enough, He Kexin won. But why oh why did it have to be a tie breaker? Talk about bad luck for Nastia.
• China's leotards. They looked nice enough, but they wore the exact same one for every event!
• Diego Hypolito and Marian Dragulescu. The pain of messing up in event final...Better luck next time guys (please carry on)
• Alicia. Sorry but it had to be said. Shame she had to end her career with a sub par performance and bad luck (and judging) in VT EFs.
• Chellsie and Sam P. Should have done better. Could have done better. DAMN INJURIES!
• Shayla Worley. I wish she was competing. However Her blog on Inside Gymnastics in pretty contoversial "Nastia performed a beautiful routine, better than the under-aged Chinese girl". Ever heard of innocent until proven guilty? I hope she doent get sued for libel?
  

And heres some thoughts about the future...

As far as I can tell, the Chinese public seem to love Shawn (possibly due to her Chinese coaches), as is clearly indicated in this Beijing2008.cn article. Apparently, Johnsons legend has "only just begun" however if she decides to quit after finally becoming the Olympic beam champion her legend could be over just as quickly as it started. I would like to see her and Nastia compete in the London 2009 Worlds. All Nastia needs is a world AA title to complete her near impeccable competition record.

I think that Shawn has a lot more to give to the sport - shes still young, enthusiastic and injury free. I just hope that she doesnt get carried away in the media storm following the games, and does decide to give up gymnastics completely, a la Carly Patterson. I would like to see her learn a second vault, do some serious stretching and improve her bars. If she could manage this I doubt she would have any problems in becoming a world champion again.

Although Shawn has said that she intends to compete again after the 'Olympic experience', I feel this comment was partly down to her losing the AA. Now she is an Olympic Champion, I cant help but wonder if she will stay 100% true to her word.

Im gunning for Sam Shapiro to become the new "Nastia" (NOT the new Mary Lou aka Mary Who?)

Izbasa should stick around. I hope that Anna Pavs does to (although this is doubtful). I hope the Chinese can continue their success away from home.

But in the meantime...

Bring on London 2012!

Shawns Sweaty Secrets

OK, maybe I am being immature, but does anyone else find this hilarious?

Shawn endorsing 'Secret Deodorant'

(press play to hear Shawns anti sweat tips)

Is that a sweat patch I can see? Good job shes started using 'Secret' to elimate odour and dampness! Or maybe not....

Sorry, I know I am being really mean. I just hate cheesy advertising and endorsement. Shawn, you are still a sweetheart and I hope you win the beam EFs (well, you, Nastia, Anna Pavlova, Cheng Fei or Li Shanshan because I love them too)

Womens AA Final

Congratulations to Nastia Liukin, the Beijing 2008 Olympic AA gold medalist!

The results for the competition are as follows (via NBColympics)

Liukin had an incredible competition and she deserved that gold medal more than anyone. She has had an exraordinary career, and she has finally proven that she is the very best in the world .

A lot of people (including myself) had written Liukin off as an AA gymnast during 2007, when a severe ankle injury resulted in a string of disappointing competitions. However, at the 2007 Worlds in Stuttgart, Germany Nastia proved that she was making an almighty comeback, despite a defeat from her team mate - the 16 year old powerhouse, Shawn Johnson.

Liukin began the 2008 season well, defeating Johnson at the American Cup and proving to everyone that she was still a force to reckoned with. After inishing in 2nd place behind Johnson at nationals and trials, and then qualifying into the all around in 2nd place, the U.S.A's golden girl Shawn Johnson was considered to be the favourite heading into the AA finals. However, Liukin hit every routine with near perfect presicion, great execution and difficulty to match and finally claimed the most desirable gold medal in the sport.

In my AA prediction, I mentioned that I thought that Shawn was the superior all arounder. However, after watching Nastia and Shawn go head to head for the most coveted title in womens gymnastics I had a change of heart. They both have great strengths, and they both have weaknessess but Nastia ultimatley prevailed, and she was the deserving champion.

"I came through so many battles and so many injuries, standing next to the podium and hearing Olympic champion next to my name was a dream come true." (via Reuters)

Thanks for keeping gymnastics beautiful Nastia!

Anyway, aside from my soppy "ode to Nastia", heres are a few of my quick summarys from the AA competition...

• This competition was way more exiting than Athens, and Nastia and Shawn are way better than Carly was in 2004.
• Shawn Johnson did a really great job. I dont think she could have given it any more, and she should be proud of her performance. It was clear that she was disappointed and upset but I thought she coped admirably and with a smile. Silver must hurt, but hopefully she will stick around for a bit longer to prove herself again.
• Nastia's 1 1/5 yurchenko stuck vault was gorgeous (and a bit underscored in my opinion). Nastia also hit the floor routine of her life, and her landings were pretty much spot on. I think that you can forgive a bit of led twisting and cowboying when a routine looks that beautiful.
• Yang Yilin has the most gorgeous bars set ever. I absolutley love this gymnast and I think that she has a lot of potential to get even better. Without the minor wobbles on BB, I think she would have clinched the silver.
• Shawn was very very lucky to get her ropey amanar credited.
• Jiang Yuyuan was not her best at this meet, but I still believe that she has a lot more to offer and could have medalled with a hit.
• Anna Pavlova was graceful and stylish as always. Her FX was one of the highlights of the competition. Ksenia Semonova was a pleasant surprise too. Her BB is fantastic.
• I actually loved Nastias bubblegum leo and I think pink is her lucky colour - she seems to win every time she wears it.
• Steliana Nistor had a good meet too, and I am glad to see her get fairer B scores this time around.
• Go Oksana C. What a great top 10 finish. The woman is a legend.

So now we have EFs to look forward to! Will Nastia become a multiple champion, will the Chinese dominate, and will Shawn return home with a gold medal?