Gymnastics

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How to Do a Backflip

Once you've mastered doing backflips with the help of only one person, the only logical step left now is to do it without any assistance whatsoever. Again, start by doing quick up and down squat motions with your legs, swinging your arms at the same time. After a count to three, spring up and repeat what you've been doing when you had the spotters around you.

Now three things can happen here: either you land on the ground with your hands and feet (didn't spin high and fast enough), you made perfectly, or landed on your feet and lost balance falling backwards (spun too fast). Either outcome, you may feel this adrenaline rush of excitement since you were able to do a backflip on your own. Don't let this get into your head and start doing it on concrete ground without thought. Always be well prepared before trying it again. Take quick, short breaks in between and in no time, it will become second nature for you.

updated 2010-07-17 08:32:11

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Anna Kotchneva

Anna Kotchneva is a world class gymnast who held the 1987 world rhythmic title. She is the mother of 2008 Olympics gold medal winner Nastia Liukin.

updated 2010-07-16 21:44:09

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Shawn Johnson Gold

• "Finally, I'll probably sleep with it, I'm so excited."—Shawn JohnsonBloomberg: Shawn Johnson Finally Gets Gold (August 19, 2008)

• "She came in with a possibility of winning a few gold medals, but that didn't happen. We were running out of chances and she did a great job."—U.S. coach Chow LiangBloomberg: Shawn Johnson Finally Gets Gold (August 19, 2008)

updated 2010-07-17 21:42:07

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Tyson American Cup 2009

"The 2009 Tyson American Cup has a longstanding legacy of showcasing the world's top gymnasts, and we are excited about celebrating the accomplishments of our former champions. Fans will see a great preview of some of the gymnasts to watch as the world prepares for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and have the opportunity to recognize some of the great athletes whose accomplishments have made this event what it is today. We encourage fans to come out and support the athletes competing, the former champions, and Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games."—Steve Penny, president of USA GymnasticsUSOC: 2009 Tyson American Cup Ficks Off New Quadrennium in Chicago

updated 2010-07-18 01:17:36

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Dominique Dawes

Following her Olympic career, Dawes served as president of the Women's Sports Federation from 2004 to 2006 and was the youngest president in the organization's history. In 2002, she was the first spokeswoman for the Girl Scouts of America's "Uniquely Me" self-esteem campaign. Because her younger brother is autistic, Dawes is active in Autism awareness campaigns and gives motivational speeches focusing on youth issues. She worked as a journalist for Yahoo! Sports at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

updated 2010-07-17 03:40:58

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Shawn Johnson Ortega Commercial

• YouTube: Shawn Johnson, Paul Hamm and Morgan Hamm Ortega Commercial (Time: 0:31)

updated 2010-07-17 21:42:08

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Rhythmic Gymnastics

Rhythmic gymnastics is an individual and team sport which mixes elements of dance, style and athleticism. Competitors must control and perform with one or more objects, such as a ribbon or ball. This object is referred to as an "apparatus". Competitors are judged on their overall execution, balance, performance, and handling.

On August 23, 2008, Russia's Evgeniya Kanaeva won the 2008 Olympic gold medal in the individual all-around rhythmic gymnastics competition with a total of 75.500 points. Inna Zhukova of Belarus took silver and Anna Bessonova of Ukraine won bronze.Reuters (India): Russia's Kanaeva wins rhythmic gold (August 23, 2008)

updated 2010-07-17 20:10:43

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Paul Hamm

"I have put my heart and soul into my comeback and done everything I could to get ready in time to compete in Beijing. At this point in time, the success of the team and fairness to the team, and the alternates, is most important. While I am very disappointed, I feel I can wait no longer to make this decision."SI.com: Olympic champ Paul Hamm out of time recovering from broken hand (July 28, 2008)

updated 2010-07-17 18:22:20

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Samantha Peszek

• 1991: Born on December 14

• 1993: Began training at DeVeau's School of Gymnastics in Fischers, Indiana

• 2004: Junior Olympic National Championships, all-around, second place

• 2004: Selected to her first U.S. National Gymnastics Team

• 2005: Visa Championships, vault, first place; floor exercise, second place

• 2006: U.S. Classic, vault and floor exercise, first place

• 2006: Visa Championships, vault, second place

• 2008: U.S. Olympic Team Trials, vault, second place

• 2008: Summer Olympics, team, silver medal

updated 2010-07-17 20:55:01

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