Grace Taylor - 2005 Friendship Classic Beam

(This is the meet that Tatiana Nabieva competed at when she was TEN!)

Ekaterina Lobaznyuk - 1999 Worlds Team Finals (Beam)

I love this little trickster! She even did that glance to the side that she also did at Sydney 2000. In Sydney I thought she was looking to the coach (she fell) but now that I’ve seen her do it twice, I wonder if she wasn’t checking time or something? Anyways, she’s great! 9.6 seems low to me! Also - those leotards are hideous! I’ve never been a fan of white bodies on the leo, because usually they’re a bit see-through, but the polka dots are so 90s and just awful, haha!

In the midst of all the VISA’s hype, believe it or not I actually managed to watch a non-USA gymnast do some gymnastics! Here’s one of my favorite Ukrainians Yana Demyanchuk on beam at the recent Universiade meet. I first saw Yana at the 2009 WOGA Classic when she was just a teeny little thing, along with Nataliya Kononenko and Yevheniya Cherniy (who then had Jordyn Wieber’s new fx music…so THERE, John Geddert, Mr. “I’ve Never Heard This Music Before!”). OK anyways….this is a pretty awesome routine! Hope you enjoy!

This little girl, Krystal Nelson, is a level 7 from Midwest Twisters. Can’t get over her cheesin all over the place during her awesome beam routine, haha! Awesome solid back handspring - you go girl!

Dredging up a gem from Gymnastike’s past - it’s Workout Wednesday Beam with Nastia! She is amazing. Love her.

WOW. 

Here’s Gabriela Dragoi on beam at the 2009 Romanian International. A very nice, steady routine. I really like her turns combination and the aerial-side somi connection!

This routine caught my eye while I was watching the 2010 Commonwealth Games. It’s India’s Dipa Karmakar on beam. Now, this is by no means the best routine ever done, but I really admire her for being so ambitious in this routine! She started off with a really great back handspring-layout, showing some good difficulty, and followed it up with a solid switch leap-back tuck combination. I was impressed! After all, some of their gymnasts don’t have the most difficulty or best execution, but you’ve gotta respect them, they went out in front of their home fans and did their best! Dipa came off the beam on her punch front tuck, but then nailed one from almost standing, which was impressive. Nice wolf full, and a gainer layout off the end to finish. This is a great foundation that I hope she will build on for future routines!

OK seriously….this routine is incredible! I dare you to find one wobble! A very nicely done routine by Canada’s Kate Richardson at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. I really love the two front aerial combination, and the backhandspring 3/4…..on par with Pavlova’s! So nice….and to cap it all off, stuck dismount!