Anna Pavlova, one of my favorite gymnasts, performed a near perfect and totally beautiful floor routine during the All Around competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. As the BBC announcer described it, “captivating!” It really is. I just wish she had been able to perform this well during floor finals! So beautiful, I love love love this routine!

Teeny Anna Pavlova (RUS) churned out a brilliant routine at the 2001 Goodwill Games Event Finals.  Such a pretty angle on that press to handstand mount. That has to be one of the prettiest full twisting back handsprings ever, and I’ve decided a well-done one might just be my favorite beam skill! And check out that triple twist dismount! Sure there are some wobbles in this routine, but she was just a baby then, and all those big tricks make up for it :)

Baby Anna Pavlova (RUS) showed bucketloads of potential and oozed elegance, although she was just 12 years old! Here is an old floor exercise from 2002. Based on the clean tumbles she showed plus her great presentation, I’m not surprised she made the 2004 Olympic team! I love me some Anna Pavlova, and I really hope she continues to compete! She may be able to make the 2012 Olympic team, just maybe! Alternatively, she can switch allegiances and qualify for another country’s team :P