Maria Paseka celebrates a bronze medal in vault Yesterday's event finals provided a first opportunity for the specialists to gain medals in their preferred disciplines. In the women's competition, there was a surprise as America's McKayla Maroney, the outstanding favourite for the vault title, first stumbled, then fell to a lucky second place, leaving Romanian Sandra Iszbasa to take a well deserved gold medal in this event. Russia's Maria Paseka took a bronze medal. The result is not without controversy; how can a gymnast with a fall (Maroney) take a medal away from the Games when others in the final, noteably Germany's Janine Berger, managed to complete their two vaults and finish up on their feet both times? The freakish ability of Maroney to lift the Amanar vault - the means by which the American gymnasts have dominated this competition - meant that her final score here was too high. The Amanar has been overscored at these Games in general, its high st...
Reporting and analysing Russian gymnastics since 2010. Includes original and exclusive interviews with leading coaches and gymnasts, and historical issues dating back to the Soviet Union. The first blog to report extensively on the sport using Russian language sources. I read, I argue, and I have opinions. Be warned.