A. Germany and South Africa Announced Their Universiade Teams
Germany and South Africa have announced their rosters for the 2023 Universiade in Chengdu China. Germany is sending a full team including Willi Binder, Carlo Hörr, Alexander Kunz, Mika Säfken, and Moritz Müller. This is a relatively inexperienced team on the international level with Hörr serving as the veteran having competed at the World Championships in 2021 as well as a handful of World Cups.
South Africa is sending two athletes: Luke James and Ruan Lange. James is a power gymnast who was a staple in floor and vault line-ups at the University of Nebraska. Lange is an up-and-coming gymnast who has represented South Africa at the Youth Olympic Games and the 2019 Jr. World Championships.
Both Müller (Germany) and James (South Africa) represent the University of Nebraska during the NCAA season. They join Team USA's Taylor Christopulos bringing the total number of Husker Gymnasts competing at the Games to three.
An updated list of athletes competing at the FISU Games can be found here.
B. Central American and Caribbean Games
The Central American And Caribbean Games held in San Salvador wrapped up the gymnastics portion of the Games this past week.
Having improved his all-around total by nearly five points in a year, Diorges Escobar (CUB) won the all-around with a 79.100. His performances on parallel bars and high bar gained the top scores of the day allowing him to edge out Audrys Nin Reyes by .200. In addition to his silver in the all-around, Nin Reyes (DOM) had a superb performance bringing home medals on pommel horse, vault, and high bar. Dilan Jimenez (COL) rounded out the all-around podium with a 78.150. See below for a medal breakdown by country!
Country | Medal Total |
Cuba | 6 |
Colombia | 5 |
Dominican Republic | 4 |
Mexico | 4 |
Venezuela | 2 |
Puerto Rico | 2 |
CCS (Guatemala)* | 1 |
C. NCAA Updates
The men's gymnastics program at the University of Oklahoma is hiring a new assistant coach and an athletic trainer.
Illinois Men's Gymnastics got a new floor, and
Michigan's Fred Richard launched a new clothing line.
E. FIG Proposed Changes for the 2025-2028 MAG Code of Points
The big news in the run-up to the Los Angeles Olympic Games is that the FIG is proposing to change the number of counting elements from ten to eight, which would bring the senior men's code in-line with the senior women, and junior men's code. The FIG is also attempting to increase artistry on floor by proposing a choreography sequence and a scale. Stick bonuses may also apply on all events except pommel horse.
Read the full overview of changes here.
F. Decorated Gymnasts Welcome New Babies
Artur Davtyan (ARM) and Andrey Medvedev (ISR) both welcomed baby girls to their families this week.
G. Draw for the 2023 World Gymnastics Championships
The FIG has announced the draw for the upcoming world gymnastics championships in Antwerp.
J. The roster for the U.S. Classic was announced.
Count them... 141 combined senior and junior athletes are slated to compete at the U.S. Classic outside of Chicago.
According to USA Gymnastics documentation, "Any USA Gymnastics athlete member 18 years of age or older (must be 18 in 2023) may enter the U.S. Classic with the intent of qualifying to the Senior Division at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships."
The competition is currently set to take place from 12:15 - 3pm EDT. Based on the current number of registrants, a second men's session may need to be created, or the session may need to be extended.
Find out who's competing here!
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Article by: Kensley Behel