Should there be a cut-off for major international gymnastics competition? A couple of bar routines, Sarah El Dabagh from Denmark and Meenakshi from India, have made me think about that question.
Those routines, along with the floor routines performed by gymnasts from Sri Lanka at the 2003 World Championships, help to facilitate an interesting discussion in the gymnastics world: Should their be a skill-level cut-off? Compulsories (which I really do miss) used to take care of this question. While the elimination of those exercises might have expanded the number of countries that can compete internationally, when is the skill level just too low? Are these girls benefiting from representing their countries and competing on a large international stage (which is undeniably a huge honor)? Or do they feel embarrassed to be competing at this skill level when their routines are being compared to those of gymnasts such as He Kexin?
This issue affects other Olympic sports as well, most famously, Eddie the Eagle and Eric the Eel. Though Eric the Eel was undeniably inspiring, should the Olympics be the showcase for these types of performances? Or should they only show the best in the sport?
Personally, I think it is great to see athletes from non-traditional countries compete internationally. I do question at times if the World Championships and Olympics are the right place to showcase these routines. However, if competing in those events is what motivates the athletes, then I support it. I would love to hear your thoughts on the issue, so please comment below!
Showing posts with label Ski Jumping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ski Jumping. Show all posts
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Catching Up With Jessica Jerome
Jessica Jerome, a member of the Unites States' women's ski jumping national team, is a seven-time National Champion. She has notched 15 career podium finishes on the Continental Cup Circuit and finished 6th at the 2009 World Championships. Jerome was also one of 15 women from around the world to sue the Vancouver Olympic Committee in an attempt to add women's ski jumping to the Olympic program. I recently had a chance to talk with her about her ski jumping career and the future of her sport.
How did you first get into ski jumping?
I got into jumping when I was 7. The local club in Park City came to my school and handed out brochures. I started in a 1 day a week program.
When did you realize you could be an elite ski jumper?
Probably when I was 12. My mom sat me down and said you can do this and try to be good at it and take it seriously or just do it as a hobby. When I at the Junior Olympic age, my biggest goal was trying to qualify for Junior Olympics. I was training more frequently and competing in more domestic competitions. I competed overseas for the first time at 14.
What is competing on the Continental Cup circuit like?
I have been doing it for long time and want to see it improve. We have been coming to same hills for 10 years. They are too small and too outdated. It is the only international competition we have. It needs to be given a little bit of makeover, more up to date venues and bigger hills. Lots of the hills we jump in winter the guys don't compete on anymore, which is not good. There are three levels of competition for men and one circuit for women, meaning that it is one size fits all. It is hard for lots of girls to get better when jumping with the best in world. If there was another competition aimed at less advanced girls, they could improve and come onto higher level circuit once ready. Sometimes we get to jump hills that are great. However, lots of the hills don't even have clubs that jump at them. The hills are only prepared the one weekend the girls are there. If they don't use them ever, why are they used for us?
Is there a women's Nordic Combined scene in the USA or internationally?
No, though when we were growing up and joined a [Nordic] club, we, and everyone else, did Nordic Combined. We messed around and played games. When we got older, we dropped cross country because we liked jumping more. Maybe there is a Nordic Combined scene at a club level, but jumping has to be developed internationally before there can be international Nordic Combined.
It will for sure happen eventually because cross country for women is really far along and developed internationally. Jumping is there as well but not recognized. Nordic Combined will happen eventually; it will be something kids grow up doing. They won't take ski jumpers and teach them how to cross country ski.
How do you balance school with competing in Europe?
I am on the 10-year plan with school. I take spring semesters off and take classes in the summer and fall in the US. In other places, for example in Lillehammar, they have a school in the same town as the ski jump. When I go to Europe, I stay in Europe for 3 weeks while the Norwegians can go in and out of countries for the weekend. It is impossible to go to school full time in the winter [for American athletes].
What do you think is the future of women's ski jumping?
I think it will go in the direction of all winter sports. It will be in the Olympics at some point, participation will rise, there will be a World Cup circuit. It will happen in time.
Do you think the sport will be included in the 2014 Olympics? Why?
I have no idea honestly. I hope it is, it is more than ready to be [in the Olympics]. Only positive things will come [from having women's ski jumping in the Olympics]. I am not the person that makes those decisions. I don't know yet.
Do you think that the fact that boxing for women will finally be added to the Olympics in 2012 will help women's ski jumping be included or do you think it is a completely independent thing?
Both, they are completely separate because boxing is part of the Summer Olympics, but it could help though because the IOC wants to make men's participation levels more even. It is a step in right direction.
Do you think the IOC needs new leadership to give women's sports more equitable treatment?
There needs to be more women in the organization. It is lacking there. The leadership they have has been success on some issues but not others. New leaders would not necessarily be a bad thing but it won't happen anytime soon.
How did you first get into ski jumping?
I got into jumping when I was 7. The local club in Park City came to my school and handed out brochures. I started in a 1 day a week program.
When did you realize you could be an elite ski jumper?
Probably when I was 12. My mom sat me down and said you can do this and try to be good at it and take it seriously or just do it as a hobby. When I at the Junior Olympic age, my biggest goal was trying to qualify for Junior Olympics. I was training more frequently and competing in more domestic competitions. I competed overseas for the first time at 14.
What is competing on the Continental Cup circuit like?
I have been doing it for long time and want to see it improve. We have been coming to same hills for 10 years. They are too small and too outdated. It is the only international competition we have. It needs to be given a little bit of makeover, more up to date venues and bigger hills. Lots of the hills we jump in winter the guys don't compete on anymore, which is not good. There are three levels of competition for men and one circuit for women, meaning that it is one size fits all. It is hard for lots of girls to get better when jumping with the best in world. If there was another competition aimed at less advanced girls, they could improve and come onto higher level circuit once ready. Sometimes we get to jump hills that are great. However, lots of the hills don't even have clubs that jump at them. The hills are only prepared the one weekend the girls are there. If they don't use them ever, why are they used for us?
Is there a women's Nordic Combined scene in the USA or internationally?
No, though when we were growing up and joined a [Nordic] club, we, and everyone else, did Nordic Combined. We messed around and played games. When we got older, we dropped cross country because we liked jumping more. Maybe there is a Nordic Combined scene at a club level, but jumping has to be developed internationally before there can be international Nordic Combined.
It will for sure happen eventually because cross country for women is really far along and developed internationally. Jumping is there as well but not recognized. Nordic Combined will happen eventually; it will be something kids grow up doing. They won't take ski jumpers and teach them how to cross country ski.
How do you balance school with competing in Europe?
I am on the 10-year plan with school. I take spring semesters off and take classes in the summer and fall in the US. In other places, for example in Lillehammar, they have a school in the same town as the ski jump. When I go to Europe, I stay in Europe for 3 weeks while the Norwegians can go in and out of countries for the weekend. It is impossible to go to school full time in the winter [for American athletes].
What do you think is the future of women's ski jumping?
I think it will go in the direction of all winter sports. It will be in the Olympics at some point, participation will rise, there will be a World Cup circuit. It will happen in time.
Do you think the sport will be included in the 2014 Olympics? Why?
I have no idea honestly. I hope it is, it is more than ready to be [in the Olympics]. Only positive things will come [from having women's ski jumping in the Olympics]. I am not the person that makes those decisions. I don't know yet.
Do you think that the fact that boxing for women will finally be added to the Olympics in 2012 will help women's ski jumping be included or do you think it is a completely independent thing?
Both, they are completely separate because boxing is part of the Summer Olympics, but it could help though because the IOC wants to make men's participation levels more even. It is a step in right direction.
Do you think the IOC needs new leadership to give women's sports more equitable treatment?
There needs to be more women in the organization. It is lacking there. The leadership they have has been success on some issues but not others. New leaders would not necessarily be a bad thing but it won't happen anytime soon.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Weekend Update (Part 2)
Kanako Murakami won the women's figure skating junior world title, becoming the first Japanese woman to win the event since Mao Asada did in 2005. American Agnes Zawadzki was second and Russian Polina Agafonova was third. Christina Gao, my personal favorite out of the skaters, finished eighth after popping a jump in the short program.
Shani Davis won the final 1,000 meter race of the season over Stefan Groothius and Mark Tuitert. Davis finishes the season as the overall champion for all events as well as the overall champion at the 1,000 and 1,500. Christine Nesbitt took the women's 1,000 meter overall crown, finishing seventh in today's race won by Yekaterina Shikhova.
Erin Hamlin, Chris Mazdzer, Christian Niccum and Dan Joye won the titles at the US Luge Championships. The doubles team of Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin, who who finished second, announced their retirement following the competition. The team has been sliding together since 1996 and have competed in four Olympics together. Grimmette also competed in 1994 with a different partner.
Overall champion Simon Ammann won the final ski jumping competition of the season. In what has recently become an often recurring pattern, Adam Malysz was second. Martin Fourcade and Darya Domracheva won today's biathlon World Cup races. Anders Gloersen and Marit Bjoergen won today's cross country sprint races. Kikkan Randall finished second in the women's race. Petter Northug secured the men's overall title.
The teams led by Erika Brown and 2006 Olympic bronze medalist Pete Fenson won the curling national championships. Amy Wright's team, which included my friend Jordan Moulton, finished third.
At the indoor world track and field championships, Bernard Lagat won the 3,000 meters. Brittany Reese won the long jump. Teddy Tamgho set a world record in the triple jump while Dayron Robles and Veronica Campbell-Brown were also victorious.
Shani Davis won the final 1,000 meter race of the season over Stefan Groothius and Mark Tuitert. Davis finishes the season as the overall champion for all events as well as the overall champion at the 1,000 and 1,500. Christine Nesbitt took the women's 1,000 meter overall crown, finishing seventh in today's race won by Yekaterina Shikhova.
Erin Hamlin, Chris Mazdzer, Christian Niccum and Dan Joye won the titles at the US Luge Championships. The doubles team of Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin, who who finished second, announced their retirement following the competition. The team has been sliding together since 1996 and have competed in four Olympics together. Grimmette also competed in 1994 with a different partner.
Overall champion Simon Ammann won the final ski jumping competition of the season. In what has recently become an often recurring pattern, Adam Malysz was second. Martin Fourcade and Darya Domracheva won today's biathlon World Cup races. Anders Gloersen and Marit Bjoergen won today's cross country sprint races. Kikkan Randall finished second in the women's race. Petter Northug secured the men's overall title.
The teams led by Erika Brown and 2006 Olympic bronze medalist Pete Fenson won the curling national championships. Amy Wright's team, which included my friend Jordan Moulton, finished third.
At the indoor world track and field championships, Bernard Lagat won the 3,000 meters. Brittany Reese won the long jump. Teddy Tamgho set a world record in the triple jump while Dayron Robles and Veronica Campbell-Brown were also victorious.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Weekend Update (Part 2)
Swiss skier Dominique Grisin won today's women's Super-G, denying Lindsey Vonn her 33rd World Cup title. Vonn finished second and Julia Mancuso was third. Canadian Eric Guay won the men's Super-G. Hannes Reichelt of Austria was second and Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal and Switzerland's Tobias Gruenfelder tied for third. Michael Walchhofer of Austria still leads the Super-G overall standing, but Svindal and Guay could catch him in the final race. Carlo Janka of Switzerland is also only now only 46 points behind overall World Cup leader Benjamin Raich of Austria heading into the final weekend.
Swiss ski jumper Simon Ammann won his sixth world cup title of the season Sunday. Poland's Adam Malysz, the runner up to Ammann in both events at the Olympics, was second and Austrian Thomas Morgenstern was third. In cross country skiing, Norway 2 defeated Norway 1 in a World Cup relay in Finland. Germany beat Russia in a photo finish for third. Norway also won the women's relay followed by Germany and Italy. Maksim Burtasov of Russia won the title at the under 26 biathlon European Championships.
Aiko Uemura of Japan won a women's moguls world cup race this weekend. Canadian Jennifer Heil, the overall leader, was second and American Shannon Bahrke was third.
In the first modern pentathlon World Cup event of the season, David Svoboda of the Czech Republic won gold. Russia's Serguei Karyakin was second and Andrejus Zadneprovskis was third.
USA Cycling named its track cycling world championship team on Friday. The squad will be led by individual pursuit defending world champion Taylor Phinney. Daniel Holloway, Colby Pearce, and Giddeon Massie round out the rest of the men's squad. Sarah Hammer, Lauren Tamayo, Dotsie Bausch, and Shelley Evans were named to the women's team.
Also, feel free to comment on any of my entries. I would love to hear what readers are thinking!
Swiss ski jumper Simon Ammann won his sixth world cup title of the season Sunday. Poland's Adam Malysz, the runner up to Ammann in both events at the Olympics, was second and Austrian Thomas Morgenstern was third. In cross country skiing, Norway 2 defeated Norway 1 in a World Cup relay in Finland. Germany beat Russia in a photo finish for third. Norway also won the women's relay followed by Germany and Italy. Maksim Burtasov of Russia won the title at the under 26 biathlon European Championships.
Aiko Uemura of Japan won a women's moguls world cup race this weekend. Canadian Jennifer Heil, the overall leader, was second and American Shannon Bahrke was third.
In the first modern pentathlon World Cup event of the season, David Svoboda of the Czech Republic won gold. Russia's Serguei Karyakin was second and Andrejus Zadneprovskis was third.
USA Cycling named its track cycling world championship team on Friday. The squad will be led by individual pursuit defending world champion Taylor Phinney. Daniel Holloway, Colby Pearce, and Giddeon Massie round out the rest of the men's squad. Sarah Hammer, Lauren Tamayo, Dotsie Bausch, and Shelley Evans were named to the women's team.
Also, feel free to comment on any of my entries. I would love to hear what readers are thinking!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Women's Sports and the Olympic Games
The Olympics are the biggest stage for women in sports. Women's sports do not have a Superbowl or World Series and the men's World Cup generates far more attention than the women's. The Olympics are the stage on which female athletics get the same amount of attention as that of their male counterparts and, in some cases like figure skating and gymnastics, even outshining them. The Olympics promotes female sports and allows them to progress, or at least the Games are supposed to.
Following Vancouver, there has been lots of talk of removing women's hockey from the Winter Olympic program, mainly because no other countries can come close to challenging the United States and Canada. After seeing scores such as Canada's 18-0 defeat of Slovakia, it is easy to see where that idea comes from. However, more should be done to promote women's hockey throughout the world instead of just axing it. Throughout the world, women's hockey budgets cannot be compared to those of men's teams. Perhaps the biggest thing the women have going for them is that men's hockey is not going anywhere and they share venues.
The IOC eliminated softball from the Olympic program beginning in 2012. This was unfortunate because softball had been a sport that was developing internationally thanks to being a part of the Olympic program. Signs of parity finally began to emerge in Beijing as Japan upset the US 3-1 in the gold medal game. The Americans had easily won the three previous Olympic tournaments. It takes time for sports to develop.
As part of his reasoning for thinking about eliminating women's hockey, IOC president Jacques Rogge has said that the sport has been dominated by two countries and only two countries have won gold medals. Women's hockey has only been a part of the Olympics since 1998, 4 total Olympiads. Men's basketball has been a part of the Olympics since 1936. In 17 Olympiads, the US men have only lost 5 games (3 of which were in 2004) and won all but four gold medals (or 3 if you do not count the 1980 boycott). In fact, the US men won the first eight gold and, to my knowledge, no one suggested removing basketball from the Olympic program.
The IOC seems to hold a double standard. 39 women from 13 countries participated in women's ski jumping world championships last year, but the IOC did not think there was enough female participation internationally to include the sport in the Olympics. Female ski jumpers took their case for inclusion to Canadian courts, but, though the courts thought the women should be included in Vancouver, they decided against forcing the IOC to include them. According to a Sports Illustrated article, world champion Lindsey Van thinks that the IOC does not want to include her sport is because female jumpers jump similar distances to their male counterparts, thereby diminishing their accomplishments. Rogge has said that things look positive for women's ski jumping to be included in the 2014 Olympics. Van says that she heard the same thing in 2002 and 2006. Canadian IOC member Dick Pound has even gone as far as to fear that women's ski jumping will not be added in 2014 because these athletes embarrassed the IOC by suing them.
Women's sports need the Olympics to thrive. Sports like golf and tennis mixed doubles have replaced softball. This decision is particularly unfortunate because an Olympic gold medal will never be the highest prize available for a golfer or tennis player; these sports do not need the international exposure the Olympics provide. Four-time Olympian Angela Ruggiero, a member of the US women's hockey team, was recently elected to IOC athletes' commission. Hopefully she will be another strong voice for women at a critical time in a body controlled by European men.
Following Vancouver, there has been lots of talk of removing women's hockey from the Winter Olympic program, mainly because no other countries can come close to challenging the United States and Canada. After seeing scores such as Canada's 18-0 defeat of Slovakia, it is easy to see where that idea comes from. However, more should be done to promote women's hockey throughout the world instead of just axing it. Throughout the world, women's hockey budgets cannot be compared to those of men's teams. Perhaps the biggest thing the women have going for them is that men's hockey is not going anywhere and they share venues.
The IOC eliminated softball from the Olympic program beginning in 2012. This was unfortunate because softball had been a sport that was developing internationally thanks to being a part of the Olympic program. Signs of parity finally began to emerge in Beijing as Japan upset the US 3-1 in the gold medal game. The Americans had easily won the three previous Olympic tournaments. It takes time for sports to develop.
As part of his reasoning for thinking about eliminating women's hockey, IOC president Jacques Rogge has said that the sport has been dominated by two countries and only two countries have won gold medals. Women's hockey has only been a part of the Olympics since 1998, 4 total Olympiads. Men's basketball has been a part of the Olympics since 1936. In 17 Olympiads, the US men have only lost 5 games (3 of which were in 2004) and won all but four gold medals (or 3 if you do not count the 1980 boycott). In fact, the US men won the first eight gold and, to my knowledge, no one suggested removing basketball from the Olympic program.
The IOC seems to hold a double standard. 39 women from 13 countries participated in women's ski jumping world championships last year, but the IOC did not think there was enough female participation internationally to include the sport in the Olympics. Female ski jumpers took their case for inclusion to Canadian courts, but, though the courts thought the women should be included in Vancouver, they decided against forcing the IOC to include them. According to a Sports Illustrated article, world champion Lindsey Van thinks that the IOC does not want to include her sport is because female jumpers jump similar distances to their male counterparts, thereby diminishing their accomplishments. Rogge has said that things look positive for women's ski jumping to be included in the 2014 Olympics. Van says that she heard the same thing in 2002 and 2006. Canadian IOC member Dick Pound has even gone as far as to fear that women's ski jumping will not be added in 2014 because these athletes embarrassed the IOC by suing them.
Women's sports need the Olympics to thrive. Sports like golf and tennis mixed doubles have replaced softball. This decision is particularly unfortunate because an Olympic gold medal will never be the highest prize available for a golfer or tennis player; these sports do not need the international exposure the Olympics provide. Four-time Olympian Angela Ruggiero, a member of the US women's hockey team, was recently elected to IOC athletes' commission. Hopefully she will be another strong voice for women at a critical time in a body controlled by European men.
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