NCAA may change women's gymnastics championships

Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS -- The NCAA women's gymnastics committee is recommending changes to the national championship format: It wants four teams to compete in the finals instead of the current six.

According to a proposal disclosed last week, byes would be eliminated and the competition would be shortened, something the committee believes would make the event more appealing to fans and television.

Thirty-six teams would still compete at regionals and 12 would still advance to the championship round.

Other recommended changes include counting the score of each gymnast on each apparatus toward the team's final score, instead of throwing out the lowest of the six individual scores. The format would only be used in regional and national championships.

The changes still need final approval before they would be implemented in 2011.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

IOC monitoring case against China's 2000 gymnasts

Associated PressLAUSANNE, Switzerland -- The International Olympic Committee said it will take "necessary measures" if gymnastics officials determine that China used two underage gymnasts at the 2000 Summer Games.

The investigation into Dong Fangxiao and Yang Yun's eligibility has been turned over to a disciplinary commission, the International Gymnastics Federation announced Tuesday. If they are found to be underage, the commission could recommend sanctions to the FIG's executive committee.

But it would be up to the IOC to determine what, if anything, to do about the medals China won in Sydney. The Chinese women won the bronze team medal, and Yang was the bronze medalist on the uneven bars.

"The IOC will take necessary measures upon the decision of the FIG disciplinary commission," IOC spokeswoman Sandrine Tonge said Wednesday. "We're following the case and awaiting their findings."

Questions about Dong and Yang's ages arose during the FIG's investigation into the eligibility of several members of China's team that won the gold medal at the Beijing Games. The 2008 gymnasts were cleared in October, but the FIG said it wasn't satisfied with "the explanations and evidence provided to date" for Dong and Yang.

The gymnasts are suspected of being as young as 14 in Sydney. Gymnasts must turn 16 during an Olympic year to be eligible to compete.

The disciplinary commission, formed last week, has already received all of the evidence and met once. Its decision is expected by September, at the latest.

Neither Yang nor Dong could be contacted by The Associated Press on Wednesday. Calls to Yang's cell phone number were answered by a "cannot be connected" message, while Dong's number is no longer in use.

Zhou Qiurui, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Gymnastics Association, said the association had received a notice from the FIG and was willing to cooperate, but did not have any details on how that would be done.

"Lu Shanzhen, the deputy director of our association who is in charge of the women's team, is not in Beijing," Zhou said.
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Associated Press researcher Xi Yue in Beijing contributed to this report.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

Catching Up with Chellsie Memmel

06/10/2009
Chellsie Memmel was a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team that won the team silver medal in Beijing, China. At the 2006 World Championships, Memmel helped her team earn the silver medal, but had to withdraw from the all-around and individual event finals due to a shoulder injury. She missed most of 2007 while recovering from that injury. At the 2005 World Championships, Memmel became the first U.S. woman to win the all-around gold medal since Shannon Miller in 1994. She also finished second on both the uneven bars and balance beam.


Memmel burst into the spotlight in 2003 when she was named to the Pan American Games Team and won five medals, including team and all-around gold. An alternate to the 2003 World Championships Team, she was placed into the lineup after injuries and illness to three team members. Memmel played a vital role in securing the team gold medal, earning the highest all-around marks of any team member during team finals. She went on to tie with teammate Hollie Vise as the world uneven bars co-champion.
USA Gymnastics recently caught up with Chellsie to see what she has been doing since she returned from China.


What is your favorite memory from China?Probably standing on the awards stand with the other girls. That was amazing. We went through a lot of hardship there, a lot of injuries, but we still pulled it together and came home with the silver.
How has life changed since the Olympic Games?There’s a little more recognition. I did the tour and then have been traveling a little bit on the weekends to do appearances. But other than that, it’s just kind of quiet.


What has been your favorite thing you have done since the Olympic Games?I think the tour has been my favorite. It was just totally different from anything I’ve ever done. We were able to be relaxed and more at ease instead of totally focused on the competition. It brought everyone closer, which was really cool.


Have you had a break since you returned from the Olympic Games?
I went to Mexico in January with my sister and one of our friends from the gym.
What are your plans for the rest of 2009?I would still like to compete this year, so my plans are to get back into training and into shape. My ankle still is not fully healed, but it just needs rest.


Did being an alternate on the 2004 Olympic Team motivate you during the following four years to make the 2008 team?
That was a huge part of my wanting to make the Olympic Team because I was an alternate in 2004. That’s why I stuck around, because I wanted to be ON the team.


What was your timeline to get ready for the 2008 Olympic Team Trials?
We put together a plan after the Visa Championships in 2007 when I didn’t make the World (Championships) Team. We went back home and put together a training plan that spaced things out a little bit more for me to be ready for the Games.


Of all the places to which you have traveled, what has been your favorite?
It’s difficult. I definitely loved Hawaii when we did a competition there, and I’m also a big fan of Europe.


What do you like most about gymnastics?
I like everything. I love competing and representing my country – that’s probably the most fun that I have. I like training, too, and learning new skills. I like all of it!


What is your favorite childhood gymnastics memory?
I just remember running around the gym and having fun. Just kind of throwing skills here and there and playing around.


You bought a house in 2008. What’s it like being on your own?
I like being out on my own. It’s just a place I can go to relax and not have anything around me, just be on my own time. In the gym, I’m with my entire family so when I go home, I have time for myself. But I still spend a lot of time with my family. I think it’s a good balance for me.


Have you thought much about your plans for after you retire from competitive gymnastics?
After I retire, I definitely want to go to school. I put that off to train and travel so I could focus. I want to go to school and not worry about the training and traveling schedules.


Do you have any schools in mind?
I do think I would want to stay close to home. There are some great colleges really close. If not, I can always start here and transfer somewhere else if I wanted to.


Do you know what you want to study?
No, not really. I’ll start out with all the general classes, but probably something with business. If I do end up working at the gym or taking over eventually, that would be a good degree to have.

USA Gymnastics is the National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of gymnastics in the United States, consistent with the Amateur Sports Act of 1978,the Constitution of the United States Olympic Committee and the International Gymnastics Federation. The mission of USA Gymnastics is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of gymnastics.USA Gymnastics, 132 E. Washington St., Suite700, Indianapolis, IN 46204Phone: 317-237-5050; Fax: 317-237-5069; Member Services: 1-800-345-4719

Longtime Nebraska gym coach Allen retiring

Associated PressLINCOLN, Neb. -- Francis Allen, who coached two U.S. Olympic teams and won eight NCAA men's gymnastics championships in 40 years at Nebraska, announced his retirement Thursday, saying the Cornhuskers' program needs new leadership.
The 66-year-old Allen was the youngest college gymnastics coach in the nation when he was hired in 1969, and he'll leave July 1 as the oldest.
He was the Olympic coach in 1980, when the Americans boycotted the Moscow Games, and again in 1992 in Barcelona.
His eight national championships rank second in NCAA men's gymnastics history behind the nine won by Penn State's Gene Wettstone.
"It is almost impossible to measure the impact Francis has had, not only on the sport of gymnastics but also on the lives of many young men," USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny said. "His legacy is well-secured within USA Gymnastics and the history of this sport. He's been a leader, a pioneer and someone who cared deeply about the development of gymnastics."
Athletic director Tom Osborne said Thursday that Allen would help search for a new coach.
Born in Cleveland, Allen grew up in Lincoln and competed for Jack Geier, the only other gymnastics coach Nebraska has had since 1950.
"I couldn't have imagined coming here out of high school that I would have the opportunity to work with conference champions, national champions and Olympians," Allen said. "There has been a lot of ups and down, but it has all been worth it."
Allen said it's time to turn the program over to a younger coach.
"I have old ways and I am set in those ways," he said, "and I am used to dealing with kids from a little different generation."
Nebraska captured NCAA titles for five straight seasons, from 1979 to 1983. The Huskers also won team championships in 1988, 1990 and 1994.
The early '80s marked squads were led by Jim Hartung, Scott Johnson and Phil Cahoy, all of whom competed on the gold medal-winning 1984 Olympic team.
"Throughout the '80s he had a number of guys who were always competing for the highest possible opportunity internationally," said Oklahoma coach Mark Williams, who competed for Allen at Nebraska from 1977-80. "We had almost a dynasty in the early '80s, specifically with those three guys."
Allen's teams also earned seven national runner-up finishes. From 1979-95, Nebraska finished either first or second at the NCAA meet 15 times. Including the 2009 season, the Huskers have competed in 25 of the last 31 NCAA championships, advancing to the finals 16 times.
Williams, who has won five national titles at Oklahoma, said Allen has never been hesitant to offer advice, even to his opponents.
"He once told my wife that he figured the wins I had were at least partly his, too, since he developed me," Williams said. "He could look at it that way, even when some of my teams started beating his. He's a legend. I hate to see him not be out there day-to-day with gymnasts."
Allen's athletes have earned 172 All-America awards, and 41 gymnasts have earned individual event titles. Seven of those individual titles came in the all-around from internationally known competitors like Hartung (1980-81), Wes Suter (1985), Tom Schlesinger (1987), Patrick Kirksey (1989), Dennis Harrison (1994), Richard Grace (1995) and Jason Hardabura (1999).
Hartung (1982), Suter (1986) and Schlesinger (1987) were also awarded the Nissen-Emery Award, given annually to the nation's top senior gymnast.
During the 1992 Olympics, Allen coached former Nebraska gymnast Trent Dimas to a gold medal with a 9.875 on the high bar. Dimas was the first U.S. gymnast to win a gold medal at a non-boycotted Olympic Games in 60 years.
Williams said Allen often expressed frustration with the politics that come with coaching gymnastics at the international level.
"He found a lot more pleasure working with his team and his guys with the goals they had in mind for Nebraska," Williams said.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
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