My sister was like “what does a retired Pope do??? Go to Florida???” LOL

ahahaha!

I’ve had a few people asking me about this and I’m like “I have no idea! Being Italian doesn’t make me an expert on what the Pope does LOL” but I understand, I mean we get informed everytime the Pope does/say something, and even though I don’t care about it it’s kinda weird for me to know that that’s not normal in other countries 

Do you know more info about why the Pope quit? I heard nasty rumors but they haven’t been confirmed by reputable media outlets. Usagymnasticsorg on youtube uploaded Ohashi’s beam. See if you can watch it. :)

No, I have no idea and I’m super curious about it! The official reason of “I’m too old/tired” doesn’t convince me, but as far as I know there’s no other info about it, rumors yeah, but nothing specific (at least on italian news)

I’m finally able to watch on youtube, but I’ll go check Ohashi’s beam! Thanks!

dancingdingledodies replied to your post: How cute the girls in the mixed group taking a picture together :) And Seitz being disappointed (Germnay finished 9th) while Janine Berger (it was her right?) was smiling and waving at the camera :)

But Seitz made bars finals! :)

Yes! I’m so happy she did :) 

She was not really disappointed as in crying desperately but she was looking at the scores and was quite serious (even if they probably expected it) and Berger was right next to her with a huge smile and waving to the camera (she made vault final, so she has every reason to be happy) it was cute :)

dancingdingledodies replied to your post: From what I heard, Aly and Jordyn are rooming together, Kyla and McKayla are together and I don’t know who Gabby is rooming with. Also the “replacement atheletes” are coming down from Birmingham to London today

I think I read Gabby is by herself. Although if the alternates are there she will probably room with Anna?? The alternate situation is so confusing. Ana Lago was stranded in Paris (can i be stranded in Paris please?)…

dancingdingledodies replied to your post: From what I heard, Aly and Jordyn are rooming together, Kyla and McKayla are together and I don’t know who Gabby is rooming with. Also the “replacement atheletes” are coming down from Birmingham to London today

but it looks like they’re sending her to London. And she doesn’t know if she’s only a reserve for Elsa or for any individual athlete that gets injured. I mean if the athletes don’t even understand qualifiying rules YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG.

I already thought that the qualifying rules were awful but if even the gymnasts don’t understand them it’s even worse!

Anyway, as far as I know the alternates are not staying in the Olympic village, even if they go to London they’ll stay somewhere else…

dancingdingledodies said: SAME! I don’t understand this at all! And I can’t imagine Jade would throw away her chances at another Olympics after Beijing was so heartbreaking for her. What is going on? It’s so STUPID! Girls are getting injured left and right and you just throw it away?”

—-

Yes! There are gymnasts all over the world who would give anything to go to london, but they won’t go because they’re injuried, or didn’t qualify, or won’t make the team, and you just throw away your chance because of sponsors?
I’d really like to hear her side of the story, there has to be a pretty good reason to do this, on both sides…

dancingdingledodies replied to your post: A few updates on the Italian team

What is it with Italian gymnasts joining the army?

I don’t know how it works in other countries, I’m not even sure how it works in Italy, but here athletes of any sport can choose to join the army, the navy, the police etc so they can have a salary and this allows them to keep training and competing without having to be financially supported by their family (or having to find a job which is obviously difficult when you spend all your time training), most athletes get some money from their federations but not much, I remember the gymnast Enrico Pozzo (one of the best in Italy) saying that he received about 500€/month from the Italian gymnastics federation. 

The Italian girls are in the Army, most of the guys and the girls of the rhythmics team are part of the Italian Air Force, I guess it’s the equivalent of “going pro” except they’re not paid by sponsors but they basically become state employees, here there aren’t many sponsors interested in athletes from “minor” sports unless you’re a superstar (like “Olympic gold winner” superstar). Clubs are usually sponsored by local companies but nothing huge.

dancingdingledodies replied to your post: I think Gabby can win if she hits all 4 events!…

I’m still rooting for a Russian or Iordache to take AA. I’m pretty much convinced the Americans will win team. :( So I’m hoping the AA goes the Russians way. If not Iordache is literally the cutest so I want her to take it.

I’m not Iordache’s biggest fan, I like her but I’m not in love with her. I would be happy if she were on the Olympic podium, though… And then there’s the chinese, we never know what they’re up to during the year but they usually have great routines (tendency to fall, too), so we probably should just count them out of the podium, if everyone hits it will be a very exciting competition!

The US looks like the strongest team now but I totally root for Russia for team gold, I hope they can make it! This weekend there’s the Russian Cup so we can have a better idea of where they are in their preparation, even if they have weird bonus scores so it will be pretty much impossible to compare their scores with other competitions… 

dancingdingledodies replied to your post: Unpopular opinions time!

Grishina alone has more artistry than the whole american team (except for a few exception, Kyla Ross NOT being one) - hahahaha perfect commentary!!! I really don’t see the “international look” they refer to when talking about her.

I guess it’s because of her lines? She has good execution, nice amplitude, pointed feet (!!!!) and maybe that makes her more “interesting” internationally than someone like Aly Raisman, and on bars and beam I can see it, but on floor I don’t find her that special, I prefer Sarah Finnegan or even Jordyn, who is not elegant but has a choregraphy suited to her and she interprets it (she’s not Grishina but she works with her strenghts), if they gave Kyla a more upbeat music (or just a less dramatic one) maybe it would be different

dancingdingledodies replied to your photo: I still haven’t figured out how to make gifs look…

I don’t even have a program to make gifs on! lol

I use Photoshop, but there are other programs, I looked for a tutorial on how to make gifs and everyone uses different programs :)

dancingdingledodies reblogged your post: I just watched VT and UB finals from Euros

IZBASA APPRECIATION FOR LIFE!…just love her so much!!!! She became a vaulter AFTER a…

I kinda agree about Komova’s routine, I don’t hate it but some parts are just… weird, like that half turn she does before the dismount, it’s like “ooops I’m going the wrong way, I’ll just add this ugly turn here and dismount”.

I also think that the comment about the “incredible rage” or whatever it was has been misinterpreted/mistranslated, but it was a fun comment LOL it’s just the reactions to it that have been over the top!

I can definitely see the similarity between Musty and Alicia, I never thought about it but now that you mention it I can see it. 

I love the Ukranians too, I really hope they can go back to being one of the strongest teams, I can’t believe they didn’t qualify as a team for London!