MCSMaria's Artistic Gymnastics Blog

The makers of the Pro Gymnastics Challenge announced yesterday via their Facebook page that the PGC is returning. The event is said to return in the spring, although the event creators do not have a specific venue in mind just yet. More specific details will be posted at a later date. The PGC was created by ESPN who created the X-Games in an attempt to make gymnastics more popular with a wider range of audiences.  One thing I do have to say is that  if Nastia Liukin returns for the sophomore PGC event, she's going to have to trademark her Nastia Hair Flip. While she's at it, maybe she should trademark "It was a Deltchev, NOT a GIENGER! IT'S A DELTCHEV!" ala Donald Trump, maybe with a little more success. Deltchevgate 2013 has been shared 'round the gymternet and oh how awesome, there's even a GIF. Nastia, it's time to start collecting some royalties! Will there be a Deltchevgate the sequel?

The inaugural Pro-Gymnastics Challenge concluded with some high flying skills...and a rope climb. Yes, the third night started with the rope climb challenge.

Night Two Pro Gymnastics Challenge started off on the vault. I was honestly shocked I did not see more Amanars, since in the past year, it's become the most ubiquitous vault in history. We did get to see Chuso in action.

The much hyped debut of the Pro Gymnastics Challenge has finally arrived. All this talk about "gymnastics as you've never seen it" piqued my attention for sure.  This is the deal. It's a skill for skill challenge, literally like the promos said. It's supposed to be in the spirit of X-Games and things like that. The format is two teams, seven rotations. Team USA vs Team World, which is exactly what NBC wants to make every televised international competition seem like, but I digress. Besides, this is ESPN and ESPN is actually owned by Buena Vista or ABC. That's beside the point. How it works: each team selects the gymnasts they want to compete on each event. It's not scored with the CoP you'd see at an FIG event. Each athlete performs a skill and the athlete from the defensive team must match the skill. The team that completes the skill the best, gets a point. The first team to get to six points, wins the rotation and a handsome $16,000. First ev...

ESPN released several promos for the up coming Pro Gymnastics Challenge, which will air on ESPN March 20, 21 & 22. This specific promo highlights Team World versus Team USA.

Former Olympian and current team NCAA champion for the Florida Gators, Marissa King and her teammate, Ashanee Dickerson are going to be showing their skills next weekend in a "Pro Gymnastics Challenge." Ashanee and Marissa will be competing with 9 other gymnasts in a "skill on skill" challenge that will be held May 10 & 11th. Per Forbes.com, this is the first event of it's kind and if it is a success ratings-wise, it could parlay into future events and possibility city by city tours.