MCSMaria's Artistic Gymnastics Blog

After almost a year and a half out of international competition, Russian gymnast, Ksenia Afanasyeva returned to international competition at the DTB (Stuttgart) Cup. Ksenia, the 2011 Floor World Champion and the 2013 European Floor Champion, had been out of competition due to an ongoing injury that has plagued her since before last year's world championships in Antwerp, Belgium. Two surgeries and sixteen months later, she is back competition for Russia in the team competition at the DTB Cup, in Stuttgart, Germany.

Everyone's favorite floppy haired, medical student/ World and Olympic high bar champion is now a music video star. The band Kensington released their music video for their single "War" and the video is featuring Dutch gymnasts, Epke Wonderland, Bart Deurloo and Casimir Schmidt.

At the conclusion of the final 2014 National Team camp, USA Gymnastics welcomed back Olympic Gold medalists Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas to the national team.

Eight new skills were added to the FIG's code of points. These skills were submitted from athletes from all around the world. To get the skill named for them, the athlete had to complete the skill successfully (without a fall) at a World Championship or Olympic Games (Youth Olympic Games for Juniors). The element must also have a C or higher rating in order to have her name attached to it. In this post, I have listed the skills and the athlete who submitted the skill or whom it's being named for. When available, there are videos accompanying the name of the skill for reference.

Olivia Cimpian of Romania showed off a unique beam mount series at Elite Massalia in France. Romania is historically a team that is proficient on beam and Olivia, a junior is no exception.

Today, the competitor field for the Stuttgart World Cup was announced.

It's the time of year in between the end of elite season and the beginning of NCAA season. The Gymternet is sleepy, probably still depressed that worlds is over. This is the time of year athletes beef up their skills for next year. Amelia Hundley of Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy posted this video of herself training a double double on floor.

2015 will be an exciting year for gymnastics. There are many up and coming and highly touted juniors from around the world that will be joining the senior ranks and will be age eligible to represent their country at the World Championships or Olympic Games. Many of whom, the world has been waiting on for what seems like an eternity to join the senior ranks. I've put together a list of some of the most anticipated athletes and put together a small biography about each one.

Queen Elizabeth of Rewriting Russian Gymnastics has posted a translation of a recent interview with the glorious Aliya Mustafina. She talks about everything from her experiences at worlds, winning the beam gold medal in Antwerp to losing Alexandrov as a coach. I've posted some of the highlights here. It gives great insight into what her life is like and her thoughts on winning the gold medal. She talks about what her plans are for her post gymnastics life. She says she has the option to become a coach, but isn't sure she'd be successful because she "loves children too much" to be what they need.  Surprising, because she's a bright girl and could really do anything she wants. Read more of Aliya's thoughts after the cut.

Want to watch a rewind of Aliya Mustafina on floor? You're in luck. Mustafinesse on Tumblr posted a GIF of Aliya  performing this skill in reverse during the floor final at the World Championships in Nanning, China.

The glorious Christine aka Peng Peng Lee was seen in training today with the UCLA Bruins.

After months of back and forth and an extended vacation, famed Romanian head coaches, Octavian Belu and Mariana Bitang have returned to the helm of Romanian Gymnastics. Oh and they might be bringing Catalina Ponor and Sandra Izbasa with them.

Maybe Seth Macfarlane is a closet gym nerd.

For a girl that was retiring from elite gymnastics several months ago, Tatiana Nabieva has come back with a vengeance. After helping the Russian team to a bronze medal at the World Championships in Nanning, China, Tataina aka "Tanya" has decided that this is an ideal time for her to train upgrades.