Nastia was a lot more fluid on beam than most gymnasts of recent years. I wish she would make a clear decision about the future and act on it. If she's ready to be done with gymnastics, that's fine - say so and start doing all the other things she'd like to do. If she's really going to continue, save all the other stuff for later and get back to the gym and work seriously. You can't be successful at this level unless you're 100% committed.
Yeah, I miss her. What does it take for her to compete again. Some things need to happen: she was offered 7 figures from her corporate sponsors, USAG, & NBC-TV to compete again;her father/coach moved to LA and train her there because LA is the only place for her to live and strive (ahem); she lost appetite to food that normal, ordinary people like to eat and hopefully regained near-emaciated level that helped her win her OLY AA gold; and Shannon Miller started taunting her for being only second best. What else?
honestly, I respect for her for not giving into the pressure (from her dad, from USAG, from fans, from sponsors) to come back. Now is the time for her to figure out who she is and what she wants outside of gymnastics, eat some ice cream, figure out her relationship with her father in which her worth isn't judged by gold medals....
whatever makes her happy. And if designing low-quality clothes fro the tween market makes her happy, more power to her.
I just want her to fucking decide already. You don't have this shit with pro athletes... the "I'm competing, I'm not competing," and frankly, there aren't enough amazing athletes in this sport to transfer my interest from one gymnast to the next. At least Sloan is competing, but she pales in comparison to Nastia's elegance and panache.
We'll see just how competitive ASac is come Classics.
News of SJ's "comeback" didn't get her marching back to training again. IT didn't help that she has an official function w/ FIG too and enjoying all the perks that goes along with the position. She can get a TV gig in a snap. Off-gym, she's still the Queen. There's really no incentive right now to return and compete. NONE! unless...
oh please, Brett Favre plays the "I'm playing, I'm not playing" game every. single. summer. Other players do it, too (Mike Modano, I'm looking at you). And whatever Nastia's decision, she's not going to have an hour-long special on ESPN to announce her decision. Talk about an ego completely out of control. It's her decision, and her's alone. She doesn't owe any any sort of explanation about her life.
I think one of Nastia's problems is she is NOT a natural at gymnastics... She isn't like Chellsie Memmel who can take half a year off and come back doing double pikes off beam and tkatchevs on bars like she hasn't missed a day of training. For Nastia, she is tall and lacks power, and every single skill takes a tremendous amount of training. She would really need to get in MUCH better shape to have any sort of a comeback. If she wants to break some medal records, she'll come back. But overall, her career has been pretty fulfilling. The only major thing missing is an Olympic team title. And that might not be enough to get her back in the gym.
I think she would put the JC Penney thing and everything else on hold (she realizes she can do all of that anytime, but you can only do gymnastics when you're young) if she knew she had more gymnastics in her. But she may feel like she can no longer get back in shape.
When will she find out if she can compete again or not? At the end of the year? After gauging the competitors at 2010 Nats or Worlds? After talking to Martha about her prospect as compared to up-and-coming Sr elites? WHEN?
Anna Li recently filmed a part in a TV special with Nastia featuring the guy from the Office. He is trying out all different sports with the best in each sport. It is to become an awesome golfer and work on different components. (One of those...you need the speed of a sprinter....agility of a gymnast, etc) Anyway, the director wanted to see gymnasts flipping around. They had Anna Li flip around because Nastia hasn't really flipped in a year and it has been too long.
Are you serious? Even a simple flip she can't do (re TV special w/ Anna Li)? She didn't do anything remotely gymnastics in MIOBI either. She's DONE w/ gymnastics!! She's just a spokesperson now, a talking head. That's it!
Mister, Liukin and Johnson are in the spotlight now because of their olympic success. Next year, whoever appears to be the chosen one, as well as whoever is having a succcessful comeback, will be getting the hype in the countdown to 2012.
I agree with Robin that Nastia doesn't owe anyone an explanation.
Nastia will have no announcing her decision because no one cares about her. ESPN would say "who?" if she called them up and asked them to do that. Don't even compare. Nastia is a nobody in the real world
You people make me sick Nastia has dedicated her life to gymnastics and who the hell are any of you to even open your mouth as to what this Champion has personally lived through to be the Olympic Gold medal winner she is. You all need to shut your mouths, and it is so obvious to me you don't have clue what it takes to be an elite gymast. What makes any of you think she owes anyone to let you know what her future plans are?
I do miss her. She tweeted this last week while in LA: "So lucky to have such amazing people in my life, that can really understand & be there for me." Sounds like she's doing a lot of soul-searching. Too many dilemmas, I suppose. Since I'd rather follow her gymnastics than her "celebrity life" I wish she would train again for London 2012. Otherwise, I'm done with "Nastia the celebrity."
My consolation if she decided to retire is that she continues with her college studies, hopefully at UCLA and stay in LA where she loves. Don't really care for her JCP line or TV cameos or ads (cringe). I'd like for to continue her summer camps as well as her involvement with FIG or USAG. Wishing also that she finds a gymnast bf and not some celebrity-seeking dude who seems to jump from one relationship to another (creep). --Zyprexa
I do too!
ReplyDeleteMe too :( ...she needs to find the fierce soviet bitch in her and come back. School these younger girls and beat Shannon Miller's record.
ReplyDeletePerfect Music to be a Brooding Bitch too... LOVE Rondo Capriccioso
ReplyDeleteI miss her too! That floor routine in '03 got me hooked.
ReplyDeleteNastia was a lot more fluid on beam than most gymnasts of recent years. I wish she would make a clear decision about the future and act on it. If she's ready to be done with gymnastics, that's fine - say so and start doing all the other things she'd like to do. If she's really going to continue, save all the other stuff for later and get back to the gym and work seriously. You can't be successful at this level unless you're 100% committed.
ReplyDeletelove
ReplyDeleteMiss and rt @ NCAA. The sport needs her to grace it again on a fully committed level
ReplyDeleteYeah, I miss her. What does it take for her to compete again. Some things need to happen: she was offered 7 figures from her corporate sponsors, USAG, & NBC-TV to compete again;her father/coach moved to LA and train her there because LA is the only place for her to live and strive (ahem); she lost appetite to food that normal, ordinary people like to eat and hopefully regained near-emaciated level that helped her win her OLY AA gold; and Shannon Miller started taunting her for being only second best. What else?
ReplyDelete--Zyprexa
I miss her. I loved her floor choreography as a Jr even more than when she was a Sr.
ReplyDeleteI wish she would put JC Penney on hold for a year and come back!
honestly, I respect for her for not giving into the pressure (from her dad, from USAG, from fans, from sponsors) to come back. Now is the time for her to figure out who she is and what she wants outside of gymnastics, eat some ice cream, figure out her relationship with her father in which her worth isn't judged by gold medals....
ReplyDeletewhatever makes her happy. And if designing low-quality clothes fro the tween market makes her happy, more power to her.
I miss her gymnastics, but I agree with every word of Robin's post.
ReplyDeleteI just want her to fucking decide already. You don't have this shit with pro athletes... the "I'm competing, I'm not competing," and frankly, there aren't enough amazing athletes in this sport to transfer my interest from one gymnast to the next. At least Sloan is competing, but she pales in comparison to Nastia's elegance and panache.
ReplyDeleteWe'll see just how competitive ASac is come Classics.
News of SJ's "comeback" didn't get her marching back to training again. IT didn't help that she has an official function w/ FIG too and enjoying all the perks that goes along with the position. She can get a TV gig in a snap. Off-gym, she's still the Queen. There's really no incentive right now to return and compete. NONE! unless...
ReplyDeleteoh please, Brett Favre plays the "I'm playing, I'm not playing" game every. single. summer. Other players do it, too (Mike Modano, I'm looking at you). And whatever Nastia's decision, she's not going to have an hour-long special on ESPN to announce her decision. Talk about an ego completely out of control. It's her decision, and her's alone. She doesn't owe any any sort of explanation about her life.
ReplyDeleteI think one of Nastia's problems is she is NOT a natural at gymnastics... She isn't like Chellsie Memmel who can take half a year off and come back doing double pikes off beam and tkatchevs on bars like she hasn't missed a day of training. For Nastia, she is tall and lacks power, and every single skill takes a tremendous amount of training. She would really need to get in MUCH better shape to have any sort of a comeback. If she wants to break some medal records, she'll come back. But overall, her career has been pretty fulfilling. The only major thing missing is an Olympic team title. And that might not be enough to get her back in the gym.
ReplyDeleteI think she would put the JC Penney thing and everything else on hold (she realizes she can do all of that anytime, but you can only do gymnastics when you're young) if she knew she had more gymnastics in her. But she may feel like she can no longer get back in shape.
When will she find out if she can compete again or not? At the end of the year? After gauging the competitors at 2010 Nats or Worlds? After talking to Martha about her prospect as compared to up-and-coming Sr elites? WHEN?
ReplyDelete--Zyprexa
Anna Li recently filmed a part in a TV special with Nastia featuring the guy from the Office. He is trying out all different sports with the best in each sport. It is to become an awesome golfer and work on different components. (One of those...you need the speed of a sprinter....agility of a gymnast, etc) Anyway, the director wanted to see gymnasts flipping around. They had Anna Li flip around because Nastia hasn't really flipped in a year and it has been too long.
ReplyDeleteAre you serious? Even a simple flip she can't do (re TV special w/ Anna Li)? She didn't do anything remotely gymnastics in MIOBI either. She's DONE w/ gymnastics!! She's just a spokesperson now, a talking head. That's it!
ReplyDelete--Zyprexa
Mister, Liukin and Johnson are in the spotlight now because of their olympic success. Next year, whoever appears to be the chosen one, as well as whoever is having a succcessful comeback, will be getting the hype in the countdown to 2012.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Robin that Nastia doesn't owe anyone an explanation.
Nastia will have no announcing her decision because no one cares about her. ESPN would say "who?" if she called them up and asked them to do that. Don't even compare. Nastia is a nobody in the real world
ReplyDeleteYou people make me sick Nastia has dedicated her life to gymnastics and who the hell are any of you to even open your mouth as to what this Champion has personally lived through to be the Olympic Gold medal winner she is. You all need to shut your mouths, and it is so obvious to me you don't have clue what it takes to be an elite gymast. What makes any of you think she owes anyone to let you know what her future plans are?
ReplyDeleteNastia is somebody huge in the real world. If you think she isn't you are clueless
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the earlier bar routine. So effortless! As an aside- I also like the simple pony tail without the poof.
ReplyDeleteI do miss her. She tweeted this last week while in LA: "So lucky to have such amazing people in my life, that can really understand & be there for me." Sounds like she's doing a lot of soul-searching. Too many dilemmas, I suppose. Since I'd rather follow her gymnastics than her "celebrity life" I wish she would train again for London 2012. Otherwise, I'm done with "Nastia the celebrity."
ReplyDeleteMy consolation if she decided to retire is that she continues with her college studies, hopefully at UCLA and stay in LA where she loves. Don't really care for her JCP line or TV cameos or ads (cringe). I'd like for to continue her summer camps as well as her involvement with FIG or USAG. Wishing also that she finds a gymnast bf and not some celebrity-seeking dude who seems to jump from one relationship to another (creep).
ReplyDelete--Zyprexa