Podium Training Recap | Artistic Gymnastics at the Paris Olympic Games

Thu. July 25 @ 11:02 p.m.

Csenge Maria Bacskay (HUN) on podium training following a recent leg injury:

“I had a little injury a couple of days ago and my leg was really swollen, so I could not really practise for a couple of days. 

“Compared to that situation, I think I did really well today. I did my best and I hope I can get back to as strong as I was a couple of days ago.”

Thu. July 25 @ 11:00 p.m.

Nina Derwael (BEL) on defending her Tokyo 2020 gold medal on uneven bars:

“It’s going to be close to impossible to retain the title if other people do their job. There are many more capable girls. For example, Kaylia Nemour (ALG) has such a great routine with such a high D (difficulty) score. If she hits, there’s no way I’m getting close.

“I’m comfortable with that, but I’m here to fight. I’m a competitive person and I’m very happy to be back. After my surgery a lot of people in the medical field told me it wouldn’t be possible to get back on this level. They said, ‘maybe you should explore other options.’

“Just to be here and have this accreditation around my neck feels the same as the medal I won in Tokyo. This is really an extra to me.”

Thu. July 25 @ 10:41 p.m.

Flavia Saraiva (BRA) FX: Whip to full-twisting double back. Double layout. 1.5 to front full, out of bounds and nearly off the mat completely. Layout timer last pass.

Thu. July 25 @ 10:39 p.m.

Rebeca Andrade (BRA) FX: Whip to full-twisting double layout. Punch front full through to full-twisting double back, out of bounds. Marks the third pass. Double pike.

Thu. July 25 @ 9:47 p.m.

Rebeca Andrade (BRA) floats through a full set, seemingly bouncing from the low bar to the high bar and back. Maloney to stalder 1/1 to piked Tkatchev to Pak to Van Leeuwen. Piked Jaeger. Toe 1/1 to tucked double-double.

Thu. July 25 @ 9:46 p.m.

Some quotes from the past couple subdivisions:

• Tisha Volleman (NED) on replacing injured teammate Vera van Pol (foot): “The last 24 hours passed like a blur, but I’m very happy I’m able to be here. Of course, the reason why I’m here is very sad. You don’t want anyone to get injured. But I think I’m ready to help the team in the best way possible… I received a call from national coach Jeroen Jacobs, and from that moment onwards, everything went just super quick. In two hours… I packed my suitcases and took a train to Paris. It’s quite bizarre how it all happened… It (being here) means there’s a lot of stimuli. Everything is new and you have to get used to it all. I only arrived at the (Olympic) Village at 1 a.m., so it’s been a short night for me (laughs).”
• Sanne Wevers (NED) on her recent injury: “Last week Thursday I sustained an injury to my right elbow. Therefore, this week has been very tricky and hard. Because I had to regain trust in my abilities and had to get back my skills… I did a backhandspring with a full turn on the balance beam and overstretched the elbow. I underwent quite a few medical tests to decide whether I could compete here. It’s been very difficult, especially because the injury happened just two days before departure. Together with the medical staff and our national head coach, I decided to come to Paris. We believe everything will be OK. But I do have to adjust my routine a bit. I’m happy that I was able to do most of my routine today, because it’s been the first time I’ve been able to do that again.”

Thu. July 25 @ 9:35 p.m.

Brazil is moving to bars. Australia to vault. Individuals on beam and floor.

Thu. July 25 @ 9:28 p.m.

Kate McDonald (AUS) FX: Front handspring double front. Front handspring double full. Double wolf turn. Falls out of the double Y-turn. 2.5 twist, step back.

Thu. July 25 @ 9:22 p.m.

Andrade seems done for the day on vault after covering both her forearms in chalk. We’ll wait and see another day on the TTY… if we had to guess, it’s likely going to be a game-time decision for the vault final based on what she needs to challenge Simone for gold… or maybe she’ll go for it no matter what since she already has an Olympic title, adding her name to the history books in another way!

Thu. July 25 @ 9:19 p.m.

Andrade does the Cheng – arguably the best in the world – for her next run. She runs down the podium… doesn’t seem quite done yet despite two beautiful vaults worthy of a vault medal in their own right… does another Cheng – even more power.

Thu. July 25 @ 9:18 p.m.

Flavia Saraiva follows Barbosa with her own DTY, better chest position and a step.

Thu. July 25 @ 9:17 p.m.

Jade Barbosa (BRA) VT: Double-twisting Yurchenko, low chest and a step.

Thu. July 25 @ 9:16 p.m.

EASY Amanar for Rebeca Andrade here in training. Small hop.

Thu. July 25 @ 9:10 p.m.

Brazil is clad in a stunning green leo and starting on vault in this final subdivision! Will we get a sneak peek of the triple-twisting Yurchenko?

Thu. July 25 @ 7:43 p.m.

Rebeca Andrade (BRA) has submitted the triple-twisting Yurchenko to be named after her if she successfully competes it in Paris competition! It will be valued at a 6.0. Others have tried to get the TTY named after themselves to no avail.

Plus, Naomi Visser and Lieke Wevers have both submitted the triple L-turn (E – 0.5).

Thu. July 25 @ 7:31 p.m.

Coline Devillard (FRA) shows a beautiful Rudi vault with just a single step.

Thu. July 25 @ 7:24 p.m.

Excellent triple twist from Ellie Black on floor. 2.5 through to double back, one foot out of bounds. We hat Black’s artistry gives her a boost this quad over some others in the field. Double pike, single step back.

Thu. July 25 @ 7:08 p.m.

Melanie de Jesus dos Santos (FRA) FX: Full-twisting double layout, small step. Double layout, under-rotated, step forward. Triple wolf turn. Marks final pass.

Thu. July 25 @ 7:06 p.m.

Morgane Osyssek-Reimer (FRA) FX: Tucked double-double. Double layout, basically stuck. Punch front layout, doesn’t do the rest of the pass. Double pike, small hop.

Thu. July 25 @ 7:05 p.m.

Ming Van Eijken (FRA) FX: Full-twisting double layout, basically stuck. Punch front full through to double back. Full turn. Full-twisting double back. Double pike, single step back.

Thu. July 25 @ 6:58 p.m.

Ellie Black (CAN) BB: Switch leap mount to switch half to back swing down. Double turn, small check. Full turn to straddle jump. Punch front, leg up. Back handspring tuck full, leg up and touches the beam. Back handspring two-footed layout and she’s off… side somi. 2.5 twist, steps.

Thu. July 25 @ 6:49 p.m.

France’s Marine Boyer also looking strong on beam. Surely the French team feels comfortable, as well as the excitement of being at home. They were applauded by the small group of people inside the arena (volunteers, media, coaches) when they came in.

Some of the South Korean gymnasts were also getting the small population of the arena to clap along to their floor sets this rotation!

Thu. July 25 @ 6:38 p.m.

Melanie de Jesus dos Santos (FRA) BB: Front pike mount, excellent. Back handspring to two-footed layout, solid. Switch leap to switch half. Front aerial to split jump to back handspring. Full turn, bit of a check. Side aerial. Sissone to pike jump. Double pike, small hop.

Thu. July 25 @ 6:36 p.m.

Ellie Black (CAN) UB: Maloney to clear hip straddle Tkatchev. Clear hip piked Tkatchev 1/2 (her eponymous skill!), but misses the catch. Piked Jaeger. Pak. Van Leeuwen. Giant 1/1. Toe-on pike half. Tries the Black a couple more times and finally gets it in sequence with the beginning of her routine.

Thu. July 25 @ 6:29 p.m.

Lynnzee Brown hits a Yurchenko 1.5, bit deep in the knees, but overall solid.

Thu. July 25 @ 6:14 p.m.

Olsen follows with a lovely double-twisting Yurchenko.

Thu. July 25 @ 6:11 p.m.

Shallon Olsen (CAN) goes for the Cheng – wonky form on the table with a very bent arm, but she gets it around with a hop.

Thu. July 25 @ 6:09 p.m.

Lynnzee Brown (HAI) FX: Double layout, single step back. 1.5 to front full, bit under-rotated, step back. Double turn. Leaps a bit tight. Double back, hop back.

Thu. July 25 @ 5:59 p.m.

Subdivision 4 of WAG podium training starting now. Canada, France, South Korea, and Lynnzee Brown (Haiti) highlight!

Thu. July 25 @ 4:27 p.m.

Luisa Blanco (COL) FX: Double back, clean. Rudi to stag jump. Double pike, smallest of hops.

Thu. July 25 @ 4:19 p.m.

Simone Biles and Cecile Landi are among those saying the beds in the Olympic Village are hard and “suck”. Cecile spoke on it after podium today.

“We’re getting mattress tops today – hallelujah! So that we’ll sleep better. It’s a little hard, not gonna lie… The girls were super happy [about that]… It’s just a little hard, so we just need a little bit of comfort.”

As soon as Cecile sat on it, she said, “OOH! Oh my god.” And they called someone lol. USAG has partnered with BedJet to get all the gymnasts a bed cooling system in addition to the mattress topper.

Thu. July 25 @ 4:03 p.m.

Kohane Ushioku (JPN) FX: 1.5 through to double pike, small hop back. Front double full to front full. Seemed to be a whip to 2.5 to punch front pike to close?

Thu. July 25 @ 4:01 p.m.

Rina Kishi (JPN) FX: Tucked double-double, single step forward. Front full to Rudi. Double back, uncontrolled rebound out. Double pike.

Thu. July 25 @ 3:58 p.m.

Mana Okamura (JPN) FX: Double wolf turn. Double back, small hop. Front layout to front double full, slips and falls, under-rotated. 2.5 twist out of bounds.

Oner on vault, clean Omelianchik from Finnegan and full-twisting Yurchenkos from Jung-Ruivivar and Malabuyo. Jung-Ruivivar working 1.5s after the full.

Thu. July 25 @ 3:55 p.m.

Haruka Nakamura (JPN) FX: Triple wolf turn. Front handspring double full. Double pike, hop forward. 1.5 to front full. 2.5 to punch front.

Thu. July 25 @ 3:51 p.m.

Some quotes from the first two subdivisions:

• Alexa Moreno (MEX): “It’s the first time I’ve been in subdivision one. It’s hard for me to do gymnastics early in the morning; my body doesn’t work as I wish.”
• Alexa Moreno (MEX): “I had surgery on my knee in November (2023), so I have been gradually getting back to full strength… The chance is there [to win a vault medal]. Once I enter the finals, anything can happen. But it won’t be easy with so many good gymnasts.”
• Becky Downie (GBR) on the challenges she’s been through, including mental health struggles, her brother’s death, speaking up about abuse in the sport: “Honestly, it still feels like it wasn’t real life at points. It’s really hard to put into words. I will have a lot more time once I finish here to really process it. I think trying to come back (after it all) and to know I could (was important). Because for such a long time I didn’t always feel valued and welcomed. It was quite a long period of time before that shifted and changed. Right now, I can’t complain. I love being back and being part of this team. Everybody is trying hard to make me feel welcome and to (have me) enjoy my final (Olympic) experience. But for a couple of years it was very tough.”
• Caitlin Rooskrantz on being the female flag bearer for South Africa: “I’m the first gymnast flag bearer for South Africa, so it is such a statement about where gymnastics in South Africa is, the big strides we’ve made over the last couple of years and that this is only the beginning.”

Thu. July 25 @ 3:41 p.m.

Japan working confidently on beam. They’re not in an ideal spot but seem to be doing alright at the moment despite being down a gymnast.

Thu. July 25 @ 3:39 p.m.

Hilary Heron (PAN) floating on bars with a beautiful Gienger, straddle Jaeger, and double front.

Thu. July 25 @ 3:38 p.m.

Partway through this session, the Philippines ladies look good but can tell there may be some stamina issues.

Thu. July 25 @ 3:37 p.m.

Levi Jung-Ruivivar (PHI) FX: Double wolf turn. Whip to double back, single step out of bounds. Front full to front full, OOB. Double Y-turn, but don’t know if she got the full rotations, seemed rushed. Double pike.

Thu. July 25 @ 3:35 p.m.

Emma Malabuyo (PHI) FX: Double layout, bit short, step forward. 1.5 to front full to stag. Triple wolf turn, excellent. Double pike, couple steps back. Everyone is going to loveee that routine!

Thu. July 25 @ 3:33 p.m.

Aleah Finnegan new floor routine! Let’s see it… Double Arabian to stag, excellent. 2.5 to front tuck, excellent. L-turn. Front handspring double full, kind of stumbles out but seems to keep it in bounds.

Thu. July 25 @ 3:26 p.m.

Rotation 2 now. Japan moves to beam, individuals including Philippines to floor, Netherlands to vault, individuals including Heron, Blanco to bars.

Thu. July 25 @ 3:12 p.m.

Both Hilary Heron and Luisa Blanco seem to be struggling with their vaults. Frustration clear on their faces right now.

Hilary got to a better spot with her Rudi and moved on to a good Yurchenko 1.5.

Thu. July 25 @ 3:10 p.m.

Emma Malabuyo (PHI) BB: Straddle mount. Double wolf turn. Standing Arabian, good. Back handspring layout stepout, solid. Front aerial to split jump to straddle jump. Ring jump. Side aerial, bends in half but stays on. Switch leap, seemed to be a bit of a stumble out. 1.5 twist dismount. The best of the Filipino-American trio.

Thu. July 25 @ 3:07 p.m.

Aleah Finnegan (PHI) BB: Standing Arabian, bends in half and grabs the beam. Back handspring layout stepout to layout stepout, clean. Switch leap to Sissone. Switch ring. Front aerial, misses the connection to the split jump to straddle jump, bobbles on the last. Way off to the side on her dismount.

Thu. July 25 @ 3:04 p.m.

Levi Jung-Ruivivar (PHI) BB: Double wolf turn, excellent. Side aerial and she’s off before the next skill. Back on the beam, switch leap to split leap. Illusion, bit of a balance check. Front aerial to split jump to back handspring. Switch half. Stuck tucked Gainer.

Thu. July 25 @ 3:02 p.m.

We’re back for Subdivision 3 of WAG podium training! This subdivision includes Japan, the Netherlands, and individuals including Hilary Heron (PAN), Luisa Blanco (COL), Aleah Finnegan (PHI), Emma Malabuyo (PHI), and Levi Jung-Ruivivar (PHI).

Reminder that Japan is competing with only four gymnasts after opting not to replace star all-arounder Shoko Miyata, who was sent home for smoking.

Thu. July 25 @ 1:12 p.m.

Kaylia Nemour (ALG) shows a double-twisting Yurchenko that looks ready for competition, albeit needs some cleaning up on the landing (low chest, lean forward).

Thu. July 25 @ 1:07 p.m.

Hezly Rivera (USA) UB: Clear hip half to toe 1/1 to stalder Shaposh to stalder Tkatchev to Pak. Maloney to straddle Tkatchev. Stuck full-twisting double back.

Jordan Chiles (USA) UB: Van Leeuwen, bit of soft knees. Blind change to piked Jaeger. Toe 11/ to piked Tkatchev to Pak. Maloney to Gienger, bit close on the catch. Full-twisting double back, small hop.

Simone Biles (USA) UB: Clear hip half to Maloney to giant 1/1 to piked Tkatchev to Pak. Van Leeuwen. Toe 1/1 to full-twisting double back.

Suni Lee (USA) UB: Nabieva to Bhardwaj to Van Leeuwen. Blind change to straddle Jaeger to Pak to Maloney to Gienger. Short on the handstand before her Giant 1/1. Full-twisting double back, basically stuck.

Jade Carey (USA) UB: Toe-on. Bhardwaj. Maloney to Gienger, bit close on the catch. Ezhova. Van Leeuwen, slight leg separation. Giant 1/1. Full-twisting double back, small hop.

Thu. July 25 @ 12:56 p.m.

Final rotation coming up now. We’ll see what Kaylia Nemour has for us on vault (maybe a DTY?). U.S. moves to bars, China to floor, Italy to beam. Teams have been very efficient this Subdivision.

Thu. July 25 @ 12:55 p.m.

Thu. July 25 @ 12:47 p.m.

Thu. July 25 @ 12:45 p.m.

U.S. on vault:

• Suni double-twisting Yurchenko looking consistent. A bit low in the chest typically, but she’s getting it around.
• Stuck cold Yurchenko double pike from Simone Biles – would say that’s the best she’s ever done, and it’s not hyperbole.

Thu. July 25 @ 12:36 p.m.

Pauline Schaefer-Betz GER) FX: Double front, small hop. Sits the front handspring double twist. Lovely mid-routine acro series. Front handspring front full to stag jump. Triple turn.

Kaylia Nemour (ALG) FX: Double layout, low chest, hop forward. 1.5 to triple twist.

Thu. July 25 @ 12:30 p.m.

Thu. July 25 @ 12:26 p.m.

Kaylia Nemour looks excellent on beam. The biggest question mark is her vault, but if she is doing the double-twisting Yurchenko, she is a medal threat here in the all-around. Her consistency is incredible.

Thu. July 25 @ 12:20 p.m.

Hezly Rivera (USA) FX: Full-twisting double layout, great height, takes a step out of bounds, just needs to have confidence in herself. Double layout. Double wolf turn. Punch front through to double back, single step. 2.5 twists, uncontrolled step out.

Thu. July 25 @ 12:19 p.m.

Simone Biles (USA) FX: Triple-double (Biles II), step back, in bounds. Punch front full through to tucked double-double, OOB. Double wolf turn. Double layout half (Biles I) to stag, slightly out of bounds. Double layout, smallest of hops.

Thu. July 25 @ 12:17 p.m.

Jade Carey (USA) FX: Let’s see what the defending Olympic floor champion has for us… Double-twisting double layout, OOB. Double layout. Full-twisting double back. Punch front through to just a layout. May have stumbled a bit.

Thu. July 25 @ 12:15 p.m.

Jordan Chiles (USA) FX: Full-twisting double layout, hop back, may have been OOB. Punch front full through to full-twisting double back. Double wolf turn. Double layout, stuck.

Meanwhile Kaylia Nemour (ALG) does a stunning roundoff layout mount to layout stepout.

Thu. July 25 @ 12:13 p.m.

Suni Lee (USA) FX: Full-twisting double layout, small hop back – you can hear the tea cheering. Beautiful leaps. 1.5 to front full, hop back. Double L-turn to full turn. Triple wolf turn. Double back, hop back. Stunning set that just gets better every time.

Thu. July 25 @ 12:04 p.m.

Algeria’s Kayla Nemour looking excellent on bars. Making her myriad of connections.

Last touch as an inbar 1/1 to inbar laid-out Tkatchev to Pak before the rotation concluded. Played with a few combos.

Thu. July 25 @ 11:51 a.m.

Jade Carey (USA) BB: Forward roll mount. Front aerial to split jump to back swing down. Back handspring to layout stepout. Switch side 1/4. Switch leap to switch half to straddle jump. Side aerial. Double pike, step back.

Thu. July 25 @ 11:50 a.m.

Simone Biles (USA) BB: Switch leap mount, no connection today (seemed intentional). Switch leap to switch half to back pike. Triple wolf turn. Front aerial to split jump to straddle jump. Back handspring to layout stepout to layout stepout. Side aerial. Stuck full-twisting double back.

Biles did the connected mount later on in the rotation.

Thu. July 25 @ 11:48 a.m.

Suni Lee (USA) BB: Off on her roundoff layout mount. Front aerial, misses the connection to the split jump then back handspring. Triple wolf turn, bit wobbly. Switch leap to switch half to ring jump. Side aerial to layout stepout to layout stepout. Switch ring. Piked Gainer full.

Lee also worked her old straddle mount, which she’s used as a fall back at times this year. Believe the difference in start value is 0.2, meaning it’s probably a safe bet with little loss to just do the straddle for qualifying at the very least.

Thu. July 25 @ 11:46 a.m.

Hezly Rivera (USA) BB: Straddle mount. Double wolf turn. Side aerial. Back handspring to layout stepout. Switch leap to switch half to back sing down. Front aerial to split jump to straddle jump, leaps/jumps a bit tentative. Switch ring, smallest of bobbles. Double pike, low chest, step forward.

Thu. July 25 @ 11:45 a.m.

Jordan Chiles (USA) BB: Front pike mount. Back handspring to layout stepout to layout stepout. Front aerial to split jump to back handspring. Full turn. Side somi, bit of an arm swing. Switch leap to Sissone, maybe slightly tight. Side aerial. Switch side 1/4. Double pike, single step back.

Thu. July 25 @ 11:43 a.m.

Expect this training to be a serious run through for the U.S. women. Touches and then full routines.

Thu. July 25 @ 11:39 a.m.

Firework leo is, in fact, exceptionally sparky!

China starts on vault, Germany/Nemour on bars, U.S. on beam, Italy on floor.

Thu. July 25 @ 11:29 a.m.

Action-packed subdivision of podium training coming up, with the U.S. women, China, Italy, Germany, and Kaylia Nemour (ALG). Starts at 11:40 a.m. local time (5:40 a.m. Eastern).

We will prioritize U.S. updates and try to get as many other routines as possible.

Thu. July 25 @ 11:21 a.m.

Thu. July 25 @ 11:20 a.m.

Some replacements that seem to be happening prior to the start of competition due to injury:

• Vera van Pol (foot) replaced by Tisha Volleman (has been confirmed by Dutch Gymnastics)
• Sun Wei (ankle) reportedly replaced by Su Weide (waiting on official confirmation)

Thu. July 25 @ 10:58 a.m.

Alice Kinsella (GBR) FX: 1.5 twist through to triple twist. 2.5 to front full. Double wolf turn. Double pike, few steps back.

Thu. July 25 @ 10:56 a.m.

Abi Martin (GBR) FX: Tucked double-double, one foot OOB. Double layout, small hop back. Front layout through to double back, hop forward. Double wolf turn. Double pike, hop back.

Thu. July 25 @ 10:53 a.m.

Ruby Evans (GBR) FX: Front layout to front double full. Double layout, basically stuck. Front full to front full. Double wolf turn. Double back, super tight tuck, hop back.

Thu. July 25 @ 10:51 a.m.

Georgia-Mae Fenton (GBR) FX: Front handspring double full. Double wolf turn. Double back, seems to keep it in bounds. 2.5 twist, some form through the air, step forward.

Thu. July 25 @ 10:37 a.m.

Alice Kinsella (GBR) BB: Double wolf turn. Front aerial, misses the connection to the split jump to straddle jump. Side aerial to layout stepout. Switch leap, bit slow on the connection to the switch half, leg up. 2.5 twist, hop to the side.

Meanwhile Sabrina Maneca-Voinea does her double-twisting Yurchenko on vault with her interesting run. Takes a hop – maybe slightly under-rotated.

Abi Martin (GBR) BB: Straddle mount. Double wolf turn. Front aerial. Back handspring to layout stepout to layout stepout. Switch leap to straddle jump to back tuck, bit tight on the leap. Side aerial. Double pike, multiple steps back.

Thu. July 25 @ 10:30 a.m.

Georgia-Mae Fenton (GBR) BB: Roundoff layout mount, balance check but stays on. Double turn and she’s off. Side aerial to layout stepout. Front aerial to split jump, misses the next connection. Triple wolf turn, gets it around. Switch leap to Sissone. Double back, bit cowboyed, low in the chest.

Thu. July 25 @ 10:27 a.m.

Ruby Evans (GBR) BB: Wolf turn. Switch leap to Sissone. Back handspring to layout stepout to layout stepout. Double turn. Front aerial, little leg up balance check. 2.5, way over-rotated, runs off the mat.

Thu. July 25 @ 10:20 a.m.

Mexico showing strong Rudis from Alexa Moreno and Ahtziri Sandoval. Also working their Tsuk doubles.

Thu. July 25 @ 10:17 a.m.

Georgia-Mae Fenton (GBR) UB: Clear hip Straddle Tkatchev. Toe-on Straddle Tkatchev 1/2 to Ezhova. Maloney to Pak, too close, comes off. Van Leeuwen. Giant 1/1 to full-twisting double back, small hop forward.

Alice Kinsella (GBR) UB: Half turn to piked Jaeger. Stalder piked Tkatchev to Pak. Maloney to Gienger. Toe 1/1, bit over, half-in front-out.

Ana Barbosu (ROU) FX: Whip to full-twisting double back… watching Downie, so catching bits and pieces, but it’s lovely. Double back to punch front to close.

Becky Downie (GBR) UB: Toe 1/1 to stalder Straddle Tkatchev 1/2 to Ezhova. Struggle on the next handstand but stays on for the Maloney. Comes off on the next release. Redoes the Hindorff and hits it. Gets through the rest of the set, step back on full-twisting double back.

Sabrina Maneca-Voinea (ROU) FX: Tucked double-double, excellent. Full-twisting double layout, nearly stuck, can’t get the best look at her form from this angle. Double layout, under-rotated, but she somehow gets the front punch out of it. Double back, slow rotation but gets it around, hop forward.

Thu. July 25 @ 10:03 a.m.

Barbosu with a beautiful double back to front punch on floor – always a lovely line to see from her!

Thu. July 25 @ 9:57 a.m.

Romania is moving to floor, Great Britain to floor, and Mexico is on vault!

Thu. July 25 @ 9:50 a.m.

We’re back for WAG podium training Subdivision 1 (of 5!). Here are some early notes:

• GB’s Alice Kinsella and Ruby Evans showing excellent Amanars. Kinsella needed a little more power, took a step to the side. Evans had a ton of power and took a large step forward.
• Romania on beam – beautiful from its stars, some shakiness from others.
  • Said stars, Ana Barbosu had a lovely run through, including a front handspring front tuck and 2.5 twist dismount.
  • Sabrina Maneca-Voinea showed why she could be a balance beam thread with a routine packed with difficulty, including a full-twisting layout and straight layout. She was a bit tight on her leaps, but her double back dismount was tidy, just a step.

Thu. July 25 @ 12:03 a.m.

Notable quotes from MAG podium training subdivision 3:

• Adem Asil (TUR) on his focus in Paris: “I’m not focusing on the all-around. I had an amazing year, starting with the European championships last year where I got the gold medal in the all-around. I decided to focus on rings and vault because I need to medal. At the 2020 Games I was so close but this time I want to take a medal for sure.”
• Adem Asil (TUR) on his rings, where he’s the 2022 world champion: “I’m trying a new routine. I’m going to do a 6.4 difficulty (score). I was doing 6.3 but to add 0.1 (points in difficulty) on rings is really, really hard. 
• Nicola Bartolini (ITA) on his difficult route to Paris after multiple surgeries in the past year: “I’m here after a double injury. In January (2024) I had two surgeries on my (left) knee. I had to work more than the others to get here. After two surgeries, it’s difficult to be in the perfect shape. But I think I’m in the best shape for now. It’s unreal to be here. It was so difficult. Because at the World Championships in Antwerp (2023), I competed with an injured knee. I had the first surgery in December (2023) but then I got a blood infection. I took a lot of antibiotics and medicines. Then, in February (2024, after the two surgeries), I started to work in the gym again. It was really difficult. I was never in a more difficult situation than that.”
• Nicola said his dog motivated him while he was injured. He lives along with just his pup, and he called him his “little son.”

Wed. July 24 @ 11:54 p.m.

A note: Yahoo Japan is reporting Wataru Tanigawa injured his Achilles during training and was limited today. Something to watch.

Wed. July 24 @ 10:34 p.m.

That about does it for Day 1 of podium training action! We’ll be back bright and early tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. local time (3:30 a.m. Eastern). Look out later for some quotes from this final MAG subdivision.

Wed. July 24 @ 10:29 p.m.

Emre Dodanli (TUR) finishes his podium training with a stuck dismount off high bar.

Wed. July 24 @ 9:57 p.m.

Ireland’s Rhys McClenaghan hits his training set and garners applause from those nearby. As it stands now, the battle for gold would seem to be between him and Great Britain’s Max Whitlock. The two-time world champion against the two-time Olympic champion – grab your popcorn.

Wed. July 24 @ 9:52 p.m.

Italy moving to floor, where we’ll see 2021 world champion Nicola Bartolini. Two-time reigning world champion Rhys McClenaghan is on pommel horse. Turkey is on parallel bars. Spain on vault.

Wed. July 24 @ 9:36 p.m.

Excellent front double pike half from Turkey’s Adem Asil.

Wed. July 24 @ 8:58 p.m.

Some notable quotes from Subdivision 2:

• Xiao Ruoteng (CHN) on his strategy: “My strategy depends on the qualification results. I hope to qualify for the pommel horse final and the first group in the all-around. However, all of us in Team China are prioritising the team event. I suffered a severe shoulder injury before coming to Paris, so I need to reserve more strength for the team competition.”
• Xiao Ruoteng (CHN) on the strengths and weaknesses of China and Japan: “The strengths and weaknesses are fairly balanced. The Japanese team is younger and may have better stamina, but we have more experience.”
• Daiki Hashimoto (JPN) on podium training: “My goal was to finish all the apparatuses, especially since I hadn’t been able to train all six events together due to my finger injury. Today, despite some mistakes, I was able to go through all the routines.”
• Daiki Hashimoto (JPN) on the strengths and weaknesses of China and Japan: “China’s strength lies in scoring well in events like the parallel bars and rings. Japan, however, has many consistent athletes and explosive performers.”
• Daiki Hashimoto (JPN) on how his finger injury has impacted his training and performance: “My finger has improved significantly since July, and I can move it well now. Initially, the swelling made gripping difficult in the mornings. However, as it heals, my routines have improved, especially on the horizontal bar. My shoulder pain has also decreased. I felt a great connection during the routines today, even if some movements were overly ambitious.”
• Casimir Schmidt (NED) on his goals in Paris: “The main goal is reaching the team final (top eight) and write history by doing so. But I also know reaching that is maybe a bit of a stretch. We have to be realistic. If we compete without any (major) mistakes and the others do too, it will be very difficult. So first and foremost, we have to get through without any mistakes. Then we’ll see where it brings us. Personally, my main goal is making it to the individual all-around final (top 24). If I don’t make that, I will be disappointed. It’s a big dream to (also) make it to the vault final, but I know that’s hard. I’ve seen a lot of other guys today who were much better. So it depends on who lands their vaults in qualifying. I might make it if I’m amongst those guys (laughs).”
• Oleg Verniaiev (UKR) on his form eight years after winning multiple medals in Rio: “I’m happy I’m back. I’ve dreamed about this for the last couple of years. If I want to be in my prime, I need maybe four to seven months more (of training) because one-and-a-half years after a two-and-a-half-year stop is not enough. But I have what I have, and I need to try to do my best. Don’t forget that in a few months I’ll be 31, not 21, but I feel ok. Age is only in our head.”
• Oleg Verniaiev (UKR) on Ukraine’s medal chances as a team: “We are ready for this. We think about this. My thinking is that China and Japan will fight for first and second place. Ukraine, Great Britain, and the USA will fight for the bronze medal.”

Wed. July 24 @ 8:45 p.m.

Noah Kuavita (BEL) HB: Stick straight Cassina. Laid-out Kovacs. Piked Tkatchev. Straddle Tkatchev to piked Tkatchev. Goes the wrong way on his Tak full. One-arm giant 1/1. Missed a couple skills. Triple pike with just a single step back.

Wed. July 24 @ 8:40 p.m.

Noah Kuavita (BEL) showing his triple pike dismount off high bar. Rolls it back, but BIG air!

Wed. July 24 @ 8:20 p.m.

Emre Dodanli (TUR) FX: Front double full to front double tuck. Laid-out double-double. Tucked double-double. Front layout to Randi. 2.5 to front full, stuck. Triple full, stuck. A couple hops on the earlier passes, but really found his rhythm. There are more difficult routines in the field, but the Oklahoma star strikes a balance between difficulty and clean execution.

Wed. July 24 @ 6:36 p.m.

Final session of MAG podium training will be Subdivision 3 (including Turkey, Switzerland, Italy, Korea, Rhys McClenaghan (IRL), Kevin Penev (BUL), Belgium, and Spain) at 8 p.m. local time.

Wed. July 24 @ 6:26 p.m.

On vault earlier, Carlos Yulo did a Kas double as well as a front double pike. He was working a half twist out of the double pike later in the rotation that he could do at some point.

Wed. July 24 @ 6:21 p.m.

Neither China or Japan were perfect in training, which is to be expected, but while Japan seemed to have normal mistakes while getting used to the equipment, China seemed to be vulnerable, especially on vault and floor.

Wed. July 24 @ 6:12 p.m.

Brody Malone (USA) on how close the team is to being ready for qualifying Saturday: “We’re really ready. We wanted to get as comfortable with the equipment as possible, and do a little more numbers, and not as many routines.”

Wed. July 24 @ 6:10 p.m.

Rene Cournoyer (CAN):

• “Result-wise, the goal is to show the best performance I can and to hopefully qualify for the team final. That would be the absolute goal. If I make it to the all-around final, even better, but really it’s all about enjoying and doing the best gymnastics we can.”
• “I have a little bit of pain in my calf, so I decided not to do floor and vault today (Wednesday), so I can perform on Saturday. It’s all about this little management in the last seconds to ensure we perform the best possible on Saturday.”

Wed. July 24 @ 6:07 p.m.

Yulo has taken some hard falls on high bar in this last rotation, most recently on his piked Kovacs. Finishes his training with a beautiful Kovacs and laid-out double-double.

Wed. July 24 @ 5:40 p.m.

France’s sole male artistic gymnast, rings specialist Samir Ait Said, has submitted a new element to be named for him at Paris 2024!

Here are the details from the FIG:

Submitted by: Samir Ait Said (FRA)
Apparatus: Still Rings
Description: From hanging scale backwards (2 seconds) press with straight arms and body to handstand through swallow.
Element value: E (0.5)

Ait Said already has a similar skill named after him on rings: a roll backward with straight arms and body to handstand that also passes through a swallow position. That element is also rated an E and worth 0.5 in difficulty.

In order for a gymnast to have a new skill named after them, they must compete it without major fault at some point during the meet (qualifying or finals).

Wed. July 24 @ 5:36 p.m.

Big double front half from Ukraine’s Igor Radivilov – makes it look easy!

Wed. July 24 @ 5:34 p.m.

Quite the spectacle watching Daiki Hashimoto on pommel horse and Zhang Boheng on floor simultaneously!

Wed. July 24 @ 5:05 p.m.

Some other quotes from Subdivision 1:

• Andreas Toba (GER):
  • “I hope I will be able to land the dismount well on the last apparatus, and that, all in all, I will have performed four great routines. I hope I can then look back on my work over the last few years with relief and be grateful that I was able to compete here.”
• Lukas Dauser (GER), who suffered an injury to his bicep just recently:
  • “It’s only been seven days since I got the green light from the medical team and national coach. I performed two good routines on floor and parallel bars today. I had to struggle a bit, but overall I’m very happy.”
  • “(The shoulder feels) quite well, actually. With a little adrenaline, of course, it still feels a little better. The physiotherapists and doctors have done a great job so that I only notice a little bit of tension, but everything is in the green zone.”
  • On his pre-comp rituals: “I always wear the same underpants that my wife gave me before the Olympic Games in Tokyo. I wore them in Tokyo in the parallel bars final, where I won the silver medal, and since then I’ve always competed in these underpants, washed of course (laughs). I will also be wearing the underpants next Saturday (men’s qualifications) as I don’t want to do any experiments. Apart from that, it’s always important for me that my slippers stand parallel and, ideally, point in the direction of the gymnastics apparatus.”
• Max Whitlock (GBR)
  • On having the chance to become the first gymnast to win medal on the same event at four consecutive Games: “I scrolled through Wikipedia a lot just to confirm that (laughs). That history can be made was one of the reasons that got me excited as well. Especially when I was in that period where I didn’t know if I wanted to come back. When I thought about coming back, I looked up stuff like this. Every tiny bit of motivation helps. The opportunity to try to make history is what I want. I feel lucky I’m in that position.”
  • On his daughter, Willow: “She kind of gets the gist of it now (laughs). She gets the gist of what I do, what competitions are. She’s done her first gymnastics competition, she’s done a trampoline competition. She does about five sports throughout the week, she’s a busy little girl. But she understands it, she loves it herself. We don’t force her (to do) gymnastics, but we do know how important it is as a foundation sport. She massively got in love with it. She seems and comes across that she’s really proud of what I have achieved. She randomly comes out (and says) that I’m Olympic champion. And we don’t even tell her too much about it. She just loves that side of it and that to me is amazing.”

Wed. July 24 @ 4:41 p.m.

Daiki Hashimoto (JPN) HB: Tak half to Liukin, close to the bar. Cassina is way too far from the bar and he flies away, rolls back to his feet.

Takaaki Sugino (JPN) HB: This is an insane high bar set, including a Pegan (front tuck half)! One to watch for high bar final. Just keeps going, start to finish, and your jaw is on the floor.

Wed. July 24 @ 4:20 p.m.

Meanwhile Daiki Hashimoto swings beautifully on parallel bars.

Illia Kovtun (UKR) FX: Front full to front double tuck, sits it. Front handspring triple. 3.5 twist. Randi. 2.5 to front layout. Flairs sequence. Triple twist dismount.

Wed. July 24 @ 4:15 p.m.

Oleg Verniaiev (UKR) FX: 3.5 to front full, OOB. Half-in, half-out, OOB. Randi, OOB. Double full to the side, stuck. 2.5 to front layout, fights for the stick, has to take a small hop. Triple full dismount.

Meanwhile, China’s Zhang Boheng hits his Kas double after a little trouble on the previous one.

Wed. July 24 @ 4:02 p.m.

Some notes from interviews with the U.S. men after Subdivision 1:

• Both Brody Malone and Asher Hong mentioned how they’re having to adjust to the light-colored flooring here. Asher said it messes with his depth perception, so it’s taking some getting used to.
• Brody Malone has ditched the brace on floor as well, something he did recently after trials. Only wearing it on high bar now.
• Asher brought ~seven~ bottles of cologne to Paris. Paul said he always smells great after getting ready in the morning. Paul only brought one bottle for comparison. Asher focused on bringing clean, fresh smelling fragrances because he knew it’d be humid. Paul also had Asher smell the fragrance he brought on his wrist, and Asher immediately guessed it.

Wed. July 24 @ 3:56 p.m.

Carlos Yulo (PHI) FX: 2.5 to front double pike, small hop. Front double full to front double tuck. Full-twisting double layout. Triple full to the side. Front full to Randi, insane tumbling line. 3.5 twist dismount.

Wed. July 24 @ 3:49 p.m.

Japanese men working their slew of Kas doubles. Defending world and Olympic champion Daiki Hashimoto does his and is done for vault. Excellent and efficient.

Wed. July 24 @ 3:30 p.m.

Back for subdivision 2 of MAG podium training! This subdivision includes Carlos Yulo (PHI), Lais Najjar (SYR), Artur Davtyan (ARM), Netherlands, China, Japan, and Ukraine. Action-packed subdivision! Let’s get into it.

Wed. July 24 @ 1:19 p.m.

U.S. men are definitely feeling out this floor. Some back-to-back passes, but haven’t seen a full routine yet. Definitely seem to be focused on feeling it out. A lot of slipping.

Any idea of the lineup is most unclear here, but it’s also probably the most up in the air with who they put in for the team final.

Wed. July 24 @ 1:11 p.m.

U.S. men moving to floor in the final rotation of MAG Subdivision 1 in podium training!

Wed. July 24 @ 1:07 p.m.

Fred’s Liukin is looking excellent. Will be great for him if he makes event finals. Tak full in the latest run through was on top of the bar.

Wed. July 24 @ 1:02 p.m.

Paul and Asher struggling a bit on high bar. Paul still having trouble with his Tak. Asher off on his Kolman. Fred and Brody look solid.

Lineup seems to be Paul, Brody, Fred, Asher, with Asher being the event alternate.

Wed. July 24 @ 12:56 p.m.

Two-time defending Olympic pommel horse champion Max Whitlock swinging marvelously on horse.

Wed. July 24 @ 12:41 p.m.

Hard to tell on lineups on parallel bars. Paul likely the alternate for team final though, based on scoring potential.

Wed. July 24 @ 12:41 p.m.

Wed. July 24 @ 12:40 p.m.

Jake Jarman opened with a laid-out triple-double on floor a bit ago. Whole routine was jaw-dropping (as expected). Team GB can gain some major points with that floor lineup.

Wed. July 24 @ 12:27 p.m.

Luke Whitehouse (GBR) FX: Triple back. Front double full to double front. Front double pike. Half-in, half-out, step back. 2.5 to front layout, soft knees. Triple full, stuck.

Wed. July 24 @ 12:27 p.m.

Harry Hepworth (GBR) FX: Tucked triple-double. Laid-out double-double, hop forward. Front full to front double pike, hop back. 2.5 to the side – phew, crazy side pass. Missed the next pass. Half-in, half-out. Triple full. Solid.

Wed. July 24 @ 12:24 p.m.

Joe Fraser (GBR) FX: Tucked triple-double (upgrade). Front full to front double tuck, hop back. Tucked double-double. 2.5 to front layout, soft knees. Half-in, half-out, hop back.

Wed. July 24 @ 12:21 p.m.

On to parallel bars for the U.S. men. Will also take some notes of Team GB on floor.

Wed. July 24 @ 12:13 p.m.

Asher does the Ri Se Gwang AGAIN, and “lands” it. Questionable if his knees touched, but he popped up and got some semblance of a landing to his feet. Not the most concerning since he’ll often drill it in competition when his adrenaline is pumping, but it was a rough go today nonetheless.

Follows with his Kas double, which is solid. He is working on vault today.

Wed. July 24 @ 12:12 p.m.

Elsewhere, Joe Fraser did a laid-out double-double off high bar. He showed a triple pike in training on social. Maybe it’s still to come, or maybe it was just for funsies… JK, shows it righttt at the end of the rotation (sits it), but seems to be in the mix. Only adds two-tenths though, so likely a game-time decision depending on the situation.

“Over the years I’ve been very much a risk taker, so if I feel up for it maybe I’ll send it, if I don’t then maybe I won’t. I’ll do what feels right in the moment,” Fraser said afterwards.

Wed. July 24 @ 12:10 p.m.

Asher’s landings have been particularly funny. Rolled off the still rings mat like a log. Kind of just splatting comedically here and there. But in all seriousness, he’s taking some hard falls and now working his second vault. Looks a bit gassed.

On vault, the U.S. needs to hit clean since they don’t have the higher difficulty vaults of Khoi and Paul that they did at Worlds last fall.

Wed. July 24 @ 12:06 p.m.

Now it looks like the U.S. guys are doing a run through.

• Fred up first. Kas 1.5. Sticks it, albeit in staggered stance.
• Paul solid Kas 1.5, but seemed to be going for the stick and right foot took a step across his body and over the line. Tidy still.
• Brody is the second stuck Kas 1.5 for the U.S. today.
• Asher did his first RSG to his knees, so let’s see how this one goes… Straight to his knees, definitely worse than the first.

Wed. July 24 @ 12:00 p.m.

Asher Ri Se Gwang essentially to his knees.

Wed. July 24 @ 11:58 a.m.

Wed. July 24 @ 11:57 a.m.

On to vault for the U.S. guys Team GB on high bar, with Max Whitlock just drilling his dismount.

Wed. July 24 @ 11:34 a.m.

Lineup seems to be Fred, Brody, Asher, Paul. Again, first three presumably the lineup for team final. Paul does qualifying. Stephen obviously doesn’t do anything other than pommels, so he’s done for the day.

• Fred with a stuck cold tucked double-double off rings… twice.

Wed. July 24 @ 11:21 a.m.

• Paul came off horse toward the end of his set.
• Brody solid on his set.
• Stephen hit his set – some minor form issues, but swinging smooth. 6.0+ set there, but still not his full difficulty.
• Fred was muscling through his set and couldn’t get the dismount around. Remounted to finish.
• Asher with some notable leg separation. Super fast flairs. Dismount is good. The U.S. men can use that if they have to, although not ideal.

Wed. July 24 @ 11:14 a.m.

Great Britain’s Jake Jarman throwing a big Kas 2.5 – takes some steps forward and off the mat, but absolutely juicing that. Excellent double front half through the air and rolls the landing to his back, bit off center.

Wed. July 24 @ 11:14 a.m.

U.S. men starting on pommel horse. Lineup seems to be Paul, Brody, Stephen, Fred, with Asher as the alternate. Interesting choice with Stephen as the pommel specialist – would think he’d anchor the rotation, but maybe takes a bit of the pressure off him not going last in qualifying. Assuming team final lineup will be the first three.

Wed. July 24 @ 11:04 a.m.

Welcome to our live blog of podium training at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games! We’ll have news, notes, and quotes from training inside Bercy Arena for the next two days (Wednesday and Thursday). We’ll also share photos on social, so be sure to follow us across channels.