DD qualified for states yesterday. She had an overall good day, but the most exciting thing was her bar routine. She has struggled on bars since she started competing. Today, I was so proud of her. She has been working to connect her low bar. Her shins have been so bruised from falling and banging her legs while trying to connect the kip to the squat on. But she kept trying and trying and trying. She did the kip squat on a few times last week during practice, but never during the routine. (but making progress). Then Fri at practice I saw her do it in just the low bar part of the routine. I was so excited for her. (she only was able to do it one time).
Now on to sectionals, I thought maybe she should not try and connect it and play it safe as you need a 32 to qualify for states (not exactly a high all around, but when you are getting a low 7 on one event, it kills your AA). She said if it feels good, I am going for it! So I held my breath and crossed my fingers and she did it. The whole routine was by far the best she has ever done. She was so excited. That very moment when she landed the fly away was the whole reason we do gymnastics. To struggle, work hard and find a way to do it! The look on her face was priceless. She said she had a huge smile on her face while jumping to the high bar.
To finish the story,,, the scores on bars were very low and she only got a 7.55. She was disappointed with this. We talked about it and I told her what is important is not the score, but that she knows how good she did. How I really feel is that she was RIPPED off! It was a very nice routine. Casts are too low, but straight arms on all the kips, much improved tap swings and IT WAS CONNECTED!!! I am sure the judges would have given her a full extra point bonus if they new the story behind this rountine.. haha
The rest of her meet was good. 8.6 vault, 8.85 beam and 9.0 floor (5th place).
PS- I forgot to mention that this week she also came home and said she did a straddle cast to handstand. Maybe she is going to become a bars superstar!!
Now on to sectionals, I thought maybe she should not try and connect it and play it safe as you need a 32 to qualify for states (not exactly a high all around, but when you are getting a low 7 on one event, it kills your AA). She said if it feels good, I am going for it! So I held my breath and crossed my fingers and she did it. The whole routine was by far the best she has ever done. She was so excited. That very moment when she landed the fly away was the whole reason we do gymnastics. To struggle, work hard and find a way to do it! The look on her face was priceless. She said she had a huge smile on her face while jumping to the high bar.
To finish the story,,, the scores on bars were very low and she only got a 7.55. She was disappointed with this. We talked about it and I told her what is important is not the score, but that she knows how good she did. How I really feel is that she was RIPPED off! It was a very nice routine. Casts are too low, but straight arms on all the kips, much improved tap swings and IT WAS CONNECTED!!! I am sure the judges would have given her a full extra point bonus if they new the story behind this rountine.. haha
The rest of her meet was good. 8.6 vault, 8.85 beam and 9.0 floor (5th place).
PS- I forgot to mention that this week she also came home and said she did a straddle cast to handstand. Maybe she is going to become a bars superstar!!