ziert alert!
from the publisher…
Serving Gymnastics Since 1956
On With the Show
P.O. Box 721020, Norman, OK 73070
Tel: (405) 447-9988 Fax: (405) 447-5810
E-mail: ig@intlgymnast.com
Printed in USA
IG Online: www.intlgymnast.com
PUBLISHER
Paul Ziert
I WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE this amazing year of
2008 with the “Progressive Skating and Gymnastics Spectacular” in Rapid City, S.D. I served as
the gymnastics coordinator and was responsible
for selecting the cast, choosing the music and
choreographing/producing the gymnastics acts.
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Bart Conner
Of course, Adriana Pop, the brilliant choreographer for many of the Olympic artistic gymnasts,
ably assisted me. We taped the show on Dec. 23,
and it airs in the U.S. as a two-hour sports special on NBC Jan. 18. Bart
Conner and Nadia Comaneci coupled with 1968 Olympic figure skating
champion Peggy Fleming to host the show.
PUBLISHER EMERITUS
Glenn M. Sundby
EDI TOR /AR T DIREC TOR
Dwight Normile
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Nadia Comaneci
Our gymnastics cast was truly golden: Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson,
Samantha Peszek, Alicia Sacramone, Paul and Morgan Hamm,
Jonathan Horton, Raj Bhavsar, Justin Spring and the elegant and technically perfect Ivan Ivankov. With what most of these gymnasts went
through during the Olympic season, I was very proud of how they still love the
sport and want very much to help it grow.
WRITERS
John Crumlish, Amanda Turner, Christian Ivanov
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Eileen Langsley, Dave Black
Jeff Sipsey, Tom Theobald
Debbie Poe, Thomas Schreyer
Although it was bitterly cold outside, this cast
nearly melted the ice with fired-up performances. I wish to give a special thanks to the
cast and to Steve Disson, Pete Bockelman
and Alyssa Shane (all from Disson Skating),
I was especially
CONTRIBUTORS
Anneleen Kaptein-Dekker, Amy Van Deusen
impressed with the
Chinese women
WEBSITE
John Crumlish, Amanda Turner
who continue to help gymnastics by including
this production in their list of annual televised
skating shows. Depending on when you
receive this issue of IG, I hope you saw or will
watch this fun and exciting program.
who showed up at
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Benjamin Fox
many of the inter-
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Lynn Landis
I was especially impressed with the Chi- nationalmeets
nese women who, after such a huge success
in Beijing, showed up at many of the interna- thisfall,…
tional meets this fall, including the DTB Cup in
CIRCULATION MANAGER
Judy Schumacher
subscriptions@intlgymnast.com
Stuttgart and the World Cup Final in Madrid. Sometimes with modified routines, they nevertheless looked very much in shape and performed wonderfully, winning most of the time. The Chinese gymnastics program appears to be
taking its leadership role very seriously by sending great and well-prepared
gymnasts to most of the meets throughout the world. This will and should
help them politically. I have always wondered why the U.S. does not participate in more of the international competitions with its large number of gymnasts who seem ready to experience global gymnastics.
ADVERTISING INFORMATION
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GYM-MART
Send prepaid to: International GYMNAST
P.O. Box 721020, Norman, OK 73070
With gymnastics being the foundation for many of the extreme sports, we
thought it would be fitting to feature Parkour and Freerunning (“Urban
Gymnastics”) in this issue of IG. Although their stunts might seem wild and
dangerous, these athletes appear to be well trained and conditioned to meet
the challenge. I hope you will enjoy learning about this growing discipline
through our indepth story by IG editor Dwight Normile.
Also, you won’t want to miss John Crumlish’s behind-the-scenes update
with Vanessa Ferrari, straight from her brand new gym in Italy.
CORRECTION: On page 15 of the December issue, we regret the misspelling of the last name
of Melissa McKee (Salto Gymnastics, Lisburn, Northern Ireland) in GymFaces.
International GYMNAST (ISSN 0891-6616) magazine is published monthly except bi-monthly January/February and
July/August ( 10 issues/year) by Paul Ziert & Associates,
Inc., 3214 Bart Conner Dr., P.O. Box 721020, Norman, Oklahoma 73070. Periodicals Postage paid at Norman, Oklahoma, and additional mailing offices. Subscription rate
$30.00 USA per year, $5.00 single copy (Okla. res. add sales
tax); Canada: $38.00 plus 7% GST. All other foreign:
$38.00/surface mail; $50.00/express delivery. Correspondence concerning subscriptions, advertising, editorial,
address changes and adjustments should be mailed to:
International GYMNAST magazine, P. O. Box 721020, Norman, Oklahoma 73070. All rights reserved. All contents of
this issue of International GYMNAST magazine are copyrighted 2009 by Paul Ziert & Associates, Inc. Reproduction
without permission is strictly prohibited.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to International
GYMNAST, P. O. Box 721020, Norman, Oklahoma 73070.
Publications mail agreement no. 41608042. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: PO Box 875, Stn A, Windsor
ON N9A 6P2.
Contributions: International GYMNAST magazine welcomes
story, art and photo contributions. All submissions should
be directed to the Editor. All photos and manuscripts submitted become the property of International GYMNAST
magazine, unless return request and sufficient postage are
included. The editors of International GYMNAST magazine
assume no responsibility for unsolicited contributions.
