IT TAKES EXTREME FLEXIBILITY…POISE…AND GRACE…ALL THINGS WE ALREADY KNOW I NEED TO WORK ON…
TODAY WE TAKE A LOCAL LOOK AT OLYMPIC GYMNASTICS IN THIS AROUND CENTRAL ILLINOIS REPORT.
(nats of mercy chalking up) IT REQUIRES STRENGTH…nat (shot of girl on uneavens)…FLEXIBILITY…nat (shot of chick between)…AND A WHOLE LOT OF POWER…(shot of girl doing the horse)…
BUT THERE’S ANOTHER SIDE TO OLYMPIC GYMNASTICS… (shot of ribbons/nats/indiana jones) THE ONE WITH RIBBONS.
sot-you’re going to see the grace, the poise, and the presence of outstanding athletes…(nats/girls flip backwards)
THAT’S SPRINGFIELD’S GYMNASTIC ZONE OWNER JENNY MCCLANAHAN. (nats/floor)
HER STUDENTS… TORI BREEDING… MIRACLE SEAY…MERCY SEAY…AND…KAYLEE MCCLANAHAN. ARE ALL HELPING US DEMONSTRATE.
if you’ve ever tried yoga, this goes like 10-thousand steps beyond.
SHE SAYS ALL AROUND GYMNASTICS REQUIRES A SPECIAL SORT OF BODILY AWARENESS…(nats/parallel bars and beam)
you have all of your body to be in control of…(nats/parallel bars and beam)
BUT THE SEPARATE RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS CATEGORY… (shots of olympians)
you not only have to have the balance and the poise…
PUTS AN EMPHASIS ON FLEXIBILITY AND GRACE…
you also have to manipulate, on one foot with a baton that floats 10 feet up in the air.
(nats/shots of me on floor stretching) THOSE…ARE TWO THINGS I SORELY LACK. (nats/ohh ok..)
BUT THAT DIDN’T STOP ME FROM TRYING MY BEST
you’ve got to keep your chin lifted…your shoulders and hips square…
TO LEARN SOME OF THE MOVES WE’LL SEE ON THE RYTHMIC GYMNASTICS FLOOR IN LONDON.
ready? go… (nats of turn..)
WE FOCUSED ON RIBBON…(NAT) LEARNING A FULL TURN (NAT) AND HITCH KICK (go/laugh) BUT RHYTHMIC GYMNASTS ALSO WORK WITH A BALL…BATONS…AND HOOPS…AMONG OTHER TOOLS. ALL OF THOSE…
are an extension of the athlete’s body.
AND THAT MAKES THE SPORT EXTRA DIFFICULT.
when they finish that move, they have to flick that wrist and extend it, and their body extends with it.
(music) IT WAS OBVIOUS AFTER A FEW TRIES…(ex/nat) I SHOULD LEAVE THE ARTISTRY TO THE PROFESSIONALS.
REPORTING AROUND CENTRAL ILLINOIS…IN SPRINGFIELD…I’M MARK RIVERA…WAND NEWS.
IT’S BASED ON EXPLOSIVE SPEED…PRECISION…AND POWER OF THE MIND.
TODAY WE LEARN HOW TO REALLY STAY ON POINT…AS WE TAKE A LOCAL LOOK AT OLYMPIC FENCING IN THIS AROUND CENTRAL ILLINOIS REPORT.
(nats-sword play…) YOU’VE SEEN IT ON THE SILVER SCREEN… (sword play…) BUT SOON, YOU’LL SEE SWORDPLAY LIKE THIS… (NATS- SWORDS/KEVIN) RIGHT HERE ON WAND (NAT)
THE GUY IN BLACK…(NATS) THAT’S KEVIN HUGHES.
i grew up on the old errol flynn movies…(sound under- cut to sword fight, sound down) the swashbuckling stuff (natsot- did i upset your plans? you’ve come to nottingham once too often) I wanted to learn how to do that.
AND…HE DID…
i applied to the coaches college at the olympic training center in colorado…was accepted, and went there in 2007.
THAT’S WHY I WENT TO HUGHES HOME IN SPRINGFIELD TO SEE WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE A SWASHBUCKLER FIRST HAND (nat/fencing).
you’re going to have explosive attacks. (nat-clink clink)
it may start with the upper body movement, or it may start with the hand… attack (nats.)
realistically, it’s like chess…where you have to think three steps ahead. if i attack (nat) and you block me this way (nat?) how am i going to defeat that?
THAT’S JUST WHAT I HAD TO KEEP IN MIND FOR MY FIRST LESSON.
THAT…AND FITTING INTO THE FENCING GEAR.
getting the knickers on…almost there.. alright…knickers on.
(speed up…)
AFTER WE FINISHED WITH THAT ORDEAL AND ADDED THE MASK FOR PROTECTION
alright…ready to fence.
I LEARNED HOW FENCERS HOLD A FOIL…
basically you’re just going to take your hand like this…this will be the platform, and it will sit right underneath.
FOIL IS ONE OF THE THREE SWORDS YOU’LL SEE IN OLYMPIC FENCING…ALONG WITH SABERS
…you have a cutting edge here…and a point blade here…
AND EPEES…
crossword puzzel lovers everywhere will know that one. yes definitely…
EPEES ONLY HAVE POINTS…LIKE THE FOIL. AND YOU GRIP THEM ALL…
we’re going to wrap our thumb around,
TO GIVE YOU AS MUCH CONTROL OVER THAT POINT AS POSSIBLE. (BRING AUDIO BELOW DOWN)
i can move that blade wherever i want.
HUGHES’ WIFE GRACE HELPED ME LEARN A FEW OF THE FOIL BASICS.
attack…retreat…attack…retreat…
THEN WE DID SOME FENCING FOR POINTS IN THE BACKYARD.
nats-
I TRIED MY BEST TO BEAT KEVIN…
nats
AND GRACE…
nats…
BUT I WAS DEFEATED BOTH TIMES.
holy cow…
…NOT TO MENTION EXHAUSTED.
BUT THAT DIDN’T STOP KEVIN AND I…jump down en gard…FROM COREOGRAPHING A LITTLE FIGHT SCENE (nats) IN HONOR OF HIS FIRST FENCING COACH… ROBIN HOOD.
REPORTING AROUND CENTRAL ILLINOIS…(jump/en garde) IN SPRINGFIELD…I’M MARK RIVERA (fencing nats)…WAND NEWS.
HUGHES TELLS ME WHAT WE’LL SEE IN THE OLYMPICS WON’T BE AS FLASHY AS THAT CHOREOGRAPHY…BUT IT WILL BE MORE SHREWD.
OLYMPIC FENCERS…GO 15 POINTS OR TOUCHES BEFORE A BOUT IS OVER…
SO THE FENCERS YOU’LL SEE THIS SUMMER WILL HAVE TO KEEP THAT EXPLOSIVE PRECISION AND ANTICIPATION FOR UP TO 9 MINUTES PER BOUT.
IT REQUIRES STRENGTH…COORDINATION…AND ABOVE ALL, A SMILE.
AS WE TAKE A LOCAL LOOK AT OLYMPIC SPORTS…THIS WEEK YOU’LL SEE JUST HOW TOUGH SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING REALLY IS IN THIS AROUND CENTRAL ILLINOIS REPORT.
(nat song) COORDINATION… FORM… AND GRACE…(nat of jump/SOUND/music under all) ALL THINGS I NEEDED TO LEARN (cannonballlllll) WHEN EXPLORING THE WORLD OF SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING (nat of splash) (freeze frame) BUT BEFORE WE JUMP IN… (RUN THE TAPE BACKWARDS/MAKE SOUND) LETS MEET OUR GUIDES.
i’m maddie kleinhample…i’m liz zelnio…lisa hutcheson.
THREE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS’ CLUB SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING TEAM.
i just really liked it because it was really different and unique.
MADDIE KLEINHAMPLE HAS BEEN SWIMMING SYNCHRO SINCE SHE WAS 8-YEARS-OLD.
it take endurance, flexibility, strength, coordination, precise timing, grace, artistry…
AND BECAUSE OF THAT… SHE SAYS THE MIX OF SWIMMING, DANCE, AND GYMNASTICS… COMPLETELY DESERVES ITS SPOT ON THE WORLD STAGE.
it’s really hard work and that’s not necessarily something you can see from above water…cause we make it look so easy hahaha.
I WANTED TO PUT THAT TO THE TEST…BUT BEFORE I COULD JUMP IN…(one two three four…) THE TEAM HAD TO SHOW ME A FEW MOVES OUT OF THE WATER. (nats)
we do what’s called land drilling…(nat-one two three four) we plan out the routines, and then we do 8 counts to the music. (nat-5, 6, 7, 8)
THESE GIRLS MAKE IT LOOK EASY…
on land, we do different arm movements that represent the movements that go in the water.
BUT SOMETIMES THOSE ARM MOVEMENTS…
so my arms represent my legs right now…
CAN BE A BIT CONFUSING…
did this just become our legs? these are the arms, ok…see, sometimes your arms are your arms, and sometimes your arms are your legs…i’m still trying to get the hang of this…you know…i don’t know yet.
I FIGURED OUT AS MANY OF THE BASICS AS I COULD…(1,2, 3, haha) AND THE TEAM PREPARED ME TO HIT THE WATER.
i’ve got the nose thing on, i’ve got the goggles on, i’ve got the head piece…i don’t know how this is going to turn out, but i’m going to try my best.
I GOT IN…WITH MADDIE AND LIZ…AND IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO LEARN THE BARACUDA MOVE… (nat-how did he flip over) MINE NEEDED SOME WORK.
(1,2,3,4) WHEN I TRIED IT AGAIN…(NAT/music) MY LUCK WASN’T MUCH BETTER. always last..
A SYNCHRO STAPLE…ballet legs…DIDN’T TURN OUT EITHER. he’s got to learn how to point his toes…a lot of boys have trouble with that. they’re not naturally graceful and toe pointers.
I TRIED MY BEST TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER FOR A PERFORMANCE…
this is tough stuff, honestly…works your whole body… you have to have what…grace coordination… those two things i probably don’t have that much of right now..
LIZ SUMS IT UP NICELY…
he talked about his coordination and grace… he’s got coordination…but his grace could use a little work…(pan over)
(nats) EMBARASSING? YES. (nats) BUT NOW I KNOW…YOU HAVE TO BE TOUGH… TO WEAR THAT SMILE IN THE WATER.
REPORTING AROUND CENTRAL ILLINOIS…IN CHAMPAIGN, I’M MARK RIVERA…WAND NEWS.
IT LOOKS EASY, BUT I WAS WINDED AFTER THAT SHOOT!
SYNCHRO TEAMS CAN HAVE A MAXIMUM OF 8 SWIMMERS…AND THEY’RE JUDGED BOTH ON ROUTINES THEY PERFORM AND INDIVIDULE FIGURES PERFORMED FOR A COMBINED SCORE.
KLEINHAMPLE HOPES THE U OF I CLUB TEAM HAS ABOUT 14 SWIMMERS NEXT YEAR.
AS THE OLYMPICS APPROACH, I WANT TO SHOW YOU A FEW OF THE EVENTS OUR NATION’S TOP ATHELETS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THIS SUMMER AT THE LONDON GAMES.
WE START WITH THE DECATHLON, A SPORT THAT REQUIRES RUNNING, JUMPING, THROWING…AND AN ALL AROUND ATHLETICISM…IN THIS SPECIAL AROUND CENTRAL ILLINOIS REPORT.
(NATS-off the blocks) HE’S MILLIKIN’S ONLY DECATHON ATHLETE.
yeah…decathlete i guess you could say.
BUT THAT ISN’T STOPPING 20-YEAR-OLD SOPHOMORE…DUSTIN ROTH (NAT) FROM TAKING THE 2-DAY … 10 EVENT COMPETITION (NAT-LONG JUMP) HEAD ON. (NAT)
THE EVENTS ARE…IN ORDER… the hundred. (nat) THEN IT’S TOO… the long jump (nat)… THEN…shotput (nat)… high jump (nat) AND TO END DAY 1…the open 400 (nats)
DAY TWO STARTS WITH… 110 hurdles (nat)… then you do discus… (nat)… then pole vault… javelin…(nat)…AND IT ENDS WITH ROTH’S LEAST FAVORITE…the 1500 (nat).
THE FARTHER YOU RUN…(nat)…JUMP…(nat) AND THROW (nat).. THE MORE POINTS YOU GET.
BUT THAT MIX OF EVENTS…MAKES TRAINING FOR THE COMPETITION…(NAT) A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
while everybody else is doing one event or two events…i’m doing about 4 or 5 events each practice…you definitely need more dedication.
AND THAT’S NOT ALL…(shoes tie) THAT SETS ROTH APART. (nat) shot and disk…NORMALLY…RUNNERS AND THROWERS HAVE ONE OR TWO PAIRS OF SHOES.
uhhh, high jump and…
FOR THE DECATHLON…DUSTIN…HAS MORE THAN 4…
sprints and jumps. warm up (laugh)
HE SAYS THE COMPETITION…JUST.
takes work…it’s nothing that someone can just do…just because they can..
BUT…I WANTED TO PUT THAT TO THE TEST…SO I SUITED UP IN ONE OF MY OLD TRACK SHIRTS… (NAT) AND LET HER RIP. (NAT)
(start with shotput)(nat) I NEEDED A FEW TIPS FIRST.
you gotta use a lot of your legs besides your arms and just really get after it…
DUSTIN…(NAT) KICKED MY BUTT IN SHOTPUT. (NAT-ONE MORE THROW) EVERY TIME I TRIED.
SO WE MOVED ON TO JAVLIN…WARMING UP THE BACK AND SHOULDERS FIRST…i feel like i’m wading in the water and he’s doing laps.
DUSTIN’S (nat-jav throw) KNICKED THE GROUND…MINE (nat-jav throw) WENT IN UPSIDE DOWN.
DUSTIN’S LOOKS A LOT MORE LIKE WHAT OLYMPIANS CAN DO…(SLOW MO…SPLIT SCREEN)
OVER IN THE LONG JUMP PIT…(NAT) DUSTIN ALMOST DIDN’T STAY IN FRAME HE JUMPED SO FAR. I ON THE OTHER HAND…(NAT) HAD NO TROUBLE…(NAT-clap.. haha)..
IT WAS ONLY AT THE HIGH JUMP (NAT OF DUSTIN JUMPING) THAT I WAS ABLE TO COMPETE WITH MILLIKIN’S DECATHLETE.
(jump up and over) ahh — woo —
THIS IS STILL DUSTIN’S FIRST YEAR…
i’ve never touched a shot or disc before in my life…or heard of javelin.
AND WITH TWO DECATHLON’S UNDER HIS BELT…
(NAT)
ROTH SAYS HE’S READY FOR MORE.
it is a feat to just finish the whole entire decathlon.
REPORTING AROUND CENTRAL ILLINOIS…IN DECATUR….(NAT) I’M MARK RIVERA (NAT)…WAND NEWS.
AFTER THAT SAMPLING…I CAN’T IMAGINE WHAT OLYMPIC LEVEL DECATHLETES GO THROUGH IN THEIR TRAINING.
DUSTIN’S SEASON ENDED THIS PAST WEEKEND…WITH A HIP FLEXER INJURY…BUT IT’S SAFE TO SAY HE’LL BE WATCHING THE SUMMER GAMES JUST MONTHS AWAY…ALONG WITH MILLIONS.
Decatur gaming group makes friends from strangers
