As many of you might have noticed this blog is mostly dedicated to Hiroyuki Tomita and Kohei Uchimura.  I was thinking lately of making it more accessible for fans from different countries. I would like to create different language versions of this blog, so I  already began working on the Romanian version. It’s right here .

Many of you might be familiar with the great feeling of admiration for these two wonderful gymnast. It’s always nice to meet new fans, but it’s even nicer to talk to them in your language.  For some it could be hard to express themselves in English, but let’s give them an opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings!

It will be great to translate it in as many languages as possible. So if anyone is willing to help I’ll gladly accept it. All that’s needed is a great will and good knowledge of some language, other than English or Romanian.

If you’re interested you can leave a comment here or contact me:

anniegulica@yahoo.com

anagulica@gmail.com

Thank you very much for you help! Kindly appreciated!

This might not be what some of you might wanna hear, but you have to know it.

According to Takami-san, there is a rumor in Japan that Tomita will get engaged soon.
The lucky lady is supposed to be a gymnastic teacher from Osaka Prefecture. She was a teacher of Shiroma Sports Club in 2007.In 2008, she became gymnastic teacher of high school in Osaka.

This lady was seen at many competitions in the parties seats.  She walked with Tomita-san’s bouquet at Toyota International. They both rode the same car.

On of her students mentioned in its blog that she will resign and move to Tokyo to be married soon.

It’s nothing confirmed though, these are just rumors.

Hello to all Hiroyuki Tomita fans!
I’m sorry for not updating lately, I was quite busy!

Now I would like to let you all know about the latest gymnastic event where Tomita-san was invited .

Hiroyuki Tomita participated in the Gymnastic Trial Class at Ono-city’s event.
It was held on February 11, Ono city in Hyogo Prefecture.

Tomita was invited as a instructor.
Here is a blog about the event.
Kuro-san’s Blog
Takami-san translated it!
Thank you very much Takami-san!

“Ono City Gymnastics Sports Event” (February 11, 2009)

“I’m very sleepy, but I can’t sleep somehow.
So, I write the report.
But, I’m sleep half, so, if I make a mistake, I will correct.

~~~
The extent of the venue was the normal for the gymnasium.
I could not know 1,000 people gathered there, but surely there were many people.
In the 1st floor, the awarder and children and their parents stayed.
The 2nd floor was the floor for the audiences.
When the award finished and I saw the venue with a wooden stare.
Then, I could sometimes see the “Central” jersey crossing in the distance.
Also, I could see wavering “MONCLER” jacket.
I was very curious.

The “Sports Class” was scheduled from 15:00, but it started a bit early.
The song, “Eikou no Kakehashi (Glory Bridge)” was played, and Tomita appeared.
He wear the regular “Central” jersey, and walked lovely as usual.
“Today, please really enjoy and try your best!”
He said. Then, every children and coaches began the stretching.

By the way, Tomita and the chair coach(?) stretched the same mat.
The chair didn’t take off the shoes because these didn’t hit the mat.
However, Tomita took off his shoes. It was just like him.

After the stretching, the children began the Forward roll in the 6 mats.
(After the Forward roll, the difficulty was raised, such as Forward roll with legs apart, Handstand Forward roll)
Then, Tomita was walking around.
But at first, he stared the children with silence.
Sometimes, the chair asked him how to do the element.
When he was asked, he answered earnestly every time.

Else, he approximated the microphone…, but he didn’t say anything then (laugh),
and when he said something to the child, but the child didn’t noticed…(bitter smile).
Also, many children gathered around him, and he shake hands with them…(laugh).

What I enjoyed most was his repair of the mats row. The mats moved a little by little when the children practiced.
Then, Tomita noticed and didn’t told about it anyone and he repaired silently. (Even the staff didn’t noticed.)

Also, his way of walking was like that- he didn’t bend his knees!
Also, he showed the general Handstand and Handstand with legs together.
These were beautiful!

~Q&A~
: Before the Q&A, he needed to cross the mat for sitting the reserved chair.
When he crossed the mat, he jumped for not to step the mat. It was just like him and I thought he was cute and gentle.

The representative children and a part of the audiences in the 2nd floor questioned.
I write some pieces of questions.

Q1. Have you ever felt sick when you have turned too much?
A. It is frequent question (laugh). I have never felt sick. Probably, the volume of the practice is different….

Q2. How many tier of vaulting horse do you vault?
A. Indeed, some athletes challenged it on TV program, but I have never challenged it.
So, I don’t know(laugh). (Probably, 8 tiers, as I did it on school days.)

Q3. What was your dream in your childhood? Also, have you ever given up the dream?
A. I had a dream to participate in Olympics when I was about 6th grade.
Also, I have never thought I would like to give up especially.
I think, when you think the resignation even if it’s a bit, it is the time for growing.
So, I think, when you think “I would like to stop” or “I would like to rest”, you are tested.
How much did you try hard connects to the future, I think.
Therefore, when you think like that, you may think it is the time for growing.
Then, you try your best.

Q4. What’s your favorite food? Also, what is your point of care such as sleeping?
A. I like hamburger steak and curry rice and so on.
When I was an athlete, I liked the meat. But now, I am near to 30 years old, and I become to like fish.
Especially, I like Sushi.
(Writer: I think Tomita also said “Sashimi”, but I didn’t remember clearly…)

About the sleeping, not to stay up late is natural.
In addition, I care to rest when it is holiday.

Q5. How many times do you turn at High Bar?
A. I don’t know how many times exactly….
About “Giant Swing”, although I have never challenged how many times could I turn,
but,,,Umm…, Probably, I can turn until my hands leave.

Q6. Your favorite curriculum/ favorite event and weak event.
A. My favorite curriculum was physical education.
My strong event is Parallel Bars and my favorite event is High Bar.
My weak and dislike event is consistently….Floor Exercise… for me…
My strong element is “Kolman”. At Parallel Bars, “Morisue” and “Belle”. I was strong on the rolling elements in the air.
Well, I am weak at Floor Exercise as a whole.
I could not do the high jumps and high somersaults…, so…, I didn’t like Floor (bitter smile).

Q7. How did you feel when you won the gold medal at Athens Olympics?/ What is your happiest thing?
A. I tensed before I start my last event, High Bar at Athens Olympics.
When I thought, “Can you do the performance?”
The gold medal was the blessed thing.
It was the very glad memory for me even now.
(After that, he forgot the another question.) Then, what was your another question?
My happiest memory… I puzzle, but, I think, it is my whole gymnast life.
I experienced the hard things, but I could won the gold medal at Athens and
I experienced many glad things at that life.
Especially, after Athens Olympics, many people cheered me.
So, I think I was happy.

Q8. About the tension of Olympics.
A. It was different a bit from the other championships.
The atmosphere changes widely.
(To overcome for it,) the amount of practice and the confidence in your ability.
Also, it is good if you wonder why you tense.
In addition, you may realize your special mission or responsibility on such a stage.
Then, you should think the responsibility is the thankful thing, and you do the performance with confidence.
It will make your power and you will grow up.

Q9. Do you have a girlfriend?
A. I think it is not suitable question for here(bitter smile). So, I don’t say anything here.

Q10. How many chocolate do you receive on St.Valentine’s Day?
Also, do you eat all the chocolate?
A. I don’t know how many chocolate I received before exactly…..
because I have never counted before.
However, I like chocolate and I eat all of them.

~~~
That’s all!
I think there were other questioned (, but I don’t remember).
After that, he received the bouquet from the children and he exited.

When he left the venue, he wear the “MONCLER” jacket, and held the bouquet.
He showed the usual smile and wave of his hand, then he rode the taxi.

Sorry for this long story.
Should I divide it into two articles?
I will think it after I sleep and get up…”

———————————————————————

For more information please visit Hiroyuki & Kohei Fan Cafe

NHK aired on January 31, a 45 min documentary about Tomita Hiroyuki. It probably is the last documentary about him that we are going to see.
It’s like a mini-biography of Tomita’s gymnastic life. It starts from his childhood and shows his growth and evolution in gymnastics.

The video it’s very enjoyable, with comments made by Tomita-san himself. It contains new photos of him during childhood and college!
Tomita-san expressed his feelings and emotion that felt during the Athene Olympics. It shows also him in Melbourne, becoming the world champion. The change of the Code of points affected him enormously, and he struggled within whether to focus on difficult elements or stick with his beauty.
It relates also about the 2006, 2007 World Championships, Beijing Olympics and the last performance oh him – Madrid World Cup.
Enjoy the video and share your impressions!

Persisted Aesthetic Video

For more detailed info visit the Hiroyuki and Kohei Fan Cafe

January 21, 2009

Metropark Hotel Nanjing recently received the 18 members of Japanese National Gymnastics Team led by their head coach. The silver medal winner of the men’s gymnastics all-around finals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Uchimura Kohei, and with his teammates are staying at the hotel while attending an eight-day training program in the Nanjing Institute of Physical Education.

Source: China Hospitality News

The Japanese Gymnast Tomita Hiroyuki, that recently retired, apeared on the TV program “VS Arashi” that was broadcasted on January 10 on Fuji TV.

At this show the guests play various games with the members of the Arashi band. Many of them require physical strength. Usually the show last 30min, but this time it was a 2 hour special edition.

Here is the Athlete Team:

Choi Hong-man, Tomita Hiroyuki, Atsuhito Uchida, Koki Kameda, Haruka Hirota, Shingo Katayama, Daisuke Miura

Tomita-san participated only at one contest “Climbing” and he did great! He earned 550 points, when the average score is 300 points! He climbed so fast and elegant! Here is a video where you can see him doing a jump at trampoline and climbing. He’s gorgeus and his smile is extraordinary!

Unfortunately the Athlete’s Team didn’t win, even though they had the highest score. They lost at the final chalenge Rolling Coin Tower

BIG thanks to plasma for providing! Translation Credit: Takami7 and Hiroyuki and Kohei Fan Cafe

The Japanese Newspapers reported that Tomita Hiroyuki will start his coaching career this spring!

Here is the link to the article:
http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/etc/news/20090110-OHT1T00016.htm

“Athens’ gold duo, Tomita & Kashima start the 2nd career”
(2009, January 10, 6:01 ; The Sports Hochi Shimbun)

Athens Olympics gymnastic team’s gold medalist Hiroyuki Tomita(28, Central Sports)
who retired in this season will work as the coach of Juntendo University.
It turned out on January 9.

Besides, he will also assume the assistant professor of Health and Sports Science
at Juntendo University.

Also, the same victory’s member, Takehiro Kashima (28, Sentral Sports)
will work as the instructor of Sports and Helth Science at Daito Bunka University,
and will start the 2nd career.

-The duo that leaded the revival of “Gymnastics Japan” will debut as the educator
at the same time.-
They also contributed to the silver medal at Beijing Olympics last summer.
It was 2 continuous medals (at Gymnastics Team).
Kashima retired at Toyota International Competition on last November.
Tomita retired at World Cup Final in Spain on last December.

Both of them aim to be the coach.
About Tomita, he also will be installed as the coach of the gymnastic club
of Juntendo University.
Juntendo University is the powerful team that won as the Team
at the Intercollegiate Championship in last season.

Minoru Kanou(57) who is the coach of the club and representative coach of
Japanese men’s gymnastics at Athens Olympics said,
“I think he will maybe think difficult to get accustomed to teaching,
because he changed position suddenly.
However, I think he will bring the effect of ‘gold medal’.
I look forward to him.”

The other, Kashima doesn’t have the plan to teach the club of the university
at the present time.
However, the secretariat of the university and the sports center said,
“If the expectation will rise in the campus, and the surroundings will be ripe,
it will maybe come true.”
So, it seems that they plan to install Kashima as the coach.

Tomita was the all-rounder and he showed the “Beautiful Gymnastics”.
He stretched straight through his toes and became the top of the gymnastic world.
The other, Kashima was “the specialist of Pommel Horse” and had the strong point,
which was the dynamic performance. He also experienced the world champion
of Pommel Horse.
Both of them know the severe of marking sports.
Then, they will make a fresh start as the educator, and now they will mark the students.

Credits: Fuji TV, mokuya and Hiroyuki and Kohei Fan Cafe

Not long ago Fuji TV broadcasted a documentary “Masters of Gymnastics”. It’s mainly about Japanese Gymnastics Champions Uchimura Kohei and Tsurumi Koko. It features also Hisashi Mizutori and Tomita Hiroyuki.
Part 1
Part 2

Translation Notes by Takami7

“Master of Gymnastics” (2008, Dec 29, : Fuji TV) : {1}

[Chapter 0] (0:00-0:05) ; “the Flag”
; “Master of ??”

[Chapter 1] (0:05-1:45) ; “Severeness for Older Persons”
(1). at the End of 2008
; Narration: “In 2008, the end of the year. The criticicism to older persons and their finances are especially severe in this winter.”
; @article: “Special Pension Plan for Over 75″, “Big Depression”, “What will be the Special Medical Insurance for Over 75 ?”

; Narration: “The leads in the era become young with intense speed.”
; @article: “Judoist, Nakamura who was born in Heisei period won bronze medal”

; Narration: “For the older persons, it is hard to live this era…”

(2). Young Generations
; Narration : “Alternation of generations. The time doesn’t stop.”

; a. Misato Nakamura (19, Judoist)

; @Newspapter: “Golfer, Ryo Ishikawa said, ‘It was hard.’ “
; b. Ryo Ishikawa (17, Golfer) : (Commentator) :”Ryo Ishikawa, who is 17 years old. He won the tour first time!”

; Narration: “The full of abilities. The vibrant bodies. “

; c. Tadashi Kagawa (19, Soccer player) : “I was born in Heisei 1, March 17. I’m Tadashi Kagawa, 19 years old. I aim for World Cup.”

; d. Kosei Miura (19, Jockey): “I was born in Heisei 1, December 19. I’m the youngest jockey. I’m Kosei Miura, 19 years old.”

(3). the Older Man
; Man : “I was born in Showa 11, Januray 1. I’m Minoru Nosue, 72 years old.”

; Narration : “Such the alternation of generations. If the older person would like to be in the spotlight, they need to do a particular things. The trivial things don’t stop the time easily.”

[Chapter 2] (1:45-2:40); “Gymnastics”
; (Telop : “Master of ??” )
; Narration2(=N2) : “In the sporting world, the age tier becomes young, and there is the sports which men’s and women’s champions are both teens.”

; (Telop : ??’s Japanese champions are now, man: 19 years old, woman :16 years old)

; N2 :”For the veteran, the stream of time floods with sad. Do you know such sports?”

; Kohei Uchimura: “I was born in Showa 64, January 3. I’m 19 years old. Kohei Uchimura. I’m the champion of Japanese men’s gymnastics.”

; Koko Tsurumi : “I was born in Heisei 4, September 28. Koko Trusumi. I’m 16 years old and the champion of Japanese women’s gymnastics.”

[Chapter 3] (2:40-2:51) :”Remaind time is Little”
; N2: “Now, the main athletes are teens in gymanstic world. The remained time for the veterans is getting less and less every second. It is the present condition in Japanese gymnastics.”

[Chapter 4] (2:51-3:31) “2004 Athens Olympics”
; N2: “The trigger for the putting forward the time was that scene which was 4 years ago.”

; Commentator : “This ‘Double Sault backward straight with 2 twist (Watanabe)’ will be the bridge for the glory!! Well done!! It succeeded!! “

; Kohei : “I was so moved that I got goose bumps. I thought ‘Great’.”

; Koko : “I thought ‘Wow…’. 9th grade, 8th grade, 7th grade, oh, 6th grade. It was when I was 6th grade. I was very immpressed. Then, I could not say too much. I gazed at it.”

[Chapter 5] (3:31-4:51) : “2008 Beijing Olympics”
; N2: “The yearning created the specific aim, and accelerates the speed of growth of boys and girls.”
“Kohei Uchimura, who become 19 years old, won the silver medal at AA in teens. That was the thing even Tomita could not accomplish.”
“Also, the superstar appears in Japanese women’s gymnastics.”

; Tchieko Tsukahara (Japanese representative coarch) :”Her name expresses ‘rainbow’ in Kanji character and calls ‘Ko-ko’. (cf. Her name expresses ‘rainbow-child’ in Kanji character.) You know, tradition says that ‘If you see the rainbow, the dreams come true’. So, I thought a bit then, ’she would maybe help Japanese women’s gymnastics in future’.”

; N2 : “The pupil who watched Tomita’s performance on TV before achieved the splendid accomplishment that was after interval of 40 years.
(Telop: Japanese women’s team won 5th and it was after interval of 40 years.)
Also now, she is even said as the ‘hope’.”

; Interviewer : “You won a prize as 5th. Congratulations!”
; Koko: “Thank you very much. I can’t believe. However, I think since my teammates worked hard, we could accomplish. I am very happy.”

(Telop : September 3, “the report convention of returning from Bejing Olympics”)
; N2 : “Now, Gymnastic Japan’s time aims for the World Championship in London, 2009. Moreover, it aims for London Olympics 2012. It runs and runs.”

Ever wondered what kind of girls Tomita Hiroyuki likes? I don’t doubt you did. But don’t have to torture your brains anymore, here’s the mystery solved for you.

After the Beijing Olympics some interviews, with Tomita-san as a special guest, were broadcasted. Check this out:

Here Tomita is being asked about marriage and the type of girls he prefers. As you might heard from the video, his answer was fast and clear:

“Kitagawa Keiko-san”

Kitagawa Keiko is a Japanese actress and former model. She’s 22, and she became famous with her role in The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift.

She’s a student of Meiji University, studying Commercial Science.

She describes herself as a stay-at-home person, and likes watching DVDs, listening to music, and reading books. When asked what she would do if the world was going to end tomorrow, she said “read books”. She also likes swimming, particularly backstroke. She has a pet (male) cat, called Jill.

Here is her personal blog.

So, what do you think about Tomita-san’s taste?

Translation Credits: Mathilde and Hiroyuki & Kohei Fan Cafe

Part 4

Komatsu:
However, a number of gold medals China Team won in the Beijing Olympics were under the new “Code of Points” with A score plus B score.

Tomita:
Yes, that’s right, but I don’t think the silver medal for Japan Team simply meant “defeat”. In my view, the artistic gymnastics is originally a kind of sport without competition. There is no fluke or one-shot success under this sport. Even in the World Championship or in the Olympics, a gymnast would only be able to exhibit the elements he could perform with certainty. As for myself during the Beijing Olympics, aiming for the ideal beautiful gymnastics was my sole desire, so I didn’t care much about the other gymnasts. In fact, the difficulty and execution of the elements Chinese gymnasts performed was just outstanding. They deserved the highest appreciation. However, in terms of beauty, Japan was better than China.

WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FALL FROM RINGS

Komatsu:
You participated as an All-Rounder in the events of Team, Individual All-Round and Apparatus. Is there any difference between team event and individual event?

Tomita:
I think the artistic gymnastics is basically an individual sport, but in the team event, it has something extra that every gymnast tries to incorporate his ability and power together. When the first teammate steadily executes the elements and builds up the mood, the marks for the following teammates would go normally up and up. I have experienced various kinds of competitions, but in the team events I mostly performed better than in the individual events. It was probably thanks to something extra upon trust to each other. In the Beijing Olympics, we focused on doing each one’s role given by the team. When we sent out our teammate, we placed a complete trust in him. As a result, we all did our best in the Team Final, so we naturally gave the words of thankfulness to each other.

Komatsu:
At the time of dismounting from High Bar in the Team Final, you clamped your lips but at the same time looked smiling a bit.

Tomita:
My performance on High Bar in the Team Final was almost perfect, so I had the feeling of accomplishment that I could do exactly as in the daily trainings. The most important matter for me was that we made it together till the end.

Komatsu:
In the Individual All-Round, you ended up to the forth. Are you not sorry for the fall from Rings?

Tomita:
In the artistic gymnastics, a fall or an over-turning could easily happen at any time, so I simply accept it. However, the cause of the fall was really unexpected for me. It happened on me for the first time in my gymnast life. The cause was not my mistake or the physical pain but slipping between the ring and the protector. It was a kind of accident which in 99.9% hardly happened, but in fact it did happen in the Olympics. I was very surprised at that accident but not in panic. I knew there was no precondition in the artistic gymnastics that everything was successful, or in other words, anything could happen, so I immediately switched to accept such accident on me.

Komatsu:
How did the fall impact on your body?

Tomita:
During the fall, I was not aware where the ceiling and the floor were and how I was descending. I then fell down to the floor while leaning backward, so the impact on my body was quite severe. Just after the accident, I thought I might not be able to continue the performances. I especially had the pain on my neck like whiplash. While icing the neck, the knees and the back began to produce pain, so I was a bit upset that I might need to withdraw. Therefore, I used three minutes’ warming-up for the next apparatus to confirm the functionality of my body, not the scheduled elements: i.e. how much I could generate momentum or in what angle I felt the strongest pain on the neck, etc. After the warming up, I recognized I could continue my performances despite the pain, so I was relieved a lot. At that time, another purpose was added that I would not withdraw definitely but perform firmly for the next three apparatus. I could not describe the feelings when I managed to execute all the performances. Maybe other people cannot understand, but the sense of achievement at the Individual All-Round was more than in winning a medal. I’m sure it was because of the accumulative hard trainings that I could perform with my very best even after such accident. I was also very happy that the execution of each element stayed in the same level while having serious pain on the neck, knees and back. Therefore, the forth place in the Individual All-Round of the Beijing Olympics was my pride certainly unforgettable throughout my life.

Komatsu:
You were therefore not in the perfect conditions, either when participating in the Apparatus event, weren’t you?

Tomita:
I still had the pain, but I was not pessimistic. In fact, I rather enjoyed the special feelings and delight which could be felt only in the Olympics when doing the performances. As for Pommel Horse, I could say it was the best performance ever in my gymnast career. Only regret would be the dismount mistake from High Bar. Just until the dismount, everything was perfect, so I really wanted to land successfully.

Komatsu:
What was the cause of the mistake?

Tomita:
I cared too much about landing, so I over-controlled the turns during descending. As a result, the landing was not made in upright position, so I could not stop making a wide step forward. Despite that, my heart was very fine. It was the happiest moment for me that I did all my best although I could not get a medal.

Komatsu:
You mean there was another delight other than winning a medal.

Tomita:
When you see the artistic gymnastics, you would probably be surprised at the gymnast’s physical ability. You may think it is similar to the acrobatics of the circus or that a gymnast is like a cyborg, completely different from a normal human-being. However, in fact the artistic gymnastics is not for a cyborg but for a human-being. Every technique/element is just the outcome of the daily trainings of handstand, press-ups, sit-ups or strengthening of back muscle, etc. Winning a medal symbolizes a victory, but each performance is an exhibit of gymnast’s cumulative efforts, so every time I finish the performance, I remind myself of the past days dedicated to the artistic gymnastics. I assume every gymnast would also have such emotion.

Komatsu:
Are you sure that you do not regret to announce the retirement at all?

Tomita:
Even I did not expect of such fulfillment when I made up my mind to finish my career.
Now I hope to pass down such wonderful feelings in the artistic gymnastics to the next generation as a coach.

***
A number of regretted messages for Tomita’s retirement are coming still now, but his decision to withdraw from the gymnast life seems very solid. Thousands of Tomita’s words in this interview provided me the deep attractiveness of the artistic gymnastics and the infinite potential of human body.

Thank you very much Mathilde-san!

Translation Credits: Mathilde and Hiroyuki & Kohei Fan Cafe

Part 3

THE ATHENS OLYMPICS AND THE BEIJING OLYMPICS, WHEN COMPARE BOTH

Komatsu:
From Athens to Beijing. What is your feeling now about these two Olympics where you won the medals?

Tomita:
First of all, I would like to point that the Athens and Beijing Olympics have totally different value for me. In the Athens Olympics, I had no doubt or hesitation, so I just did all I could do at that time. On the other hand, before the Beijing Olympics “Code of Points” had changed drastically, and I was obliged to think a lot whether I should try more difficult elements to get higher A score. It provided me an opportunity to review deeply what my artistic gymnastics was. As a result, I managed to find an answer that I would just aim for the beautiful gymnastics, so when I arrived in Beijing, I was very certain about that. During the period between these two Olympics, I was suffered from pain, felt physical weakening and had to face what my artistic gymnastics should be. In these contexts, the silver medal of the Beijing Olympics means more than the gold medal of the Athens Olympics.

Komatsu:
The change of “Code of Points” was applied in the beginning of 2006. What were the gymnasts’ feelings about the change?

Tomita:
Frankly speaking, I did not understand clearly the method of judging under the new “Code of Points”. The standard of judging did vary among the international competitions. I assume the judges were also struggling. Under the former “Code of Points”, you could just focus on the accuracy of each element after you made up the elements in your performance with the full mark of 10. Since the new “Code or Points” was applied, however, every gymnast has been forced to think on how many difficult elements could be included. As a result, both the gymnasts and the judges rather cared on A score than B score. The new “Code of Points” was supposed to be applied originally under the policies that FIG puts more value on the beauty and the accuracy while letting the gymnasts to try more difficult elements. However, in the field of artistic gymnastics everyone tended to look to the garish elements for which the judges also assign high marks.

Komatsu:
“Beautiful artistic gymnastics” in which you aim for B score to be deducted least while not caring so much about marking high A score, did you have any chance to decide in this way?

Tomita:
I was the most indecisive at the World Championship in 2007. I ended up to the twelfth in the event of Individual All-Round after making a series of failures. At that time, I finally realized I had been deceived by the new “Code of Points”. Then, I had sense of crisis that my artistic gymnastics was also halfway and that I was going to lose it if I did nothing. I also predicted the Beijing Olympics would be the final Olympics for me, so the desire of adhering to the ideal gymnastics in the last Olympics became more and more measurable. So, I was quite decisive in the preparation for the Beijing Olympics. During the preparation, I talked to Take and confirmed to each other what kind of artistic gymnastics we aimed for. We both agreed. Looking back now, I managed to become decisive because of the crushing defeat in the former World Championship. If I had been placed to a better rank at that time, I would have been continuously indecisive about the gymnastics I should aim for till the beginning of the Beijing Olympics.

Komatsu:
You, Kashima and other teammates made a united effort to go forward your own gymnastics, and I assume it resulted in giving spectacular impression to huge numbers of people who actually watched the events.

Tomita:
I am quite confident about that. After all events were over, I could comment that I really spent a happy time in the Olympics because I was certain that we made it. In fact, I was given a lot of appreciation that Japan’s artistic gymnastics was the most beautiful by the gymnasts from the respective participating countries. Even now, I receive the letters from the people who reside inside or outside Japan, for which I feel a lot of gratitude. In these letters, they express the fondness for Japan’s artistic gymnastics. I am therefore convinced the artistic gymnastics I have aimed for was absolutely right choice