The Germans

Gym Wheel... Rolling Wheel... Rhoenrad… All of these names are used to describe the apparatus on which I perform, but in my mind, no name is more fitting than German Wheel.

To be sure, all of the competitors at Worlds are first class athletes and unimaginably talented wheel gymnasts. But the true wheel gods are indisputably the Germans. Of the 15 gold medals awarded, 13 of them went to German athletes. There were only two instances where there was only one German on the podium. There’s even a rule, often referred to as “the German rule” that states that only two competitors per country can make it to finals per discipline. If that rule didn’t exist, it would practically be the German National competition all over again.

I say practically because as with anything, other nations are stepping up to the plate and getting stronger and stronger. The Israeli team, all junior girls, are absolutely incredible. As a team, they were the most beautiful gymnasts there. Then there are the Japanese. As a team, they’re really quite strong, but more than anything, they are daring, innovative and wonderfully creative. I’m a big fan of the Dutch team and while the Swiss team didn’t do well in competition, you can see that they are definitely ones to watch out for.

But whatever the politics of the sport, whatever the general feelings towards the Germans may be (I can name quite a few people fed up with hearing the German national anthem), there is no denying that, unlike Canadians at basketball, they are truly masters of the sport they created.