Pure Sports: Team Juggling, Part 2

Hi all. I was going to either write the next installment in the "Controversy" series or post my interview with a WNBA player. However, both are not quite ready for posting. So please check back next week for the good stuff. Also, I wanted to introduce you to Brad's blog on pickup basketball. He wrote an article about 10 classic fouls in pick-up basketball that you should read. Don't forget the other blog that features significant pick-up basketball content, basketbawful. Also, check out Dan's video of a crazy Red Sox fan (are there any other kinds? ha) at his site.

Last juggling video of the summer series, promise. To update you on the last series, Vova and Olga do not juggle as a team together anymore. Thus, Vova was considering juggling with Kristina instead, seen in the videos below. In the end that too fell through. But these videos exist, and it's too bad it didn't work out. Kristina does some throws that I hadn't seen Olga do in the videos. I think it helps that Vova and Kristina are of similar height.

Pure Sports: Team Jugglers, Part 1

Ok, you all are going to laugh, but yes, I found so many good team juggling videos that I had to split this in half.

Leapfrogging to continue juggling (very short video):


Vova and Olga Galchenko do a promo in army gear with overdone Russian accents:


Vova and Olga Galchenko on the Today Show, juggling clubs over Al Roker (last minute):


Watch the foot passes to start this video, stay for the through-the-legs and behind- the-back passes.

Pure Sports: Female Jugglers

Two more juggling posts at least, reader. I know, I know, but really, there's not much else going on, and like I said, I'm rather busy nowadays. I don't have cable, so I can't give you insightful analysis of the WNBA play-offs.

I find it oddly soothing to sit back and watch the pins/balls rotate in the air to music. This one is for the female jugglers that I found on Youtube, and then I'll have two more for male jugglers and team jugglers at some point. Juggling seems to be a sport where women might be able to beat men, because of the emphasis on touch and control. I'm not sure, but I believe women are a little better at precise handiwork than men, based on scientific studies? Anyway, take a look and see if you think you could do as well.
Before I show off just how good the Russian girl is at this, here's an American girl juggling to impress her juggler boyfriend.


Caution: The following video is rated "A" for adorable. Olga Galchenko, 6 years old, juggling 3 balls at once. I can't do that now. More info about her and her brother, the juggling prodigies, at Wikipedia and Time



Olga attended circus school in Russia, where she was trained quite well in her juggling. 12 years old. Kick-up into 5 clubs. What's that? Watch.


5 clubs, on a unicycle:


5 clubs, while doing a split. Watch the end. Ouch! ha.


Here's a longer video of her practicing her solo act, still 12.


Olga and her brother then got "extraordinary talent" visas to come to the US. Olga is 17 now, starting college somewhere in the US. As always, check http://www.galchenko.com for more. Here's her act at 15 at the World Juggling Federation competition:

Pure Sports: Galchenko, Volume 1

Dear readers, you are surprisingly patient with my randomness, and once again I'll test you. I've become fascinated with juggling on YouTube, and some of those videos will be finding their way here. I know juggling is on the edge of being a sport for many of you, but I ask you to give the videos a chance; you may like them too.

This is a video of Vova Galchenko juggling in his hometown of Russia. I love the visuals of him juggling with statues, tanks, and trains in the background.

Find out more about the Galchenkos at http://www.galchenko.com. Here is a video of his girlfriend, also juggling.