Japan’s women’s team:
Kyoko Oshima, Miki Uemura, Mayu Kuroda, Koko Tsurumi, Yu Minobe, Yuko Shintake.
Oshima, who won the all-around in the recent NHK Cup in Japan to secure her spot on the Olympic team, is notable for her admirable cover-up after botching uneven bars at the 2005 World Championships.
Kyoko Oshima, 2005 World Championships all-around uneven bars
Oshima is an Olympic veteran, having already been to Athens:
Kyoko Oshima, 2004 Olympic Games qualifications
The leotard is pretty.
Mayu Kuroda, in my opinion, should have at least shared the bronze with Beth Tweddle in the uneven bars event finals at 2005 Worlds. Even Nadia said she was underscored!
Mayu Kuroda, 2005 World Championships, Uneven Bars event finals
And Koko Tsurumi joins Jiang Yuyuan and Daniela Druncea in my OMG Cute! Roster.
Koko Tsurumi, 2007 World Championships, all-around balance beam
Kuroda’s toepoint is fabulous- reminiscent of Ma Yanhong. She was definitely robbed of a medal.