We had so much fun at the USA Gymnastics Olympic Trials that the anticipation for the Olympic Games is building rapidly. Here is a photo I took at the Trials as they set off four big cannons filled with confetti and blanketed the arena.

Some Olympic team updates:

• While the US women’s gymnastics team has named two members to its squad (and will announce the rest after July 20), the Aussies are set! The AustralianOlympic Gymnastics team will consist of Dasha Joura, Shona Morgan, Lauren Mitchell, Ashleigh Brennan, Georgia Bonora and Olivia Vivian, and alternate Emma Dennis.
• The first nine members of the US Women’s Olympic Basketball squad was named last month with Candace Parker and Lisa Leslie leading the list.  Others include Sue Bird, Cappie Pondexter, Diana Taurasi, Katie Smith, Tina Thompson, Seimone Augustus and Sylvia Fowles. The remaining three members have not yet been named.
• The US Swimming Olympic Trials are happening as I write this and these athletes are fast! Records are falling! The world record in the women’s 100m backstroke fell twice in prelims Monday when Hayley McGregory broke the record with a time of 59.15 followed by Natalie Coughlin breaking McGregory’s record with a time of 59.03 in the next heat.
• Nine members of the 2004 gold medal winning women’s soccer team have been named to the 2008 Olympic Soccer team - that is half of the team! Just the experience alone will give the team such an advantage.

Did you know that when it comes to sports, girls are more likely to suffer concussions and head injuries than boys are? According to a recent study by the Journal of Athletic Training, in sports that both girls and boys play, like soccer and basketball, girls are 1.5 times more likely to suffer head injuries in basketball and 3 times more likely when playing soccer.

What is a concussion? According to Dr. Gwenn of Pediatrics Now:

Head injury can cause external injuries to the scalp or skull as well as internal injuries to the brain such as bruises, bleeding, and concussions. Any internal brain injury can be serious but concussions are the most common and can be the least obvious. A concussion occurs when the brain is shaken causing a temporary disruption in how the different nerves talk to each other, similar to a power surge at home. Symptoms vary and often include seeing stars, being dazed, blurred vision, nausea and occasionally amnesia. With more serious concussions, headache, vomiting, balance problems and changing levels of consciousness may occur. Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to have a concussion without loosing consciousness and even minor head injury can cause concussions.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta recently discussed this study at his blog and wonders if girls are less protected physiologically than boys (who have bigger heads and tend to have stronger neck muscles) or whether they just report it more often?

Either way, head injuries are not to be taken lightly and in the case of an athlete hitting her head during training or competition, it is always best to err on the side of caution and seek medical treatment immediately.

Here are some additional articles on concussions in girls sports:

• Study shows girls more susceptible to concussions than boys
• Girls Soccer: Concussion Risks
• Kids and Head Injuries
• Female Athletes Bear Brunt of Concussions
• Girls Suffering More Concussions in High School Sports

The movie Gracie is out in theaters this weekend. Go see it! The movie is based on true events and is about a girl in a soccer obsessed family who faces the tragic loss of her brother and wants to play soccer with the boys, before soccer was a girls sport, too. She faces an uphill battle in 1978 in helping to pave the way for more competitive sports opportunities for girls.

Carly Schroeder plays Gracie and Elizabeth Shue, whose family inspired the movie, plays her mother.

Visit the Gracie web site to see trailers, learn more about the story, download wallpapers and send e-cards.

It’s great to see another positive movie about girls and sports. Go Gracie Go!!