The first annual Pouffies

In celebration of the preferred hair style of today's elites, I proudly present to you the first annual Pouffy Awards. Honors are given for consistency, amplitude/volume, form and overall impressions.

Consistency in Pouffery

Alicia Sacramone

Alicia was among the first of the American elites in the last quad to compete the pouf, and has nary been seen on the competition floor without it. Never one to shy away from new skills, Alicia has thrown every pouf, from the tight-n-flat to the neatly messy. Alicia began experimenting with her pouf in college, and later shared it with her elite teammates.

Alicia and her pouf at the 2007 Visa Championships

Original Poufster

Amplitude/Volume in Pouffery

Nastia Liukin

There have been many impressive poufs over the past two years, but none so boldly pronounced as Nastia's recent attempts. Whether she's been putting in extra hours avoiding having her bangs cut, or simply ODing on the hairspray, Nastia is the unchallenged gold medalist for sheer height in pouffery.


***I don't know what these weird empty boxes are, but I can't get rid of them. Maybe Nastia's massive pouf was in them and they're here for storage - I do not know.***

Nastia and her pregnant pouf at the press conference for the Nastia Liukin Cup

Great Form in Pouffery

Shawn Johnson

Shawn debuted her pouf around the same time as Nastia, during the 2008 Tyson SCAMerican Cup. While her teammates have been all over the map with their poufs, sometimes displaying tight control, other times seeming to be lost in the unwieldiness of their barretted-back bangs, Shawn settled into a comfortable pattern with a small but well maintained pouf.

Shawn Johnson at the 2008 Tyson American Cup

Shawn and her pouf celebrate their gold medal on beam at the 2008 Olympic Games

The honorary Team Pouffy goes to the 2008 Olympic Team. This was a six up, five count format, with Chellsie Memmel's lack of pouf being dropped and Nastia Liukin's well defined pouf leading the scores.