Gymcastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

Club Gym Nerd member Casey has commissioned an episode all about the greats of Soviet Gymnastics, and how they weren't exactly the "specter of evil" that NBC told us they were. What do you think of when you think of Soviet gymnastics? Dominance? Ballet? Caviar? How the Soviet Union changed the game immediately upon attending the Olympics for the first time Top 10 Soviet Gymnasts of All Time. Make your pick. No redos. No takebacks. Prof. O'Beirne's history of the cold war. When did the USSR compete? What made them so successful? Are wolf turns their fault? And why don't we spend more time talking about Maria Tyshko, Galina Urbanovich, and Maria Gorokhovskaya? That time the Soviets lost, and the epic 1981 world championships cheating conspiracies What might have been for Elena Mukhina What would have happened if the Soviets had competed at the 1984 Olympics? Bogi, Chuso, the fall of the Soviet Union, and the lasting legacy THE POSTS THIS FRIDAY  Behind The Scenes: Live After NCAA Semifinal I Things Are

THIS WEEK NCAA Nationals are here. We preview the action, with expectations for each teams and key gymnasts to watch. SEMIFINAL I: Florida, Michigan, Cal, Minnesota The semifinal of gymternet darlings What does a victory look like for these teams? What should our expectations be for Michigan? SEMIFINAL II: Oklahoma, LSU, Utah, Alabama The semifinal of teams that will outright murder you for a trophy Was Utah's regionals victory over LSU foreshadowing or an aberration? Who's going to win the AA title, and if justice could be done, who would win each event? Team title picks, and one final insane prediction. Schedule Friday, April 16 1:00pm ET/10:00am PT - Semifinal I LIVE BTS between sessions 6:00pm ET/3:00pm PT - Semifinal II Saturday, April 17 3:30pm ET/12:30pm PT - Team Final How to Watch Semifinal I and II on ESPN2, Team Final on ABC. All sessions will have event streams and four-event view on ESPN3. THE POSTS Things Are Happening – April 9, 2021 April 9, 2021 Keeping Up with the Cool GIFs – 

WATCH Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see video clips of the gymnastics while we discuss. Please login to your Club Gym Nerd account to listen and/or watch this episode. Not a member? Join here. THIS WEEK NCAA Regionals Recap Who advanced to nationals and who didn't Is competing back-to-back(-to-back) days unfair to the athletes? LSU survived a challenge from Kentucky and Arizona State. We HAVE to talk about that beam judging. An injury apocalypse and vault balk-pocalypse in the Athens regional final The Case of the Georgia Floor Lines Larissa Libby has no lies about the regionals format, and we discuss Adeline Kenlin's beam moment Did the correct teams qualify? Of the nine 10.000s this weekend, which one was the 10iest? Plus Evan Manivong's vaccine card vault MORGANNNNNNN. She spoke at the Stop Asian Hate event in NYC and it was perfect. Tisha Volleman's beam innovation from the Dutch/Belgian friendly Eythora's Onodi to illusion Spencer has ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS with the Ol

WATCH Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see video clips of the gymnastics while we discuss. Please login to your Club Gym Nerd account to listen and/or watch this episode. Not a member? Join here. THIS WEEK We have a commissioned episode all about Aly! A Club Gym Nerd member asked for a deep dive into the gymnastics and activism career of one of the true champions of the sport, our beloved Aly Raisman. We discuss Consistency and muscles and cardio (and tugboats for some reason) Owning things we thought about Aly when we first saw her as a junior elite that turned out to be false Her 2010 American Cup performance and what that beam routine told us about Aly The "mini-Alicia" years, and when she broke out to establish her own identity The 2012 Olympics, an AA tiebreak, and a beam petition The lie of "she'll never get those scores internationally" Behind the scenes memories of Aly at competitions 1.5 to double Arabian to layout. We gush for a while, and discuss why no one else has

WATCH Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see video clips of the gymnastics while we discuss.Please login to your Club Gym Nerd account to listen and/or watch this episode. Not a member? Join here. THIS WEEK USAG announced the 18-member US women's national team. We discuss why Konnor McClain and Skye Blakely aren't on it and whether it matters. The NCAA conference championships had UPSETTTS. Denver beat Oklahoma after Oklahoma's apocalyptic floor rotation and hilarious OOB moment, Alabama beat LSU and Florida (what?), and Minnesota beat Michigan. It was a lot, and we have thoughts. The regionals draw is out and Spencer has numerous logical complaints with how stupid it is. But it's going to be exciting. Plus, gymternet news updates on the dumpster fire, Tokyo Olympics, Gymnova, Vanessa Ferrari, and Pan Ams, and feedback on exhibition routines and Lexy Ramler. THE POSTS Top Scores of Conference Championships March 23, 2021 2021 Regionals Draw March 22, 2021 Conference Champions

WATCH Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see video clips of the gymnastics while we discuss. Please login to your Club Gym Nerd account to listen and/or watch this episode. Not a member? Join here. This week's episode has been commissioned by Dr. Ben, who asked for an episode on the fascinating history of Anna Pavlova, who blessed us with her flexibility, artistry, and power, yet who heartbreakingly remained off the podium in many major finals. Why Do We Love Pavlova? Form. Grace. Longevity. Switch ring. The Ultimate Pavlova Quiz Baby Pavlova: A star even in 2000 and 2002 The Badass Years: Two Olympic medals and one iconic beam series Fight to the Death – Athens Edition: Did Pavlova deserve all-around bronze over Zhang? Fight to the Death – Beijing Edition: Did Pavlova deserve beam bronze over Cheng? The Vault Zero: A Gymnastics Tragedy The F-U Russia Years: Medals for Azerbaijan THE POSTS Top Scores of Week 10 March 16, 2021 Week 10 Rankings & NQS Update March 15, 2021 S

WATCH Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see video clips of the gymnastics while we discuss. Please login to your Club Gym Nerd account to listen and/or watch this episode. Not a member? Join here. GYMNASTICS INTERNATIONAL Welcome to Gymnastics International! On this show, we take a deep dive into the latest competitions from around the world, covering them with the depth and detail they truly deserve. This week: 2021 Russian Championships! Celebrating the Big 3 Viktoria Listunova – National champion, queen of vault faces. Gold Medal Beam Routine Vladislava Urazova – All-around silver, bringing back the beam mount SERIES. Gold Medal Bars Routine Angelina Melnikova – Won floor even though she thought she wasn't ready. Gold Medal Floor Routine The Challengers Yana Vorona – Split jump to immediate front tuck on beam. Beam Routine Elena Gerasimova – Hit beam every time despite being RUSSIAN. Beam routine Lilia Akhaimova – How will her injury influence her Olympic status? Anastasi

WATCH Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded. Please login to your Club Gym Nerd account to listen and/or watch this episode. Not a member? Join here. HEADLINES There's a massive conflict of interest in the USAG bankruptcy case. Because of course there is. And the Daniels Report didn't even interview the Karolyis. Sigh. The FIG has added clarifications to the Olympic qualification documents. Tl;dr Jade Carey's Olympic spot is now extra definitely definite. The athletes are writing a STRONGLY WORDED LETTER to USAG urging a change of equipment for championships and trials. NCAA NEWS Spencer tries to run through all the scoring records from this weekend without having a heart attack. Cal and Michigan got their first-ever 198s and Cal tied the all-time NCAA bars record. Oklahoma and Florida are now tied for first place and things might start getting exciting. People who are correct. Like Haleigh Bryant and Lexy Ramler and Emi Watterson. We need to have an honest conversation about exhibit

WATCH Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see video clips of the gymnastics while we discuss. Please login to your Club Gym Nerd account to listen and/or watch this episode. Not a member? Join here. WINTER CUP It happened. We gush about Jordan Chiles' 57 (57!) in the all-around to win, Shilese Jones, Sunisa Lee's new bars routine and all her Sanne variations, and of course the triumphant return of Laurie Hernandez—now starring positive coaching. Top moments including Konnor McClain and Skye Blakely bringing 2005 realness to beam, the Riley McCusker and Jade Carey secret handshake, and how Jade might be kind of good at bars now. Kensley joins us to talk about the men: who won, the special Shane Wiskus and Stephen Nedoroscik opportunities for comedy, and [deep breath] the DRA-HA-MA going on regarding who makes national team and gets funding GYMTERNET NEWS Yeah, we talk about that other news story that happened. THE POSTS Week 8 Rankings & NQS Update March 1, 2021 Winter Cu

WINTER CUP It's coming. This weekend. We preview the women's competition...and then later in the episode actually get the real roster...don't worry about it. Laurie Hernandez is starting her comeback. What are our expectations? Plus, Sunisa Lee, Riley McCusker, Konnor McClain, Jordan Chiles, Kayla DiCello, Olivia Greaves, and others we can't wait to see SLASH have questions about. Which men are competing, what national team drama is going on this year, and Kensley writes in with her title predictions NCAA NEWS Everyone set a program record, and BLOOP Alyssa Baumann is suddenly the #1 AAer in the country The SEC Network bumped a baseball for gymnastics. We have arrived. Marz Frazier, Nia Dennis, Victoria Nguyen, and LIU bring the comedy. THE POSTS Sunday Live Blog – February 21, 2021 February 21, 2021 Saturday Live Blog – February 20, 2021 February 20, 2021 Friday Live Blog – February 19, 2021 February 19, 2021 Keeping Up with the Cool GIFs – Week 6 February 16, 2021 Top Scores of Week 6 February 16,

WATCH Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see video clips of the gymnastics while we discuss. HEADLINES Simone showed a competition-ready Yurchenko double pike on 60 Minutes. We discuss what it should be valued and how we're preparing for the injustice of it all, plus the inevitable fact-checking when civilians try to talk about gymnastics Dianne Durham died last week. We discuss her legacy, what happened in 1984 and why we're still not over it, and why she's not in the US Hall of Fame. Sign the petition here. The AA Olympic qualifiers have been canceled and the Doha World Cup has been postponed. We run through what it means for Olympic qualification Aliya is the new acting head coach of the Russian juniors, and we have PLANS. Sarah Finnegan has been elected athlete representative on the USAG board. How should we feel about this considering her #BroomGate past? NCAA NEWS The 198s went flying. Spencer has...some views...about the scoring at LSU and Metroplex Trinity Thomas went

Watch Here Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see video clips of the gymnastics while we discuss. Gym Nerd School videos are available to everyone because education if a fundamental human right for crying out loud. If you'd like to support us please Join Here.  GYM NERD SCHOOL In the second class of the Gym Nerd School series this semester, we explain rules, myths, scandals, and important gym nerd history while answering your questions about women's college gymnastics in the US. Why do we watch college gymnastics — from outfits to broadcasts to teams to 10s Jessica Quizzes Herself: The NCAA sport cartel system and the origin of women's college gymnastics and the upcoming Name, Image and Likeness rules. Dynasties and Usurpers: A timeline of college gymnastics history Jessica Quizzes Spencer: Judging and the "rules" of college gymnastics scoring "HELP: I just got into college gymnastics. How do I pick a favorite team?" The Most Important Part: Scandals and dramas Plus, Nicole Lange

WATCH Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see video clips of the gymnastics while we discuss. Please login to your Club Gym Nerd account to listen and/or watch this episode. Not a member? Join here. KYLA IS HERE Olympic, World, and NCAA Champion Kyla Ross joins us this week! We discuss: What it's like returning as undergraduate coach this season after her own senior year was cut short, her current coaching duties, the weirdness of preseason this year, whether UCLA has had any COVID cases, her reaction to Sara Taubman's bars routine, and more. RAINING HELL FIRE USAG signed a broadcast deal with FloSports. Yeah. We're not happy about it either. We reached out to USAG with MANY questions, and we'll tell you what they said. NCAA NEWS Florida had a Pride meet, Arkansas is taking the world by storm, Oklahoma melted down on beam, and we were graced by two 10.000s Jessica puts some people in their place on COVID Or Correct Cal, Boise State, and Arizona weren't basic this week Rachel Ba

WATCH Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see video clips of the gymnastics while we discuss. Please login to your Club Gym Nerd account to listen and/or watch this episode. Not a member? Join here. THE NEWS No...the Olympics haven't been canceled. Well, not yet. Becky Downie and Simone talk about it. Nia Dennis went viral for her black excellence floor routine, and Rylie Mundell and Elizabeth Culton showed how things should be done COVID or Correct: Michigan is pausing athletic activities, and a certain former head coach is throwing away 40 years of gymternet goodwill The Gympocalypse caught Oklahoma, Michigan, and Minnesota, while Pauline Tratz and Sara Taubman had to save UCLA through the power of feelings The Pitt Pride meet was a rainbow explosion and the groundbreaking UCLA intro video FEEDBACK The rules of gymnastics broadcasting MORE virtual meet systems in men's gymnastics A disappointed parent's pandemic meet experience Do callus disappear during pandemic pauses? We ha

WATCH Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see video clips of the gymnastics while we discuss. Please login to your Club Gym Nerd account to listen and/or watch this episode. Not a member? Join here. NCAA NEWS Five Florida gymnasts kneel for the national anthem, and Florida overtakes Oklahoma as the #1 team Ona Loper's toe point is the best all-arounder in the country Mya Hooten's vault and Alyssa Perez-Lugones's dancing show gymnastics at its comedic best Iowa is our favorite team of all time for this week with their skin colored mesh leos. When a leo reveal video goes TOO FAR MINI COMMISSION As commissioned by Club Gym Nerd member Laura, we provide gymnerd commentary on Life in the Day of Aliya Mustafina. PLUS... Kensley is here to recap all the gymnastics action and mask inaction at the Galveston Beach Blast Invitational Superspreader NCAA men's gymnastics held the first-ever virtual meets, and they went really well! JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd or buy a gift mem

Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see video clips of the gymnastics while we discuss. Please login to your Club Gym Nerd account to listen and/or watch this episode. Not a member? Join here. NCAA NEWS The season has started! We run through who's leading the team rankings (and who's leading the lesbian rankings), which teams exceeded expectations, who was successfully NOT BASIC, our favorite gymnasts of all time this week, and who needs to be taken to the honesty corner.  COVID or Correct: Who was correct, and who's getting COVID (and who's getting Bonus COVID). We didn't come here to make friends; we came here to not be in pandemics. Plus, LSU got back to us about Gym 101. Crack or Correct: What happens when you're crying too much to salute? And when does a fall get you a 9.600? GYMTERNET NEWS Raphael Warnock is Simone Biles, Alaska is owning the fundraising game, is it fair for athletes to jump the line for vaccines, Kerri Strug has a beer named after her, senior member Dick P

HEADLINES MyKayla Skinner's adventures with COVID and pneumonia and Oleg Verniaiev's provisional suspension by the FIG lead our news discussion this week. 2020 IN REVIEW We managed to find a couple highlights (18 to be exact) in the gymnastics year that was, from Chellsie Memmel to Simone's vault to Guan Chenchen's beam to Derrian Gobourne to a very special award for Marta Pihan-Kulesza. 2021 IN PREVIEW We run down the storylines we're excited to follow in 2021 with a roadmap for the year ahead, and Spencer goes through the painstaking task of forcing Jessica to make her official 4-member (and only 4!) US Olympic team prediction. COLLEGE GYM The college gymnastics season begins this week. We discuss who's not competing, who is competing, and why, and how. Plus, do we think any teams will intentionally forgo the season? JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd or buy a gift membership for access to Behind the Scenes episodes. Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here. We have masks too! RELATED EPISODES 453: Eu

WOMEN'S EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS Olly Hogben is with us this week to discuss everything that happened at European Championships last weekend including Larisa Iordache's Simone Slam in her return to international competition Ukraine's dramatic team final victory and the saga of Larisa's floor routine Goksu Uctas Sanli and the floor inquiry heard 'round the world Nation after nation making first-time history The travails of Luxembourg's quest to qualify to the team final Don't miss: Olly being so eloquent about the beauty of humanity and sport that he makes Jessica cry THERE'S MORE In the gymternet news, LSU's Gymnastics 101 provokes an epic COVID rage-o-meter, including this article in Time about cancelling college season. Plus, we discuss USAG's athlete bill of rights, Gymnasts for Change, and a paper on bias in gymnastics judging. HOW TO COPE WHILE WE ARE ON VACATION Watch our Fundraiser for Feeding America where we instructed the gymnastics world on proper artistry: How Not To Be Basic Listen to Jessica's

WATCH HERE Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded (pre-edits with all the bloopers and blunders that don't make it onto the final show) and see video clips of the gymnastics while we discuss. Please login to your Club Gym Nerd account to listen and/or watch this episode. Not a member? Join here. THIS WEEK Fact Check Fix: DisneyWorld requires masks, actual masks. Sally Jenkins, not Macur wrote the mean article about Jamie Dantzcher and the 2000 Sydney US team. Maggie Haney's suspension was reduced from 8 years to 5. We have...some notes. Japan might change the Olympic selection rules just for Kohei Ukraine won the men's European Superspreader Championship, Robert Tvorogal upset Tin Srbic, and Marian Dragulescu vaulted...something A preview of this week's women's European Superspreader Championship, starring Larisa Iordache Murakami Mai, Uchimura Kohei, and all the major stories from the All-Japan Championships, including Jessica's new favorite beam routine of all time from Takagi Ai USAG c

WATCH HERE Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded (pre-edits with all the bloopers and blunders that don't make it onto the final show) and see video clips of the gymnastics while we discuss. Please login to your Club Gym Nerd account to listen and/or watch this episode. Not a member? Join here. CONTEST WIN: Club Gym Nerd membership and any item you want from the GymCastic store HOW: Record a voice memo* on your phone (30 sec max) about why you became a member or want to support the show. Email it to us, along with the item you want from the store (color, mailing address etc.) BONUS POINTS: Use hashtag #ClubGymNerd @Gymcastic Instagram or Twitter and we will count it as an additional entry. Be creative as possible: a song, poem, haiku, heartfelt message, the funnier the better. DEADLINE: On December 12 we will pick three winners from our favorites. * We will use your recording on the podcast. You can make it anonymous. GYMTERNET NEWS That Maggie Haney NYT puff piece. We have...a couple o