Gymcastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

Video of today's podcast is available to ALL LISTENERS, Club Gym Nerd or not, because we have some critical visual aids as part of the lesson plan. Not a member? Join here. GYM NERD SCHOOL 101 Welcome to the first episode of Gym Nerd School, an educational series where we will explain rules, skills, myths, jargon, and important gym nerd history—all based on your questions! Today: What does it mean to be an "elite"? The Code of Points, leotard rules, and named skills Why don't they use the 10 anymore? Why are leaps named for animals, how do I tell them apart, and no really WHYYYYYY? How do I tell the difference between a split leap full and a switch leap full? How do I tell the difference between those one-arm pirouettes—the Ono, Healy, and Ling? Why do people yell, "IT WAS A DELTCHEV"???? JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd for access to Behind the Scenes episodes, video of us recording and Gym Nerd Cheat Sheets. Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here. We have masks too! RELATED EPISODES 448: The Safe

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.  MEET NEWS Larisa Iordache returned from a three-year hiatus to compete at the Romanian national championship! We discuss her performance and possible path to Olympic qualification. Silviana Sfiringu is the Romanian national all-around champion, new queen of beam saves, and possible bars savior; we're very into Ioana Stanciulescu's beam routine; and junior Ana Maria Barbosu might rule them all. Plus, the ways in which the Olympic qualification system has personally victimized Romania and how tentatively optimistic we should be about the future of the Romanian women's team. GYMTERNET NEWS The latest on December's European Championship that's still happening Leanne Wong's power move during NCAA signing week Who's canceling the NCAA season and who's still truckin' Shane Wiskus is moving on Plus, news o

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 Riley McCusker is suing Maggie Haney. We discuss all the most horrifying parts of this story, including Haney's response. INTERVIEW: Gymnast activist Abbie Hillis and cybersecurity expert Dr. Betsy Cooper are here to discuss the Center for SafeSport being hacked almost two months ago and the lack of notification of athletes. This week's Skill of the Week segment that's actually like 4 skills, with analysis of the rollercoaster that is being a US junior champion. INTERVIEW: Coach Denis Vachon is here to discuss coaching an athlete through transition. JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd for access to Behind the Scenes episodes. Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here. We have mask

RUSSIAN NATIONALS Tatiana Nabieva is the national vault champion for 2020 and all is right with the world, Maria Kharenkova is the Russian beam champion despite no longer competing for Russia, everyone needs to leave Elena Eremina alone, Uliana Perebinosova delivered Derwael-Fenton realness to win the AA, Ekaterina Boeva showed us how to feel about wolf turns, whose floor routine was the most "pain of a nation," and a whole lot more. ITALIAN NATIONALS Asia D'Amato and Giorgia Villa tied for the national title, Giorgia Villa's Bhardwaj is still to die for, Stuttgart alternate Martina Maggio is stepping it up, we think we're really excited about Alice D'Amato's floor routine, and junior Angela Andreoli may have stolen the whole show. 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. What the full video podcast here.  JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym N

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.  MEET NEWS The Friendship and Solidarity Competition in Tokyo went off without a hitch! At least...if you don't count the gymnastics. We discuss: COVID protocols and fancy special spraying machines Japan just hosting all the gymnastics now and forever. We might be fine with it Angelina Melnikova is having a GREAT pandemic, and Nikita Nagornyy's is pretty good too Sophia Butler and Yana Vorona delivering our skills (well, combinations) of the week Kohei things and casual middle-school Yurchenko 2.5s The difference between a Tsukahara (Tsuk) and a Kazamatsu (Kaz) vault. Plus, the statuses of Shilese Jones and eMjae Frazier, comeback performances from Zhang Jin and Chiaki Hatakeda, whether we should be worried about Artur Dalaloyan, and which events are jinxed (all of them) Jessica and Kensley's feeli

THIS WEEK'S INTERVIEW The one and only Chellsie Memmel is here, with her coach-dad Andy, to discuss what really happened at 2006 worlds, the advantage of being a post-pubescent gymnast, periods and peeing, and whether she will do the routines we designed for her. It's Chellsie Memmel, everyone! GYMTERNET NEWS The Friendship and Solidarity meet is this weekend. We tell you how to watch. Russia (even Russia!) has withdrawn from Euros, along with a host of other countries. Plus, Poland got suspended Spencer's rage-o-meter about football This week's SKILL of the Week COVID FOR EVERYONE JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd for access to Behind the Scenes episodes. Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here. We have masks too! RELATED EPISODES 445: Xenophobic Bells Ringing Gymnastics International Episode 3: Chinese Individual Nationals 444: Friendship and Solidarity 443: Gymnastics' Greatest Stars (Commissioned) 442: A European Saga 419: Sports Economist Dr. David Berri CSI: Code of Points with Chellsie Memm

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. DEFYING GRAVITY In part 2 of our recap of the series, Spencer reviews and fact checks Jessica's performance and is a little too gleeful about it. We discuss Tracee Talavera's inside story from the 2000 selection process, the "controversy" about Grace McCallum, which team was really the favorite in 2008, the strength of the abuse episode, and the latest stop on the Nellie Kim ego tour. Plus, a listener has feedback on the xenophobia of the US gymnastics coaching-abuse narrative (and Jessica remembers that time Chellsie Memmel went to Italy for that gymnastics art exhibition/political statement). GYMTERNET NEWS Jessica reminds everyone to vote and be prepared in case a candidate does not concede the election. Big news in NCAA – Deanne Soza has retired, Elise Ray is leaving Washington, and Emma Malabuy

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: Chinese Individual Nationals—not to be confused with Chinese Nationals. 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. What the full video podcast here.  CHINESE INDIVIDUAL NATIONALS We discuss...chickenpox (?) and Tang Xijing returning to top form for the all-around title, nearly get into a fight about Shang Chunsong's beam routine, and gush about Gao Ning's future boxing career. We enjoy breakout star He Licheng, the title-winning bars performance of Wei Xiaoyuan, and the casual 6.6 D score on beam from Zhou Yaqin. JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd for access to Behind the Scenes episodes. Buy our awesome clothing and gifts h

GYMTERNET NEWS The US will compete in Japan on November 8. We discuss the meet format and team selections British Gymnastics head Jane Allen is conveniently retiring and gave one of the worst interviews ever about it. Not that we have any opinions or anything. Why do parents accept abusive coaching practices? More countries are withdrawing from Euros. When is a continental championship not a continental championship? We celebrate National Coming Out Day and Danell Leyva DEFYING GRAVITY We watched the first three episodes of the gymnastics documentary series Defying Gravity (we'll have our thoughts on the rest of the series next week) and present our highlights and lowlights. Jessica explains why she thinks it represents a paradigm shift and Spencer rolls his eyes during the extensive fact check portion. PLUS All the gymternet headlines, along with your feedback about Phoebe Mills erasure, the disprespect of Larisa Petrik, and...manual expressing. JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd for access to B

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. This week's episode has been commissioned by Kim, who asked for an episode all about the 1991 VHS spectacular—GYMNASTICS' GREATEST STARS We discuss: Jessica's show-and-tell primary source artifacts Doris Fuchs Brause, meet interruptions, her skill, and alleged star-crossed Soviet lovers The Vera Caslavska protest (I mean, it is GymCastic...) Olga! Nadia! Nellie being all Nellie! Enthusiastic sexism...? Jessica's favorite broken kneecap Being personally victimized by the event order Elena Mukhina nightmares Why we don't talk about Tracee Talavera enough The Nancy Thies compromised cassette tape Tong Fei being the star of the whole thing Bart needing you to know that 1984 WAS NO FLUKE ...and a whole lot more, plus what we would include in GYMNASTICS' GREATEST STARS 2021 JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club G

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. GYMTERNET NEWS European Championships are still on! (For some reason?) We discuss the move to Turkey, who's not attending, the change in Olympic qualification, and why this event happening at all. Gymnast Alliance: Amy Tinkler has the receipts, and the horrifying letter sent to the Australian juniors in 2000. Plus, the campaigns to save Alaska and Minnesota and William & Mary, how the Italian gymnasts may have been cursed by a sea monster, and the revolving door of NCAA coaching that just keeps revolving. MEET NEWS We discuss Mai's domination of Japanese Nationals, Kohei's new identity as a high bar specialist, Chinese Nationals confirming the greatness of Tingting, the importance of Guan Chenchen, and Wei Xiaoyuan's magic charm. At Szombathely, Marta Pihan-Kulesza. End of podcast. Plus, a bloo

Welcome to Gymnastics International! On this show, we'll take a deep dive into the latest competitions from around the world, covering them with the depth and detail we typically reserve for US women's elite competitions. Because national borders are stupid. This week: the Szombathely World Challenge Cup. 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. SZOMBATHELY We dissect every single little moment from the Marta Pihan-Kulesza Show, Starring Marta Pihan-Kulesza. Plus, a new skill in MAG, a full report on the level of mask-wearing (it was low), and CSI Code Edition takes on the issue Lopez/Podkopayeva credit. We celebrate when talls win the day and bemoan when falls win the day, celebrate when execution wins the day, and bemoan when sexism wins the day. And then watch Marta Pihan-Kulesza a few more times because duh. JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club

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. This week's episode has been commissioned by AnnaMarie, who asked for an episode all about gymnastics commentators—the good, the bad, and the ugly. TBH, we mostly did the ugly part. HALL OF SHAME Sexually inappropriate comments about minors: Nope. Sexually inappropriate comments about adults: Double nope. Infantilizing adults and calling them little girls: Triple nope. Weight Shaming: The Monica Phelps Chapter Being weirdly obsessed with adoption: The Al Trautwig Chapter Tragic moments in college commentary Tragic moments in putting on accents GYMCASTIC'S OFFICIAL BROADCAST DOs and DON'Ts 18 Dos and (mostly) Don'ts for gymnastics broadcasts concerning comparing gymnasts to dented cars, being the smile police, "Bela's girls," and talking about a gymnast's "personality." BANNED WORDS AND PHRASES F

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. GYMNASTICS INTERNATIONAL Welcome to the inaugural episode of Gymnastics International! On this show, we'll take a deep dive into the latest competitions from around the world, covering them with the depth and detail we typically only reserve for US women's elite competitions. Because national borders are stupid. This week: Japanese and Chinese Nationals! ALL-JAPAN CHAMPIONSHIPS From Mai's triumphant and dominant all-around performance (that might have been based on spite), to the return of Asuka Teramoto from her Achilles injury, to the surprise silver medal for Yuna Hiraiwa and the unacceptable Sae Miyakawa erasure, we break down everything that happened at Japan's return to competition. On the men's side, we discuss Kohei's self-reinvention as a high bar specialist, what that means for Hidetaka Miya

WATCH HERE Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded (pre-edits with all the flubs and hiccups) and see video of the routines we discuss. GYMTERNET NEWS The college COVID wars are raging. We discuss whether it's possible to have an equitable college gym season with such varying preparations. Gymnast Alliance: The latest in Amy Tinkler's saga, as well as what's been happening in Australia Simone posted some triple pikes and Yurchenko double pikes for national gymnastics day MEET NEWS At Japanese Masters, Shuko Uchimura (Kohei's mom) competed again at 53 and we were treated to the most important men's floor routine of the age  Everyone is injured on the eve of Chinese WAG nationals and we're not OK INTERVIEW This week, Jessica speaks with Annemarie Alf, an American  Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist who has spent the last three quads working with the Chinese women's gymnastics team. We talk about strength training, why there are so few Achilles

WATCH HERE Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded (pre-edits with all the flubs and hiccups) and see video of the routines we discuss. HEADLINES Jessica talks about the Alyssa Beckerman episode Gymnast Alliance: Ellie Downie's weight-shaming complaint was "not upheld" and multiple gymnasts disclose issues at Cincinnati under MLT. Kensley has some thoughts on MLT's Bible defense. Gymnastics is Coming Back! Spencer previews what we're excited for at the upcoming Japanese Championships, Chinese Championships, and Szombathely World Cup. Meanwhile, Anastasia Motak's beam from Ukrainian Nationals is the new president. Spencer watched the Andreea Raducan documentary Golden Girl and is bursting to tell you everything about it The latest on men's NCAA gym and its slow march toward death: The Long Brewing Crisis in High Education.  Higher education as hedge fund luxury brands Cutting sports to steal endowments: The myth of football-funded athletics GYMTERNET NEWS The weekly "Chellsie Memme

This week, it's the commissioned episode you've all been waiting for...the FLUFFCAST! We jump into all the most insane, hilarious, horrifying, sexist, perfect, amazing, diva-tastic, butterfly-gazing, Romanian candle-holding fluff pieces in the history of gymnastics broadcasts. Thank you so much to Fluff Feels for commissioning the episode we were born to do, and thank you to everyone who sent in suggestions! Jessica and Spencer dissect: 2000 Olympic All-Around fluff  NBC's Living-Parents Championship, starring Russian daddy issues and soldiers kidnapping Zamo. Prod's shaved eyebrow Prod's convertible flexing fluff, the only verifiably true fluff ever The legendary Romanian candle cups Elise Ray and the butterfly NBC's weird obsession with 1950s-style nuclear families 2000 Atler v. Dantzscher v. Beth Rybacki's tears How much resentment and blame? ALL OF IT! What's the deal with that wild west picture? And that helicopter-parent one? 1996 Kerri Strug lives in everyone's shadow fluff  Is this the mo

Originally aired in June 2017 BEST OF GYMCASTIC Originally released in June 2017. Vanessa Atler is an American treasure and fans have loved her from the moment they first saw her elegant power. She's a multi-time national champion, multi-World Cup champion, Goodwill Games event champion. She would probably have made the 1996 Olympic team had she been age eligible. She was one of those gymnasts for whom nothing ever worked out the way it should have and fans hearts broke along with her through the 1996-2000 quad. We discuss: Why she requested the interview with us Her thoughts on age limits and specialists (13:10) Elements she worked on but never competed (19:25) Dealing with emotions and tears of frustration The Comaneci-Salto & The Rybackis - (22:34) Why didn't she just take the Comaneci out of her routine and win all the things?  Beth and Steve's differing opinions on bars  What worked and didn't work with the Rybackis  How being at Charter Oak effected her own coaching Did she seek counseling or ther

WATCH HERE Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded (pre-edits with all the flubs and hiccups) and see video of the routines we discuss. HEADLINES Alyssa Beckerman penned a Google Doc about the emotional manipulation, ostracism, pettiness, and mishandling of weight and injury that she experienced at UCLA under Miss Val What lessons other coaches can learn about the best ways to help athletes who experienced abusive club careers Does this change how we look at Miss Val's positive coaching tour? Thoughts on Miss Val's response and whether she should have said anything at all Discussed: International Socio-Cultural research group on Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (ISCWAG) research and interview Jenny Pinches  explanation on August 7, 2020 before Alyssa's letter) of the #AthleteAlliance movement re coaches One Face: Project Gravitas Related articles on Beckerman :  Beckerman questions dismissal Team supports Beckerman's dismissal Out of Balance: A look inside USA Gymnastics' culture of abus

WATCH HERE Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded (pre-edits with all the flubs and hiccups) and see video of the routines we discuss. HEADLINES Texas Dreams Fallout Statements from more athletes about their Texas Dreams experiences, including Ragan Smith and Macy Toronjo Discussion: What responsibility do college coaches have to speak out about abusive coaching in the elite world? ESPN article on racism in college gymnastics The details on Alabama's Title IX investigation, and...Dana what are you doing? "Skin-tone" and the NCAA demographics database D-D Breaux retired Her epic legacy at LSU and what's next for the team MINI-COMMISSION Last week, Kennedy Baker discussed her experience with racism at Florida and mentioned the much-discussed history of Florida floor lineups. We use that as a lens for this week's mini-commission, in which Sophie asked us to discuss NCAA lineup strategy, what each of our strategies would be if we were making lineups, and whether there's a program t