Gymcastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

  We made it to 100! This is the shamelessly vainglorious episode where we answer all of your questions about our irrelevant personal lives, and the origins of show. This week, Dr. Uncle Tim, Blythe, Evan and Jessica chat about: Marta's very positive comments on Gabby Douglas, who made a triumphant return to camp! An intimate moment accidentally recorded in the background during the interviews Since Bill Cosby is saving Temple Men's Gymnastics, should the team now wear Cosby sweater uniforms? Evan reveals a grand secret that even Jessica didn't know about; and his most embarrassing on-assignment moment, as captured by NBC. Major changes for Olympic hopeful, Lexie Priessman, who left Cincinnati Gymnastics. How much sleep does Blythe get when she's on assignment at a World Championships? Play along with Dr. Uncle Tim for our very own quiz show based on the past 100 episodes. Why are only 19% of the gymnastics federations headed by women? The Commonwealth Games have been announced and our favorite twerker made

Princess Catherine Lyons and her coach, former international elite, Rochelle Douglas have been together since Catherine was six!   Princess Catherine Lyons of Europa and her coach, former international elite gymnast, Rochelle Douglas, are here! We noticed these two in the very popular YouTube series called Team Sparkle. Princess Catherine is known for her exquisite form, her elegance, her uncommon maturity, making audiences cry with her expressive melancholy and angst-filled modern dance choreography. She's on a major winning streak, in 2012 she won the all-around at the  British Espoir Championships; in 2013 she swept it, winning all-around and all four event finals; and this year she’s won gold on floor in every meet she entered, including the English Championships and British Championships; and finally she capped off the year by becoming the 2014 Junior European Floor Exercise Champion where she helped the British team take silver. At Euros she also had the highest Execution score of any junior. And you k

Eddie Penev competing for Bulgaria at the 2010 World Championships in Rotterdam. The US is lucky enough to have a World floor finalist, Stanford alum and Nissen-Emery Award winner Eddie Penev back on their team. With dual-citizenship, he used to compete for Bulgaria but now he's alllll ours again.  He just won floor and vault at Anadia and has basically has every skill in the book on floor. This week he chats with Blythe and Jessica. We discuss: Why he switched from Bulgaria to the United States even though the US is so much more competitive and will be harder for him to make a World team. What he learned from teammate Jordan Jovtchev. Standardizing equipment for international competitions. The current state of Bulgarian gymnastics. The biggest party animals and goofballs on the US men's team. Growing up in New York with gymnastics parents. How he can help the US with our pommel horse deficit. Presentation and artistry work at US training camps. Remember to call in and leave a voicemail question or topic

In the news, Uncle Tim and Jess chat about: The star of Portugal, Filipa Martin winning a medal on floor while Jessica Lopez just keeps getting better every year. Which gymnast would be capable of much more if she were training elsewhere? We pick our beam songs and discuss the horrors of background techno. The correct moment to pick a wedgie if the television cameras are watching. If we’ll ever get this whole difficulty world record thing going in artistic. Is the call for a ban of the Produnova vault is just sexism? Could Ellie Black contend for a medal on balance beam at Worlds in China? Trampolinist, Karen Cockburn placed third at Canadian Nationals, proving once and for all that any woman can go back to adult gymnastics after giving birth. The Enrique Tomás González, Eddie Penev, Sam Mikulak epic showdown on floor exercise at the Anandia World Cup. And here are the latest news stories from around the gymternet discussed this week: TUMBLE! A new gymnastics show coming to BBC, featuring Louis Smith, B

World Champion, Lauren Mitchell, back on beam at the 2014 Australian National Championships. She has been named to the Commonwealth Team for Scotland later this summer.     In the news, Uncle Tim, Brigid head honcho at The Couch Gymnast, Evan, and Jessica chat about: Bela Karolyi style scratch-and-petition-nastics at Australian National Championships and the Godwin Factor for Commonwealth Games team. The Russian men dominate with gorgeous, clean, high flying skills at European Championships while Ukraine earns a spot on the podium despite war at home and neck tattoos. Max Whitlock beats Krisztian Berki on pommel horse! Fabian Hambuechen had a scary fall, did Epke Zonderland's hair cut help his high bar form, and  should Mr. Alexander Shatilov have won the Mr. Sofia title? Mtv Germany has a shirtless gymnastics video shoot that we investigate like Grandi at a rhythmic judging exam. The shinning hope for Australia after a dark time, Larissa Miller of tribe Uneven Bars. We get to the bottom of the top news s

        Blythe and Jessica talk to Emma Bailey direct from the hallway of her hotel in Sofia, Bulgaria at the Women's European Championships about: The great Soviet Pink Panther routine by  Elena Shevchenko (USSR) vs. the new Pink Panther performed by Marta Pihan-Kulesza (POL). The red carpet, the banquet dances, and other cool stuff the organizers did. Could Sandra Izbasa return for Rio? Diana Bulimar, the unsung hero and backbone of the Romanian team. Teams on the rise and lesser known fan-favorites; Noemi Makra (HUN), Claire Martin (FRA), Emma Larson (SWE), Gaelle Mys (BEL), Lisa Top (NED) Emma gives her impression of the once great Ukrainian women's program. Are there too many World Cups schedule, without sufficient time to rest before the European Championships? And finally, high bar Olympic medalist Krasimir Dunev proves he is freakin' cool as hell. Emma's YouTube Channel has some videos of fan favorites not captured on the broadcasts. Leotard series postcards (leocards) and prints by Meg. Buy them

World Cup Series Champion, Elizabeth Price has chosen to attend Stanford university rather than contend for a world title in the fall. Photo by Christy Linder. In the news, Uncle Tim, Evan, and Jess chat about: Elizabeth Price's decision to retire from the national team in order to go to Stanford. The unprecedented 7th national title with a low for Kohei Uchimura. Chinese women's National Championships; mature choreography; Yao Jinnan's 7.0 bar routine; beam star, Bai "The Blue Finch" Yawen; Huang Huidan's bar dismount! Thi Ha Thanh Phan showing she's not just a vault worker at the Osijek World Cup, and Brazil debuts floor cosmonaut-tumbler, Angelo Dias de Assumpção. Is it fair that both an Arabian double pike is an E and an Arabian double pike ½ out is an E, or should the half turn have a greater value? FIG stepping in to fund Ukraine's trip to the European Championships. Louis Smith MBE is not happy about being off the Euro team and lets everyone know about it. Can British Gymnastics improve their intra-

Oklahoma sophomore, Haley Scaman (L), co-national champions Oklahoma and Florida, Florida senior Mackenzie Caquatto embraces Alaina Johnson (R).  In the news, Jess, Uncle Tim, and Spencer from our absolute, hands-down favorite NCAA gymnastics analysis website, The Balance Beam Situation, chat about : The Ljubljana World Cup - the return of Ana Pavlova with a win on bars, Danny Pinheiro-Rodrigues with his light as a feather-stiff as a board inspired, super-human skill on rings and Mr. Oleg Verniaiev winning two events. The Korea Meet - Louis Smith beat Krisztian Berki (woah!), Brandon Wynn gold, Yang "The God of Vault" Hak Seon debuted a new vault and why Olivia Vivian and John Orozco should be on Dancing With The Stars. Komova's latest injury and Ferlitto is forced to pull out of Euros. Romania vs. Belgium vs. France -  Iordache won everything, Diana Bulimar impresses in her comeback and we fall in love with a buttery french chocolate- eclair of a routine from France's Loan His. Jessica gives us a behind t

  An all-interview episode with 1988 Olympic alternate at the Seoul Games and Florida head-coach, Rhonda Faehn. She is a super gym-nerd, just like us. We discuss: Competing at World Championships with no ligaments left in her ankle. The pile of injuries that led to her injury-retirement from UCLA. How she met her super-hot, French, tennis coach husband at Florida. What was Rhonda thinking as her team made uncharacteristic falls at Regionals. What it was like living away from home with Phoebe Mills and then the Kristie Phillips family. Being a Karolyi Kid; one of the first crop of gymnasts to train with Nadia's coaches when they first came to the US. If there were any perks, like extra leo sparkles for becoming national champions. Mackenzie Caquatto won a silver medal with the US team at the Rotterdam World Championships in 2010. Then she became a key player at the University of Florida and led the Gators to their first ever, national championship. Can having a boyfriend actually improve a girl's gymnastic

British all-around Champions, Rebecca Tunney and Max Whitlock. Why is his cup so much bigger than hers?!   In the news, Jess, Blythe, and Emma chat about: Would dismounting onto a bed of nails be punishment enough for this coach? After his domination at Doha, could Epke Zonderland take over p-bars next? The return of Australian Floor World Champ, Lauren Mitchell at Doha. Our new and veteran favorites from the British Championships. Princess Catherine of Europa - was her leo created with the metal from an actual crown? Our picks for Commonwealth and European Championships teams. Can Azerbeijan grow their imported team into a sustainable future? All the British gymnasts we want to come to the US to do NCAA gymnastics. To see all four of our Gymitation contest winners go to our website here.  Prizes are first come, first serve. E-mail us at gymcastic@gmail.com to claim your prize.  Someone recruit this girl to NCAA stat! We can't get enough of Laura Mitchell from Heathrow Gymnastics in London. She is fierce

University of Georgia head coach, Danna Durante.   This week's guest is Danna Durante (née Danna Lister). She grew up as an elite gymnast in Oklahoma. After the 1988 Olympic Trials she went on to a successful career at Arizona State where she scored 5 perfect 10's, then became a judge and college coach. She had a very rocky start at the University of Georgia. It was easy to see that the team was still loyal to outgoing coach Jay Clarke and reluctant to embrace a new head coach. But in her first year, she lead Georgia to their first NCAA Championship final in four years. Entering her second year at Georgia, we discuss: If she will be wearing sequence gowns and heels like her predecessor Suzanne Yoculan. Lindsey Cheek's vault - fans want it to get a 10 already for crying out loud! Collaborating on choreography with Georgia alum, Cassidy McComb  How she got her very divided, Jay Clarke devoted team on board when she took over. If former head coach Yoculan gives her advice or Creating a welcoming environment fo

In the news, Jessica, Uncle Tim, Lauren Hopkins U.S. editor at The Couch Gymnast chat about: Norah Flatley, the best thing out of Iowa since Chow landed, is going to Jesolo! The Australian gymnasts have been released from gymnastics prison! We like Georgia Godwin. Low scores, fulls on beam and clean gymnastics at Cottbus. Rodionova, Scheder or Komova -who will be the new queen of the inbar stalder? Princess Catherine Lyons of Europa teaches us how to salute Broken floor plates, vault mastery and Louis Smith at the English Championships. The 30 year-old swan of Chilean gymnastics, Ochoda ballet's it up on floor. Danusia gets a 10 on beam with her insanely difficulty dismount. GYMITATION CONTEST: Enter our #gymitation contest by imitating your favorite gymnast. Just take a photo or video of you doing a pose, skill or impression of a gymnast. Tell us who you are imitating, tag us and include the hashtag #gymitation. We’ll pick our favorites to win one of these fantastic four prizes! Check them out here. No sh

Jenny Hansen (R) with her coach Randy Lane. Jenny Hansen is here! Follow her on Instagram as you listen this week and you'll be giggling along with us. The Wisconsin native attended the University Kentucky where she won three consecutive NCAA All-Around Championship titles between1993 and 1995. She is the only person to ever win three straight All-Around titles. Jen won a total of eight national titles. She accomplished all of this while competing as an individual, without a team to set up her scores at NCAA Championships. Then 14 years after her career ended, Make It Or Break It pulled Jen right back into gymnastics when she started doing stunts for the show. In 2011, she went elite again at age 37. We discuss: Why you should never drink before taking a backflip bet while wearing steel toe boots The sport that drew her to the University of Kentucky (Hint, it involves Fascinators). Why she stayed away from elite gymnastics in her youth, but not as a adult. The importance of fans when competing as an indivi

This week Jessica and Lauren Hopkins from The Couch Gymnast chat about: The 5th annual Nastia Liukin Cup: pink, roses, great level 10s and no ties! Márta Karolyi commentating live during the Nastia Cup broadcast! SQUEAL! Elizabeth "Ebee" "Consistency "Price winning by almost 3 points. The solution for Orozco's mental game--we are sending him to Texas Dreams. American Cup a preview of World floor podium? Ferrari, Ebee and Moors? Why Moors' coach,Elvira Saadi, should always carry a spare leotard. NBC broadcast commentary, including, "She doesn't look very Japanese." Why John Macready should have his own game show for kids. The level of difficulty for the women at the American Cup versus NCAA. TV etiquette for gymnastics fans. Shame on you parents of North Carolina! Coming soon our website, Christy Linder's In The Arena: a photo essay from The American Cup.  March gym nerd contest: Enter our #gymitation contest by imitating your favorite gymnast. Just post a photo or video doing a pose, skill or impression of

  In the news, Jessica, Uncle Tim, and Evan Heiter chat about: Screaming women losing their minds at the Winter Cup Anthony Macullum - the JayZ of double layouts Dannel Leyva failing to make the national team Is the Olympic Training Center the next great gymnastics "club?" Why The Nastia Liukin Cup is one of the best all-around events in the biz (Kyle Shewfelt's meet where the judges wore clown outfits was tied before it was retired) American Cup preview - our picks for winners and cool skills Gabby Douglas and UCLA get a fantastic new coach in technical phenom, Dominic Palange. This week's NCAA 10's: Illinois's Amber See on vault, Sydney Sawa on Floor and controversy over score escalation at the Perfect 10 Challenge in Oklahoma. And here are the latest news stories from around the gymternet: Louis Smith and Dan Keating back in the saddle! Shawn Johnson having trouble being critical as a commentator Nastia explains why Russians don't smile Unrest in Ukraine disrupts gymnastics Jess's Rage-o-Meter strikes

Miss Aly Raisman, the most decorated American in London and the Olympic champ on floor. She used to be called "my mini-me" by Alicia Sacramone and then she became one of the most consistent gymnasts in the United States. She clinched team gold for the Fierce Five  in London with a clutch performance on floor. That routine featured some of her trademark INSANE tumbling. She's back in the gym and ready to return to competition later this year.  We discuss: If she's still on track to be back for Classics in Chicago. Bars, bars and bars, yes, she talks about her love/hate relationship with bars. Her advice about handling pressure (because she's so freakin' good at it!) Crazy skills she's been working on. Kenzo look out! What helped her improve her flexibility and toe point last year. What happened with Jordyn in the training room when Aly advanced to all-around finals without her. How her relationship with coaches Mihai and Silvia Brestyan has changed since the Olympics. Her thoughts on the Chinese age controv