GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Logistical Sweating and the Emma Spence Interview May 23, 2023

Show notes

Emma Spence Interview

Tokyo Olympic alternate, Emma Spence, represented Canada at the 2022 World Championships and Commonwealth Games winning bronze in the team event at both competitions. The World bronze was the Canadian women's first team medal ever. Emma is currently a gymnast at Nebraska while serving on the FIG Safeguarding Working Group. We discussed:

Traveling on a pre-G7 peace mission with other gymnasts and FIG President Watanabe to Japan. And of course, cultural goofs.
Which parties are the best; elite or college.
Simultaneously competing for a world medal and speaking at the first ever FIG Safeguarding Symposium at Liverpool Worlds. Yes, literally on the same day.
The current state of Gymnastics Canada under investigation for abuse.
All the culture shock competing at Nebraska; including wild things Americans have said to her international college athlete group.
Having to get ultrasounds at Nebraska to make sure her spleen was safe to return to training before Worlds.
Why a coach had to come out of retirement to coach her at Liverpool Worlds.

Continental Championships

It's a big weekend for gymnasts from the Americas and Africa with worlds (and by extension Olympic) spots on the line. We fill you in on what you need to know.

News on the latest victory in UB world leader Kaylia Nemour's quest to represent Algeria at the African Championship, and why it's giving Spencer the logistical sweats
Individual Olympic qualification bids by Lynnzee Brown, Sydney Barros, Anya Pilgrim, and more will be put to the test at Saturday's Pan American Championships. Plus, what's at stake for the US women's team.

Meet News

Qualification is in the books at Chinese Nationals and we need to talk about the Qiu Qiyuan of it all
Four of the five spots on Japan's women's team were decided last weekend at NHK. We discuss who's in, who could be in, who's probably out, and the pros and cons of a potential "all beam, no regrets" worlds team
Plus, we got out the magnifying glasses and tried to watch Canadian Championships; the latest on the dumpster fire news; and Brody Malone's injury comeback.

JOIN CLUB GYM NERD

Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes.
Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see some of the gymnastics we discuss, plus get access to all of our exclusive interviews and Behind The Scenes episodes.
Not sure about joining the club? College & Cocktails: The Friday Night NCAA Gymnastics Post-Meet Show is available to sample (even if you aren't a Club Gym Nerd member yet). Watch or listen here.
Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here.
We have a Ukraine Fundraiser design, all proceeds go to the CARE Ukraine Crisis fund.

RELATED EPISODES & RESOURCES

History's Best Beam Routines
Gymnastics Mythbusters 4.0
2023 NCAA Championships
Romanian Gymnastics Secret Police Files
- Project K Episode 2
- Project K Episode 1
Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim
Photo Galleries from NCAAs
The Highest D and E scores from The Gymternet

MORE WAYS TO LISTEN HERE

History's Best Beam Routines May 15, 2023

Show notes

The Best Beam Routines

All other apparatuses take a seat. Today is a beam day.

We discuss what makes beam the best apparatus and the qualities consistent across history's greatest beam routines
The best overall beam routines, starring Yang Bo, Li Li, Fan Ye, Tatiana Lysenko, Kui Yuanyuan, and Chen Cuiting
Honors for excellence in specific fields of study, such as badassery, hands, spinning, ease, aggression, rhythm, and Kathy Johnson moans
And finally, how do we make beam more like Yang Bo?

JOIN CLUB GYM NERD

Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes.
Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see some of the gymnastics we discuss, plus get access to all of our exclusive interviews and Behind The Scenes episodes.
Not sure about joining the club? College & Cocktails: The Friday Night NCAA Gymnastics Post-Meet Show is available to sample (even if you aren't a Club Gym Nerd member yet). Watch or listen here.
Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here.
We have a Ukraine Fundraiser design, all proceeds go to the CARE Ukraine Crisis fund.

RELATED EPISODES & RESOURCES

Elvire Teza and Cecile Canqueteau-Landi
Gymnastics Mythbusters 4.0
2023 NCAA Championships
College & Cocktails: Live from NCAA Finals in Ft. Worth
Romanian Gymnastics Secret Police Files
- Project K Episode 2
- Project K Episode 1
Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim
Photo Galleries from NCAAs
The Highest D and E scores from The Gymternet

MORE WAYS TO LISTEN HERE

Gymnastics Mythbusters 4.0 May 08, 2023

Show notes

Today, we update and revisit some of our favorite busted gymnastics myths—and bust some new myths as well

Myths that sound too crazy to be true, naked gymnastics edition
Dumb crap left over by haters about periods, height, and lines
Who REALLY scored the first perfect 10?
The myth of the "candle" mount and the "Liukin"
Fighting for justice for Olga Mostepanova, Kerri Strug, Larissa Libby and more
Who REALLY won the world all-around title in 2005?
Is gymnastics a sport dominated by high schoolers?
Was the Sydney vault REALLY set wrong?
Was Olga Korbut REALLY the first to do the Korbut?
Is Simone Biles the most decorated gymnast of all time?

JOIN CLUB GYM NERD

Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes.
Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see some of the gymnastics we discuss, plus get access to all of our exclusive interviews and Behind The Scenes episodes.
Not sure about joining the club? College & Cocktails: The Friday Night NCAA Gymnastics Post-Meet Show is available to sample (even if you aren't a Club Gym Nerd member yet). Watch or listen here.
Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here.
We have a Ukraine Fundraiser design, all proceeds go to the CARE Ukraine Crisis fund.

RELATED EPISODES & RESOURCES

Myths, Legends, and Unexpected Moments Part 1
Myths, Legends, and Unexpected Moments Part 2
Myths, Legends, and Unexpected Moments Part 3
2023 NCAA Championships
College & Cocktails: Live from NCAA Finals in Ft. Worth
Romanian Gymnastics Secret Police Files
- Project K Episode 2
- Project K Episode 1
Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim
Photo Galleries from NCAAs
The Highest D and E scores from The Gymternet

How to Get Your Favorite Gymnast to Paris 2024 Olympics May 02, 2023

Show notes

How to Get to Paris

The gymnastics qualification journey for the 2024 Paris Olympics is already underway, and we're here with a full explainer of the pathways for team and individuals. We'll explain what's different from the 2020 qualification process, answering important questions like, how do Lynnzee Brown and Oksana Chusovitina make the Olympics?

Headline News

NCAA moving and shaking: With Kayla DiCello deferring for the Olympics, three Utah gymnasts entering the transfer portal, and the new head coaching hires, college gymnastics has been busy since nationals
Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos (FRA) is scheduled to compete at the US Classic as an exhibition athlete!
Dysfunction and the Romanian federation: a rundown of the latest trouble
- Puflea accused Lucian Sandu of abuse. Texting her mother that she wanted to jump out the window to get away from Deva.
- A new head coaching staff, including Patrick Kiens (NED) were hired to coach the national team.
- Gina Gogean resigned and then was reinstated by the Romanian Federation. Then the federation reversed their decision and are moving the national team to Onesti.

Meet News

Updates from the Cairo World Cup on Josc Roberson, Vasiliki Millousi, Marta Pihan-Kulesza, and the Cairo Cat
Jade Carey, Leanne Wong, and Konnor McClain attended the US women's national team camp over the weekend, where the Pan American Championships team was named
Plus, big news for Simone Biles and Olivia Dunne, as well as your feedback about the live show, Chuso bonding, the Mag 7 musical, and a special message from the "I Love You Tasha" guy

JOIN CLUB GYM NERD

Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes.
Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see some of the gymnastics we discuss, plus get access to all of our exclusive interviews and Behind The Scenes episodes.
Not sure about joining the club? College & Cocktails: The Friday Night NCAA Gymnastics Post-Meet Show is available to sample (even if you aren't a Club Gym Nerd member yet). Watch or listen here.
Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here.
We have a Ukraine Fundraiser design, all proceeds go to the CARE Ukraine Crisis fund.

RELATED EPISODES & RESOURCES

2023 NCAA Championships
College & Cocktails: Live from NCAA Finals in Ft. Worth
Romanian Gymnastics Secret Police Files
- Project K Episode 2
- Project K Episode 1
Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim
Photo Galleries from NCAAs

"They Are Made of Something I Am Not": 2023 NCAA Championships Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

Oklahoma won its 6th title by .150 over Florida. We discuss whether this makes sense, the perils of recency bias, and the exquisite joys of motivational lying
Trinity tied the all-time 10s record in her final competition and we relive the journey of watching Trinity during the warmup periods this weekend
The semifinals, UCLA being eliminated with a 197.9, Cal doing its best Michigan impression, and the problems with trying to compare the two semifinals
The story of Tasha Brozowski at regionals and how to help her family
Maile O'Keefe, Olivia Trautman, and Jordan Chiles are individual NCAA champions
Behind-the-scenes stories from the area, including the Falling Table of Doom and the Gator of Spencer's Sorrow
We try to speak some rules for 2024 into existence, plus some quick items from European Championships before we get into more details next time and an update on Riley McCusker's lawsuit against Maggie Haney.

Photo Galleries from NCAAs here

JOIN CLUB GYM NERD

Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes.
Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see some of the gymnastics we discuss, plus get access to all of our exclusive interviews and Behind The Scenes episodes.
Not sure about joining the club? College & Cocktails: The Friday Night NCAA Gymnastics Post-Meet Show is available to sample (even if you aren't a Club Gym Nerd member yet). Watch or listen here.
Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here.
We have a Ukraine Fundraiser design, all proceeds go to the CARE Ukraine Crisis fund.

RELATED EPISODES & RESOURCES

College & Cocktails: Live from NCAA Finals in Ft. Worth
2023 NCAA Nationals Preview
Juicy, Juicy Controversy
Elimination Nation: The NCAA Regionals Preview
The Code Is Feces
The GymCastic Postseason Sermon featuring Jenny Hansen
Jenny Hansen Interview
Project K Episode 2
Project K Episode 1
Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim

2023 NCAA Nationals Preview Apr 10, 2023

Show notes

NCAA Nationals Preview

It's NCAA Nationals this week! We look at the competition from a few angles: the eagle-eyed view from the second tier, the view from the fan section, and the view from the judges table, to examine what we expect to see, what the fans want to see, and what the judges should be seeing.
Is Florida still a top favorite, what do Cal and LSU need to do to advance, can anyone touch Oklahoma, is Utah's W/L dominance over UCLA foreshadowing, are the judges going to differentiate Yurchenko 1.5s, and will they be willing to go 10?
Our very important wish list for in-arena comedy and thoughts on the LSU documentary
The all-around title: Is it going to be the Jordan Chiles show? Or will Haleigh Bryant or Leanne Wong steal the crown? Plus, Pick Your Fighter: Spoiler Edition

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS LIVE SHOW O N SALE NOW Gymternet News

The men's injury apocalypse, top gymnasts to watch, and abounding sexism at this week's European Championship
Gymnasts are going to the G7, and a lawsuit over NCAA volunteer coaches

JOIN CLUB GYM NERD

Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes.
Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see some of the gymnastics we discuss, plus get access to all of our exclusive interviews and Behind The Scenes episodes.
Not sure about joining the club? College & Cocktails: The Friday Night NCAA Gymnastics Post-Meet Show is available to sample (even if you aren't a Club Gym Nerd member yet). Watch or listen here.
Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here.
We have a Ukraine Fundraiser design, all proceeds go to the CARE Ukraine Crisis fund. EXTRA CLUB CONTENT
Club Gym Nerd members can watch the video version of the show, join us for live podcasts once a week, get extended and early releases of interviews, and have early access to live show tickets.[wcm_nonmember] Please login to your Club Gym Nerd account to listen and/or watch this episode. Not a member? Join here.[/wcm_nonmember] [wcm_restrict] If you don't see the video yet, don't worry, it's loading... [embedyt][/embedyt] [/wcm_restrict]

RELATED EPISODES & RESOURCES

Juicy, Juicy Controversy
Elimination Nation: The NCAA Regionals Preview
The Code Is Feces
The GymCastic Postseason Sermon featuring Jenny Hansen
Jenny Hansen Interview
NCAA Career 10 Record Rankings
To Rest or Not?
Winter Cup 2023
With the Intensity of a Raisman
To Score the Impossible Score
Project K Episode 2
Project K Episode 1
Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim

Juicy, Juicy Controversy: A Regionals Recap Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

NCAA Regionals

The Denver regional broke us. We delve into what happened with the tiebreak and what happens when the results don't match what you see with your open eyes
A brief intermission from fury for important honors in the field of coach outfits and stick celebration violence
Back to controversy with Oklahoma counting a fall on beam and still winning its regional. We discuss whether that was correct, and whether it should be possible to win a regional final with two falls on beam
The biggest shocks of regionals, from Jade Carey not advancing to nationals as an all-arounder, to no Big Ten teams making the final 8, to which team totally cheaped out on its intro video
Plus, Trinity's leg injury in the semifinal and how it did (or didn't) affect Florida, Cal recording the highest score of all the regional finals, Auburn's 3-fall bars rotation, Kentucky returning to nationals, and UCLA fending off a challenge from Missouri
Individual qualification brought some surprising all-around qualifiers and some egregious snubs

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS LIVE SHOW O N SALE NOW EXTRA CLUB CONTENT

Club Gym Nerd members

can watch the video version of the show, join us for live podcasts once a week, get extended and early releases of interviews, and have early access to live show tickets.Please,

to your Club Gym Nerd account to listen and/or watch this episode. Not a member?

Join hereJOIN CLUB GYM NERD

Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes.
Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see some of the gymnastics we discuss, plus get access to all of our exclusive interviews and Behind The Scenes episodes.
Not sure about joining the club? College & Cocktails: The Friday Night NCAA Gymnastics Post-Meet Show is available to sample (even if you aren't a Club Gym Nerd member yet). Watch or listen here.
Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here.
We have a Ukraine Fundraiser design, all proceeds go to the CARE Ukraine Crisis fund.

RELATED EPISODES & RESOURCES

Elimination Nation: The NCAA Regionals Preview
The Code Is Feces
The GymCastic Postseason Sermon featuring Jenny Hansen
Jenny Hansen Interview
NCAA Career 10 Record Rankings
To Rest or Not?
Winter Cup 2023
With the Intensity of a Raisman
To Score the Impossible Score
Project K Episode 2
Project K Episode 1
Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim

Elimination Nation: The NCAA Regionals Preview Mar 27, 2023

Show notes

NCAA Regionals Preview

It's elimination season. 36 becomes 16. 16 becomes 8.
We break down the regional championships, renaming each one to give it a more accurate title, assigning the official regional agents of chaos, and profiling key matchups—like Kentucky vs Alabama, Cal vs Michigan State, and the Denver regional vs the judges.
All the individuals who need to qualify to nationals otherwise the sport is canceled, and a rage-o-meter about treating gymnastics like an ACTUAL SPORT. NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS LIVE SHOW O N SALE NOW
Plus, Jessica watched every 10.000 from this season and has the final verdict on how many of them were real, and we discuss the recurring themes of what deductions aren't taken and the hardest qualities to codify.

Gymternet News and More

The IOC really wants Russia to compete again, and we look at comeback season in Britain and beyond
We have a mini-commission all about the wonders of Alaska gymnastics and a Rage-o-Meter about never clapping for the other team!

EXTRA CLUB CONTENT

Club Gym Nerd members can watch the video version of the show, join us for live podcasts once a week, get extended and early releases of interviews, and have early access to live show tickets.[wcm_nonmember] Please login to your Club Gym Nerd account to listen and/or watch this episode. Not a member? Join here.

JOIN CLUB GYM NERD

Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes.
Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see some of the gymnastics we discuss, plus get access to all of our exclusive interviews and Behind The Scenes episodes.
Not sure about joining the club? College & Cocktails: The Friday Night NCAA Gymnastics Post-Meet Show is available to sample (even if you aren't a Club Gym Nerd member yet). Watch or listen here.
Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here.
We have a Ukraine Fundraiser design, all proceeds go to the CARE Ukraine Crisis fund.

RELATED EPISODES & RESOURCES

The Code Is Feces
The GymCastic Postseason Sermon featuring Jenny Hansen
Jenny Hansen Interview
NCAA Career 10 Record Rankings
To Rest or Not?
Winter Cup 2023
With the Intensity of a Raisman
To Score the Impossible Score
Project K Episode 2
Project K Episode 1
Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim

The Code is Feces Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

The Brody Malone injury, Russia missing a critical deadline, Trinity Watch, and neutral deduction drama dominated the news this week
Plus, NCAA regional assignments are out. We decide which semifinal is the group of death, learn some new pronunciations from the selection show, and explain why Arizona should start a rebellion

Meet News

Josc Roberson's floor final D-score exposed the code as a farce, and other developments from the DTB Cup in Stuttgart
Florida, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Utah won their conference championships. We discuss Oklahoma's program beam record, the high bars scores at SECs, improvements from Florida, and why this result was so important for Alabama
Your feedback on whether we think an NCAA routine could get a 10.000 E score in elite.

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS LIVE SHOW

On sale now for Club Gym Nerd members with discount. Discount expires on March 24th when tickets go on sale to general public.

EXTRA CLUB CONTENT

JOIN CLUB GYM NERD

Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes.
Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see some of the gymnastics we discuss, plus get access to all of our exclusive interviews and Behind The Scenes episodes.
Not sure about joining the club? College & Cocktails: The Friday Night NCAA Gymnastics Post-Meet Show is available to sample (even if you aren't a Club Gym Nerd member yet). Watch or listen here.
Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here.
We have a Ukraine Fundraiser design, all proceeds go to the CARE Ukraine Crisis fund.

RELATED EPISODES & RESOURCES

The GymCastic Postseason Sermon featuring Jenny Hansen
NCAA Career 10 Record Rankings
To Rest or Not?
Winter Cup 2023
With the Intensity of a Raisman
To Score the Impossible Score
Project K Episode 2
Project K Episode 1
Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim

MORE WAYS TO LISTEN HERE

The GymCastic Postseason Sermon featuring Jenny Hansen Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS LIVE SHOW

On sale now for Club Gym Nerd members with discount. Discount expires on March 24th when tickets go on sale to general public.

Headlines

The latest on Suni Lee's and Jordan Chiles' competition plans
Should Jordan's vault this week have been a 10???????
Haleigh Bryant got 3 perfect 10s in a single meet
Plus, Oklahoma said playtime is over after last week's loss, Cal set more program records than it knows what to do with, and Kentucky elbowed its way ahead of Alabama and Auburn

NCAA Gymnastics Week 10

How To Get To Nationals: A GymCastic Postseason Explainer — We trace the journey of some of your favorite, deeply dramatic individuals and teams and how they can advance through the postseason
All your questions about hosting, seeding, individual titles, and geographic regionals placement
Who needs a score this weekend, and what are some of the sleeper conference championships to watch?
Finally, the wildest things that happened on BTN+ this week, and do we think Maile O'Keefe's beam should have been a Perfect Fall 9.500?

EXTRA CLUB CONTENT

JOIN CLUB GYM NERD

Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes.
Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see some of the gymnastics we discuss, plus get access to all of our exclusive interviews and Behind The Scenes episodes.
Not sure about joining the club? College & Cocktails: The Friday Night NCAA Gymnastics Post-Meet Show is available to sample (even if you aren't a Club Gym Nerd member yet). Watch or listen here.
Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here.
We have a Ukraine Fundraiser design, all proceeds go to the CARE Ukraine Crisis fund.