GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

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Project K Episode 2: Interview with Nadia & The Secret Police Author Dr. Stejarel Olaru Part Two Dec 21, 2022

Show notes

EXCLUSIVE CLUB CONTENT

Club Gym Nerd members can listen to the full interview, uninterrupted, and have access to the original documents discussed in this episode. Please login to your Club Gym Nerd account to listen and/or watch this episode. Not a member? Join here.The public episode includes evidence, obtained by GymCastic, directly from the secret police archives.

Nadia and the Secret Police

Project K Episode 1
We continue this week with the second and final part of Jessica's interview with Dr. Stej Olaru, whose book Nadia and the Secret Police is currently available for pre-order in English. They discuss:
- The unverified report that Bela tried to sabotage Teodora Ungureanu to ensure a Hungarian would win a medal
- The Ellen Berger/Bela Karolyi feud and what may have really been behind it
- Nadia's mom's official complaints
View the original files and translations here.

Project K: Secret Police Documents on the Karolyis

Introduction to Project K Operation Olympia explained
Project K: Romanian Gymnastics Documents of Abuse, Neglect & Authority
Project K: Decoding Romanian Secret Police Files on The Karolyis with Dr. Simona Petracovschi
Behind The Scenes: Project K
Behind The Scenes: More Project K (for Karolyi) Details

2022 Year in Review

On an entirely different topic, we tackle a review of the year 2022

Complete the sentence: "2022 was the year of..."
The 2022 Skill of the Year - Acro
The 2022 Skill of the Year - Dance
The biggest lessons we took from gymnastics in 2022
The very worst thing about gymnastics in 2022

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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.
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

Project K Episode One:Interview with Nadia & The Secret Police Author Dr. Stejarel Olaru
Project K: Operation Olympia explained
Project K: Decoding Romanian Secret Police Files on The Karolyis with Dr. Simona Petracovschi
Behind The Scenes: Project K
Behind The Scenes: More Project K (for Karolyi) Details
Growing Up at Round Lake
Boginskaya Interview
Aly and Lynn Raisman Interview
Vanessa Atler Interview
Donate grips and tape for Ukrainian gymnasts
To follow the effects of the Russian invasion to Ukraine at Gymnovosti
Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim

MORE WAYS TO LISTEN HERE

Project K: Interview with Nadia & The Secret Police Author Dr. Stejarel Olaru Dec 14, 2022

Show notes

Nadia and the Secret Police

Today, the start of Project K, our dive into the files and transcripts from "Operation Olympia," the Romanian secret police's multi-year surveillance project investigating the Karolyis.
We have the first part of Jessica's interview with Dr. Stej Olaru, whose book Nadia and the Secret Police is currently available for pre-order in English. They discuss:
- What the secret police did and whether their reports can be trusted as reliable primary sources
- The sheer extent and complexity of the surveillance project of Nadia
- How many people tried to sound the alarm about the Karolyis in the 1970s
- Would anything have changed if this had been public knowledge?
Plus, transcripts from the actual files about the Karolyis from 1976, detailing physical and verbal abuse, an "atmosphere of terror," and the insistence on ignoring physicians and experts.

NCAA Preview

To lighten the load, we also talk a little bit about this year's very important and real preseason coaches poll, the finally-announced meet in Las Vegas, and differences in strategy at various preseason meets

EXCLUSIVE 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.
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

Project K: Operation Olympia explained
Project K: Decoding Romanian Secret Police Files on The Karolyis with Dr. Simona Petracovschi
Behind The Scenes: Project K
Behind The Scenes: More Project K (for Karolyi) Details
Donate grips and tape for Ukrainian gymnasts
To follow the effects of the Russian invasion to Ukraine at Gymnovosti
Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim
Growing Up at Round Lake
Boginskaya Interview
Aly and Lynn Raisman Interview
Vanessa Atler Interview

Sitting in Pits Made of Mattresses Dec 07, 2022

Show notes

Headline News

This week, Morgan Hurd blessed us with a double layout to make it all better, and we have a preview of our major exposé Project K—where gymnastics and spycraft run into each other at full speed inside 1970s Romania—which will finally be coming to your ears over the next two weeks.

NCAA Preview

We're one month out from the NCAA season, and we're talking new first years like Kayla DiCello, eMjae Frazier, Faith Torrez, and more. Plus, which teams face the biggest upheavals in the 2023 season (cough, Georgia), why we're a little too excited about literally just some lines of tape, and the biggest storyline of the preseason: 5th-year transfers.

Mini-Commissions

A mini-commission on the history of South African gymnasts at the Olympics and other major competitions: the biggest accomplishments and what the future holds
A mini-commission on Soviet training conditions and techniques of the 1980s and how that resulted in pushing the limits of difficulty.
Plus, all the gymternet news you need

JOIN CLUB GYM NERD

Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes.
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

Donate grips and tape for Ukrainian gymnasts
To follow the effects of the Russian invasion to Ukraine at Gymnovosti
Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim
You Are In Gymnastics: Soviet Gymnastics Documentary
Project K: Operation Olympia explained
Project K: Decoding Romanian Secret Police Files on The Karolyis with Dr. Simona Petracovschi
Behind The Scenes: Project K
Behind The Scenes: More Project K (for Karolyi) Details
Ellen Berger at the 1988 Olympic Games: DESPITE SOME SOARING PERFORMANCES BY THE SOVIETS, POOR JUDGING STOLE THE SHOW
Lena Degteva: Growing Up at Round Lake
Svetlana Boginskaya Interview
Back from Liverpool
Liverpool World Championships Event Finals and Mega Recap
10th Anniversary Reunion Show

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

Back From Worlds Nov 30, 2022

Show notes

Please login to your Club Gym Nerd account to watch this episode. Not a member? Join here

Headline News

Since we've been gone...

Suni Lee announced her impending returning to elite, Sydney Barros registered a nationality switch, and there are big big changes to the US men's resident program in Colorado Springs.

Meet News

The post-worlds period brought an opportunity for gymnasts to earn some actual money in Switzerland with the Swiss Cup and Arthur Gander Memorial.

We discuss the weird-but-kind-of-awesome format of these meets, the US team of Yul Moldauer and Addison Fatta just edging the Italian team of Nicola Bartolini and Martina Maggio for the Swiss Cup title, Spencer's hyper-interest in the strategy of which events everyone should compete when, and the floor routine that earned Jessica's seal of approval.
How does the prize money for these meets compare to the...actual world championship?

Plus...

News on constant vigilance, bribery, NCAA coach movement, being resilient AF, and most importantly...the Paris Olympic mascot.

JOIN CLUB GYM NERD

Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes.
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

Interview with Beam World Champion Watanabe Hazuki (JPN)
Interview with AA World Champion Rebeca Andrade (BRA)
Wei Xiaoyuan (CHN) - Uneven Bars World Champion 2022
Interview with Team World Champions USA
The Flight Series: Shilese Jones
The Gymnast Who Kneeled: UC Davis Alexis Brown Interview
Donate grips and tape for Ukrainian gymnasts
To follow the effects of the Russian invasion to Ukraine at Gymnovosti
Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim
Liverpool World Championships Event Finals and Mega Recap
10th Anniversary Reunion Show

The History of Olympic Trials Controversies Nov 22, 2022

Show notes

OLYMPIC TRIALS CONTROVERSIES

This week, we have a commission from Club Gym Nerd member Jasmine, who asked for an episode on the history of US Olympic Trials—how teams were selected and all the major scandals. And there have been plenty.
- 1980 - Olympic boycott hypocrisy and what happens when gymnasts tie for the last spot? (Or have alligators?)
- 1984 - The case of Dianne Durham and the Olympic petition
- 1988 - The Perils of Rank Order: The Early Years
- 1992 - The back-room meeting that kept Kim Kelly off the Olympic team
- 1996 - Only controversial if you're a Forster?
- 2000 - Atler. Nuff said.
- The Martha Years - Were teams really chosen months in advance?
Plus, we make our proposals for an ideal Olympic team selection process for the United States

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RELATED EPISODES

The 2000 Olympic Trials Nov 15, 2022

Show notes

2000 Olympic Trials

This week, we have a group commission from Brianna, Stephanie, Atwood, Laura, Karla, and Emma, all about [deep breath] the collective nightmare that was the 2000 Olympic Trials. We discuss:

The breaking news that there actually was official selection criteria, and it was technically followed.
The significance of 2000 Trials as the worst thing that has ever happened ever, the controversy of the selection process, the low point this represented in athlete-first commentary, and just...the Bela of it all
Shannon's comeback
What if Atler had been able to compete on the "new" vault?
The way the commentators talk about Alyssa Beckerman
The infamous Rybacki fluff piece
DLO + Punch front
Shannon's vault injury
BEIGE DRAPES
Steve Nunno's performance piece
The Moceanu sadness forest
Why they selected the team they did, and was it the right call?

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! And Pride gear!

RELATED EPISODES

Liverpool World Championships Event Finals and Mega Worlds Recap Nov 06, 2022

Show notes

Liverpool World Championships 2022 Event Finals & Mega Worlds Recap

We'll discuss both days of event finals, the breaking (?) of the white leo curse and our favorite and least favorite moments of this World Championships.LOGIN TO JOIN US LIVE

Club Gym Nerd members can ask questions live, watch the podcast being recorded, see the gymnastics we discuss, plus get access to all of our exclusive interviews and Behind The Scenes episodes. Here's how to ask questions live.JOIN CLUB GYM NERD

World Championships Viewer's Guide
Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes.
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

Liverpool World Championships Men's AA Final
Liverpool World Championships Women's AA Final
Liverpool World Championships Men's Team Final
Liverpool World Championships Women's Team Final
Liverpool World Championships Women's Qualifying Day Two
Liverpool World Championships Women's Qualifying Day One
Liverpool World Championships Podium Training Day Two
Liverpool World Championships Podium Training Day One
Liverpool World Championships Mega Preview
US Women's World Team Trials live from Texas
10th Anniversary Reunion Show
Worlds Team Shake-up
US Men's World Selection (Day 1) & World Cup Update
Paris World Cup Review
What the F Is Artistry?
World Challenge Cups Are So In Right Now
The World Championship Field Is Set
Donate grips and tape for Ukrainian gymnasts
Donate to family of NCAA coach in Ukraine
To follow the effects of the Russian invasion to Ukraine at Gymnovosti
Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim

MORE WAYS TO LISTEN HERE

Liverpool World Championships Men's AA Final Nov 05, 2022

Show notes

Liverpool World Championships 2022 Men's All-Around Final

Carlos Yulo invented a new skill on vault while Asher Hong did a no-handed giant on high bar. All the details and we answer your questions about women's all around final.

LIVERPOOL LIVE SHOW TICKETS ON SALE NOW

JOIN CLUB GYM NERD

World Championships Viewer's Guide
Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes.
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

Liverpool World Championships Women's AA Final
Liverpool World Championships Men's Team Final
Liverpool World Championships Women's Team Final
Liverpool World Championships Women's Qualifying Day Two
Liverpool World Championships Women's Qualifying Day One
Liverpool World Championships Podium Training Day Two
Liverpool World Championships Podium Training Day One
Liverpool World Championships Mega Preview
US Women's World Team Trials live from Texas
10th Anniversary Reunion Show
Worlds Team Shake-up
US Men's World Selection (Day 1) & World Cup Update
Paris World Cup Review
What the F Is Artistry?
World Challenge Cups Are So In Right Now
The World Championship Field Is Set
Donate grips and tape for Ukrainian gymnasts
Donate to family of NCAA coach in Ukraine
To follow the effects of the Russian invasion to Ukraine at Gymnovosti
Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim

MORE WAYS TO LISTEN HERE

Liverpool World Championships Women's AA Final Nov 04, 2022

Show notes

Liverpool World Championships 2022 Women's All-Around Final

Rebeca Andrade (BRA) is finally the world all-around champion! Shilese Jones (USA) and her arabian won silver and for the first time ever, a British gymnast is on the all-around podium, Jessica Gadirova.

LIVERPOOL LIVE SHOW TICKETS ON SALE NOW

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