GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

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Olympic Trials Day One Jun 26, 2021

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We are live from St Louis at Olympic Trials. Our immediate reactions to night one of the women's and men's Olympic Trials including: the top scoring team after day one; the MAG second vault score investigation; Simone's double double beam dismount; the standing ovation; what you didn't see in podium training and on the sidelines, that Shane Wiskus had to say about his infamous high bar routine; COVID interference; Jordan Chiles and the vault springs battle; Jade suddenly un-scratcing from FX and more. To hear the entire episode please login to Club Gym nerd.

31 Olympics Gymternet News Minisode Jun 22, 2021

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GYMTERNET NEWS

Be sure to check out our US Olympic Trials Preview, where we make the case for every athlete
Canada named its Olympic team, and it makes total sense and is free from controversy and drama. Canada we love you so much.
Coaching news out of the Netherlands, including the decision on whether Vincent Wevers can coach at the Olympics
The first Chinese Olympic test produced more questions than answers. Can we get special dispensation to name a team of five especially since Ou Yushan got a 15.6 on BB?!
Kenzo Shirai announced his retirement
Clemson is starting a women's gymnastics program!
The Vanessa Ferrari v. Lara Mori Olympic battle royale in Doha
Plus, the Supreme Court stabbed the NCAA cartel right in the heart

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Olympic Trials Preview: The Case for Every Athlete Jun 20, 2021

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OLYMPIC TRIALS PREVIEW

The Favorites
- Simone Biles and the biggest question we have about her heading into trials
- Sunisa Lee and Jordan Chiles
  - Who gets the second automatic team spot?
  - What does each need to do to confirm her presumed spot on the team?
- Jade Carey
  - She "has every intention" of taking her individual spot. So, good. Right?
The Contenders
- From Wong to McCusker to McCallum to DiCello to Skinner and more, we make the Olympic team case for (and against—Spencer's part) every single athlete heading into Olympic Trials
- We grapple with questions like, can Leanne Wong hit consistently enough to get herself on the team? Would you feel comfortable putting Riley McCusker on the same team as Sunisa Lee? Can Grace McCallum return to her peak level in time?
Men's Preview
- Kensley brings the TWIST with her picks for the two most likely men to get automatic spots on the Olympic team
- Is there any denying the top 3 favorites?
- What does Shane Wiskus have to do to get himself on the team?
- Is this finally the time that Allan Bower breaks his alternate streak?
- Won't somebody please think of Akash Modi????
- Favorites for the +1 spot, including Stephen Nedoroscik, Alec Yoder, Eddie Penev, and Alex Diab, and why that race is the one we're most excited to watch
MEET UP AT TRIALS:
- Where: https://www.360-stl.com/ top of the Hilton .
- When: Saturday 26th (opens at 4pm) head over after MAG night two. Jessica will be there by 6-ish she hopes.

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THE FLIGHT SERIES: Shilese Jones

Gymnastics International: It's Not Nabs! Jun 15, 2021

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BUT FIRST

Updates on the US trials petition drama and the statement from USAG saying Tom Forster "misspoke" which only provoke more questions
A palate cleanser of Laurie Hernandez's skill reveals

GYMNASTICS INTERNATIONAL

A deeper dive into the Becky Downie situation and how she says she was treated at her make-up trial
Russian Cup
- Valentina just went ahead and announced the Olympic teams mid-competition
- "Likely Gerasimova" and whether that makes sense
- A deep interpretation of Viktoria Listunova's new floor routine
- Varvara Zubova is the beam champion
The Nabieva 1/2 revolution
- Is it Nabs? Or is it not Nabs? Only Tatiana Nabieva can tell us
- Comparing Nina Derwael's version and Sanne Wevers' version
- The FIG screwed up with the values again
Important developments from the first Dutch trial
Plus, The German and French Olympic teams have been named, and that time Kohei got mad

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2021 US Nationals Recap, Starring Petition Drama Jun 10, 2021

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US NATIONALS

Morgan Hurd was not advanced to Olympic Trials. We discuss what Tom Forster said to the press about it, the confusion USAG fully brought on itself, and whether that decision actually makes sense
Simone Biles. Gushing about the best parts of her 7th national championship
Queen of Consistency Jordan Chiles and Queen of Bars Composition Sunisa Lee
Who makes up the highest-scoring Olympic team based on nationals? Who's still in contention?
Why Tom Forster's press conference was great news for MyKayla Skinner
Did Grace McCallum and Kayla DiCello jeopardize their chances with falls at nationals?
The latest on the Jade Carey Problem
Highlight routines like Riley McCusker's bars and Emma Malabuyo's beam
The US men earned a +1 Olympic spot at Pan Ams
Brody Malone broke Sam Mikulak's streak to win the national championship
Realistic team and specialist options for the men's Olympic team
BATTLE POMMEL HORSE is on for Olympic Trials

OLYMPIC TEAM NEWS

Becky Downie will not be in Tokyo as Great Britain announced its women's team
Kohei ALMOST didn't make the Olympics
Rebeca Andrade dominated to make the Olympics
The EQUIPMENT WARS have come to France
Aliya Mustafina officially announced something we are choosing to ignore

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Day Two Women's Gymnastics Championships 2021 Jun 07, 2021

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Day One Women's Gymnastics Championships 2021 Jun 05, 2021

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We discuss the results, the history makers this week from Jade Carey's triple twisting double layout to Olivierias arabian double pike out at Pan Ams; what the highest scoring 3-up-3-count team would be based on day one results and how all of your favorites did tonight.

Don't Sign National Team Agreement Until You Listen Jun 02, 2021

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USAG National Team Agreement

The USAG National Team Agreement as long been a point of contention for athletes and parents. On the eve of US Championships when the US National Team will be named, Jessica talked to attorneys Jaime Santos, partner at Goodwin in their Supreme Court and Appellate Litigation practice and Betsy Cooper, founding Director of the Tech Policy Hub at the Aspen Institute, about the currently available national team agreement for 2018-2019. The 2021 agreement is expected to be posted soon, as it is requirement from the USOPC, however, it was not available at the time of this recording. This interview is geared towards athletes and parents to let them know what to look for, change or negotiate before signing the agreement. Remember to seek legal advice before singing any contract.

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U.S. Nationals Preview plus Kyle Shewfelt on his new book, Make It Happen Jun 01, 2021

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NATIONALS PREVIEW

The biggest questions we have heading into nationals—featuring Konnor McClain's sudden gym move, Riley McCusker's injury status, whether Sunisa Lee will do the all-around, and who's going to write the worst article about Simone's vault
Athletes opting out of doing interviews — good news or greatest news?
What does two weeks more time look like for Morgan Hurd and Grace McCallum? Is Spencer still trying to make Leanne Wong happen? What does Kara Eaker need to do?
Laurie Hernandez goes next level with a Tiktok AA reveal
MAN THINGS: Kensley tells us about national team funding, the Pan Ams team and who's really in contention for a +1 Olympic spot for the US men, and likely Olympic team permutations heading into nationals. Plus, the greatest retirement tweet of all time.

INTERVIEW Make it Happen: My Story of Gymnastics, the Olympics, and the Positive Power of Sport by Kyle Shewfelt

Three time Canadian Olympian, and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Kyle Shewfelt is here to talk about his new book. Listen for how you can win an autographed copy of the book or even a 15-minute chat with Kyle himself. Pre-order the book here.
WIN THE BOOK AND A VIDEO CHAT WITH KYLE
- HOW: On Twitter or Instagram and let us know about the coach who made the biggest positive impact on your life and why? Photos are encouraged but not required. Use the hashtag "PositivePowerContest and tag @GymCastic and @kyleshewfelt. DEADLINE: The deadline for entries is Sunday, June 6, and winners will be announced on the June 9 episode of GymCastic.
- WHAT: Three random winners will receive an autographed copy of Kyle's new book, Make it Happen, and one winner will have a 15-minute video chat with the gold-medalist himself!
We discuss:
- The Amanar, The Shewfelt, or The Shewmanar? We decide what's fair.
- Partying with Produnova.
- Unlearning and modeling good coaching. Advice from his favorite Child Psychologist .
- Why he waited so long to write a book, instead of capitalizing on his 2004 gold-fame.
- We talk about mutual commentary regrets and how we want to change commentary, coaching and fan culture to make it more positive.
- How he would have taken his power back when he tied with Marian Drăgulescu.
- Creating a healthy environment without being demeaning.
- Why his career is example of reaching the highest level in gymnastics with positive coaching.
- "Death Conditioning" vs. the no pain, no gain vs. being allowed to fail in order to gain perspective.
- How to gymnastics coaching and culture through agency, partnership and communication.

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THE FLIGHT SERIES: Shilese Jones

Simone Biles Yurchenko Double Pike Has Landed and US Classic Review May 25, 2021

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US CLASSIC

Simone Biles officially debuted the Yurchenko double pike. We discuss how awesome it is, and Spencer has 84 things to say about the D score.
- What Tom Forster, US High Performance Coordinator, said when Jessica asked if USAG would fight the low D score given to Simone's vault.
- Simone gave credit to both of her coaching teams. She's been doing the Yurchenko double pike for over ten years (see our interview in 2013), first with Aimee Boorman and now competing it with Cecile and Laurent Landi.
Jordan Chiles went 57+ again. Is she an Olympic lock?
Can anyone stop the reliability of bars champion Kayla DiCello?
OUTSPOKEN GROWN ASS WOMEN ADULTS - Simone, Morgan Hurd and MyKayla Skinner do not hold back in interviews
- "The way Marta did things, it was kinda brutal and it didn't need to be that way. With Tom and the rest of the team, it's a growing experience, but the changes have been really good. Tom is so supportive. It's so weird having a relationship with a national coach." - MyKayla Skinner
- "I don't think I'd be able to do elite gymnastics now if Marta was here. In some ways it's been a lot nicer not having her around. With consistency, though, she was good at making us hit under pressure. Since Simone and I have that experience, we can help the younger generation." - MyKayla Skinner
- On her activism as a world champion regularly demonstrating at Black Lives Matter protests and anti-asian hate rallies, "I have to give credit to the brave survivors who paved the way and opened the floor for me to use my voice. These are much bigger than gymnastics. If gymnastics disappeared tomorrow, these issues would still be there. I'm a person first, and a gymnast second." - Morgan Hurd ,who also added when speaking about losing followers on social media because of her opinions, "I don't need people who don't think human rights are a given to be supporting me."
Chellsie Memmel competed! We're very excited, and even more excited to see her at nationals.
Riley McCusker's injury — what happened there?
Laure Hernandez eponymous bars skill news
Gymnasts who exceeded expectations, like Grace McCallum, Morgan Hurd, and Emma Malabuyo
The GAGE report
"It's Just Classic," starring Sunisa Lee and Konnor McClain
Jessica on Shilese Jones and Emily Lee
Best moments from the junior competition

OLYMPIC NEWS

The British men's team has been named, and not everyone is happy about it.
Becky Downie competed in her rescheduled Olympic trial, and as far as we're concerned, she should be on the British team.

PLUS