GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

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413: Is Jade Carey an Olympian Yet Feb 26, 2020

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MEN'S PROGRAM OOOPSIES (3:24)

Between the all-around results mix-up and the World Cup...reassignments...the US men's program had quite the controversial week at Winter Cup. Kensley breaks it all down, with statements from USAG about both issues.

USAG awarded the all-around medals to the wrong people. Great job.
Yul Moldauer was under the impression he had 3 world cup assignments. Turns out, nope.
We discuss the problems of miscommunication and having UNWRITTEN selection procedures for squads that have already been selected and meets that have already happened.
How do we make sure things like this don't happen again?
Live Blog: 2020 Winter Cup - Day 2
Live Blog: 2020 Winter Cup - Day 1

RAGE-O-METER (46:22)

Details on the unacceptable "deal" USAG proposed to survivors, including four tiers of settlement money based on famousness and the release of Steve Penny, Marta, Don Peters, John Geddert, All-Olympia and others from all future claims
W. T. (and we cannot stress this enough) F.
Jessica has some choice feelings about it.

MELBOURNE WORLD CUP OLYMPIC QUALIFIER (52:49)

The 6th of 8 Olympic apparatus qualifiers has concluded in Melbourne. We answer pressing questions like

Is Jade Carey an Olympian yet?
Are we emotionally stable enough to talk about what happened on high bar and the latest developments in Japanese Gymnastics Jail?
Could the US men actually earn an Olympic spot this way?
Does Gymnastics Australia have it together? (Nope)
Why is Jessica more interested in Tampax than in the results?

PLUS...

Winter Cup—actual gymnastics part!
- We discuss improvements on USAGs part (what?), some interesting decisions about who made national team especially re: Alec Yoder, Gage Dyer's floor, Spencer's favorite Winter Cuppy moments, and what it means now for athletes who didn't make national team.
Women's NCAA news (1:29:18)
- Spencer is soooooo glad we had so much other stuff to talk about that we didn't have much time to discuss the scoring at UCLA/Utah because he physically cannot.
- Historic lead-iff 10 finally happened. Grace Glen got a 10 as the first person up on beam.
- Maggie Nichols is injured, Michigan set a program record, and why we need receipts!

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412: The Fall That Wasn't Feb 18, 2020

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IMPORTANT BUSINESS

We're doing another live show from NCAAs this year in Fort Worth!

We're doing another LIVE SHOW FROM NCAAs with special guest Jamie Dantztcher this year in Fort Worth!

When: Friday, April 17, 2020 after prelims

Where: Fort Worth BotanicGardenAuditorium (1.1 mi from Dickies Arena)

Time: Doors open 7:30, Live Show 8-930

Tickets: Club GymNerd pre-sale Feb 26-March 4. On sale to public starting March 5. Join Club Gym Nerd here.

Contest! We're giving away five copies of Break the Fall, Jennifer Iacopelli's YA novel from a true gym nerd who loves the sport. Find out how you can win one.

Contest! We're giving away five copies of Break the Fall, Jennifer Iacopelli's YA novel from a true gym nerd who loves the sport. Find out how you can win one.

GYMTERNET NEWS

Riley McCusker announced she is now training at Arizona Sunrays (Jade Carey's gym). We discuss.
There...might be...a...KERRI STRUG MOVIE. We already have 455 thoughts about what we need from this movie and how it could go very wrong.
Kathie Klages was found guilty of lying to police. Hm. Look how that happened.
Brooklyn Moors has signed with UCLA
Chinese gymnasts are officially out of Melbourne
Plus, Raj Bhavsar's new job, Jessica's Tokyo feelings, Arkansas's women's empowerment, Nile Wilson's gym switch, Shannon's scrunchie immortalized, and why college gymnasts love their teams

MEET NEWS

A preview of Winter Cup, starting Thursday
Maggie 40 Watch and records being set all over the place by Oklahoma and Denver
Spencer's Crack Den takes on that time Kennedi Edney fell on floor and got 9.600
A cornucopia of gymnastic excellence in all its forms from Cristal Isa, Gracie Kramer, Gracie Day, and Evanni Roberson
We need justice for Khazia Hislop
Melbourne is coming up this weekend—what will it mean for Jade Carey's Olympic spot journey?
And finally—WE HAVE A CLIMATE CHANGE FLOOR ROUTINE

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FURTHER READING

Qualifying Score Outlook February 17, 2020
Things Are Happening – February 14, 2020 February 14, 2020
Keeping Up With the Cool GIFs – Week 6 February 11, 2020
The 10s of Week 6 February 11, 2020

RELATED EPISODES

411: Take Off on Gay, Split on Rights Feb 12, 2020

Show notes

This week, we open with rage (TV network-type), then switch to rage (dumpster fire-type), and go on to rage (Achilles injury-type), but then comes the fun part—Ellie Black's return and a brand new sass-filled Olympic year segment.

UCLA's amazing Pride meet was the gayest thing ever to happen in gymnastics, and the Pac-12 Network pretended it didn't exist
An SEC Network basketball commentator did a very very (very) bad one
Following up on the Maggie Haney suspension and the Denis Abliazin racism
A doctor is suing the USOPC for whistleblower retaliation
Asuka Teramoto is out with a torn Achilles and nothing matters anymore
Four-Year Headlines: Where we issue yellow cards to drive-by gymnastics coverage
Olympic qualifier roster updates
Sorting through what happened with rhythmic star Aleksandra Soldatova
Elite Canada – Ellie Black is back, Shallon Olsen is a superhero, and we fangirl over Brooklyn Moors and Ana Padurariu exactly as much as usual
NCAA News – Trinity Thomas and Maddie Karr got 10s, Hailey Poland wore blue lipstick, and we got some feedback about cat leaps

FURTHER READING

Week 6 Rankings February 10, 2020
Things Are Happening – February 7, 2020 February 7, 2020
Keeping Up With the Cool Gifs – Week 5 February 4, 2020
The 10s of Week 5 February 4, 2020

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410: Simone's Vault to the Rescue Feb 05, 2020

Show notes

Today, a sort-of-depressing episode about suspensions and bankruptcy and the crimes of the criminal ex-doctor is saved by the beacon that is Simone posting a Yurchenko double pike video...

Breaking: Maggie Haney has been suspended from contact with minors pending the results of the hearing and investigation – and what this means for Riley McCusker.
Today's Interview: We're joined by John Barr and Dan Murphy, authors of Start By Believing: Larry Nassar's Crimes, the Institutions That Enabled Him, and the Brave Women Who Stopped a Monster to discuss their book, that time they tracked down Kathie Klages, and what to make of USAG's latest settlement offer in bankruptcy court.

GYMTERNET NEWS

Simone posted a video of herself doing a Yurchenko Double Pike...into a pit. We get way too unrealistically excited and start talking about potential D-values and how many men's vault titles Simone is going to win.
Will the coronavirus prevent Chinese gymnasts from going to essential Olympic qualifiers? And what can be done about it?
Is Australia denying visas to Iranian gymnasts for the Melbourne World Cup? And what can be done about it?
Dominique Dawes is opening a gym and is REALLY PISSED about how she was treated in gymnastics
The Stuttgart World Cup roster is out, and we analyze the field
Denis Abliazin is...um...super racist

MEET NEWS

Kensley went to the WOGA Classic and has information on the Blakely sisters, Sophia Butler, a new Russian junior who is going to be everything, and Karis German's Stalder Nabieva
The latest NCAA news on LSU and UCLA getting upset at home, Minnesota coming for you, and the growing trend of two-pass routines
Jessica pops off and goes all Ken Jennings on Kensley's men's NCAA quiz
Kensley explains all of the men's college gymnastics rules to avoid favoritism and encourage transparency, exactly the opposite of women's college gymnastics.

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FURTHER READING

Week 5 Rankings February 3, 2020
Keeping Up with the Cool GIFs – Week 4 January 28, 2020
The 10s of Week 4 January 28, 2020

RELATED EPISODES

409: Falling with Style Jan 28, 2020

Show notes

OLYMPIC QUALIFIER NEWS

The American Cup rosters are out. We delve into the crazy-deep men's field, some of the surprises of the women's field, and what this means for Olympic qualification.
Jade Carey is going to Melbourne. How does this affect the race for the apparatus spots?

COLLEGE MEET NEWS

Kensley went to Metroplex. She shares how loud it was (very) and observations from a civilian gym viewer.
LSU/Florida was INTENSE: We break down the 10s, amazing meets from Trinity Thomas and Ruby Harrold, and the injury to Sarah Edwards
Plus, Lexy Ramler got a 10 again, what not to do when someone is trying to vault, and Derrian Gobourne showed everyone how to fall
Crack or Correct takes on the phenomenon that is Michigan home scoring

CLUB GYM NERD MINI-COMMISSION

It's Jessica's dream come true: a commission about Cuba!
We cover the highs (Artistic integrity! Originality! Annia! The Tamayo!) and the lows (federation mismanagement and funding issues) that characterize the history and legacy of Cuban gymnastics

THERE'S MORE

Gymternet News: The latest in Russia's Olympic ban saga, Kristina Baskett, the NCAA doing something good (???), and various dumpster fire developments
Feedback: We weigh in on whether the price is worth it for the experience of going to Olympic Trials
We're Still Doing This?: The argument is back on about the 10.0 in men's college gymnastics

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FURTHER READING

Week 4 Rankings January 27, 2020
Things Are Happening – January 24, 2020 January 24, 2020
The 10s of Week 3 January 21, 2020

RELATED EPISODES

408: Jessica Goes to Camp Jan 22, 2020

Show notes

NATIONAL TEAM CAMP

Jessica attended the first national team camp of the year in Indianapolis. We discuss:

Simone's injury status, mental blocks, new book, and what grade she'd give USAG
The most important upgrades...that we're allowed to talk about
Olympic team predictions 6 months early and based on exactly two practices
The best floor routine in the history of all the evers
Laurie Hernandez Watch
Atmosphere changes compared to the past
Kitty litter boxes for some reason
REMEMBER: Join Club Gym Nerd for three full Behind The Scenes episodes just from camp with interviews from Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, Riley McCusker and Jordan Chiles. Plus, more to come.

NCAA NEWS

We break down the furor over Oklahoma's scoring this weekend
Crack or Correct? (And a little Crack or Crack?)
Spencer's Crack Den on "You need to have a name to get a big score."
Plus, justice for Lexy Ramler (FINALLY), a Shchennikova update, the Stevens, and records for Minnesota, Cal, Rutgers, and Alaska

GYMTERNET NEWS

The Michigan AG and police raided Geddert's house and Twistars. Would you look at that.
The sexual assault charge against Debbie Van Horn was dropped for insufficient evidence
Maggie Haney's hearing was postponed again
Plus, Sunisa's upgrade and Isabela Onyshko is going to Stanford!

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FURTHER READING

The 10s of Week 3 January 21, 2020
Keeping Up With the Cool GIFs – Week 3 January 20, 2020
Week 3 Rankings January 20, 2020

RELATED EPISODES

Crown Watch 2020 Jan 15, 2020

Show notes

Rage-o-Meters galore, a mini-commission about what college gymnastics is doing right, Spencer's Crack Den featuring a meet so crazy that Kathy Johnson had to do a twitter thread about TAKING deductions, Terin Humphrey wrote a book, the Aurora Games has failed to pay the majority of the staff or athletes, Denver and Minnesota showed WHY WE LOVE COLLEGE GYMNASTICS! HEROES!Olympic Champion and holocaust survivor Agnes Keleti, just turned 99.

BRENNA DOWELL Jan 09, 2020

Show notes

BRENNA DOWELL (4:00)

Continuing our now two-year-old tradition of beginning the NCAA season by asking the final person to compete for last year's winning team to be our first guest of the new year, today we are delighted to be joined by Brenna Dowell! We discuss that vault from championships, leaving NCAA to pursue elite and coming back again, having that story depicted in a movie, GAGE and its GAGEness, Italian culinary adventures, her future plans, her thoughts on USAG's exposed corruption and that time she wasn't allowed to train with the team at 2015 Worlds.

MEET NEWS (40:22)

Jessica and Spencer attended the Collegiate Challenge in Anaheim, and we have a lot to say about

Ragan Smith Joy Watch
Crack or Correct: Alexis Vasquez's beam 10.000
The trend for 2020: walking off the floor in an extra fashion
Obsessions named Samantha Sakti, Alma Kuc, Chloe Widner, and Nevaeh DeSouza
A feelings moment that Jessica missed so Spencer has to talk about. UGH.
Plus elsewhere: WTF happened to LSU, meeting the judges in the bathroom, injury news, and Spencer's Crack Den delves into why we saw some...9.6s?...even from top teams...?

GYMTERNET NEWS (1:34:53)

The FIG kind of actually did something helpful?
Alexa Moreno and Simone Biles received some Best Person awards (duh)
What's happening with the AG investigation of Michigan State
USAG staffing news
A gymternet marriage shout-out!

FURTHER READING

Week 1 Rankings January 6, 2020
SCORE WATCH 2020 December 31, 2019

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405: The Best of 2019 Dec 19, 2019

Show notes

GYMTERNET NEWS

The Simone Tour
- We discuss the Gold Over America Tour (Get it? The...GOAT? DO YOU GET IT?????) and why we love everything about this
- You know who doesn't love everything about this? Jon Horton. Spencer and Kensley go toe-to-toe about Horton's tour comments and the subsequent Twitter dustup. Jessica has some theories about why the men won't be on Simone's tour, which includes a homework assignment for you over the holiday break (because she's totally the mean teacher)
Russia and 2020: What's Going on There?
- We dispel some myths and inaccurate news headlines about Russia's Olympic "ban" that definitely isn't a ban
- What it means for gymnastics (spoiler: nothing)
College Intrasquads
- That time Jay Clark fell over while spotting, a mysterious bars routine that may or may not be exciting (?), and Jessica's celebrity-guest-judge experience at UCLA
And the Rest
- Morgan Hurd and Sam Mikulak are going to American Cup, Amy White is no longer with USAG, Maggie Haney's hearing was moved, Raducan stepped down, Diego Hypolito retired, Kenzo is back, and Jordan Chiles wore a reindeer onesie for some reason?

BEST OF THE YEAR/DECADE

Quick hits on the year that was. We travel back in time month-by-month to relive the biggest news stories
The 2019 Awards: Best Female Gymnast (non-Simone category); Best Male Gymnast; Comeback Gymnast of the Year; Worst Moment of the Year; Best Moment of the Year; Silliest Moment of the Year; The Olly Hogben Unintentional Dismount Award
Our Decade Lists: We recount our moments of the decade. Jessica's list is 784 items long.

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2019 Gift Guide

BEHIND THE SCENES PODCASTS

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404: 2008 Men's Team Final (Commissioned) Dec 11, 2019

Show notes

This week's episode was commissioned by Anonymous, who requested an episode about the US men's bronze-medal performance in the 2008 team final, saying: "I would like to dedicate the commission to all of the females, be it as coaches, judges or fans, who have fled the WAG dark side to appreciate all of the joys, amazement and wonders on the extraordinary MAG side of the sport. The story of the 2008 US Men's Team Bronze is a perfect example of why we love MAG so much."

Setting the scene: The US men's fantastic 2004 Olympics and subsequent tragic start to the open-code era
Most dramatic selection EVAH: We've got freak mat injuries, positive drug tests that USAG continues lying about on its website (FUN), injury petitions directly onto the Olympic team, mysterious demonstrations of readiness at camp, last minute-withdrawals, and a team of backups with absolutely no chance of winning a medal.
First-hand accounts: Behind-the-scenes tales from Justin Spring and Jon Horton about what went on at trials and before qualification at the Olympics
The competition:
- Baby Kohei Alert
- The turning point on vault when Horton stuck his double front (with a requisite side rant about vault scoring, especially in 2008)
- What the eff was going on with these rings positions?
- Horton and Spring sticking their HB dismounts back-to-back — and Fabian falling (WHAAA?)
- Last-minute replacement Artemev heroes out a bronze-sealing PH hit after a lead-off fall
- How narrative totally changes your memories
Why this team won bronze: Complete with Kensley's feelings-heavy roadmap to success in 2020.

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