GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

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305: Kerry Perry Lights Dumpster Fire May 22, 2018

Show notes

USAG DUMPSTER FIRE NEWS

Last week, Kerry Perry laid off a number of USAG employees, including Senior Vice President Rhonda Faehn in the middle of the only national team camp of the year. We dedicate this episode to Scott Bregman, savior of the gymternet, champion of transparency and live streams who was laid off this week as well.

Watch Kerry Perry testify before Congress on May 23rd and 10am Eastern here
A blow-by-blow of everything that went down—and why it was carried out so terribly
We break down the argument against Rhonda, the argument for Rhonda, everything in between, the inconsistencies that abound, and the questions we still have
- LISTEN—Episode 293: Inside Elite Verification with Rhonda Faehn
What would you have done in Rhonda's position?
What was with the timing of this move, and why it's so revealing
Why the athletes felt they had no choice but to turn to social media
Why we feel Kerry Perry has failed in her most important job
What we know and still don't know about the Nassar timeline

GYMTERNET NEWS (1:07:26)

Better news: Survivors will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs on July 18
Worse news: Aliya has a minor meniscus injury and will miss Osijek
Chinese Nationals - featuring Luo Huan's gorgeous toe point, Chen Yile's world-leading beam score, Liu Jinru's terrifying opening pass, the epic return of the Tingting, and the surprising reappearance of Shang Chunsong with a round off tuck full.
NHK Trophy - Mai dominates everyone as usual, Kohei regains his throne, and we hold an intervention for Sae Miyakawa's floor
US upgrades - When in doubt, upgrade. Leanne Wong has an Amanar, Olivia Dunne has a Moors, and TRINITY might not be real.

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304: The GymCastic Olympics (Commissioned) May 16, 2018

Show notes

This week's episode is commissioned by Club Gym Nerd Member Alison and her Gym Boys, Foster, Quint, Valis, and Aaron, who commissioned an episode all about THE GYMCASTIC OLYMPICS. It's our Olympics, and we can cry if we want to. We also get to select our all-time, all-star Olympic teams without any stupid limitations like geographical borders or the concept of time—don't worry, the power goes immediately to our heads and turns us crazy—and decide where it's going to be held, how much AI is involved (a lot), what extra medals will be awarded that are definitely better than bars or whatever, and exactly which acts will be performed in the super tacky gala. You know, the important stuff. Come for us drafting our all-time personal Olympic teams, stay for the fight about whether Phillip Boy is sexy enough to be in a promotional rap video for our Olympics. So yeah, it goes off the rails right quick. If you have half as much fun listening to this episode as we had recording it...

Time Stamps: The Draft (7:33), The Event (39:21), Special Teams (1:00:54), Gala (1:22:44)

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303: Pac Rims and Mustafina's Return! May 09, 2018

Show notes

MEET NEWS

This week, we are joined by Luba from Gymnovosti (become a patron of Gymnovosti on Patreon here) to tell us all about the Mustafina Championship. We mean Russian Championship (7:00).

But....MUSTAFINA IS BACK! And she finished 4th! And gave a fantastic interview that every gymnast and coach should read: "Pregnancy was my vacation."
Do Mustafina and Komova look on track for Euros and worlds teams this year?
Is Angelina Melnikova...like...consistent now?!?!?!?
How did Irina Alexeeva do in her Russian debut? How did the Russians commentators react to her Americanness?
Plus: Nabieva is coming out of not-retirement to be officially not retired, tears for Seda, Abliazin's Olympic strategy, obligatory Oleg Stepko drama, and the Russian commentators are even worse than Al Trautwig with some Rage-o-Meter-worthy things to say about Simone.

Plus, the Pacific Rim Championship (44:31) —because if you're not on the Pacific, you can't sit with us, unless you're Argentina or Cuba.

Jessica says the words "suns out, buns out"
Morgan Hurd's terrifying beam dismount to her head
- Our initial thoughts and fears
- How does Jessica "Concussion Test" O'Beirne feel about Morgan being allowed to compete floor right afterward?
- The positives we take from the whole situation
CUBA THINGS
That Sunisa Lee beam save! We break it down in detail.
Spencer is obsessed with Canadian junior Zoe Allaire-Bourgie and gets a little CAPS LOCK about what the US elites could learn from her
Sam Mikulak hit all six events. In the same meet. And recorded the highest AA score in the world this year. We're living in a brand new age.
Lee Chih Kai does pommel horse for people who hate pommel horse
A deep dissection of the Sam Mikulak/Asher Hong dynamic, and why Asher Hong will one day rule us all.

GYMTERNET NEWS (1:24:56)

Aly and Rhonda
- Aly names Rhonda Faehn as someone to whom she reported abuse but we already knew that Rhonda knew in June 2015 so we are kinda like *head scratch*
- We discuss what we still don't know about the situation, where you draw the line in terms of retribution, whether there should be different categories of culpability, and where we currently stand on decertification and burning things to the ground
Sabrina Vega is suing the Karolyis and USAG
The Karolyis are suing USAG over the failed ranch sale
- YOU GET A LAWSUIT, and YOU GET A LAWSUIT, and YOU GET A LAWSUIT
- Looks like someone couldn't keep her lies straight......
Kerry Perry will have to testify before the House on May 23. How many times will she say "empowered"?
Ho the Nassar crimes are playing in the Russian gymnastics community (spoiler alert: it's not great), and we discuss the awful way Olga Korbut is being treated after publicly accusing her coach of rape.
At least 42 gymnasts were abused by Brazilian coach Fernando de Carvalho Lopes. Among them, Petrix Barbosa.
Jessica and Uncle Tim went to The Foundation for Global Sports Development Humanitarian Awards and learned about their $1 million grant to Child USA to partner with survivors for athlete sexual abuse prevention training.
GASP: Kohei didn't win Japanese nationals. And neither did Kenzo. Kakeru Tanigawa is the new All-Japan all-around champion for 2018, breaking Kohei's 10-year winning streak.
Depressing German injury news
NCAA awards, firings, and FAREWELL TTYs!

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302: Kennedy Baker Live Show in St Louis May 02, 2018

Show notes

Preview of NCAA's and interview with Texas Dreams elite and Florida Gator great, Kennedy Baker! If you are a Club Gym Nerd member, you can watch a video of the live show here by logging into your account.

301: Peng Gets a 20, Martha Gets a Zero Apr 25, 2018

Show notes

MEET NEWS

Live Show with Kennedy Baker and our overall impressions of the weekend (3:58)
UCLA wins its 7th national title in remarkable upset fashion! (Super Six 13:19)
- Peng. Peng Peng Peng Peng Peng. Peng.
- Oklahoma finishes less than a single deduction behind UCLA. It's the Gutsu/Miller of our time.
- We break down the small, tiny, minuscule, infinitesimal differences that decided the title
- Jessica and Spencer argue over how to count to 4. FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT.
- Most exciting Super Six EVAH?
BYES ARE OVER. Why this was the best possible advertisement for a four-team final, and why it's going to get even harder next year.
Important Moments about Feelings with Jessica (28:56)
- Cereal gobbling, romance, wedgies, hot dads, crying, car accidents, positivity, red pants, hype planes, chariots, dino buns, Disney World, EEEEEEEEEEEEE...you know how it goes
Probably too much discussion of coach fashion and hot random staff members (just kidding) (it's never too much) (Suzanne's heels, you guys)
Special New Segment: Crack or Crack? The answer is Crack.
Why Ebee transcends teams and stole the show in the semifinal for multiple standing ovations and Jessica tears (Semifinals 52:29)
Just Maggie Nichols things
Alabama misses Super Six for the first time since 2007, without counting a fall
Cursed floor mats and lights flickering (1:24:50)
Spencer has a random complaint about the rules. We're all shocked.

GYMTERNET NEWS (1:42:30)

WSJ published a chronology of the sexual abuse of McKayla Maroney
The hour-long Dateline with Maroney and the Karolyis. We have some......notes.
- Was it too charitable to the Karolyis?
- Is over-focusing on the Karolyis missing the point and diverting attention?
- NBC fails to acknowledge its own role in perpetuating the Karolyi system
- Martha doesn't think the gymnasts were afraid of her, was never verbally abusive, and never called them fat.
  - Mmmmmm. Mmmhmmm. Sure. We believe you.
  - Except we don't. Here are the receipts.
- "I don't see any other way." Let us show you.
- Maroney calls out the "silent abuse," the "torture camp," and the system of fear and punishment that opened the door for grooming behavior
- We ask: Why isn't anyone investigating AOGC?
- "You knew what I ate, you knew what I wore, you controlled what I said—how could you not know?"
- Gina Nichols staring angrily out a window is our spirit animal
- More trouble with Fran, a.k.a. Some Random Lady. Aly has the texts.
SIMONE TRAINING VIDEO DISTRACTION (2:42:46)
- Double double on bars, double double on beam, SHAP HALF, Moors, TTY. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

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300: Jesolo and Tokyo for the Brave 300 Apr 18, 2018

Show notes

MEET NEWS

Jesolo! (3:00)

Emma Malabuyo is the new queen of Italy
Ragan Smith returns for first competition since worlds qualification
Adeline Kenlin is officially a national treasure
BRAZIL!
- Flavia is back and being so perfectly Flavia that line judges just ignore OOBs
- Jade Barbosa is partying like it's 2007
Romania had two whole people (neither named Larisa) who hit bars at the same time
Elena Gerasimova has speed, backward shoulder rolls, and a wolf turn fake-out for the ages
Vladislava Urazova's asymmetrical braid took the juniors by storm
SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMEDY
- Liu Jinru with the most preposterous 3/1 + punch front in Chinese history
- Perebinosova got caught in a twister and Eleonora Afanasyeva body slammed herself
- Lara Mori's vault run is a victory in itself
- Desiree Carofiglio's Popeye shuffle is the highlight of the whole competition
The Jesolo award ceremony is a psychotic meltdown with surreal fever-dream trophies

Tokyo! (53:48)

When the Olympic Channel freaked everyone out for a second
Jackson Payne injured himself on floor and then vaulted a handspring rather than withdraw from the meet. We discuss why
MAI IS NOT MESSING AROUND
Trinity Thomas is confident and consistent even though gymnastics isn't her whole life (WHAA?)
Simakova's unexpected vault and super, mega extra pre-floor wind-up doll presentation
Kenzo is back in Japan and Sam Mikulak has a new Achilles, so everything is OK again
RAGE-O-METER ABOUT NIPPLES

GYMTERNET NEWS (1:23:20)

Is MSU interim president John Engler even worse? (Yes.)
Norah Flatley and Rachel Baumann have officially signed with NCAA teams!
NCAA nationals are this weekend! Who are the favorites, who's going to pull off the upset, and what are our wild dreams for the competition? We discuss.
The best possible thing a dad has ever cheered from the stands in a meet.

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299: When Sabrina and Rhys Became Legends Apr 11, 2018

Show notes

MEET NEWS

NCAA regional competition has narrowed 36 teams down to 12. We break down the goodies and baddies from all six meets. (6:25)

Tuscaloosa – Georgia upsets Michigan!
- Beam Hero Sabrina Vega's long road from 2011 worlds (which was SEVEN years ago you guys)
- Illinois's against-the-odds amazing season
- ...what's the deal with Michigan?
Minneapolis
- The beauty Olympics!
- Kentucky makes nationals as a team for the FIRST TIME EVER
- The NCAA writing staff got the individual all-around qualifiers exactly right this season
Salt Lake City
- PHEW! Elizabeth Price qualified for the all-around
- The legacy of Jenny Hansen and Kelly Garrison
- Auburn's unfortunate record of missing nationals with really high scores
Columbus
- OK. We HAVE to talk about that 0.1 ND for UCLA on vault
- Bowling Green! Jovannah East qualifies to nationals and India McPeak makes history
- Feedback about how you should be able to CHEER at a damn SPORTING EVENT like a NORMAL PERSON
Raleigh
- The one that was supposed to be close and exciting. And then Nebraska was like, "No."
- Is being the parent of a former team member a judging conflict of interest?
- Morgan Lane and Cami Drouin-Allaire qualified and it's all because of us. You're welcome.
University Park
- In which Jessica gets distracted by the hotness of the Florida coaching staff. Again.

The US women's elites gathered at World Champions Centre for another verification competition to decide the team for Pac Rims. (1:10:08)

The team: Grace McCallum, Morgan Hurd, Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee, Kayla DiCello, Jordan Bowers
- How we feel about selecting the team based solely on AA standings at verification
- Why live video and releasing scores leads to less criticism of the athletes, not more
- Why Ashton and Simone did not participate
- The future of a national team training center

Not to be ignored...Commonwealth Games! (1:25:53)

The Canadian women erase the pain of 2016 (and 2014)
The dream of an all-Georgia bars final is alive
Which Pixar movie Australia reminds Spencer of this week
Marios Georgiou is Cypriot Yul Moldauer
Rhys McClenaghan won pommel horse and dismounted in tears and made history and it's all too much for Jessica to handle

GYMTERNET NEWS

We play another rousing game of "What Lie Was USAG Caught In This Week?" (1:35:10)

How USAG is trying to wriggle out of intentionally omitting the truth to the Senate in February about not using non-disclosure agreements because turns out...it did.
- Two women were horrifically sexually abused by a coach, who was banned, and then USAG did its thing: "Instead of protecting me, they fought me. Instead of believing me, they harassed me. They were trying to discredit me, trying to shame me, saying I was just after USAG's money."
- RAGE-O-METER: USAG's absolutely unconscionable response

And then better news!

Irina Alexeeva is out of citizenship purgatory and is going to compete at the Russian Championship!
Trinity Thomas is going to Florida and announced it in the best way possible (at the age of 17).
SIMMMMMONNNNNNNNNEEEEEEE. But, like, SIMONE. Simone.
- VAULT UPGRADES WHAT????

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298: Geddert and Karolyis Rage-O-Meter Special Apr 04, 2018

Show notes

GYMTERNET NEWS

A CNN investigation into John Geddert spoke with seven gymnasts/families about their experiences with him, and it wasn't pretty
- Physical abuse, verbal abuse, suicide attempts
- Police complaints dating back to 1986
- A letter to USAG in 2013 detailing the problems
- Steve Penny KNEW and chose to do nothing. Because publicity.
CNN also has the May 2017 Karolyi depositions. They aren't pretty either.
- Apparently the Karolyis had very little to do with the ranch and barely ever met or talked to Larry Nassar. Huh?
- It was all USAG's and Kathy Kelly's fault
- "I wanted them to be safe, but..."
Nassar's boss, William Strampel, has been arrested for insane 1970s sexual misconduct. That's the official charge.
Those two MSU trainers who were informed about Nassar and did nothing still work there
MSU spent $500K in January monitoring social media accounts of Nassar survivors and journalists. We definitely can't think of a better use for that money
USAG Athlete Assistance Fund application and the Saving Our Survivors Fund

And in actual gymnastics developments: (1:05:38)

The drama over the English Commonwealth Games team deepens
Cuba is in the Pacific now, and we're all for it
Giulia Steingruber is playing around with a Yurchenko double back

MEET NEWS (49:08)

We break down the key storylines to watch at this Saturday's NCAA regionals and rage about the scheduling and individual qualification rules, as per usual
Professor O'Beirne, PhD brings us a history lesson on the origins of the Commonwealth Games, and we get excited about Wales and dragons.

FEEDBACK (1:11:13)

Why can't women do NCAA and elite at the same time?
Primary source material about the sound in the Georgia Dome
When a floor routine might also be a tornado warning
A long-time brevet judge on how we can fix NCAA (and USAG) judging
2-hour awards ceremonies (WHATTTT??) and plans for a parent revolt!

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297: The Jig of Victory Mar 28, 2018

Show notes

This week, Jessica and Spencer are joined by Craig Zappa from ENA in Paramus, the coach of US national team member Olivia Dunne, who is here to tell us all about Olivia's progress and preparations for Jesolo, how that whole Jesolo-as-individuals thing came about, how he felt about the live stream of verification (total scores), and to join our discussion of all the major news of the week—while Jessica definitely oversells Olivia's new floor routine and loses it about the cuteness of Cory the Gym Dog.

MEET NEWS

NCAA Conference Championships!
- The Pac-12 and SEC Championships were...not great?
- Crack or Correct: Was UCLA held up by the judges?
- Beam perfection—Kiana Winston and Alyssa Baumann edition
- Peng Peng Lee continues to make history (Six more years! Six more years! Peng 2024!)
- The SEC Network Gymnerd dream feed (and what NBC could learn...)
Conference Championships RAGE-O-METERS
- Gun sound effects. Other sound effects exist, people. Jessica has suggestions
- Always change the camera angle to the FRONT of the gymnast. #ButtCloseupsNever
- Don't just pick a hot woman in the stands and constantly show her over and over
- Spencer pleads for basic addition skills on broadcasts because he cares more about math than artistry
  - Fun fact: He is the only one and is wrong
- The season of highest-ever scores. Is it the judging? Or is the gymnastics just better than five year ago? Spencer and Craig disagree
NCAA Regional draw
- This is the last year we have to deal with byes! HOORAY!
- We break down all the regionals and assess which ones are going to be crazy-hard (Minnesota! NC State! Alabama!)
- Individual competitors we desperately need to qualify to nationals (Lane! Hislop! Chan! Mitchell!) for reasons including artistry and tattoos
Birmingham World Cup
- Revolving stage and live band! Entertainment PLUS opportunities for comedy? Yes please
- MELNIKOVA HIT FOUR WHOLE EVENTS. IT'S A MIRACLE
- Marz Frazier and her fist pump heard 'round the world
- That British guy on the world feed broadcasts and the important history lesson he teaches all of us
Doha World Cup
- Craig discusses what the US approach to qualifying individual Olympic spots from world cups will be
- HIGHLIGHT OF ALL TIME: Marina Ulyankina dancing a jig after Perebinosova hit bars
- The North Korea contingent brings expressive floor (what???) and an absolutely terrifying vault
- Chuso is ready to medal at worlds
- Men's gymnastics heartwarming moment of the week

GYMTERNET NEWS

Olga Korbut credits herself with ending the Cold War (duh), and Aliya is being coached by her ex-boyfriend. Just Russia things.
Aly Raisman gave a talk in Minnesota and mentioned that Kerry Perry still hasn't reached out to any survivors.
International Gymnastics Camp wanted to require shorts or leggings during workouts in response to sexual abuse. UHHHHHHH...nope.
- Related: Check out the Darkness to Light Flip the Switch campaign
USAG Safe Sport has a new twitter account tweeting out suspensions and bans
Williams Strampel, Nassar's boss at MSU's college of Osteopathy, has been arrested for committing abuse himself. "How did Nassar get away with it for so long?" asked no one anymore. This is how.
Amy Tinkler is out of Commonwealth Games with an ankle injury because all of England is broken. Louis Smith weighed in on the controversy over her potential replacement (Fellows? James?) because of course he did.
The latest on the Dragulescu/Raducan drama that entirely encapsulates the current state of Romanian gymnastics

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296: Komova in Stuttgart, NCAA Crack, and the Ranch Incident Mar 20, 2018

Show notes

MEET NEWS (6:23)

STUTTGART!
- Komova is back and as gorgeous as ever on bars and beam
- "It's all fun and games until Russia goes to beam"
- Nina Derwael has a 6.4 D on bars and is ridiculous
- Axelle Klinckaert has the insane Harry Potter floor routine we've been waiting for all our lives. Spencer breaks it down second-by-second because he needs medical help.
World Cup
- The winner is Zhang Jin like everyone predicted!
- Jordan Chiles took bronze with big vault and floor sets. Now, about that routine composition...
- Melnikova wins the hilarious save competition
- Our favorite skills: Tisha Volleman's Arabian beam mount! Sarah Voss's Delladio!
- Brinn Bevan used a medical emergency to warm Jessica's heart
A special tribute to Danusia Francis's floor save from the British Championship
The Baku World Cup restored our fervor for a CHUSO AA 2020 campaign.

GYMTERNET NEWS (58:05)

In a Washington Post article, Aly Raisman and trainer Melanie Seaman detailed the poor conditions at the ranch. Then, all hell broke loose on our Facebook. We discuss
- The key criticisms leveled by Raisman and Seaman and why they really are serious
- Why the reactions of Kelli Hill and Mary Lee Tracy were so disappointing and show that no lessons have been learned
- What a preposterously inappropriate facility the ranch was in every respect
USAG is now publishing a list of suspended members in addition to the list of permanently ineligible members
Yet another hole in the USAG story—Jordyn Wieber says she witnessed an unnamed "high-profile USAG employee" learning about Nassar pre-2015
Another tragedy at Cirque, which makes three in less than five years
Simone and Stacey are the new celebrity power couple

NCAA NEWS (01:32:50)

Real 10s, fake 10s, and the problem with legs-apart-on-landing deductions
The phenomenon known as Senior Day Crack: Is it OK? (Spoiler alert: No)
Another CAMERAMAN INTERFERENCE RAGE-O-METER

YOUR FEEDBACK (1:53: 47)

HAS ASHTON MOVED TO SIMONE'S GYM?!?!?!?!?!?!
The problem with TOPs camp culture
Bringing posters to competitions (in which Jessica gets immediately distracted and starts talking about Judge Aquilina costumes again)
When the WHOLE TEAM GETS SUSPENDED
Where are the verification camp scores?!?
Being more considerate and thoughtful when discussing male body types

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