Gymcastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

Important Updates Konnor McClain's former coaches respond to her accusations of racism Fisk University will launch the first HBCU college gymnastics team Fart sabotage. That's right: fart sabotage. That whole figure skating thing gets us talking about changing the age limit in gymnastics. Some context: "Because she is younger than 16, Kamila Valieva is considered a “protected person” by the World Anti-Doping Agency  and therefore could receive a lesser punishment than an adult who could receive a maximum two-year suspension." "The panel said Monday that it would be unfair and cause “irreparable harm” to Valieva if she were barred from the Olympic competition." College Gym Update The National Collegiate Achilles Apocalypse claimed more victims this week. What will it take to stop the madness? Thoughts on the midseason blues, NQS, and the college gymnastics schedule Do DIII teams really get higher scores when they go away at DI schools? SURE DO. Not an urban myth, it's a study from Spencer.  Using data

Important Updates We discuss the Peggy Liddick suspension (read the full tribunal decision here), Konnor McClain's allegations against her former coach and the Game Over Commission's final recommendations. College Gym Update A midterm report card: Thoughts, reflections and lessons learned so far in the college gymnastics season, 10s, and these broken live scoring pages Without a real choreographer, are pose-a-thon teams denying gymnasts a chance to go viral and therefore maximize their NIL profit potential? 10.000S FOR EVERYBODY. We discuss the weekend of 11 perfect scores in college gymnastics and to devise a plan to differentiate between ideal and simply not-a-deduction Anyone who's anyone got a 39.825 in the all-around, and we take on a new routine that we need to fix to make it a 10. Michigan's historic score, and what other teams would need to do to reach that level We desperately try to make SABOTAGE happen Plus, history made in men's college gymnastics while Reyna Guggino  (VT, Michigan) got the s

Important Updates USAG compliance investigator job Welcome to Beijing: The Song! Calling for an NCAA-funded study on Achilles tears in college gymnastics and weeping for the Achilles we lost this week. UCLA: Marz Frazier and Sekai Wright gave an interview about what's happening at UCLA. We discuss what they said, the broad leadership failures that led to this point, and what should be done now. College Gym Update Leanne Wong won the freshman 10.000 sweepstakes How Florida's 198.250 was all Spencer's doing and not the gymnasts Suni Lee made her all-around debut, and we talk about the power of pickles Jade Carey hasn't scored under 9.9 all season Jordan Chiles made her beam and floor debut and isn't shirking the difficulty Spencer blows a gasket about Brooklyn Moors' floor score Plus, the saga of Georgia's beam, Auburn defeating Alabama, the best team vaulting performance in gymnastics history, and the most college gymnastics ailment of all time GYMTERNET NEWS Why Artur Dalaloyan's fake social media retir

COLLEGE UPDATES The unitard revolution comes to college gymnastics from Naimah Muhammad. Jade Carey sets an Oregon State all-around record while Jordan Chiles cheers her on. Checking in on the Baumann Family Olympics Georgia has five straight falls on beam What we actually know—and don't know—about the UCLA situation Crooked or Correct: Leanne Wong gets 9.825 for this Podkopayeva Plus, we fix all the routine composition (you're welcome) and discuss Jordan Chiles' vault change and Brooklyn Moors' beam debut Rage-o-Meter triple-header: This week, we're not having ANY of these BS "program records," free-range children on the loose, and crooked floor lines Must-watch routines from Lex Ortega and Sam Phillips An update on the greatest freshman college gymnastics class of all time  from Suni Lee to Grace Mcusker and Ana Padurariu. GYMTERNET NEWS Injury updates, gymnasts making the $$$$$$$, new US men's funding, and more JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to Behind the S

COLLEGE UPDATES In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a "Must Do Better" update on racism in gymnastics Thoughts on Florida's Equality Meet on ABC, what the broadcast did right and did wrong, and some interesting 10s that may or may not have been given out What happens when 4-year-olds have questions about gymnast butt cheeks and when Jessica gets VERY confused about miniature backpacks Most Decorated Class of All Time Report: Debuts from Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Brooklyn Moors and Ana Padurariu, routine changes from Suni Lee, and the Morgan Hurd injury situation Plus, UCLA had an icky-no-good first meet, Superman failed us, Utah destroyed Oklahoma, and a 10.000/9.800 judges split for the ages GYMTERNET NEWS Kohei officially announced his retirement. We debate what he will most be remembered for. JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to Behind the Scenes episodes. Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here. We have masks too! RELATED EPISODES College & Cocktai

COLLEGE UPDATES Why Jessica has already declared Michigan the repeat national champion, and why all the cool kids are talking about San Jose State How Oklahoma and Florida committed to chaos in their opening meets The latest news in COVID cancellations and injuries Most Decorated Class of All Time Report: How Suni Lee, Leanne Wong, Riley McCusker, Grace McCallum, and Kara Eaker fared in their college gymnastics debuts The non-basic floor routines we love right now From tripping, to tripping, to more tripping, the best comedy of the week GYMTERNET NEWS It's all bad! We discuss the gymnastics dads we lost at the end of 2021, meet cancellations and gym closures, and the latest arrests and dumpster fire news out of Michigan But also, athletes getting PAID (including a team-wide NIL deal at Alabama), Nellie Kim judging in NCAA, and new jobs for Syque Caesar and Wendy Bruce-Martin. JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to Behind the Scenes episodes. Buy our awesome clothing

Normally, Friday podcasts are just for Club Gym Nerd members, who can watch the podcast being recorded and see video clips of the gymnastics while we discuss. In celebration of the greatest freshman class in the history of college gymnastics, today’s episode was live for everyone.  The greatest freshman class of all time start their college gymnastics careers tonight! The freshman competing this season have 25 World/Olympic medals combined. Join GymCastic for the first Friday night post-meet podcast of the season. We will discuss Olympic AA Champion Sunisa Lee's debut for Auburn; Olympic medalist Grace McCallum with World medalist Kara Eaker at Utah; the stacked university of Florida freshman AA World Champion Morgan Hurd with fellow team World Champion Riley McCusker. and world medalist Leanne Wong. 

Dr. Uncle Tim PhD, Spencer,  Jessica and very special guest, 1992 U.S. Olympic medalist, Wendy Bruce Martin chat about the 1992 Olympics Games in Barcelona: The pre-Olympic Climate: How the end of the Cold War shaped the Games The media pressure on Kim Zmeskal and the heartbreaking life of Svetlana Boginkaya after the 1988 Olympics. Kim Kelly and the shadiest U.S. Olympic Team selection of all time. (6:00) Wedgie-gate, was it fair to punish three athletes for ill-fitting leotards? (16:00) Uncle Tim's 1992 Code of Points and Competition Rules Quiz-Mageddon! (23:00) The magic of the 1992 broadcast that included interviews with every controversial figure. The Competition (42:00): Compulsories that took our breath away and should we still have them? Exhibit A: Vanda Hădărean (ROM) or Gruneneva (Unified Team). Eastern Bloc beauty.  The judging crack epidemic of 1992. Exhibit B: Christina Bontas's 9.9 beam routine. Kim Zmeskal fell on beam and the world didn't actually end.  The glory of North Korea, Kim Gwang

GYMTERNET NEWS in 2022, USAG will hold women's camps at Stars in Katy TX, the gym owned by current developmental program coordinator Dan Baker. Is that a conflict of interest? And is that OK? We discuss, with a response from USAG. The survivors and USAG reached a $380 million settlement, which also contains critical nonmonetary reform commitments. Plus, all the awards Simone and Suni are racking up, a whole bunch of hirings and firings, gymnastics being totally big-time business now, and vital musical and gymnast-boyfriend news. HAPPY NEW CODE Next time we speak, the new women's elite code of points will be in effect. We run through the hottest topics like: They're finally coming for your wolf turns! They're finally coming for your candle mounts! Side jumps on beam are getting a full renovation Artistry "now becomes important" The vault value massacre The dawn of the age of rolls And a whole lot more JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to Behind the Scenes episod

SPITFIRE This episode has been commissioned by Cathleen, who told us we could do whatever we wanted, so obviously...it's Spitfire time. We recap the 1995 straight-to-VHS spy-nastics classic, complete with commentary from special guest, movie star Kristie Phillips! Why Spencer thought we actually got sent porn for a second Dying of a suitcase? How this movie definitely doesn't know the difference between Russia and Romania "Some girls hit back, asshole" Expert chalk bucket cocaine sabotage! "Five giants into a BRANDY." Kristie discusses the epic accidental double Kovacs. THE LAUNCH CODES ARE ON THE AMERICAN GYMNASTICS TEAM A lengthy discussion of time travel and this bonkers competition schedule. It's so stressful. You're going to miss Worlds! Spying is loudly telling people exactly what you plan to do in public Things that appear by magic when needed: Grips and full repelling equipment Flying a plane directly to a gymnastics meet EVIL COMMUNIST HAND TOXINS And much more...

This episode has been commissioned by the Courtney Bumpers Fan Club, where we discuss the college gymnastics things we don't talk enough—past, present, and future (?) Vault: Elites Could Never Edition, starring Kendall Whitman and Allison Zuhlke GymCastic Mythbusters: "Increasing difficulty requirements makes smaller teams less able to contend" A Moment in History: The single best beam routine in the history of college gymnastics, the single best mount in the history of college gymnastics, and the single best movement quality in the history of college gymnastics On the importance of one-knee elements, backspins, and Korbuts Elizabeth Culton: When is she getting a 10? The viral gymnastics routine --a discussion on race and black excellence. Discussion: Leotard bonus, is it real, why does it happen, and what do we do about it? QUIZ: Gymnasts, firsts and records you should know about More important than the Gym Slam, the QuadraDiva: A gymnast who has won four or more of the five individual college gymnastics

WATCH HERE Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded. [wcm_nonmember]Please login to your Club Gym Nerd account to listen and/or watch this episode. Not a member? Join here. THE HISTORY OF ROMANIAN GYMNASTICS This episode has been commissioned by Nico T.L., who requested an episode on the history of Romanian gymnastics, from the pre-Nadia era (huhhhh?) to the present. We discuss: Mythbusters: Romanian gymnastics started with Nadia The 60s: Boycotts and Romanian Gymnastics Jail How Nadia changed the difficulty game Scandals: The Romanian walkout at 1977 Euros, the 1981 Agache/Szabo identity swap, and most shocking of all, floor routines choreographed by Martha The age of Silivas, Dobre, and the single greatest Romanian team of all time URGENT: Ballet Beats WATCH ALONG: Popa, Voinea, and Potorac "Romania does boring, safe gymnastics guaranteed to win." Fact, fiction, or depends? WATCH ALONG: Marinescu and Olaru On Top of the World: Romania 2000-2004 Did the open-ended code kill Romanian gymna

CARLY PATTERSON'S ALBUM: BACK TO THE BEGINNING This episode has been commissioned by "Just an Ordinary Girl Putting Up a Fight to Get Out of This Temporary Life," who requested an episode analyzing the music of 2004 Olympic Champion, Carly Rae Patterson and her 2009 album, Back to the Beginning. We answer important questions like, which song is a metaphor for WOGA? And which one is really about Khorkina? Gymnastics Science Myth Busters with Dr. Dave Tilley PT, NCSA The internal work; therapy and/or self reflection, necessary to be healthy in our jobs and relationships Learning to have a healthy relationship with exercise after gymnastics The actual force impact of landings and falls and a yurchenko double back on the body The science behind back pain in gymnasts during puberty. Red S Syndrome (formerly Female Athlete Triad) and the damaging garbage nutrition fads hurting gymnasts. Gymnastics Myth Busted with an Dr. Dave Tilley PhD: You have to be short, young, and under-developed to be good at gymnastics

THE TOM INTERVIEW Nicole Langevin interviewed Tom Forster, and Tom's performance left us...scratching our heads. We discuss: How he obviously hates this job and wishes he were coaching club instead Bold-faced lies about being asked for interviews/comment How *no one could POSSIBLY have predicted* the deductions the US team would receive at the Olympics "We don't think it will come down to tenths" Misinformation about the 2016 Olympic Trials And a lot more THE GYMTERNET NEWS A racist attack on Suni Lee The FIG elections and what to make of them College signings for the 2023 season Alleged retaliation by USAG against a security company that reported SafeSport violations Personnel changes afoot at USAG Good news for event specialists Plus, a new gymnastics movie, a new gymnastics board game, streaming the GOAT Tour, and all the latest from meets around the world JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd for access to Behind the Scenes episodes. Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here. We have masks too! REL

THE NADIA MOVIE Lies, lies, and more lies! For today's commissioned episode, we watched the 1984 made-for-TV movie Nadia, a Very Highly Extremely Unauthorized biography of Nadia Comaneci, and we seriously just can't with it. We discuss: Things that definitely 100% happened and aren't lies at all, like Bela Karolyi creepily discovering Nadia at recess The villain of this tale: Communism The very important *IMMEDIATE CHOREOGRAPHED FRIENDSHIP DANCE* between Nadia and Teodora Interrupting the judges in the middle of Tourischeva's floor routine (!) Anachronistic hair: A deep discussion Marcia Frederick's stunts are the only watchable part This movie did Teodora Ungureanu dirty Is this the only gymnastics movie where the stunt work is harder than the real routines they're portraying? Wait...did they turn Nellie Kim white? Creating the future: Did Bela reenact some of these scenes later in his career? Some very sensitive and thoughtful treatment of weight and suicide. Healthy and helpful. Good good. The moral of th

MINI-COMMISSIONS HALL OF FAME Erin has commissioned us to bring back fluff pieces and reimagine the non-racist, non-condescending, non-awful versions we’d like to see. Obviously, we go right to Elena Produnova, Catalina Ponor’s closet, and lesbians. Nico asked us to discuss these So-bad-you-can't-look-away/best of floor routines from the 2000s, including, in his words, Elena Produnova‘s “Super Bitch Power Routine,” Paloma Moro‘s “Cracked Out Spanish Hoedown Routine,” and Alena Polozkova’s “So Bad You Can’t Look Away Routine.” We are in heaven. Club Members can watch along with the original episode here. Karla asked us to discuss the most tragic examples of getting two-per-countried with hypotheses about whether the person who got knocked out could have medaled. We talk about Wieber and Douglas and also pull a few nuggets out of the archives (like Justice for Huang Mandan). JOIN CLUB GYM NERD  Join Club Gym Nerd for access to Behind the Scenes episodes or order your own mini-commission. Buy our awesome clot

Today, our immediate reactions after watching the final competition at the 50th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships including beam and women's floor; men's vault, p-bars and high bar: World and Olympic Rebeca Andrade (BRA) in the beam final Battle P-Bars and vault with 2019 floor world champion from the Philippines, Carlos Yulo, USA's Yul Moldauer and Hashimoto Daiki (JPN) and Kaya Kazuma (JPN) Japanese beam goddess, Ashikawa, Urara vs. world champion Pauline Schaefer-Betz (GER) and beam star Luo Rui (CHN) Floor leaders, American Leanne Wong, power house Euros Champion Anastasila Bachynska (UKR) and world champ Murakami Mai (JPN) will compete against Maria Ceplinschi (ROU) and all-around champion Angelina Melnikova (RUS) for the podium Bronze all-around medalist Kayla Dicello (USA) vs World All-Around Champion Angelina Melnikova (RUS)  on floor and beam King Kohei Uchimura (JPN) swings high bar in front of his hometown in what may be his last elite performance. American national champion, Brody Malone (U

Today, our immediate reactions after watching: Rebeca Andrade (BRA) Battle Pommel with Alec Yoder, Stephen Nedoroscik Elza Geurts (NED)!!!!! World All-Around Champion Angelina Melnikova (RUS) Wei Xiaoyuan (CHN) Carlos "Are You Kidding Me" Yulo! (PHI) Italian Domination and Finish a surprise! Plus an epic fight about ties and E scores. BONUS CONTENT: Behind The Scenes Behind The Scenes is a live Q&A podcast just for club gym nerd members! We’re providing daily coverage after each day of competition plus podium training days during the 2021 World Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan! It’s our appreciation love letter to club members for supporting the show. Here’s how to ask questions live. Behind the Scenes we talk about all the stuff you can't see on the screen! Travel craziness; Kenzo after the meet and pizza by Armani with the Italian Federation on the bus ride back to our hotel. Plus we answer your questions. Please login to your Club Gym Nerd account to listen and/or watch this episode. Not a member?

Today, our immediate reactions after watching: Tokyo Olympic Champion Hashimoto Daiki (JPN) falls to new all-around world champion, snubbed Chinese Olympic Trials winner, Zhang Boheng (CHN) The fight for third between eventual bronze medalist Ilia Kovtun (UKR); Yul Moldauer (USA), Shi Cong (CHN) and Adem Asil (TUR) Plus allll the Khorkina sighting news. What in Kohei's Kingdom was going on with all of the approved inquires?! D scores judges have some explaining to do! BONUS CONTENT: Behind The Scenes Behind The Scenes is a live Q&A podcast just for club gym nerd members! We’re providing daily coverage after each day of competition plus podium training days during the 2021 World Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan! It’s our appreciation love letter to club members for supporting the show. Here’s how to ask questions live. Behind the Scenes we talk about all the stuff you can't see on the screen!  What happened in the press conference that you might miss unless you are paying close attention to the video o

Today, our immediate reactions after watching: Olympic all-around bronze medalist, Angelina Melnikova (RUS) USA's Leanne Wong and Kayla diCello Khorkina and the robot medal deliverer Russia's Vladislava Urazova Wei Ziaoyuan (CHN) France's Carolann Heduit and Celia Serber after her scary fall on beam in qualifications Filipa Martins of Portugal History makers Jennifer Williams (SWE), Emma Slevin (IRL) and Naomi Visser (NED) Power house tumbler Anastasia Bachynska (UKR) BONUS CONTENT: Behind The Scenes Behind The Scenes is a live Q&A podcast just for club gym nerd members! We’re providing daily coverage after each day of competition plus podium training days during the 2021 World Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan! It’s our appreciation love letter to club members for supporting the show. Here’s how to ask questions live. Behind the Scenes we talk about all the stuff you can't see on the screen!  Everyone takes sides on Battle Email Notifications and the adorable flub during the press conference. Please l