Gymcastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

    IN THE NEWS This week, Uncle Tim, Spencer, Lauren, and Jessica chat about: Men's Olympic Trials The Olympic Team: Sam Mikulak,  Chris Brooks, Jake Dalton, Alex Naddour (aka Mr. Hollie Vise), John Orozco. Alternates: Danell Leyva, Donnell Whittenburg, Akash Modi   Strategy (8:47) Nancy Armour vs. John Orozco drama (14:50) Highlights on and off the floor Brooks hugging OTC athlete liaison, Sherry. The skill Uncle Tim's gymnastics nieces have to learn before they can be in his wedding (23:54) NBC massive errors and generally being jerks (26:18) Putting down Gabby even though she's exactly on track to be at her best Race, poverty and sexualizing athletes  Women's P&G Championships Our debate for the Gymnastics Is Hard Award (38:00) Injury list Junior analysis, favor and future super stars (50:00) Senior analysis (59:00) Who qualified to Olympic Trials for the women: Alyssa Baumann; Simone Biles; Christina Desiderio; Gabby Douglas; Brenna Dowell; Rachel Gowey; Laurie Hernandez; Amelia Hundley; Mad

IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE This week on Douglas Family Gold (S1 E5), Jessica, Spencer and Stefane recap the episode and discuss: The family listened to the podcast! (3:00) Gabby's bar upgrades revealed! (5:00) Coach Christian's voice made the show, but not with his face at the same time. What Gabby's Family has to do to overtake the Kar*$&#*ians as the top reality family in the world. (15:29) Natalie's on-screen script boo boo. (28:42) There was no cause for excitement about the Ranch footage because it was all recycled USAG footage. (35:50) Jene Park, AKA Edna from The Incredibles is back: (30:55) champagne and coffee for everyone Gabby says,  “what more chocolate do I need” and non-stop BBC jokes ensue. Natalie has a boob tattoo and we can't stop analyzing it. (43:37) Jessica's story about Natalie being a badass in Tokyo. (60:00) Feedback (53:25) Some feedback about Gabby's alleged single status from the African-American community. Gabby wearing her hair natural this weekend for nationals in St. Lo

  NEWS In the news, Uncle Tim, Spencer, and Jessica chat about: Our favorite moments from last week's interview with Alicia Sacramone  Controversy (of course) at Australian Olympic Trials (4:01) Congrats to 2016 Olympian Larissa Miller and her beautiful floor! Funding expose from StickIt  Rhythmic and Trampoline Olympic Trials (11:09) Rhythmic roup qualifies for first time, ever. Sadness, injuries, elation and awesome adult gymnastics from tramp (14:04) "The legs that I had, the butt that I had were why I jumped so high" - Olympic Champion Rosie MacLennan (CAN) video P&G Championships Preview (1:03:30) How to watch live, online and on tv here. Sam Peszek and Evan Heiter are doing juniors analysis! Karolyi Ranch film to premiere on Friday at 8pm ET on NBC, watch trailer here. Who we are looking forward to watching who won't go to Rio (Morgan Hurd, Emily Gaskins) Who is in a do or die situation to qualify to Rio or even Trials Recap of Beyond the Routine with Bailie Key who has scratched from P&

THIS WEEK'S EPISODE This week in Douglas Family Gold (S1 E4), Jessica, Spencer and Spanny recap the episode and discuss: Real Moment of the Week Awards (2:00) Recap with actual gymnastics! (4:00) John wants to "prank" the family by tasering them in the outdoors. (9:15) Jessica responds to criticism from the asexual community after last week's discussion of whether or not Gabby has, or is ready for a relationship and the ancient trope of the romantically immature gymnast.  (24:30) Resource links below.  RELATED LINKS Watch episodes of Douglas Family Gold here. Ages and stages of healthy human sexual development from Darkness To Light and ACT of Youth SUPPORT THE SHOW Join Club Gym Nerd here. Buy one of our awesome gymnastics goodies here. CONTEST Name the Gabby-inspired Drag Queen here! Tweet @GymCastic #GabbyFamilyDrag with your name for our fabulous listener and legit adult gymnast.  RELATED EPISODES 161: Women’s Finals Recap with Aimee Boorman and Christian Gallardo 160: PG Championships Women’s

THIS WEEK'S INTERVIEW We are honored and humbled to welcome back the legend herself, Alicia Sacramone, to celebrate our 200th episode. She joined us for episode 43, the  first ever panel on LGBT Issues in Gymnastics in 2013. Since then she's married her longtime boyfriend, started a few businesses, and began coaching and doing choreography. Alicia is expecting her first child this summer. The Olympic silver medalist, 10x World medalist and 4x World Champion discussed:  The crazy vault she never got to compete Her goal as a television analyst for the SEC Network Competing in college at Brown and elite simultaneously How Marta Karolyi reacted and why she decided to go pro with Under Armour  Transitioning to the open-ended scoring system:  The 2006 floor leap series incident when her routine wasn't credited and she didn't make finals Placing behind Cheng Fei in 2008 Olympic vault final even though Fei had a fall Which gymnast rocked the Code of Points best Clarifying the facts from Shawn Johnson's recen

The new Gabbymoji app features the gorgeous art above. THIS WEEK'S EPISODE This week's show is dedicated to the victims and survivors of the Orlando terror attack and the LGBT community everywhere. Find out how to help here or call on legislators to make gun reform here. On this week's recap of Douglas Family Gold (S2E3), Jessica, Spencer and Spanny  discuss: The lack of gymnastics and Coach Christian Natalie is shocked that her adult children don’t want to spend every waking moment with her Arie and Joy are totally starting a fashion business right now Shocker, John doesn't want to hang out with his mom during his college visit The sisters think Gabby need a companion, but isn't ready to date... sooooo escort?  Jessica is outraged at the old, sexless, no-time for boyfriends, abnormal development because she's a gymnast trope Gabby gets a kitten instead of an adult cat and the gymternet lost their damn minds.  CONTEST Name the Gabby Drag Queen here! Tweet @GymCastic #GabbyFamilyDrag with your name for our

This week’s episode is proudly presented by new Club Gym Nerd member, Saul, who joined at the Episode Dedication level. Saul dedicated this episode to Natalia Frolova's 1986 floor routine. This Soviet great does one of his  favorite old school routines; he watches it from time-to-time and not enough people know about her amazingness!  We couldn't agree more. Thank you for supporting the show and spending the Frolova, Saul! IN THE NEWS In the news, Uncle Tim, Lauren, and Jessica chat about: US Classic (2:36) videos Who competed AA, who chose to show up just for podium training and why (read our article on rules changes) Gabby's new floor routine, her opinions of the Zika threat, and new bar skill and technique Bailie Key Watch Laurie Hernandez vs. Ragan Smith vs. Alyssa Bauman vs. Swaggie Maggie Bars duel, Ashton Locklear vs. Madison Kocian Our top three moments from the junior meet (32:40) The insanity of Aly Raisman scoring higher than Jordan Chiles on vault.  Best moments from the NBC broadcast. Yes, we

  THIS WEEK'S EPISODE In this week's recap of Douglas Family Gold, Jessica, Spencer and Spanny recap the episode and discuss: We have now met Hipster Gabby, Realness Gabby and finally Hangry Gabby; and she is all of us.  The stampede that wasn't caught on camera at Graduation.  Christian Gallardo, he's just here to look adorable, no need to speak. Why Arie is the Lady Edith, AKA Cinderella, of the family. All the reasons why Gabby's high-heel dog poop obstacle course lesson was very necessary--this photo says it all.  Gabby's family and friends are hired extras and it's hilarious. RELATED LINKS Watch the first episode of Douglas Family Gold here. Streaming link to full episodes SUPPORT THE SHOW Join Club Gym Nerd here for only $2/month. So. Cheap. So worth it.  Buy one of our awesome shirts here. RELATED EPISODES   161: Women’s Finals Recap with Aimee Boorman and Christian Gallardo 160: PG Championships Women’s Prelims Recap 143: The Return of Gabby Douglas Episode 129: Why Gabby Left Chow (or Cho

  In the News This GymCastic Classic originally aired April 29th 2015. The 2016 Euros start this week! Current Australian national team member and World Cup medalist, Mary-Anne "Mez" Monckton joins Emma to give us all the details on the 2015 European Championships in Montpellier, France: Preliminary Problems: Before the meet even started Kristina Pravdina (AZB) and Anna Pavlova (AZB), along with Alla  Sosnitkaya (RUS) were all out with injuries. Epke fell on high bar and failed to make finals. What world is this?! Women's All-Around: Historic Firsts: Giulia Steingruber all-around gold was the first ever win for Switzerland, Ellie Downie's bronze was the first ever medal for Great Britain, Poland's fifth place all-around for Marta Pihan-Kulesza was the highest ever finish for Poland--from a 27 year-old! Can the Russian women challenge the US now that they have two Amanar's in the lineup? Men's All-Around Sam Oldham returned after his awful ankle injury at Commonwealth Games. The Oleg Verniaiev (UKR)

  THIS WEEK'S EPISODE This week on Douglas Family Gold (season one, episode one) Jessica, Spencer and Spanny recap the episode and discuss: Our first impressions and where they delivered on our hopes and some fears.  The Leotard shoot in which we fangirl hard over two leos and Spencer is like, "leos?" The real, unguarded Gabby Douglas or is it Brie or is it Gabrielle or is it Gabby and The Douglai?  Training footage: authentic without makeup and the great and foreboding Amanar.  P&G Championships: the realness of holding back tears,  not wanting to talk to parents, and Christian Gallardo sighting!    Gymnastics Fact Checking: She was already on the national team, this don'ts matter at all for Rio and other white lies.  RELATED LINKS These are the leos we are fingerling hard over in this episode. SUPPORT THE SHOW Join Club Gym Nerd here. Buy one of our awesome shirts here. RELATED EPISODES 161: Women's Finals Recap with Aimee Boorman and Christian Gallardo 160: PG Championships Women's Prelims R

IN THE NEWS Spencer and Jessica chat about: Our new podcast about the Gabby's Douglas realty show Douglas Family Gold on Oxygen. Watch the first episode of Douglas Family Gold here. Ellie Downie won everything, literally at the Osijek World Cup (2:50) Women in their 30's dominated the Sao Paulo World Cup, including 31 year-old Daniele Hypolito who did this on beam! (9:23) Olympic prelims order released (13:50): Is it really true that scores go up as the day goes on or is that another gym myth that needs to be busted?! Our thoughts on the preliminary Chinese women's team Shang Chunking, Fan Jilin, Mao Yi, Wang Yan and first year senior Liu Tingting. (23:00) We discuss the best parts of TingTing's routines from Chinese nationals including her legit, handspring front on beam! AH-MAZING! GYMTERNET NEWS Our weekly roundup of the latest news stories from around the gymternet is brought to you by 20 Mile Athletic Center in Parker Colorado! We discuss (31:24):  NBC filmed at the ranch and so there were m

THIS WEEK'S EPISODE Yes! It's an all new podcast! We'll be doing a weekly recap of DFG here along with our regular weekly episodes of GymCastic. If you already subscribe to GymCastic on iTunes and Stitcher, you'll see DFG in your existing feed. In this week's recap of DFG, Jessica, Spencer and Spanny discuss our hopes and fears for this long-awaited series: Gym Nerdy: we want footage from the national team training camp and lots of behind-the-scenes at meets. The Brand vs. The Person: we hope to see the real Gabby.  Taboos: Money, the pitfalls of the family running Gabby's business and love life. Addressing the Scandals: will the decision to leave her Olympic coach, Chow, or the real story behind Excalibur come up during the show? Or will we have to wait for Natalie to write her tell-all book? The Sexy People: we hope to see lots of Christian Gallardo and Coach Fernando in the gym and out. And of course, a drinking game.   RELATED LINKS Watch the first episode of Douglas Family Gold here. SUPPORT THE SHO

  THIS WEEK'S INTERVIEW Betty Okino escaped an assassination attempt as a child, has two skills named after her in the Code of Points, won an Olympic medal just six years after her very first gymnastics class, was 5' 1" tall during the Barcelona Games, danced for Destiny's Child with Beyonce, acted in movies and televsion, is a polyglot, was the first black female gymnast to win an Olympic medal along with Dominque Dawes in 1992. Betty was one of the famed "Karolyi's Six-Pack" (nickname for his elite training squad in the 90's) era gymnasts who dominated US gymnastics after the Mary Lou Retton years. As an Afro-Romanian-refugee-dancer turned Olympian, and now as a gymnastics choreographer she has a uniquely-positioned perspective on the sport. We chatted on March 21st and discussed: Her appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show where she defended the training methods of Bela Karyoli after the expose Little Girls in Pretty Boxes came out. Her thoughts on the issues around athlete welfare that McKayla Maroney brou

  June 2015 Best of Episode  The artist, Danell Leyva joins us this week. Known for his flair on every event, he also stands out as a staunch nonconformist. Revealing photos of Danell were tweeted during the London Olympics. He was nonplused and casually took home bronze in the all-around. He was passionately opposed to the gay discrimination laws passed earlier this year in Indiana and supported his teammate, Josh Dixon in calling for an immediate change of venue for the national championships in Indianapolis. We talked on the day the FIG released the new qualification rules for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. We discuss (please note that all time stamps in parentheses are "ish") : Danell's transformation from passive peacemaker to playground scrapper. Celebrities who smoked cigars in the arena during the Olympics. The financial importance of a national team spot (34:00). Which vaults hurt and which vaults make his body feel good. How he has stayed surgery and medication free all these years (26:00) Tim Daggett (1

 This week we talk about the state of Romanian gymnastics with native Romanian and editor of The Couch Gymnast, Bea: Coaches Octavian Belu and Maria Bitang make 1,841 USD/month while gymnasts Bulimar and  Iordache get 460 USD/month False reports that Diana Bulimar had quit (6:15)  What happened at the press conference (9:24) Rio Selection Process: who is in the running and how they will be chosen.  Will Romania ever hire a bars coach?! Listener questions: What is the status of the nationwide star search and development program?   Can failure of the gymnastics team be blamed on problems in the country generally? When Romanians appeared semi-nude in a Japanese gymnastics video: What happened from the gymnasts point of view when they arrived in Japan to film (39:52).  Related Links  Romanian sports journalist, Gazeta Sporturilor sums up the country's sports situation at the high level. It is called “Democracy Kills” Help GymCastic writer, Taylor spread the gym nerd love at Dar Es Salaam Gymnastics Club in T

In the News This week we are so happy to have Canadian, coach, brevet judge (inactive) and the most interesting gymnastics man in the world, Coach Rick Skype-ing in from Brazil with  Jessica, and Uncle Tim to chat about: The men's competition at the Rio Test Event including Germany, Ukraine and Coach Rick's homeland, Canada. Reports after the test event said there were serious safety issues, what does Coach Rick think Rio needs to do to prepare (11:50).  Cultural bias, American expectations and safety in developing countries; Podrão, Rio bridge collapse, the 1997 Maccabiah Games bridge collapsed and subsequent convictions.  Listener Nicholas suggests bringing limited compulsories back as part of the team score to balance out the big D's.  Gymternet News Our weekly roundup of the latest news stories from around the gymternet include (27:00): USA Gymnastics's docu-series Made in America review and preview of next week's episode. Who was invited but didn't give an interview Trinidad & Tobago update fo

Flávia Saraiva of Brazil (left, photo by FIG) and Nina McGee University of Denver (right, photo byChristy Linder) In the news, Uncle Tim, Lauren Hopkins, Spencer, and Jessica chat about: Recap of the Olympic Test Event in Rio; the final Olympic qualifier! (2:00) Trinidad and Tobago team drama once again. Thema Williams was pulled at the last minute and replaced by Marissa Dick, but this time Thema's coach, John Geddart, may be to blame.  Read his leaked emails here. (34:15) What does Rio need to fix before the gymnasts arrive for the Olympics in August; the list is long. (50:03) 2016 NCAA Gymnastics Championships recap (1:05:00) Men's NCAA Championships highlights (1:44:45) Our weekly roundup of the latest news stories from around the gymternet include: Penn State has zero gymnasts in its senior class. We discuss The Daily Collegian's expose alleging abuse by coaches Jeff and Rachelle Thompson.  (1:58:00) Louis Smith apologizes for complaining about scoring.  Russia says the women's team stopped taki

In Part Two of this week's episode, UCLA head coach, Miss Val, wanted to clear the air about the do-overs. She talks to Uncle Tim about: The do-overs:  Why did Sonya Meraz get to restart both her beam and floor routine? What went on behind the scenes when Katelyn Ohashi got a beam do-over after her terrifying crash? Her side of the  Sabrina Schwab ending up at Utah.  The need for a recruiting calendar with blackout dates, and how schools with smaller budgets get screwed in recruiting. Coaching through grief and trauma: how Sadiqua Bynum made it from a walk-on through multiple achillies repairs and the death of her brother in her sophomore year to a senior scholarship athlete who was consistently ranked in the top 10 on floor this year.  In Part Two (19:20) our weekly roundup of the latest news stories from around the gymternet beings: USA Gymnastics reveals it's own documentary series, Made in America Maggie Nichols injured her mensicus on an Amanar and required surgery. The next FIG president might

In Part One of this weeks' show Jessica, Uncle Tim, Katie Foster and Nico chat about: Russian National Championships recap with a Russian speaker (Thanks, Nico!):  Angelina Melnikova is the new Russian champ but could Maria Kharenkova or Seda Tutkhalyan take the last spot on the Russian Olympic team?  Aliya Mustafina's return to competition  Why you are going to fall in love with Varvara Zubova even harder after this beam routine.  Pac Rim Championships (26:17): Why the USA Gymnastics live stream with hosts, Evan Heiter, Sam Peszek and Jonathan Horton was one billion times better than the NBC Live Extra broadcast, and why the producers of Live Extra should be forced to do push-ups while Nastia Liukin stands on them in her Louboutins.  What we thought of Simone's new floor routine and our concerns over the lyrics Which US team members improved their chances for their place on the Olympic team.  What the Australian team's performance here says about their chances at the Test Event.  Why Eddie Penev stole

 In the news, Uncle Tim, Spencer from the Balance Beam Situation, and Jessica chat about: How to watch Pacific Rim Championships from anywhere in the world (3:45) NCAA Regionals (8:15) The heartbreak the terror, the need for warning labels and a recap from every regional Our favorite individuals going to NCAAs and superstars who didn't make it War on the Floor - Lindsay Mable vs. Nina McGee in Minnesota Why the regional format SUCKS and needs to be changed immediately  Doha World Cup (1:08:00) Catalina Ponor wins gold on BB Bai Yawen competed on a  futuristic beam that certainly was the cause of her almost fall Women's and LGBT human rights issues in Quatar How are the Romanian women looking heading into the Test Event Manrique Larduet of Cuba  Cottbus (1:15:24) Lisa Top proves the Dutch can do more than spin  Is Oksana Chusovitina changing her strategy to qualify for Rio Dominick Cunningham (GBR) insane new floor pass.  Oleg Verniaiev update  Our weekly roundup of the latest news stories from arou