Gymcastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

Immediate analysis after women's podium training! We discuss: Sunisa Lee and updates on her health Simone Biles and her advice to her team Li Li Leung's response to Simone Biles being called a "gold medal token" and if she will rule out any states for the future training and wellness center. The return of World all-around silver medalist Shilese Jones, and junior Jayla Hang. Jade Carey attempted a stage dive mat assassination Watching Jordan Chiles work through a vault block issue until it was perfected The rise of Leanne Wong Kayla DiCello's body armour Skye Blakely vault potential Josc Roberson's examples of how camp is healthier than the olden days Kaliya Lincoln's new floor skill Zoe Miller being hilarious We recorded this live on Wednesday August 23rd after senior women's podium training. Here's how to ask questions live. Here’s how our event coverage works: 1. We give everyone the main headlines in the first 10-15 minutes. 2. We continue our conversation exclusively with our Club members. 3. What if

THIS SATURDAY 26th - GYMCASTIC LIVE IN SAN JOSE WITH AIMEE BOORMAN 2023 NATIONALS It's the national championship this week! We discuss Why this is the golden age for US gymnasts and gymnerds alike What is at stake for Simone in this meet, and is it anything at all? What counts as a good score in 2023? What do you need to score to make a team? Suni for AA? What events might we see from her 3 weeks post-Classic The 2023 debut of Shilese Jones and realistic expectations for her competition Carey vs Roberson? Blakely vs Chiles? It's a generational clash! Other big questions including Leanne Wong and difficulty scores, Zoe Miller and bars, and Kaliya Lincoln's meteoric rise The race to make the national team is going to be tight Plus, gymnasts you need to watch because of BEAUTY, along with the big storylines of the men's competition JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes. Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and s

GYMCASTIC LIVE IN SAN JOSE WITH AIMEE BOORMAN Kaliya Lincoln is here! Jessica talks to the breakout star of US Classic, who tied for second on floor and won the hearts of gym nerds everywhere: Her close relationship with Olympic Champion Gabby Douglas What it's like to be at camp with Simone Biles and compete to the deafening roars of the crowd when she's in the arena. Working out with World Champion, Skye Blakely and being trained by Carly Patterson's coach Getting better after rehabbing from osteochondritis dissecans diagnosis in her knee Advice on how to get credit on a switch half Training a triple double and debuting a secret skill at Championships San Jose Her favorite changes at national team camp and plans for study at LSU 2024 Code Changes! We run through the most important new rules heading toward the 2024 Olympics, who is personally victimized by them, and who they benefit Plus, gymternet news on Vanessa Ferrari, sponsorships, NCAA coaching movements, and more JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gy

The 2023 US Classic taught us many lessons, including: Simone is the GOAT of both gymnastics and quotes Kidneys are optional! The Olympians are facing real challenges to their thrones Plus, the meat is good, the art is good, owning your own gymnastics is good, and not showing Kaliya Lincoln was NBC's loss Heading to championships, we look at who is under pressure to deliver a big competition, which elements are cursed and must be removed, and the possible problems an all-around based selection process would cause JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes. Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see some of the gymnastics we discuss, plus get access to all of our exclusive interviews and Behind The Scenes episodes. Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here Ge and even "tapestries" (banners perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast here. RELATED EPISODES & RESOURCES 2023 US Classic Preview B

Our immediate reactions after watching Simone and Suni! Sunisa Lee, Simone Biles, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Leanne Wong, Kayla DiCello, Skye Blakely, Kaliya Lincoln and Tiana Sumanasekera! We went live after the second session of senior women's competition concluded. Here's how to ask questions live. We discussed everything  on the floor and what the athletes, coaches and judging system (re Simone's new vault D score) had to say afterward. Here’s how our event coverage works: 1. We give everyone the main headlines in the first 10-15 minutes. 2. We then say goodbye and continue our conversation exclusively with our club members. 3. What If I want to hear the rest of it? All you have to do is Join the Club. LOGIN FOR BONUS CONTENT  Not a member? Join here. Not sure if you are ready to join? Watch College & Cocktails week one for free here. CHAMPIONSHIPS LIVE SHOW TICKETS  RELATED EPISODES & RESOURCES US Classic Preview 2023 Core Classic Start Lists One Year to Paris Behind The Scenes: Australia  Gab

Our immediate reactions after Senior Women! Melanie de Jesus Dos Santos, Josc Roberson, Zoe Miller, Addison Fatta, Nola Mothers and Mylie Lew! We went live with SPOTTY INTERNET (SORRY!), Saturday August 5th after the first session of senior women's competition concluded. Here's how to ask questions live. We'll discuss everything trained on the floor and what the athletes had to say afterward. Here’s how our event coverage works: 1. We give everyone the main headlines in the first 10-15 minutes. 2. We then say goodbye and continue our conversation exclusively with our club members. 3. Q: What If I want to hear the rest of it? All you have to do is Join the Club. LOGIN FOR BONUS CONTENT  [wcm_nonmember]Not a member? Join here. Not sure if you are ready to join? Watch College & Cocktails week one for free here.

Our immediate reactions after podium training! Our first look at Olympic All-Around Champions Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee! We went live Friday August 4th after senior women's podium training. Here's how to ask questions live. We discussed everything trained on the floor and what the athletes had to say afterward, including the squabble about petitioning to World Verification Camp. Here’s how our event coverage works: 1. We give everyone the main headlines in the first 10-15 minutes. 2. We then say goodbye and continue our conversation exclusively with our club members. 3. What If I want to hear the rest of it? All you have to do is Join the Club. LOGIN FOR BONUS CONTENT  Not a member? Join here. Not sure if you are ready to join? Watch College & Cocktails week one for free here

It's starting! The US elite summer is here! Simone is back! We have a lot to get through. Simone is competing for the first time in two years. What are we most excited about? What do we expect to see from her at this meet? Plus, thoughts on the significance of Simone continuing to compete. Suni: Does she REALLY have to get a 2-event score at this meet if she wants to compete at nationals and worlds? We have the answer from USAG. Other major storylines including the Carey/Roberson difficulty race on floor, Jordan Chiles living her best life, Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos bestowing her excellence, beam specialist opportunities, Zoe Miller's bars, Leanne Wong's empire of execution and bows, and more We have THREE (count 'em 3) Club Member episodes coming to you from Classic: After women's podium training and media time conclude on Friday (~noon CT) After both women's senior sessions on Saturday, which finish at 3pm CT and 9pm CT! Keep an eye on the socials for updates on exact times. The first 10-15 minutes of t

The FIG has opened a pathway for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in 2024 and (potentially) qualify to the Paris Olympics. We discuss what standards could be used to determine which athletes, if any, are eligible, and what this reveals about the FIG's motives US Classic news: The schedule for US Classic has been changed, as has the US women's qualifying score for nationals. What's up with that? Plus, an update on the saga of Heath Thorpe not being named to the Australian team for worlds One Year to Paris It's time for an Olympic check-in! With one year to go to the opening ceremony, we discuss our general excitement level, our hopes and dreams, our NBC requests, and the biggest questions on our minds—which inevitably becomes a conversation about who can make the US team Gymternet News and Feedback Responses to our She Was Robbed! and Gymnastics' Dumbest Rules episodes feature Mo Huilan, Simone's floor music, and skill repetition rules JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gi

THE KIMS: What are all the elements named after Nellie Kim in the code of points? Who actually performed them first and when/what competition? Did Nellie Kim ever perform them, and when did she perform them for the first time? When did she name them after herself? This is our commission giveaway episode! We gave away a full commissioned episode to one randomly drawn Club Gym Nerd member, and the winner was Inga, who really came through and commissioned an episode on: The Nellie of it all Who is Nellie Kim, and how did she become one of the most powerful people in gymnastics? Why does she have 7 skills named after herself in the Code of Points, and when did that happen? The badass revelation that was her vaulting in 1976 Skill-by-skill: We take each of the Kims in turn: which ones are totally legit (at least one! Potentially some!), which ones reflect the hustle of a winner, which are just the most brazen attention grabs, and which are just the silliest The Playlist Kim I Kim II Kim III Kim IV Kim V Kim V

We are posting some of our weekly Behind The Scenes Q&A live podcast is for Club Gym Nerd members because Jessica lost her voice from squealing too much about Gabby. Here's how to ask questions live. We discussed: Everything about the Gabby Douglas official return announcement! No, literally everything -- start values skills, her competition strategy, how she could petition to Classic, how she can do the World Cup circuit and only go to camp once, how to avoid national team camp all together if she doesn't want to ever go to camp etc. etc Spencer explains Gabby's Ling vs a Bi/Ono bars turn National Team Camp scores and start values Simone Biles's all-around domination and which vaults she's competing. Who got hit hardest on scoring E score drama Extrapolating an all black Olympic team from camp results (full scores on our website) To continue the conversation, just login to  your Club Gym Nerd account.  Not a member? Join here. Not sure if you are ready to join? Watch College & Cockta

The US camp roster featuring Simone Biles, Trinity Thomas's elite return, Chuso dropping out of Worlds, Iordache not coming back, Eli Seitz continuing to dominate, and more. American Classic We begin by gushing about Melanie de Jesus dos Santos's  beam routine and why it might be the best one she has ever done Kayla DiCello returns to elite competition for the first time since NCAA Myli Lew took the all-around title with one of the top bars scores in the US this year Amelia Disidore said AMPLITUDE The juniors are going to be OK—floor routines from Aki Tanda and Reese Esponda Gymternet News Russia and Belarus have been cleared to compete at Asian Games. What does that mean for gymnastics? Plus, the Livvy Fund, dream Worlds hosts, and more from around the gymternet JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes. Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see some of the gymnastics we discuss, plus get access to all of ou

The Alabama legend has returned to the NCAA, this time as one of the few black head coaches in college gymnastics. The "tall" (actually just slightly above average at almost 5'8") Miles Greig won a bronze medal with the U.S. team at the 2001 World Championships and made vault finals. She won the Honda Award (college gymnast of the year) and was a 4x NCAA Champion. We discuss: Why she idolized Elena Produnova. Which skills were hardest for her to learn. Which skill Simone Biles and Daiane Dos Santos competed that she also trained. Her experiences with Martha Karolyi and national team camp at The Ranch. Did she hate double tuck jumps as much as the fans did? What it was like competing with Raducan and Khorkina. If her height effected her gymnastics and experience with elite training and the advantage it gives her in coaching. How her family and friends protected her from unhealthy comments during her career. Transitioning to gymnastics at the University of Alabama and why she decided to become a sports comment

It's HAPPENINGGGGGGG The roster for US Classic is out, and Olympic all-around champions Simone Biles and Suni Lee are both on it! In this breaking news mini-sode, we discuss: How remarkable and (nearly) unprecedented it is to have two Olympic AA champions compete together in the same meet Are we surprised by Simone's return? The timing? How do Simone's 2021 routines hold up in the new code of points? What Simone could have in common with president Grover Cleveland, and other facts about her return to competition How will the end of Suni's 2023 college season affect expectations for her elite path in 2023? JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes. Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and see some of the gymnastics we discuss, plus get access to all of our exclusive interviews and Behind The Scenes episodes. Not sure about joining the club?  College & Cocktails: The Friday Night NCAA Gymnastics Post-Meet Show i

Today, we’re calling out the worst, stupidest, most self-defeating and awkward rules and conventions in gymnastics, starting with... Leotard Rules - aka the Olympics of regulating women's bodies Venture with us to a world where "elegant," "proper," and "modest" are all words found in the official rule book of a competitive sport in the year 2023—and breasts are expressly prohibited Why Is Gymnastics Still the Military? Saluting and lining up in front of the generals for inspection? Where are we? The Apparatus World Cup of Stupidity From the assumption that all women are the same height, to what the FIG considers to be "undisciplined and abusive behavior," to that thing where a double front doesn't fulfill the front tumbling requirement, we take on the worst rules on each event Rules Mythbusters Things someone (usually Martha) pretended were rules, and everyone believed it, but they actually aren't Plus, they may not be rules, but some old-fashioned and infantile gymnastics conventions are on our

Did Mr. Sacramone acci-purposely leak Simone's return? Asian Championships Who qualified to worlds and who missed out? How did Aleah Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo do representing the Philippines in their returns to elite competition? Breaking down what Olympic pathways remain for Chuso and Malabuyo The new seniors impressing for the champion Chinese team—and how they measure up to the rest of the world Plus, what country is going to surprise in Antwerp, the biggest upset of worlds qualification, and the one gymnast who should get above a 5 in execution Melanie returned to elite competition at French Nationals, winning bars Japan finished naming its worlds teams and confirmed our all-beam, all-the-time dreams A BIG score-mistake controversy from the Osijek World Cup Plus, crazy new bars combination from Sanna Veerman all the headlines from around the gymternet JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes. Club Gym Nerd members can watch the p

1984 FIGHT! Opening Assumption: Athletes from the Eastern Bloc would have won all the golds and nearly every medal at the 1984 Olympics had they attended. The 1984 Olympic medals, while amazing accomplishments, do not mean you were “best in the world” in 1984. Is that actually true? Today, we're putting it to the test. Part 1: Gymnastics history with Jessica and Spencer. What happened in 1984 and why? What were the Friendship Games, and why are gymnerds so obsessed with them? Should the results from the 1984 Olympics have an asterisk because of who was absent? What about the similarly boycotted 1980 Olympics? What about any event where the top athlete was absent? Why footage from Olomouc is one of the gymternet's greatest triumphs Part 2: Event-by-event. We take each event in turn and compare the routines, Olympics vs. Olomouc What the Soviet vaulting taught us about the importance of Yurchenkos What Ma Yanhong taught us about ROV and beam choreography Olga Mostepanova's beam, end of conversation The importa

SHE WAS ROBBED! Today, we take on the most dramatic, heinous, unforgettable robberies in gymnastics history and declare who really should have won that gold (or bronze). The 1992 Olympic All-Around: Was Shannon robbed??? The 1988 Olympic All-Around: Was Silivas robbed??? Un-American Heresy: We reassess the 1984 Olympic final and 2011 worlds all-around By Why Would I Be Second? We bring in the CSI team to pick apart the 2008 Olympic bars final, with shocking results Not Guilty: We take on a famous Olympic controversy in which there is actually no hint of robbery anywhere Deep Cuts: The 1996 vault final, the 1997 beam final, the 1980 beam final, and other moments we feel too strongly about Pickpockets and Pirates: Robbery through tie breaks, decimals, and other things out of the judges hands Bronze Is Still a Precious Medal: The 2004 all-around, the 2008 Olympic vault final, and other painful bronze results JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes e

The Pan-American Championships saw the US women win team gold alongside a stellar performance from the Mexican women's team that earned silver We continue gushing about Mexico's meet (the vault difficulty! the dramatic bars! the leap completion!) and assess how they would have stacked up at worlds last year Which fan favorites qualified to worlds as individuals, which didn't, and what was most surprising about this weekend's race to keep Olympic hopes alive Event titles for Alexa Moreno, Nola Matthews, Tiana Sumanasekera, and Josc Roberson, and a special shout-out to everyone who is doing a double front at 30. At African Championships, Kaylia Nemour made all our dreams come true, Sandra Elsadek qualified to worlds, and South Africa turned the tables on Egypt Qiu Qiyuan continued to be the star of Chinese Nationals, with titles in the AA and on bars and beam, and Ou Yushan took silver with the whip, whip, 3/1 that dreams are made of Plus, Shang Chunsong putting all those young whippersnappers to shame, e

Emma Spence Interview Tokyo Olympic alternate, Emma Spence, represented Canada at the 2022 World Championships and Commonwealth Games winning bronze in the team event at both competitions. The World bronze was the Canadian women's first team medal ever. Emma is currently a gymnast at Nebraska while serving on the FIG Safeguarding Working Group. We discussed: Traveling on a pre-G7 peace mission with other gymnasts and FIG President Watanabe to Japan. And of course, cultural goofs. Which parties are the best;  elite or college. Simultaneously competing for a world medal and speaking at the first ever FIG Safeguarding Symposium at Liverpool Worlds. Yes, literally on the same day. The current state of Gymnastics Canada under investigation for abuse. All the culture shock competing at Nebraska; including wild things Americans have said to her international college athlete group. Having to get ultrasounds at Nebraska to make sure her spleen was safe to return to training before Worlds. Why a coach had to come ou