Gymcastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

Men's qualifications: our instant take after watching a day full of heartbreak (Kohei), triumph (Japan, Yoder, Rhys and Dalaloyan) and amazing careers come to an end (Epke). 

Olympic gymnast, Luciana Alvarado from Costa Rica kneels for Black Lives Matter during the choreography for her floor routine. This it the first known Black Lives Matter artistic expression ever used in an elite gymnastics routine. Simone Biles lands the yurchenko double pike at the Olympics for the first time in podium training. China, Japan, Nina vs. Suni, Brooklyn Moors, Eythora and more. To listen to BTS login here

Kara Eaker and the case of the positive alternate test. Did British Gymnastics break the rules? Dalaloyan did vault and floor three months post-op on an achilles tear. The vault acted like a bridge troll who didn't want anyone to get over it, including the US men.

US Men's National Team: A Never-ending Controversy Neither Paul Juda—who earned the US an Olympic +1 spot—nor Olympic alternate Allan Bower were given funded spots on the US national team or invited to the world selection camp. This is bonkers, and Kensley is about to lose it. (Head to the 2-hour mark of this mega-sode for a deep dive into the documentation and USAG's statements.) Olympic Preview Part 2 This Olympic preview comes with a 2-per-country trigger warning. The content discussed here may be re-traumatizing for those who have experienced 2-per-country or are sensitive to 2-per-country issues. Please take care of yourselves and watch with care. If you need support, please contact the Jordyn Wieber Fan Club at 1-800-Not-Over-It. Brace yourselves: We predict Simone Biles will win the women's all-around. But who are the next-best contenders for medals? It's going to be Oksana Chusovitina's 8th Olympics. Why are people talking about anything else? Why pommel horse is going to be the most exciting fina

OLYMPIC PREVIEW PART 1: Teams Today, we preview the 12 teams qualified to the women's competition at the Olympics: who's on them, expectations, storylines, and medal hopes. United States: How much of a fall buffer does the US have over everyone else? What records is Simone going to break, and when? And what 2-per-country problems should we start worrying about? Russia: How has this Russian generation closed the gap on the United States? Will Russia beat China for silver? Will a Russian win an all-around medal? China: How China is changing the tired narrative, both in age and event strength. You want 2-per-country drama? Check out the Chinese team trying to make the beam final. Japan: How will the team handle the host-country pressure? And how do we bring #JusticeforMai full circle? Italy: It's Vanessa Ferrari's 4th Olympics. Will a year of injuries compromise Italy's chance of another bronze medal? All your US questions post-trials in a rapid-fire Q&A. Well, medium-fire. OK, slow-fire. Plus what happe

OLYMPIC TRIALS The Olympic team has been named The 4th spot: Why "going by the scores" and "going by the all-around standings" are NOT the same thing The misunderstanding about the actual problem with Martha's way of doing things We make the arguments for both MyKayla Skinner and Grace McCallum for the Olympic team Why Tom Forster's explanation didn't help, and why the athletes didn't actually "select themselves" Olympic Trials -- "Even though the computer tells us MyKayla on the team would be a couple of tenths higher, we're so so fortunate that our athletes are so strong that I don't think it's going to come down to tenths of a point in Tokyo. We didn't feel like it was worth changing the integrity of the process simply for a couple of tenths." - Tom Forster US Championships, Jessica asked, "Regarding the two team positions that will be selected, is it going to be closer to the 3-up-3 count highest score potential or just the top four all-around?" “Erm, well no, it will be.. you know the job is to put f

Welcome to Behind The Scenes! (COMING SUNDAY) Day 1 Coverage of Men & Women Here Tonight we will discuss the Olympics Teams for Tokyo! This is our instant take directly after the competition. Our initial impressions and thoughts. Wednesday we will have our regular episode with discussion of every athlete, routine and so much analysis it will hurt. The first twenty minutes are available to everyone and then we tell the Behind The Scenes stories for our supporters who pay our way to these events, Club Gym Nerd members. U.S. Women's Olympic Team  Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, Grace McCallum.  Jade Carey +1 and MyKayla Skinner +2. Replacement Athletes: Kayla DiCello, Kara Eaker, Leanne Wong, Emma Malabuyo.  U.S. Men's Olympic Team Brody Malone, Belfast, Tenn./Stanford University Sam Mikulak, Newport Coast, Calif./U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center Yul Moldauer, Wellington, Colo./5280 Gymnastics Shane Wiskus, Spring Park, Minn./U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center Alec Yoder, Indiana

We are live from St Louis at Olympic Trials. Our immediate reactions to night one of the women's and men's Olympic Trials including: the top scoring team after day one; the MAG second vault score investigation; Simone's double double beam dismount;  the standing ovation;  what you didn't see in podium training and on the sidelines, that Shane Wiskus had to say about his infamous high bar routine; COVID interference; Jordan Chiles and the vault springs battle; Jade suddenly un-scratcing from FX and more.  To hear the entire episode please login to Club Gym nerd. 

GYMTERNET NEWS Be sure to check out our US Olympic Trials Preview, where we make the case for every athlete Canada named its Olympic team, and it makes total sense and is free from controversy and drama. Canada we love you so much. Coaching news out of the Netherlands, including the decision on whether Vincent Wevers can coach at the Olympics The first Chinese Olympic test produced more questions than answers. Can we get special dispensation to name a team of five especially since Ou Yushan got a 15.6 on BB?! Kenzo Shirai announced his retirement Clemson is starting a women's gymnastics program! The Vanessa Ferrari v. Lara Mori Olympic battle royale in Doha Plus, the Supreme Court stabbed the NCAA cartel right in the heart JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd or buy a gift membership for access to Behind the Scenes episodes. Behind The Scenes: Olympic Trials Are Here! Meet Us in St. Louis Behind The Scenes: Post-Championships Debrief Behind The Scenes: Day Two US Women's Championships 2021 Behind The

OLYMPIC TRIALS PREVIEW The Favorites Simone Biles and the biggest question we have about her heading into trials Sunisa Lee and Jordan Chiles Who gets the second automatic team spot? What does each need to do to confirm her presumed spot on the team? Jade Carey She "has every intention" of taking her individual spot. So, good. Right? The Contenders From Wong to McCusker to McCallum to DiCello to Skinner and more, we make the Olympic team case for (and against—Spencer's part) every single athlete heading into Olympic Trials We grapple with questions like, can Leanne Wong hit consistently enough to get herself on the team? Would you feel comfortable putting Riley McCusker on the same team as Sunisa Lee? Can Grace McCallum return to her peak level in time? Men's Preview Kensley brings the TWIST with her picks for the two most likely men to get automatic spots on the Olympic team Is there any denying the top 3 favorites? What does Shane Wiskus have to do to get himself on the team? Is this finally t

BUT FIRST Updates on the US trials petition drama and the statement from USAG saying Tom Forster "misspoke" which only provoke more questions A palate cleanser of Laurie Hernandez's skill reveals GYMNASTICS INTERNATIONAL A deeper dive into the Becky Downie situation and how she says she was treated at her make-up trial Russian Cup Valentina just went ahead and announced the Olympic teams mid-competition "Likely Gerasimova" and whether that makes sense A deep interpretation of Viktoria Listunova's new floor routine Varvara Zubova is the beam champion The Nabieva 1/2 revolution Is it Nabs? Or is it not Nabs? Only Tatiana Nabieva can tell us Comparing Nina Derwael's version and Sanne Wevers' version The FIG screwed up with the values again Important developments from the first Dutch trial Plus, The German and French Olympic teams have been named, and that time Kohei got mad JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd or buy a gift membership for access to Behind the Scenes episodes. Behind The Scenes: Pos

US NATIONALS Morgan Hurd was not advanced to Olympic Trials. We discuss what Tom Forster said to the press about it, the confusion USAG fully brought on itself, and whether that decision actually makes sense Simone Biles. Gushing about the best parts of her 7th national championship Queen of Consistency Jordan Chiles and Queen of Bars Composition Sunisa Lee Who makes up the highest-scoring Olympic team based on nationals? Who's still in contention? Why Tom Forster's press conference was great news for MyKayla Skinner Did Grace McCallum and Kayla DiCello jeopardize their chances with falls at nationals? The latest on the Jade Carey Problem Highlight routines like Riley McCusker's bars and Emma Malabuyo's beam The US men earned a +1 Olympic spot at Pan Ams Brody Malone broke Sam Mikulak's streak to win the national championship Realistic team and specialist options for the men's Olympic team BATTLE POMMEL HORSE is on for Olympic Trials OLYMPIC TEAM NEWS Becky Downie will not be in Tokyo as Great Britain anno

We discuss the results, the history makers this week from Jade Carey's triple twisting double layout to Olivierias arabian double pike out at Pan Ams; what the highest scoring 3-up-3-count team would be based on day one results and how all of your favorites did tonight. 

USAG National Team Agreement The USAG National Team Agreement as long been a point of contention for athletes and parents. On the eve of US Championships when the US National Team will be named, Jessica talked to attorneys Jaime Santos, partner at Goodwin in their Supreme Court and Appellate Litigation practice and Betsy Cooper, founding Director of the Tech Policy Hub at the Aspen Institute, about the currently available national team agreement for 2018-2019. The 2021 agreement is expected to be posted soon, as it is requirement from the USOPC, however, it was not available at the time of this recording. This interview is geared towards athletes and parents to let them know what to look for, change or negotiate before signing the agreement. Remember to seek legal advice before singing any contract. JOIN CLUB GYM NERD  Join Club Gym Nerd or buy a gift membership for access to Behind the Scenes episodes. Behind The Scenes: Gymnastics Time Warp Behind The Scenes: Sr. Session Two US Classic 2021 Behind The

NATIONALS PREVIEW The biggest questions we have heading into nationals—featuring Konnor McClain's sudden gym move, Riley McCusker's injury status, whether Sunisa Lee will do the all-around, and who's going to write the worst article about Simone's vault Athletes opting out of doing interviews — good news or greatest news? What does two weeks more time look like for Morgan Hurd and Grace McCallum? Is Spencer still trying to make Leanne Wong happen? What does Kara Eaker need to do? Laurie Hernandez goes next level with a Tiktok AA reveal MAN THINGS: Kensley tells us about national team funding, the Pan Ams team and who's really in contention for a +1 Olympic spot for the US men, and likely Olympic team permutations heading into nationals. Plus, the greatest retirement tweet of all time. INTERVIEW Make it Happen: My Story of Gymnastics, the Olympics, and the Positive Power of Sport by Kyle Shewfelt Three time Canadian Olympian, and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Kyle Shewfelt is here to talk about his new book. L

US CLASSIC Simone Biles officially debuted the Yurchenko double pike. We discuss how awesome it is, and Spencer has 84 things to say about the D score. What Tom Forster, US High Performance Coordinator, said when Jessica asked if USAG would fight the low D score given to Simone's vault. Simone gave credit to both of her coaching teams. She's been doing the Yurchenko double pike for over ten years (see our interview in 2013), first with Aimee Boorman and now competing it with Cecile and Laurent Landi. Jordan Chiles went 57+ again. Is she an Olympic lock? Can anyone stop the reliability of bars champion Kayla DiCello? OUTSPOKEN GROWN ASS WOMEN ADULTS - Simone, Morgan Hurd and MyKayla Skinner do not hold back in interviews "The way Marta did things, it was kinda brutal and it didn't need to be that way. With Tom and the rest of the team, it's a growing experience, but the changes have been really good. Tom is so supportive. It's so weird having a relationship with a national coach." - MyKayla Skinner "I don

US CLASSIC PREVIEW Schedule change, plus how to watch Important PSA re: chilling out. It's not the end of the world if your favorite makes a mistake. What expectations do we have for the Chellsie Memmel revenge on Steve Penny tour of MEMMELING? What does Laurie Hernandez need to show here? Where is Morgan Hurd in her elbow comeback/organizing a solidarity amongst the entire US team demonstration against police brutality and anti-asian hate crimes? Will we see some patented US Classic vault upgrade attempts? SIMONNNEEE piked double yurchenko? Do it! OLYMPIC NEWS The Japanese women's Olympic team has been named. We celebrate, and Spencer has some concerns British women's team selection has been pushed back to allow Becky Downie a chance to trial GYMTERNET NEWS The US men's Pan Am team was chosen but no one told us about it The 2022 codes of points are out. Quick reactions to the headlines for the new women's code An update on Kevin Mazeika JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Join Club Gym Nerd or buy a gift membership fo

HEADLINES British Gymnastics Olympic Trials: Updates on the Downies' personal tragedy and the British trials bars controversy. Georgia-Mae Fenton and Ondine Achampong won the two days of trials, throwing everything into chaos What do they even do with Olympic team selection now? In Australia news, the Human Rights Commission report is out, and Peggy Liddick wrote that horrible letter. Update -  Liddick has been removed from judging at AUS Championships. Former US men's team coordinator Kevin Mazeika has been put on the USAG restricted list and cannot coach minors without adult supervision. PROJECT K: The Romanian Secret Police Files on the Karolyis Interview with Professor Simona Petracovschi, PhD, faculty of Physical Education and Sport West University of Timisoara, Romania, to discuss the relationship between the Securitate and the athletes in communist Romania. What was the Securitate and what was their relationship to the athletes vs average Romanian citizens in Communist Romania? Can reports from the

Jessica Bendinger Interview What got cut from the movie. Scary NYC punk shows in the 1980's and of course legendary punk band, Bad Brains who get a nod in the movie. The continued relevance of Stick It. Pitching movies about women to a Hollywood system constipated by gender and structural bias. Why she started her Mob Queens podcast Alternative to the Bechdel Test Training at Muriel Grossfeld's gym with Marcia Fredrick and Don Peters Needing more diversity in Stick It. Our mutual love for Oana Ban and Mattie Larson as both a gymnast  and bad ass hero. Gymnastics, PTSD and nervous breakdowns. Jessica pitches Stick It 2, genderless mafia gymnastics revolution or Stick It 2, the horror version: Escape from the Ranch. Listen to our full episode about  the movie 422: Stick It (Commissioned) JOIN CLUB GYM NERD  Join Club Gym Nerd for access to Behind the Scenes episodes. Behind The Scenes: Project K Behind The Scenes: LIVE after NCAA Finals Behind The Scenes: Live After NCAA Semifinal I Behind The Scenes: A