the coach – gymnast relationship

Just before Kyle Shewfelt stepped on to the Floor in Finals at the Athens Olympics, he looked to his coach of 16yrs for some final words of advice.

All Kelly Manjak said was … “I love you.”

A Couch Gymnast post considers this fascinating topic – The Most Important Relationship in Gymnastics….

Galina Marinova: Mohini Bhardwaj, Sam Shapiro, Mattie Larson

Mihai Brestyan: Alicia Sacramone

Cassie Rice: the Schwikerts, Cassidy McComb

Nicolae Forminte: All those Romanians

Yevgeny Marchenko: Carly Patterson, Hollie Vise, Nikki Childs.

Kim Zmeskal Burdette and Chris Burdette: Chelsea Davis

Carol Angela Orchard: Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs, Peng Peng Lee

Boris Pilkin: Svetlana Khorkina

Valorie Kondos Field: all those UCLA Bruins

It’s a good read for every coach – The Most Important Relationship in Gymnastics….

Ju Ping Tian, the dragon lady, is on the list, as are many, many more.

I’m not sure there are all that many commonalities. Every different successful coach – gymnast relationship is … different.