Canadian gymnast Laura-Ann Chong finished her eligibility with Oregon State last season, returning to train with her club coach, David Kenwright, at Flicka. I stopped by the gym to chat with David and his partner coach Dorina Stan.
We were lucky enough to have Laura-Ann demonstrate at BC Congress last weekend for clinician Steve Arkell from Gymnastics Plus in Panama City, Florida.
Click PLAY or watch a snippet from that clinic on YouTube.
David said the biggest problem transitioning back to FIG from NCAA is getting used to ‘narrow’ Bars.
We talked about a potential new model for elite performance: Older girls retire → Completely recover medically → … Then train specifically for one BIG competition. Like Chellsie Memmel.
The psychology of the comeback is easier than trying to ‘stay on top’ as one of the National Team members.
Another of David’s gymnasts was at Congress too, Kate Richardson, but not to announce she was coming out of retirement.
Kate, a physiotherapist, presented on Injury Prevention.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 