Author: Rick Mc

Career gymnastics coach who loves the outdoors, and the internet.

Shannon Guay sentenced up to 50 years

A former Michigan gymnastics coach will serve a life sentence for sexually assaulting more than a dozen young girls.

Shannon Guay was sentenced Wednesday for 21 counts of criminal sexual conduct plus one count of kidnapping.

Guay, who went by “Coach Jake” while working in Kent County, was arrested last year while living in Florida. …

The crimes reportedly occurred in the ‘90s and 2000s. The victims were all under 16 at the time.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

introducing Double Back

My favourite progression for Double Back is backward layout 1 1/4 to flat back on soft, safe matting. ROTATION is 1st priority.

When the gymnast has a good feeling on HOW to generate rotation, next work on vertical height (time in the air) and adding the tuck. Please teach hands on the shins, not the thighs.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Safeguarding Policy – Pain, Injury & Illness

British Gymnastics has a number of Safeguarding VIDEOS.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Helen Hu is back for a 5th year!

Recall the Beam dream had retired after the 2023 season.

Flipping LONG JUMP

I’m old enough that I competed the Western Roll on High Jump in Jr. High School.  (Dive roll was already banned.)

Technique changed to the Fosbury Flop before I finished High School.

The evolution of technique.

In the Long Jump, Kiwi Tuariki Delamere competed a new technique at the Pacific 8 Track and Field Championships 1974. Front flip.

He was no gymnast.  😀 

That jump was not far off the sea level World Record at the time. 

Flipping was quickly banned. 

Click PLAY or watch an interview with Tuariki on YouTube.

Others had tried that flip.  I heard future Olympic gymnast, Sid Freudenstein, tried it High School competition for Triple Jump in 1968.

Related – How Tuariki Delamere’s somersault turned the sport of long jump on its head