Author: Rick Mc

UPDATE: Lee in the comments says “The family won the case, but only got a little over $8,000 for compensation.”

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Surprising and odd story.

Twelve year old gymnast Gao Shuai and his parents are suing his gym,the Xiannongtan Sports School in Beijing, accusing the gym of abuse. They are demanding 150,000 yuan (approximately $21,000 US) from the gym.

Gao Shuai had won major titles, including national champion in his age group. Now, he is unable to perform many skills that he used to be able to perform easily. They claim that he was withheld from training, which is strongly supported by the fact that the Xiannongtan Sports School does not have any record of his training in his last four months of attendance.

They also claim that Gao had received corporal punishment during training. Some of the punishment examples were “lengthy handstands” and kneeling for hours. Gao’s mother showed videos of what they claim to be abusive training in court. In addition to this, Gao’s diaries have entries stating that the older boys would beat on him and threaten him so he wouldn’t tell anybody.

Gao is has been diagnosed with depression and is currently receiving medical treatment. …

Mom looks pretty upset …

All Gymnastics, All the time – Chinese Boy Sues his Gym

Loughborough in the U.K. is regarded as the country’s premier sport university.

The Loughborough Students Gymnastics Club facility is impressive.

There’s a slideshow on Chalk Bucket that gives us a good look at the gym. Thanks zooky41216.

I subscribe to the TumblTrak monthly email newsletter.

They are adding more interesting videos to their Training Tips page.

I like the personal touch of Doug Davis’ blog.

Though not mentioned in this month’s post, Doug is planning a trip to Australia. And bringing many of his products with him to demonstrate Down Under.

TumblTrak is the most innovative equipment manufacturer, by far.

Keep up the good work!

boom goes the dynamite 1 was video montages of “tricks that make you go WOW” in Women’s Artistic gymnastics.

Felipe from Italy recently posted his own “best of Men’s Gymnastics” video.

Click PLAY or watch Gymnastics Techno Tribute on YouTube.

Randy McMullen is hosting a BIG meet in a SMALL town March 27 to 29, 2009.

2009 MEN’S ARTISTIC, WOMEN’S ARTISTIC, TRAMPOLINE & TUMBLING INVITATIONAL

SASKATCHEWAN WESTERN TRIALS

Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

This all in the same venue.

I often see T&T in the same gym with Artistic. The most difficult multi-discipline meet is co-hosting Rhythmic with Women’s Artistic.

In New Zealand, at National Championships they did it by scheduling Rhythmic and Artistic at different times.

At Canadian Championships 2007 we put Rhythmic at one end of a huge Fieldhouse, Women’s Artistic at the other end. Surprisingly, it worked. You could only faintly hear the music of the other discipline.

Leave a comment if you have experience — good or bad — of combining disciplines at the same meet. Randy is looking for advice.

Prince Albert Aerials Gym Club

I’ve always felt that straight arm press on rings is one of the most difficult skills to teach. You need fantastic planche strength.

A press to handstand is a requirement for a competitive optional ring routine. Here Hideo (Mizo) Mizoguchi shows and explains a couple of drills to learn this important element.

Click PLAY or watch it on Tom’s GymSmart’s blog.

Watch more gymnastic training videos on The Gymnastic Minute Channel on YouTube.

Follow them on twitter @gymsmarts

Anna Kovalyova – 1998 International 3 on 3 Champs

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

Kovalyova married 1999 World Champion Nikolai Kryukov, incidentally.

Cheng Xuemin did front handspring, front pike on beam in 2007.

==== UPDATE:

Francesca notes that Natalia Sirobaba did handspring front on beam at the 2002 European Championships. Others have done it, as well, including this fan favourite:

Click PLAY or watch Yvonne Tousek on Beam in the 1996 Olympics AA Finals on YouTube.

Thanks to Sarah and others who remembered Yvonne.

(via Gymblog)

Strange acrobatic artworks.

TALENTED kids climbing the Žižkov Television Tower in Prague … art installation by David ÄŒerný:

Here’s another of Cerný’s bizarre sculptures.

related: Dark Roasted Blend – Nightmare Playgrounds

Stu Cram of Gym Score Depot has just released an updated version of GymScoreLite for Women’s Gymnastic Meets.

– One program for both old and new code
– Use Excel for both Windows & Mac
– Improved calculations
– Better sorting
– Easier to use
– etc

The men’s version was similarly updated earlier.

Any feedback, comments, or suggestions are appreciated. And… Both programs are still free. (Donations are welcome.)

Note – These programs work for most club level meets but do not tabulate team scores or 2-day total scores.

Contact Stu for those options if needed.

Download from Gym Score Depot.

Drăgulescu had a disappointing Olympics in Beijing.

larger version – ProSport

… I have chosen to become a coach. This month I’ll start working with the children’s group at Dinamo, alongside Marius Urzică. I’m not at all apprehensive. I’ve worked with children before, in America,” says one of Romania’s most decorated athletes. ..

…Drăgulescu will remain close to the national team, whose new head coach is NicuÅŸor Pascu, the godfather to his daughter Beatrice. “I’ll go and give Nicu a helping hand.” …

Triple Full – It’s Official: Marian Drăgulescu Has Retired