Author: Rick Mc

From the Gymnastics is my Addiction group on Facebook.

Good news for gymnasts?

Starting with the 2007 tax year, the Government of Canada allows a non-refundable tax credit based on eligible fitness expenses paid by parents to register a child in a prescribed program of physical activity. …

The children’s fitness tax credit lets parents claim up to $500 per year for eligible fitness expenses paid for each child who is under 16 years of age at the beginning of the year in which the expenses are paid.

Canada Revenue Agency

Most likely this is short-sighted, doomed-to-fail, do good Socialist economic quackery.

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Now, in the Province where I live in Canada — Alberta — an additional $500 fitness tax credit might soon be available.

I’m not the only doubter:

Scott Hennig of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation said the tax return on that $500 could be as little as $50.

“All it does is make our tax code more complex and offers people very little in terms of real dollar value.”

Canadians might as well take advantage of these deductions, while they can.

Cool.

University of Missouri Tigers Gymnastics.

(via College Gymnastics Board)

For the 2007 Pan-Ams they sent Liukin, Johnson, Hong and Bross. Pezek and Trani.

This young team, for the new quadrennial, looks superb:

(via About.com Gymnastics)

Inside Gymnastics, an American gymnastics magazine (whose online coverage has been extremely intermittent and generally disappointing lately) will launch a radio program this Thursday, November 20th at 5 p.m. EST.

The C Score

Every time I get excited about Inside Gymnastics, they find a way to let me down.

Remember Inside Gymnastics Television?

That link is still on the site … but the last new episode was posted YEARS ago.

Now I’m excited about the recently announced Inside Gymnastics Radio:

…is coming to the internet airways this week! Look for our debut broadcast airing November 21st with athlete interviews, insight from the world’s top current and former gymnasts, expert commentary as well as Q&A segments with listeners.

Hosted by three-time Olympian John Roethlisberger, monthly broadcasts will be streamed live on InsideGymnastics.com.

With Roethlisberger on the mic, this is a guaranteed winner!

But where is it IG?

A full day after the promised Nov. 21st debut broadcast nothing is linked from your website: IG Radio

Lame. Lame. Lame.

The list looks familiar. It’s the coaches poll.

Which team will move up the most in 2009?

1. Georgia – 814 points (26 first-place votes)
2. Utah – 770 (2)
3. Florida – 742
4. UCLA – 699 (4)
5. Stanford – 676
6. Alabama – 640
7. LSU – 634
8. Michigan – 579 (1)
9. Oregon State – 526
10. Oklahoma – 525
11. Nebraska – 487
12. Arkansas – 467
13. Penn State – 382
14. Denver – 370
15. Auburn – 323
16. Illinois – 230
17. Michigan State – 228
18. Arizona – 218
19t. Boise State – 216

UCLA Gymnastics

Coach Dan Kendig hosts Championships in Lincoln, Nebraska on Apr. 16-18, 2009.

The University of Minnesota will host the 67th National Collegiate Men’s Gymnastics Championships April 16-18, 2009. …

Minnesota head coach Mike Burns, who is heading into his fifth season at the helm of the Minnesota men’s gymnastics program, said he was thrilled that Gophers will have the honor of hosting the championship in the team’s home gym.

Gopher Sports

Click PLAY or watch a video promo on YouTube.

(via Saving Sports)

How did Bela react to the allegations that he “beat” gymnasts in the distant past?

… Karolyi told a reporter that he doesn’t regret anything he did and that he ignores the recent abuse allegations.

“I’m not even commenting,” he said. “I don’t appreciate at that level even to have a word on this. These people are really trash, and I’m not messing with that.”

Former Olympic gymnast Trudi Kollar (Emelia Eberle), who raised the accusations, said she’s not surprised.

“The fact that he says he does not deny it — that should say a lot. And calling people ‘trash,’ you know, it’s a very ugly way of making comments about people. …

Karolyi: ‘These People Are Really Trash’
Former Olympic Gymnastics Coach Responds To Abuse Allegations

WESH.com

For someone with his media savvy, Bela could not be handling this worse.

I think he’s finished as a TV “expert”.

Next …

How will Marta answer these allegations?

More TV coverage of Beijing is showing up online, the copyright holders no longer demanding takedown.

If you’ve not seen the BBC British coverage, check this video.

It opens with that “perfect” vault of Nastia Liukin.

Click PLAY or watch Part 1 on Gymnastike.

Since YouTube clips are (normally) limited to 10min, the coverage continues with Part 2 linked from the same page.

Like most, I’ve admired Cheng Fei for years.

But never been a big fan. Until now.

Why is she still competing at age-20 when dozens of younger girls are waiting for her spot on National Team?

Her passion for the sport is a really compelling story.

Here’s the best coverage yet, on the hottest new gymnastics blog:

As we all know, Cheng Fei had a rocky Olympics. She was on cloud nine after the team competition, only to swallow a bitter pill during the individual event finals, an experience she likened to “a trip from Heaven to Hell.”

According to this Sina article, Cheng cried all night after her disappointing performances on vault and floor. “I cried until my soul had completely left my body,” Cheng was quoted as saying.

Cheng Fei after her ordeal at the Olympics (photo: Amy Sancetta/AP Photo)

She felt empty and wasn’t sure whether she wanted to go on competing. But her coaches felt she should, to exorcise the demons that were haunting her. Said coach Lu Shanzhen, “We’re letting Cheng Fei go on taking part in competitions both at home and abroad to let her find that competitive spirit, to dispel the shadow of the mistakes she made at the Beijing Olympics. Unexpectedly [according to coach Liu Qunlin, Cheng’s training has been far from systematic lately because of her many post-Olympic activities], she is performing better at each competition. Her beam and floor are already close to her peak level.” …

Triple Full – “I Cried Until My Soul Had Completely Left My Body”

I highly recommend you read that blog every day.