Kocian top UCLA academic student athlete

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

diversity on U.S. National Teams

I don’t recall seeing any study on this topic, but seems to me U.S. National Teams, at least in recent years, are at least as ethnically diverse as the general population.

The biggest factor, I reckon, is which American families can afford the very high costs of elite Gymnastics training.

Things are getting better.

award winning dance photo

Ken Browar and Deborah Ory of NYC Dance Project received the second-place award in the People category for their shot of six dancers suspended in the air amid performance.

The scene is a part of “Night Journey,” choreography by the Martha Graham Company that’s based on the Greek myth of Oedipus and Jocasta.

International Photography Awards

#BlackLivesMatter

Protests at the moment were inspired by the murder of George Floyd by a white cop.

#BlackLivesMatter is the most important hashtag of these protests.

Everyone knows that all lives matter. But don’t make that specious argument.

Blacks die in police custody at a far higher rate than any other race.  That’s what we are trying to address.

 

Shilese Jones – that was easy

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_s480HDaAj/
 
Click PLAY or watch some kitchen choreography on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-XXYWAplOj/

Kurt Thomas R.I.P.

I can’t believe it.

Kurt Thomas competed for Indiana State University; where he was a five-time NCAA champion, winning the parallel bars and all-around in 1977 and parallel bars, horizontal bar and the all-around in 1979. Thomas helped lead the men’s gymnastics to the 1977 National Championship.

An Olympian in 1976, Kurt was the first American male gymnast to win a gold medal in floor exercise at the 1978 Worlds.

His name lives on as many of us still call Flair Czechkehre Flair a Thomas.

“I am completely devastated to hear this”, said Olympic teammate Bart Conner.

“Kurt was a fierce rival, who went on to become a cherished friend.

My heart is breaking for his wife Beckie, his children, Hunter, Kassidy and Kurt as well as the entire gymnastics community, who lost a true pioneer today.”

IG – World Champion Gymnast Kurt Thomas Passes Away After Suffering Stroke

racist incidents at Florida

Reporter D’Arcy Maine put together a summary article on the fallout from complaints by Kytra Hunter and Kennedy Baker.

Former star gymnast Kytra Hunter says racism complaints ‘fell on deaf ears’ at Florida

Jenny Rowland organized a video conference call with the team to discuss the issues.

And the team posted a statement.

 

celebrating diversity at UCLA

One thing I’ve always admired about the Bruins is the racial diversity of their teams.

It’s difficult to get data on racial bias in judging, but it should be easy to compare NCAA teams for diversity.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

racist incidents at SEMO

Chris Licameli was three years an Assistant Coach at Southeast Missouri.

Recall he was the self-funded coach for Canada at the last FISU Games, a team which included SEMO gymnast Alana Fischer.

In a new, personal blog post, Chris recounts a number of racist incidents he observed with the team and — at times — tried to stop.

“More needs to be addressed by the university & Athletics Department on this current Human Rights Issue of racism in this country, the NCAA, and at this Institution.

I have reached out to the Athletic Director of this institution’s Athletic Department letting them know that there are still public displays of racism on official team social media accounts and the athletic department’s website. …

To all my former black student athletes, black student athletes across the NCAA, and to all persons of color, I stand with you, I am here to listen, advocate, and support, because BLACK LIVES MATTER.”

Read his entire post.

Here’s a statement from the SEMO Athletics Department.