Author: Rick Mc

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

the Caster Semenya debate

The majority of experts I’m hearing feel Caster should be allowed to compete against women.

Caster Semenya has claimed gold in the Diamond League‘s 800m women’s final, in what was her last race before the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) imposes controversial new rules limiting testosterone in female athletes.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) this week dismissed an appeal by the South African to set aside the IAAF’s regulations, which will require athletes with differences in sex development to take medication to reduce their testosterone levels.

The new rules, which have sparked a fierce backlash, will come into effect on Wednesday.

Yahoo

… After the race, Semenya was asked by the Daily Mail’s Riath Al-Samarrai whether she plans to take medication to comply with the IAAF’s regulations and she said, “Hell no.”

BBC’s Ade Adedoyin was told by Semenya that she has no plans to retire and plans to compete at the IAAF World Championships in September.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

2023 Worlds to Antwerp

Belgium does a terrific job hosting major meets.

Rhythmic Worlds will go in Valencia from 4-10 September 2023.

Trampoline Worlds to Birmingham 9-12 November 2023 followed by World Age Group Competitions from 16-19 November.

Miss USA on the “Me Too” movement

North Carolina’s Cheslie Kryst, 28, won the Miss USA pageant on Thursday and was celebrated online after supporting the “Me Too” and “Time’s Up” movements onstage during the pageant’s question period. …

The Hill 

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

Jeff Robinson to Cirque du Soleil

Air Force men’s gymnastics head coach Jeff Robinson has announced that he is retiring from coaching, effective May 31.

Robinson, who has spent the past nine seasons with the Falcons’ program, including the last four as the team’s head coach, will transition into a new, untitled project with Cirque du Soleil. …

A national search to find his successor will begin immediately

Air Force

At the Heart of Gold – May 3rd on HBO

I had high hopes for new USAG CEO Li Li Leung.

She asked to be judged not on her words, but her deeds.

Shortly after that statement USA Gymnastics bungled the vetting of a first full-time director of sports medicine and science. That’s a position that would truly help the organization.

A bigger test will be how Li Li Leung handles the public response from Erin Lee Carr’s new documentary. Producers Dr. Steven Ungerleider and David Ulich began this project before the criminal doctor’s accusers came forward.

At the Heart of Gold argues that Nassar succeeded despite the many complaints against him because the people who could’ve done something about them never acted on them.

He belonged to a system that protected him and cared more about his importance in winning gold medals than the wellbeing of the girls he harmed.  …

‘At the Heart of Gold’ centers survivors as it condemns those who protected Larry Nassar

Jade Carey interview

Inside Gymnastics:

Jade: I chose to pursue an individual route because I felt it was my best way to achieve my goal of going to the Olympics. I wanted to leave every avenue open to reach my goal.

Jade: Some reasons I chose Oregon State are the coaches and the beautiful campus. The coaches are amazing and so helpful, and I can’t wait to have them help me grow in college.

Jade: The plan is to start in the fall of 2020.

Inside: What is it like to compete alongside Russian Olympian Maria Paseka in vault finals?

Jade: It’s definitely challenging and competitive. She’s a really good vaulter, so it definitely adds the pressure, but I just focus on what I need to do to [perform] my best vaults.

JADE CAREY ON 2020, OSU, AND THE WORLD CUP SERIES

Future of the U.S. Olympic Movement

Reimagining Goals Beyond Medals

Date – Wed May 22, 2019
Washington, DC

Some argue that heightened focus on medals laid the groundwork for the sexual abuses that emerged in USA Gymnastics, which has caused deep soul-searching at the USOC and the sport-specific national governing bodies (NGBs) it oversees.

What’s next for the U.S. Olympic movement, as reforms are introduced?

What if the USOC focused first and foremost on the safety and well-being of athletes while also growing opportunities for all, not just those with medal potential? …

Aspen Institute

Shannon Miller will be one of the speakers.