tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports … and more
USA Gymnastics tumbling coach Sergio Galvez resigns amid misconduct allegations
Resignation comes days before World Championships in Russia
… pending an investigation into report filed with the U.S. Center for Safe Sport.
Galvez’s resignation was forced by USA Gymnastics board of directors and Safe Sport placed an “interim measure” restriction on Galvez for “allegations of misconduct” last Wednesday. USA Gymnastics and Safe Sport have not elaborated on the nature of the allegations.
The Federation is very committed to developing WAG in Qatar. It’s difficult due to the culture. Children of expats are far more likely to show up and train hard every day than are the Arab girls.
Happily the Press has been giving plenty of coverage to their lone female competitor Jana El Keky. She’s a fan favourite with the media too.
Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter. She talks about trying to increase the numbers of girls.
The National Team gym is just outside the Aspire complex. An excellent facility.
And the name Simone Biles is getting famous with the general public.
Aspire Academy … founded in 2004 with the goal to scout and help develop Qatari athletes, whilst also providing them with secondary school education. …
The school areas are being used for Worlds right now. But it is an impressive facility for student athletes, mostly male. There is a parallel program for female athletes but it’s very small.
Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.
related – Aspire Academy: Unlocking the potential of Qatar’s youth
Watch the interview on BBC.
Call out bullies every time you see it happen. Take ethical action.
Sounds good to me.
Tony Retrosi:
FIG President Watanabe thanked Ali Al Hitmi, Chief Executive Officer of the Local Organising Committee, for his courage in hosting such an important event.
Actually, the media event started off with a laugh. Watanabe had arrived in Doha just in time. But security wouldn’t let him into the venue. They insisted he go get his credential first.
All agreed strict security is a good thing.
Watanabe spoke in English. He thanked media for coming to Qatar.
He first visited for Asian Games 2006. At that time our sport was not much developed. Watanabe considers it a miracle that only 12 years later the sport has come so far. Qatar has 3 competitors (2 MAG, 1 WAG).
I’ve been to the Gym here several times over the years. Ali Al Hitmi deserves much of the credit.
Aside from sport, I’m optimistic that bringing the world to Qatar will help advance the cause of human rights.
Svetlana Boginskaya unveiled the Worlds medals. In fact, Al Hitmi put a gold medal around her neck. She liked it. Very heavy!
An NPR podcast asks the question:
How did Larry Nassar get away with his treatment for decades?
Listen to it online. (18min)
Larry Nassar with Kerri Strug 1996 Olympics
His right ankle has not recovered sufficiently to compete FX or Vault.
During podium training he deliberately rolled out of landings to protect the ankle as much as possible.
Sexual assault trial of Canada’s former national women’s gymnastics coach begins Monday
Michel Arsenault’s trial was moved forward to some time 2019.
Associated Press named him the “greatest athlete” from the first 50 years of the 20th century.
Here’s a great story – triumphing over racism and adversity.
James Francis Thorpe (Sac and Fox (Sauk): Wa-Tho-Huk, translated as “Bright Path” … was an American athlete and Olympic gold medalist.
A member of the Sac and Fox Nation, Thorpe became the first Native American to win a gold medal for the United States.
Considered one of the most versatile athletes of modern sports, he won Olympic gold medals in the 1912 pentathlon and decathlon, and played American football (collegiate and professional), professional baseball, and basketball.
He lost his Olympic titles after it was found he had been paid for playing two seasons of semi-professional baseball before competing in the Olympics, thus violating the amateurism rules that were then in place. In 1983, 30 years after his death, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) restored his Olympic medals. …
