Category: ethics

Vanessa Atler interview

Like pretty much everyone I was a big fan of Vanessa Atler in the dark days of late 1990s USA Gymnastics.

GymCastic posted an excellent, candid interview from some months ago. Vanessa volunteered to be interviewed, clearing up many questions we had about her career.

254: Vanessa Atler

She explains how she often did not know what her coaches, parents and manager were discussing.

If you don’t have time to listen, Dvora Meyers posted a summary with commentary — Former National Champion Speaks Out About USA Gymnastics’ Problems With Eating Disorders And Abuse.

Click PLAY or watch Vanessa’s 1999 Floor on YouTube.

USOC SafeSport

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC), SafeSport Course provides important training about the nature of misconduct in sport and gives you actionable information to better protect athletes. …

This is a FREE course offered by the USOC

details

Click over to the USAG SafeSport page for more resources.

Gymnastics coach using medical marijuana

You probably know coaches who use marijuana medically or recreationally.

Is marijuana worse than alcohol?

Personally, I feel the safety of children is more often endangered by tipsy / hungover parents or coaches. I worry most about parents who have been drinking driving kids home from Gym.

If marijuana is banned, alcohol should be banned as well.

If your club has a “zero tolerance” policy for employees using illegal drugs click through to this article about a Canadian coach suspended 2015 for using medical marijuana. The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal is hearing the appeal.

It’s a more complicated issue than you might think at first glance. Especially with the laws changing in Canada and other parts of the world.

Child gymnastic coach’s medical marijuana use goes to B.C. Human Rights Tribunal

Employers need to ‘start treating [medical marijuana] as if it is a pharmaceutical,’ expert says

(via Grace Chiu)

Aly Raisman: Wear what you want

Wear whatever makes you feel happy and confident. Don’t EVER let anyone tell you how you should or shouldn’t dress. We are all entitled to wear what we want. …

Instagram

 
Some are criticizing this particular photo.

(via Mashable)

decline in the number of NCAA Gymnastics teams

Shelli Koszdin:

Up until about 1992, the NCAA sponsorship of both men’s and women’s teams was declining at almost identical rate …

Around 1992, something happened to cause the fortunes of men’s and women’s teams to diverge. The decline of the women’s was slowed (but not halted) and that of the men accelerated. What happened? …

Stick it Media – Another Look at the Decline in NCAA Sponsorship of Men’s and Women’s Gymnastics

triple back from ski floor 1992

Steve Elliott was a terrific tumbler. One of the pioneers.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

You don’t hear the name mentioned often any more.

Today Steve Elliott is on USA Gymnastics’ Permanently Ineligible Members list.

FIG “Duty of Care Code”

As a clear sign of its strong commitment to the protection of gymnasts, the FIG will develop a“Duty of Care Code” which sets up all the policies and procedures regarding misconduct in the Gymnastics world, ranging from prevention and education to reporting, investigation and sanctions.

“As FIG President, I declare that a we will not tolerate abuse or sexual harassment in the Gymnastics community,” said Morinari Watanabe. “In the sporting community, we observe the rules because we are educated to do so. But rules cannot be observed only through education and legislation. Severe sanctions are needed. The same level of severe measures as anti-doping is necessary for eradicating harassment,” he emphasized. …

FIG 

FIG’s first Parkour competition

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.

It sounds like Parkour founder David Belle is on board with the the new FIG discipline.

But the British Parkour body accuses FIG of encroachment.

Personally I’ve got no problem with more obstacle course competitions. They are cool.

But I’m worried our other disciplines will feel neglected: Acrobatic Gymnastics, Aerobic Gymnastics, Power Tumbling, Double-mini, etc.

USAG won’t buy Karolyi ranch

USA Gymnastics has backed out of its purchase of the Karolyi ranch and is exploring alternative sites to hold national team training camps. …

USA Gymnastics won’t buy famed Karolyi ranch after all

Symbolic change?

Whatever the reasons, I feel this is a good decision. The location is lousy. Too much travel time lost getting to and from Camp.

The Men’s training centre in Colorado Springs is much more central to the entire nation.

Valeri purchased property close to Karolyi ranch, I understand. He may want to sell now.

Update: wagrobanite points out that Colorado Springs is still not all that close to a major airport. Others are concerned that the high elevation could cause problems for arriving gymnasts.