Category: ethics

Rejudging the Tennessee Collegiate

Rhiannon Franck is a former national-rated NAWGJ women’s gymnastics judge with over 15 years of USAG judging experience and nine seasons judging NCAA gymnastics.

As many noted, scores at the 2024 Tennessee Collegiate Classic seemed impossibly high.

As the meet was not was not broadcasted or recorded, Rhiannon went online to find as many routines as possible.

Lindenwood was the only team that recorded and posted all of their routines, and there were no routines available from Kent State. The other team’s routines were cobbled together from social media posts by fans or the teams. Despite this, I’ve re-evaluated every routine I could find to try and make some sense out of this competition for us all. …

With a few exceptions, most of the overscores were overlooking details like knees, feet, leg separation, body posture on landing, etc. …

Judge’s Inquiry: Rejudging the 2024 Tennessee Collegiate Classic

Click through to see her score comparisons. 

Worst case scenario, this very high scoring could later affect who qualifies for regionals.

MAYBE it’s time to make NCAA judging fair. … Fairer. 😀

#RuPaulsDragRace theme Floor

In your face, haters. 😀

should FIG require a proper “landing”?

Male FIG gymnasts must show control on landing. I’d say right now there is TOO MUCH emphasis on STICK in MAG FIG.

Obviously, FIG women have never been required to show control. Absolutely no control often results in a very small deduction for WAG.

I’m of mixed feelings on this question:

should FIG require a proper “landing”?

On the one hand, it would force coaches to include dismounts that are more fully mastered. A good thing. AND it would help separate the best of the best routines.

On the other hand, I fear more injuries on landing might result. Stepping or hopping out of a high impact landing is an excellent way to dissipate forces. Gymnasts trying to “SAVE” a competition landing could suffer more injuries.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Arkansas gymnasts competing for their CAUSE

Good idea.

Individual athletes can dedicate the next meet to an issue important to them personally.

  • mental health
  • LGBTQ rights
  • gun violence awareness

inflated scores at Tennessee Collegiate

Seven teams competed. Seven teams scored all-time program records!

For that to happen in a single meet is beyond a statistical improbability. …

GymCastic

NCAA scoring is dumb at the best of times.

Hopefully the over-scores will not affect Regional qualification, down the line.

Who were the judges there? 

What possible inquiries can be made into that competition?

Microsoft Image Creator AI

Black American gymnasts

Decades ago, conventional wisdom was that gymnasts of African heritage would be too heavy for acrobatic sports. Too muscular.

That was WAY wrong.

When Black gymnasts have a chance to train acrobatic sports, they are very successful. 

A few examples, including the greatest of all time.

Authorized Neutral Athletes – Belarus

FIG has published a list of gymnasts and support personnel who can return to FIG sanctioned events starting 1st January 2024 only in an individual neutral capacity.

Ad hoc rules are posted here.

So far, the entire list is from Belarus. None from Russia.

It includes Tokyo Olympics trampoline champion Ivan Litvinovich.

Belarus fully supports Putin’s war, but claims not to have their military attack Ukraine directly.

I fear that this is a first step. And that Russian athletes will be added to the list soon.

A mistake, in my opinion.

Of many bad options, least bad is a full ban of Russia by FIG until Putin ends the war.

Morinari Watanabe, the President of the International Gymnastic Federation (FIG), led a minute’s silence in remembrance of a young Ukrainian gymnast called Kateryna Dyachenko and her father who were killed during the siege of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

Gymnastics Canada – Safe Sport webinars

… our newest initiative, the Winning Well Safe Sport Speaker Series, designed to enhance awareness and knowledge regarding various topics related to safe sport.

Recognizing that the well-being of children and athletes is a collective responsibility, this monthly webinar series aims to foster a culture of safety within our gymnastics community.

Gretchen Kerr, Dean, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education at U of Toronto, is the first speaker.

Maya Turner kicks game winning Field Goal

From September 2023.

Bisons football coach Brian Dobie shares his message on the pressure Maya Turner was under as the first woman to ever play, and score, in a U SPORTS football game.

Oh yeah, she kicked the game winner too.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. Coach has some words of wisdom for the young men.