tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports … and more
Illia KOVTUN from Ukraine is wearing a STOP WAR t-shirt at Podium Training. OK, I think. And of course I agree with him.
Putin’s invasion of a neighbouring nation took out both Olympic Champion teams from our sport. And killed many innocent people.
STOP WAR.
Of course training for this competition has been super challenging for Ukraine. Their athletes have been all over the world trying to get ready.
Thanks AGAIN to the women of Team Germany for choosing to wear unitards.
No competitor should feel forced to wear a leotard in competition.
I happened to be there when news broke that Canadian-born gymnast Marisa Dick would replace Thema. It was at the Olympic Test Meet in Rio.
We were surprised as Thema had looked healthy during Podium Training — in a striking gold leotard. No observable problems.
But her coach at the Games was John Geddert. He told the Federation Thema wasn’t ready enough. Trinidad had to fly the replacement in from Canada. Last minute.
FORMER national gymnast Thema Williams’s four-year battle for compensation, for the “biased and flawed” decision of the TT Gymnastics Federation to pull her out of the 2016 Olympic Games, came to an end at 2.20 pm on Thursday.
That was when the federation’s bankers, Republic Bank Ltd, delivered a cheque for $223,800.19 …
On November 26, 2018, Seepersad ruled Williams was entitled to $200,000 for loss of endorsements and other opportunities because of the federation’s “biased” and flawed decision to withdraw her from representing this country in the 2016 Rio Olympics. …
Gymnastics Federation pays Thema Williams damages
Federations must have clear selection policies. And enforce them.
The ONLY good news from this disaster was that Marisa had a good competition. And did qualify Trinidad to the Olympics.
CEO announces the launch.
Here’s how British Gymnastics plans to improve the culture of the sport.
All should have equal opportunity.
AND end up with the greatest amount of GOOD for the greatest number of people.
Cool t-shirts, as well.
Gymnastics is one of the top Olympic sports for females.
Gymnastics should offer leadership in promoting equal rights and human rights.
Universities should offer leadership in promoting equal rights and human rights.
All boycotting Congress 2022 as FIG is allowing Russian and Belarusian delegates to participate.
Certainly it’s difficult to decide exactly WHICH delegates to ban.
For example, do you ban a Russian citizen who has lived in another nation for decades?
Or do you only ban those committee members and judges representing Russia and Belarus?
IF possible, I would vote for the latter.
Smart new program.
Via email from FIG:
As every year, we would like to draw your attention to the main anti-doping regulations and documentation recently released by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). They will come into force on 1 January 2023.
Announced June 30, 2022:
McLaren Global Sport Solutions (MGSS) is pleased to announce that it will be leading the development of an implementation plan for a culture review as well as provide an analysis of Gymnastics Canada’s current national safe sport policies and procedures.
Gymnastics Canada
I received the link to their survey by email Oct 5, 2022.
McLaren should be an independent review. I know some victims feel they are not independent enough.
I was happy to see the process underway. I made myself available for future focus groups, if asked.
I thought the survey looked professional. Let’s wait on the report.
Here are a few points I shared:
Most gymnasts, recreational and competitive, in Canada benefit from the sport. It’s the activity I recommend #1 for parents.
MOST of the problems occur in WAG (Women’s Artistic Gymnastics) in competitive levels. The higher the level of competition, the more incidents. Highest priority for any analysis and change should be focused on WAG first. New policies could then be expanded to cover all Gymnastics disciplines.
I fear that the current focus on “SafeSport” will result in fewer participants, while correctly making changes for the better. As a population Canadians will be less healthy.
Look again at NEGATIVE starting points in Canada:
➙ “Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address MALTREATMENT in Sport“
➙ “ABUSE free Sport“
In Great Britain they cover the same content with headings like: “Safeguarding and Protecting Children“. A positive starting point.
You should know that many coaches are suspicious of “SafeSport” in the USA and Canada, worrying it might result in more innocent people being wrongfully accused. YES I know that rarely happens. But it does happen. And we still live in a society where folks are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Please leave a comment if you disagree.
Know that this site is the only one on the internet that shares a reminder warning about every Gymnastics coach convicted. We do that on our Twitter feed:
If you are concerned for a child, here are some of the important links in Canada:
Canadian Sport Helpline – a free, anonymous, confidential, and independent service
Kids Help Phone Live Chat Counselling – immediate crisis support
Gymnastics Canada Safe Sport Reporting
Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent & Address Maltreatment in Sport
Gymnastics Coaching.com 