Tokyo Olympic hopeful Riley McCusker has filed a lawsuit against her former coach Maggie Haney.
Haney, who previously coached Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez, was suspended for 8 years by USA Gymnastics in April of 2020 after a panel found she had emotionally and verbally abused gymnasts.
In the lawsuit filed in late October, McCusker alleges Haney forced her to train on a fractured hip; multiple foot fractures; a torn shoulder ligament; and to continue “strenuous training” while suffering from exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis, a potentially life threatening condition effecting the kidneys. …
GymCastic
Category: ethics
Ivy League cancels winter sports
No Gymnastics for Brown, Cornell, Penn and Yale.
Other sports affected include basketball, wrestling, indoor track & field, swimming and fencing.
… decisions were made unanimously by the Ivy League Council of Presidents.
“While these decisions come with great disappointment and frustration, our commitment to the safety and lasting health of our student-athletes and wider communities must remain our highest priority.” …
ESPN
Aimee Boorman interview
Tokyo Test Meets
The friendly invitational was successfully hosted in the 1964 Olympic venue with 22 athletes. A good start.
Before the Olympics, more testing of protocols is necessary.
Hidemasa Nakamura, the Tokyo Olympic games delivery officer, told an on-line briefing that plans are now in the works for more test events starting in March. However, he did not say what form these might take or if non-Japanese athletes would be involved. …
Tokyo Olympic officials, the International Olympic Committee, and the Japanese government are trying to convince the world that the postponed Games can open on July 23 despite so much uncertainty in the ongoing pandemic. …
Japan has been relatively successful containing COVID-19 with about 1,800 deaths attributed to the virus. The problem will be opening the borders to regions where the virus is rampant.
AP
V.P. Kamala Harris
The USA has had 92 Presidents and Vice Presidents, all but one of those white men.
Regardless of your own political affiliation, it’s historic that all American girls know now that it’s possible to get to the White House.
Congratulations USA.
England clubs lock down
Over the weekend the UK Government announced a lockdown in England from Thursday 5th November to Wednesday 2nd December. …
This news is incredibly disappointing. We know the gymnastics community has done everything to make the sport safe. And while we know the health benefits that our sport brings, the number of cases of Covid-19 continue to rise across the country. …
We are acutely aware of the immense financial pressure many clubs will be under …
As with the first lockdown, we’ll support clubs in accessing financial support, grants and the furlough scheme. …
British Gymnastics
Club close as of Nov. 5th. Elite training can continue.
Hopefully clubs can reopen Dec. 2nd.
There are many other clubs around the world shut down. Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada, for example, is shut down again for a month.
That’s a shame as Gymnastics clubs seem to be one of the safest spaces for kids during this pandemic.
Ariella Käslin’s story
Ariella Käslin is a 2008 Olympian voted Swiss Sportswoman of the Year in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
I recall being disappointed when Ariella retired 2011. She seemed still top of her game.
She later wrote a memoir detailing her exhaustion, related depression, and concerns with former Swiss National Coach Eric Demay who was let go April 2007.
Read it on gymnovosti:
ARIELLA KAESLIN: THE DEAL WAS: “YOU DO THIS!”, AND THERE WAS NO REFUSAL
Click PLAY or watch her on YouTube.
Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act
It’s now law.
The act grants Congress the power to remove members of the USOPC Board of Directors, while it would have the ability to decertify national governing bodies in the country if they fail to adhere to requirements.
The act would also require the USOPC to give the US Center for SafeSport $20 million (£15.5 million/€17 million) in annual funding to do its work more effectively.
The act establishes safeguards designed to protect amateur athletes from abuse from coaches and other officials within Olympic and Paralympic sports. …
The bill is expected to see the formation of a 16-member commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics. …
At least eight members would have to be current or former Olympic or Paralympic athletes.
Inside the Games
I’m certain at least one gymnast will be included on the commission as this whole process was started because USA Gymnastics mishandled the case of their criminal doctor.
update on the Whyte Review
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Gymnastics during the pandemic
Gymnastics HQ ran a little survey of American Gyms to see where they are at at this stage. Click through to see results.
HOW GYM LIFE HAS CHANGED DURING THE PANDEMIC: SURVEY RESULTS
Gymnastics Coaching.com 