tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports … and more
Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.
The good news is that Alabama is taking action after former gymnast Tia Kiaku revealed allegations against the program Tuesday.
In a statement Wednesday, Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne confirmed a Title IX investigation was conducted after Kiaku accused assistant coach Bill Lorenz …
No specific apology to Tia, so far, but that might be one eventual result of the investigation.
Here’s Coach Dana Duckworth’s statement.
Tia is no longer on the roster
Read her story on Instagram.
Bill Lorenz is the Vault coach, by the way.
The athletic department did post this general support of the protests against racism.
Today Alexis is a student at the prestigious Royal Veterinary College in London.
But in 2017 she began taking a knee during the national anthem prior to competitions as a symbolic protest of police brutality against black and brown bodies.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CA8OF-Qp60t/
Though some athletes and organizations praised her courage, Alexis recalls now the disapproval of coaches and teammates, and harassment from fans. In 2017 she was overall outstanding female athlete of the year in all sports at UC Davis.
The only black athlete on her team.
Listen to her on GymCastic #427:
The Chancellor made a personal support of the protests.
I’ve seen dozens of messages from gymnasts, clubs, organizations and Federations. All wanting to be part of change for the better.
Here’s one from the University of Utah.
Some organizations are blacked out today in support of protesters.
Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.
Amy Nyman has appealed the suspension and an arbitrator is scheduled to hear her appeal over three days beginning June 29.
Nyman, the New Heights owner and head coach, ordered gymnasts to do so many repeat rope climbs that the insides of their legs bled and their arms were too sore to continue training, according to the documents.
When a New Heights gymnast said she was afraid to attempt a balance beam skill during a 2016 camp the team was attending in Pennsylvania, Nyman ridiculed the girl in front of her teammates, then made her do a series of sprints up a hill and 1,000 push-ups, according the SafeSport documents. …
In appreciation of LGBTQ Pride Month, June in the USA, I’m linking to an entertaining interview on the Half In, Half Out LGBTQ+ Podcast.
Listen to out Canadian gymnast Ella Douglas who was Co-Captain of the MSU team in 2020, her Senior year.
https://twitter.com/MSUgymnastics/status/1236438930867851267
Ella was totally accepted by her team after announcing her girlfriend. Coaches, friends, everyone.
Ella will be a volunteer coach with MSU next year now that she’s graduated.
Of course there have been other Lesbian WAG gymnasts in College Gymnastics. And some have been open with that to friends and teammates while still competing.
Click through to listen.
For two years, Sara Allan, a former gymnast who grew up in New York City, had wanted to file a complaint.
In 2018, she wrote a letter saying that her former gymnastics coach at Chelsea Piers, Chris McClain, had engaged in a litany of emotional abuse, including insulting and berating gymnasts about their weight, eating habits and mental abilities. …
In less than a month, Allan had compiled a 13-page document filled with specific complaints against McClain that spanned 15 years — from 33 gymnasts, nine of their family members and five coaches. They demanded that McClain be suspended and, to their surprise, their pleas were quickly heeded.
Chelsea Piers suspended McClain last Saturday, the day after Allan sent the complaint. Then, on Wednesday, U.S.A. Gymnastics also suspended McClain, pending an investigation. …
Some Gyms are considering ultraviolet light sanitizing wands for disinfecting Bars, Beams, etc.
At this point, I’d not recommend the technology.
UV-C works well for purifying liquids. And it’s been used for making food safer for over 50 years.
UV-C light probably kills the new COVID-19 virus IF the light is strong enough, direct enough, and long enough. As I post, however, that’s not yet been scientifically proven.
It did work on MERS and SARS.
But light wands work best on flat, hard surfaces.
UV-C light is dangerous for humans, as well. UV light can cause cancer. Damage eyes. It’s difficult to protect yourself while waving a wand.
NY is testing whether using powerful ultraviolet lamps can disinfect subways and buses. In future there might be a way to turn on UV-C lights at night in the Gym to help sanitize.
Companies are working on new ways to disinfect hard surfaces with UV-C light waves. Robots, for example.
Hospitals and airlines are using the technology. Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
read more – Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation
Al Fong’s club has expanded on how they train Bars safely on return from COVID-19.
Gymnasts have their own bath mat to hold everything they need for Bars:
Do not share. Disinfect after the rotation.
Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 