Category: ethics

new book by gymnast Rachel Haines

Available April 12, 2019.

In Abused: Surviving Sexual Assault and a Toxic Gymnastics Culture, Rachel details her experiences as a competitive gymnast and the painful realities of being one of Nassar’s many victims.

With honesty and candidness, Rachel shares how the sport she loved that gave her so much—friendships, accomplishments, a college education—is also tangled in a dangerously toxic culture that needs to be fixed. In a world that was setting her up for a lifetime of recovery, she tells how faith, family, and an army of survivors made healing possible.

Rachel Haines was a two-time member of the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team, a two-time National Champion, and a Division I college gymnast at the University of Minnesota. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in child psychology and a Master’s of Education degree in family social science. Haines lives in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, a suburb of the Twin Cities.

greater accountability for Gymnastics judges

I was an FIG judge for decades. Always willing to justify my scores to any gymnast or coach.

Over that time in MAG we sometimes published the names of judge scores on each apparatus. Sometimes we didn’t.

Personally I feel judging would be better — more accurate — more objective — if judges names were published with the scores they awarded.

Officials in other sports are far more visible than Gymnastics.

You can see them for NCAA meets on Road To Nationals. For example, if you go to the results page for the Jan-05-2019 Oklahoma – Arkansas meet, and click on the PDF link top left, you get the official score sheet signed by the judges.

Also. Perhaps they could TRY to not to score based on reputation.

Thanks Cordelia.

USAG is boycotting the IndyStar

A BIG red flag.

Li Li Leung should be driving over to the newspaper her first day on the job. To apologize. And pledge to work together closely in future.

Ronnie Ramos – Executive Editor IndyStar:

… With your hiring, we hope it will herald a new chapter for USA Gymnastics.

Unfortunately, the way your organization handled the announcement raises concerns we hope will be rectified. As has been the case for the last three years, USA Gymnastics specifically excluded the IndyStar from the initial media call announcing your appointment.

By excluding us, the state’s largest media organization, you excluded the people of Indianapolis.

This is meaningful in that it is indicative of an unwillingness to do what the abuse survivors — and this community — have repeatedly called for: a new path forward focused on positive change. Not a continuation of the secrecy of the past. …

IndyStar editor: An open letter to USA Gymnastics new CEO

Serena Williams – Dream Crazier

If they want to call you crazy, fine.
Show them what crazy can do.

Feat. Simone Biles, Chloe Kim, Ibtihaj Muhammad, U.S. women’s soccer team, …

… Sam Gordon, the young girl who’s dominating football with the boys; Lisa Leslie, the first woman to dunk in a WNBA game; Becky Hammon, the first woman to be a full-time NBA assistant coach.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Shadae Boone – Vault

When I see judging like this, I DREAM of computer video evaluation. It would be easy for software on Vault to be more accurate.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

What are the names of those judges?

related – I would have been 10.0 on a number of these YDTs.

Breakdance to the Olympics?

Controversial.

Should Breakdance be introduced at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games?

Click PLAY or watch some reaction to the 2018 Youth Olympics announcement on YouTube.

Dvora Meyers – Can Breaking Become An Olympic Sport And Still Keep Its Soul? (2018)

Of course the Olympics have bigger problems. For one, they have to find a way to cut hosting costs.

Brisbane’s 2032 Olympic Games bid will require billions of dollars, feasibility study reveals

FIG Gymnastics Ethics Foundation

The Council of the new Gymnastics Ethics Foundation held its first ever meeting on 19 February in Lausanne. …

As the Foundation’s supreme body, the Council defines its strategy and ensures that it is functioning properly. The following eminent personalities have accepted to become the Council’s first members.

President
Ms Micheline Calmy-Rey, former President of Switzerland

Members
HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
Mr François Carrard, former Director-General of the IOC
Ms Slava Corn, Honorary Vice-President of the FIG
Ms Ivana Hong, former athlete, US gymnastics team

Director of the Foundation
Mr Alexander McLin

The Foundation is made up of three sections: a “Safeguarding” section, including a helpdesk for reporting any case of harassment or abuse; a”Disciplinary” section, which includes the two existing FIG disciplinary bodies, the Disciplinary Commission and the Appeal Tribunal; and a “Compliance” section, to monitor good governance and respect for the ethical principles of the FIG. …

For more information on the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation, please access its website: gymnasticsethicsfoundation.org

FIG

kids should do competitive sport

Tony Retrosi

10 Reasons to let your child get involved with competitive Gymnastics (or any competitive sport)

Dave Brubaker acquited

Brubaker, who lost his standing as a national coach since his arrest in December 2017, was found not guilty in a Sarnia, Ontario, courtroom on Wednesday by a judge who questioned the conduct of the investigating police officer, who is reportedly a cousin of the complainant and was in her wedding party. …

Reuters

Via email:

OTTAWA, ON (February 13, 2019) — Gymnastics Canada acknowledges the decision by Justice Deborah Austin today regarding Mr. Dave Brubaker. In light of this verdict, an internal investigation on this matter will now proceed. This investigation will be conducted by Gymnastics Canada in accordance with our Code of Ethics and Conduct and Discipline policies.