Category: Gymnastics

Kohei on the IOC doping decision

“It’s absolutely wrong to ban athletes who have not broken the rules. It (this decision) is good,” said Uchimura, a six-times world all-around champion.

“Those who dope can’t complain even if they get banned for life,” the 27-year-old Japanese told the Kyodo news agency.

Reuters

Olympic gold medal gymnast Kohei Uchimura poses for a photo after a training session at the National Training Center in Tokyo, Japan, February 26, 2016. REUTERS/Toru Hanai
Olympic gold medal gymnast Kohei Uchimura poses for a photo after a training session at the National Training Center in Tokyo, Japan, February 26, 2016. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

You can argue that all Russian athletes should be banned. Including gymnasts. Many are taking that position. I respect the argument.

Russian sport is corrupt and deserves sanction up to but not including disallowing athletes and coaches not proven personally guilty. That’s my opinion.

USAG buys the Karolyi Ranch Gym

… athlete and coach housing and recreational areas …

… the portion of the Karolyi Ranch that USA Gymnastics is purchasing is 36.2 acres and includes housing for 300 athletes, coaches and administrators; three training gyms, two artistic/acro and one multi-discipline (rhythmic, trampoline/tumbling); a dance studio; dining and recreational areas; medical and rehab facilities; and office space. The training gym for rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline and tumbling was added in 2010.

The Karolyis first began training athletes at the Ranch in 1984. They will retain their personal residences, the Lodge and the remaining acreage. …

Ranch

USAG

The geographic location is poor, of course. Something more central to everyone in the USA would have been better.

The Karolyis are expected to maintain a presence at the ranch, and USA Gymnastics is considering turning an older portion of the main gym — one lined with pictures, medals and trophies from major competitions dating back to the 1980s — into a museum to honor the Karolyi legacy. …

While Penny considers Aug. 24 as Karolyi’s official retirement date, there has been no decision yet on her replacement.

… “I’ve met with the coaches and told them our main goal is to get through Rio and not worry about making it a distraction.” …

Summer Games

Canadian Comp 2 coaching course

Following our June Comp 1 coaching course at Phoenix Gymnastics Vancouver, next day we immediately began a 4-day Comp 2 course. (The second Comp 2 to be offered in Canada, so far.)

A special thanks to Jeff Thompson and Gymnastics B.C. for making this happen. 🙂

Based on feedback from this fine group of coaches and clinicians, the final version might be launched as early as September 2016.

open photo in a new tab to see a larger version
open photo in a new tab to see a larger version

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Gymnastics Canada needs clinicians for the Comp 2 coaching course. A clinicians training course is tentatively being offered Aug 31, Sept 1 & 2nd in Toronto. Any coach in Canada can apply through your Provincial Sports Governing Body.

Here’s an overview of the new Canadian Coach Education structure.

NEW NCCP structure

new GYMNASTICS murder mystery

You Will Know MeYou Will Know Me: A Novel

How far will you go to achieve a dream? That’s the question a celebrated coach poses to Katie and Eric Knox after he sees their daughter Devon, a gymnastics prodigy and Olympic hopeful, compete. For the Knoxes there are no limits–until a violent death rocks their close-knit gymnastics community and everything they have worked so hard for is suddenly at risk.

As rumors swirl among the other parents, Katie tries frantically to hold her family together while also finding herself irresistibly drawn to the crime itself. What she uncovers–about her daughter’s fears, her own marriage, and herself–forces Katie to consider whether there’s any price she isn’t willing to pay to achieve Devon’s dream.

Amazon

… A group of obsessive parents and their gymnast daughters — you’d be hard pressed to say which group is more high-strung — are at a suburban catering hall, celebrating the success of the 15-year-old Devon Knox, an aborning Nadia Comaneci, who has just completed a regional competition that puts her on track for the Olympics. …

NY Times review

I’ll be downloading the audio version on launch day. Review coming soon.

Thanks Tom.

Simone Biles on Mom & Dad

Her life story is amazing. When will the movie be coming out? 🙂

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.

https://vimeo.com/175789869

related – Dvora Meyers:

… A quick look at the results of the recent 2016 Secret U.S. Classic affirms Biles’ take on representation.

In the junior division, 8 of the top 20 were black or biracial. The field that qualified to the junior national championships later that month was also quite diverse. It was 37 percent white, 31 percent black, 24 percent Asian and 8 percent Hispanic. …

The decades of black gymnasts who paved the way for Simone Biles

Chusovitina will retire Monday

Oksana:

“I will retire on Monday. I cannot tell you months, days, or years, but it’s going to be a Monday.”

How This 41-Year-Old Got to Rio—and Became the Oldest Competing Gymnast in History

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Sam got a haircut

Yep. 🙂

related – Q&A With Sam Mikulak – Before Rio

Brittany Rogers – Dos Santos

Recall when Brittany was barely doing Floor? 🙂

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BILw6wLD7rZ/
 
(via papaliukin)

Team Laurie t-shirts

Yep. 🙂