It’s always problematic to call a full twisting double back a NEW skill, if the timing of the twist changes.
That said, I expect this will go into the Code named for Lorrane Oliveira.
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Category: Gymnastics
Suni 6.8 D Bars warm-up
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Jade Carey – triple twisting double layout
Kyle Shewfelt – make it happen
Available on Amazon.
3-time Olympian and Floor champion — Kyle Shewfelt — has finally released his biography. He’d been working on it since 2004.
A great read for everyone. Life lessons through sport.
I still recall Kyle‘s first day at Altadore Gym Club in Calgary, Canada.
He was 6-years-old. And obviously talented.
At age-22 Kyle was Olympic Floor champion.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Kelly Manjak coached Kyle from pre-competitive through two Olympics.
The EASY thing to do in 2004 as Olympic Champion was to retire. At the top.
BUT after a good break, Kyle decided to keep training for Beijing 2008. His 3rd Olympic cycle turned out to be the most challenging.
Changes to the Code of Points in 2006 didn’t help.
Kyle’s idol was Alexi Nemov for his artistry and style. Like Nemov, Kyle was a fan favourite.
Though I knew the story well — coaching at his club in 2004 — I was still enthralled to hear it told from Kyle’s point of view. Know that he’s very modest in this telling.
It’s well written as Kyle worked on his sports biography together with Blythe Lawrence. And had editing by Steve Cooper.
For 10 years, while one of the best in the world on Vault and Floor, Kyle was the most consistent. The more pressure, the more likely he’d HIT.
Kyle took maximum advantage of specialists: sport psychologist Hap Davis, dietitian Kelly Anne Erdman, physiotherapist Susan Massitti, and many others.
Uldi Hajdu, Eugene Galperin, Edouard Iarov and Tony Smith are additional coaches Kyle credits in the book.
Today Kyle Shewfelt is a public speaker, broadcaster, Gym owner and father who believes in “optimism and the power of a high five“.
I’d recommend the audio version, as it’s read by Kyle himself.
Alternatively, you can buy a personalized signed copy online. An ideal gift.
Related – The Hungarian Academy Award nominated film featuring Kyle – White Palms.
Listen to a new interview with Kyle. It starts 1 hour 18min into the podcast.
Flashdance: Welding, Wigs and The Gayest Welding Burlesque Bar (COMMISSIONED) – GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast
The GymCastic Movie Club takes on FLASHDANCE—the runaway 1983 hit that is essentially a collection of MTV music videos held together by sparks, leg warmers and vibes. Thank you, Rose for commissioning this episode. We discuss the stunt wigs, the film's gymnastics influence, and the gayest welder's burlesque bar in Pittsburgh. Alex's complete lack of ballet training and the legendary final audition featuring a dive roll performed by collegiate gymnastics history-maker Sharon Shapiro. Jessica also brings us firsthand stories from Sharon about filming the scene. Commissioned by Rose. WIN A FULL-EPISODE COMMISSION Enter the raffle for the chance to choose the subject of an entire GymCastic episode—as long as it is tangentially gymnastics-related! The raffle helps fund our on-site coverage of the 2026 World Championships in Rotterdam. IN THIS EPISODE • Which one is Flashdance again? • The true story that inspired the movie • Jennifer Beals and Pittsburgh Ballet Versailles • How Flashdance influenced gymnastics floor routines • Sharon Shapiro's iconic audition dive roll • The stunt doubles and constantly changing wigs • The gayest welder's burlesque of all time • Tina Tech's "Manhunt" routine • Jeanie's disastrous skating audition • Everything wrong with Alex's boss-turned-boyfriend • The "What a Feeling" finale • Casting a gymnastics remake CHAPTERS 00:00 – Welcome to the Flashdance Movie Club 02:51 – The True Story and 1983 Phenomenon 07:05 – Why Flashdance Is Gymnastics-Related 11:37 – The Plot, Such as It Is 21:06 – The Gayest Welder's Burlesque 40:49 – Montage-a-Palooza 49:25 – Jeanie, Skating and the Supporting Characters 59:20 – Who Is Hannah? 1:02:53 – Lobster and the Horrible Boss Romance 1:14:23 – The "What a Feeling" Audition 1:18:52 – Sharon Shapiro's Stories from the Set 1:25:08 – Casting the Flashdance Remake JOIN CLUB GYM NERD FOR BONUS STUFF Ad-free episodes, weekly bonus shows, our complete archive, members-only games and tools, the community message board and Behind The Scenes every Friday at noon Pacific: https://gymcastic.com/club/ GYMCASTIC TOOLS LA 2028 Roster Lab: https://gymcastic.com/2028-roster-lab/ Elite Score Explorer: https://gymcastic.com/elite-scores/ International Gymnastics Calendar: https://gymcastic.com/gymnastics-calendar/ GymCastic Games: https://gymcastic.com/games/ SHOP GYMCASTIC https://store.gymcastic.com/
- Flashdance: Welding, Wigs and The Gayest Welding Burlesque Bar (COMMISSIONED)
- The Robbery & The Ongoing Romanian Soap Opera: European Championships 2026
- Back from U.S. Championships: Hezly Rivera, Fred Richard & Worlds Teams
- Men's Final from the 2026 U.S. Gymnastics Championships
- Skye Blakely & Claire Pease Lead, Judging Controversy | 2026 U.S. Championships
Yurchenko on Simone
I was lucky enough to see Natalia Yurchenko compete in person. She instantly became one of my favourite gymnasts.
Natalia was the first woman to compete her eponymous vault, at 1982 Moscow News.
The element was controversial at first, Yurchenko explained. Another parallel to Biles’ daring innovations.
“There were a lot of debates to allow it or not to allow it,” Yurchenko recalls. “I performed it in America, and the American judges, some of them, were really against it because it seemed way too dangerous …
A boycott of the 1984 Games in Los Angeles meant Yurchenko never got the chance to compete her element at the Olympics.
Natalia Yurchenko on Simone Biles’ feat: “I was dreaming about seeing it”
Meg Griffin – Floor 😀
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Varna World Cup highlights
Varna World Cup MAG results
- Aurel BENOVIC (CRO) 14.950
- Artem DOLGOPYAT (ISR) 14.950
- Hayden ANDREW SKINNER (GBR) 14.600
Click PLAY or watch Benovic on YouTube.
Pommels
1- Illia KOVTUN (UKR) 14.550
2- Edoardo DE ROSA (ITA) 14.450
3- Abdulla AZIMOV (UZB) 14.150
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Rings
1- Vinzenz HOECK (AUT) 14.800
2- Salvatore MARESCA (ITA) 14.700
3- Marco SARRUGERIO (ITA) 14.450
Click PLAY or watch HOECK on YouTube.
Vault
1- Nazar CHEPURNY (UKR) 14.700
2- Marine DRAGULESCU (ROU) 14.525
3- Ivan TIKHONOV (AZE) 14.300
P Bars
1- Illia Kovtun (UKR) 15.100
2- Sergei ELTCOV (RUS) 14.950
3- Robert TVOROGAL (LIT) 14.350
H Bar
1- Tin SRBIC (CRO) 14.850
2- Carlo MACCHINI (ITA) 14.650
3- Krisztian BALAZS (HUN) 14.350
4- Robert TVOROGAL (LIT) 14.350
Varna World Cup results
Vault
1- Coline DEVILLARD (FRA) 14.150 (age 20)
2- Uliana PEREBINOSOVA (RUS) 13.950 (age 20)
3- Oksana CHUSOVITINA (UZB) 13.700 … (age 45) ✊
Bars
1- Uliana PEREBINOSOVA (RUS) 14.500
2- Diana VARINSKA (UKR) 14.200
3- Kelly Jay SIMM (GBR) 13.650
Beam
1- Anastasiia BACHYNSKA (UKR) 13.250
2- Marine BOYER (FRA) 13.000
3- Ondine ACHAMPONG (GBR) 12.900
Click PLAY or watch BACHYNSKA on YouTube.
Floor
1- Dildora ARIPOVA (UZB) 13.150
1- Hann SZUJO (HUN) 13.150
3- Uliana PEREBINOSOVA (RUS) 13.100
Alexa Moreno for Toyota
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Gymnastics Coaching.com 