Category: history

Karin Lichey’s perfect 40.0

February 23, 1996 perfect 40.0 in the all-around.

Karin Lichey Usry attended the University of Georgia from 1996–1999, and was part of both NCAA Championship teams in 1998 and 1999. …

She won the Honda Sports Award as the nations’s top gymnast in 1999.

Of course it’s impossible to compare the over-scores of today with the over-scores of that era. Karin did have a terrific night.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. It was recorded by a friend of Assistant Gym Dog Coach Doug McGavin.

R.I.P. Rusty Mitchell

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Rusty Mitchell, who coached men’s gymnastics at The University of New Mexico from 1966-99, passed away over the weekend at the age of 80. …

Mitchell’s Lobos won 11 Western Athletic Conference championships out of a possible 18, and he produced 16 NCAA individual champions and 53 All-Americans. …

He was twice selected as Assistant Coach for the U.S. Olympic Men’s Gymnastic Team, Mexico City, (1968) & Munich, Germany, (1972).  …

GoLobos

We believe Rusty was the first to successfully compete Double Back on Floor in the Olympics. 1964 Tokyo.

Oklahoma record 198.575

Trinity Thomas – Black History Month

At Trinity’s Gym growing up there weren’t many Black kids.

Denelle Pedrick interview

It’s been a long, strange journey for Denelle Pedrick from age-14 little-bit-of-a-train-wreck to Worlds medalist for Canada, qualifying the team to the Paris Olympics.

Listen to part 1 of the interview on Nicole Langevin’s podcast – What Makes DENELLE PEDRICK Think…” pt. 1

Click PLAY or watch a few highlights on YouTube.

She details how she learned the Pedrick by accident when Ellie and her coach were at the Tokyo Olympics. It started by working the Hecht back tuck dismount.

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Lara Mori retired

Tokyo Olympian Lara Mori, age-24, was the 2018 Mediterranean Games champion in the all-around.

Jessica Hutchinson – Floor

Jessica Hutchinson competing a variation on her mom’s — Silvia Mitova — Olympic Floor routine.

Great forward layout 2/1 twist.

Jessica’s Grandmother was Olympic gymnast Maya Blagoeva.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Here’s the TV version uploaded to Twitter.

Click PLAY or watch Silvia’s 1992 routine on YouTube.

USAG Hall of Fame 2023

Congratulations.

  • Steven Gluckstein, Olympian in men’s trampoline and FIG World Cup Series champion
  • Jasmine “Jazzy” Kerber, 2x Rhythmic World Championships all-around finalist
  • Cecile and Laurent Landi, coaches of numerous women’s artistic Olympic and World champions
  • Danell Leyva, Olympic men’s all-around bronze medalist and 2x apparatus silver medalist
  • Rome Milan, longtime judge, coach and sport historian, Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Vladimir Vladev, coach of 2021 World silver medalists and longtime acro club owner

Ellie Downie retired

Ellie Downie is the All-around 2017 European gymnastics champion, the first gymnast to win a major all-around title for Great Britain.

The younger sister of double European champion Becky Downie, Downie first came to prominence as an outstanding junior gymnast at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics, winning four medals. …

Ellie details how she made the decision on a podcast. Listen here.

The Gymternet wishes her all the best in future endeavours.

Happy 102nd Birthday Ágnes Keleti

A famed Hungarian-Israeli retired Olympic and world champion artistic gymnast and coach, Ágnes is the oldest living Olympic champion and medalist, reaching her 102nd birthday January 9, 2023.