Category: history

R.I.P. Roger Counsil

Roger L. Counsil (born January 11, 1935 in Wood River, Illinois died August 8, 2017) was one of the most successful gymnastics coaches in the United States and headed the United States Gymnastics Federation, now known as USA Gymnastics.

In his 17 years of coaching at Indiana State University, Counsil’s teams produced 46 All-Americans and his team won the 1977 NCAA Division I championship.

Among the outstanding individuals Counsil coached were former Sycamore great Kurt Thomas and Dave Seal, another ISU Hall of Fame member.

Jake Dalton retires

Double Olympian (2012, 2016) Jake Dalton is hanging up the grips.

One of the all time greats for team USA.

… The 25-year-old fan favorite from Reno, Nevada is now focused on helping manage his family’s Gymnastics Nevada gyms in Reno and Sparks.

“I’m trying to build myself up and save up to get into an ownership role, so I can purchase the gyms from them,” Dalton said. “That’s definitely my long-term goal: to stay in the sport, help kids go as far as possible in the sport, [and] make a lot of memories.” …

Inside Gymnastics 

gymnasts with most worlds medals

1 Svetlana Khorkina Russia 9 8 3 20
2 Gina Gogean Romania 9 2 4 15
3 Simone Biles United States 10 2 2 14
4 Larisa Latynina Soviet Union 8 4 1 13
5 Lavinia Milosovici Romania 5 3 5 13
6 Ludmilla Tourischeva Soviet Union 7 2 2 11

Click over to the Gymternet to see the entire list.

Compulsories Vaults from 1972-1996

The Tsuk tuck quadrennial was tough. You had to completely finish the 1/2 turn on to the horse or take deduction.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Kohei v Oleg in Rio

I was OK with Uchimura winning over Oleg. But I wouldn’t have complained if it had gone the other way.

Click PLAY or watch highlights on Facebook.

Cuban Gymnastics in 2017

David Eaton, TURN Managing Director and Founder, posted a retrospective on Cuban men’s Gymnastics: Lopez, Roche, Cuervo, Richards, Suarez, Tamayo.

Eaton visited the Nacional Escuela de Alto Rendimiento (National School of High Performance) in the suburbs of Havana, Cuba – a trip which was interrupted by the death of former leader, Fidel Castro. Click through to read his very interesting essay.

The Cuban Mystique

Many Cuban gymnasts defected over the years, most recently in Toronto 2015.

Four athletes are coming to Worlds 2017 Montreal. Hopefully they are all happy enough at home to return after the meet.

STRONG legs – Gervasio Deferr

Gervasio Deferr was Olympic champion on Vault at both 2000 and 2004 Olympics. Silver on Floor at the 2008 Games with this routine.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

new interview with Oksana Chusovitina

The best I’ve ever read.

Q: Your friend, Tatiana Gutsu, won gold at the all-around even though she did not qualify for the final. At the last moment, she replaced Roza Galieva, who, according to the official sources, got sick.

A: Perhaps, Roza really felt unwell then. But Gutsu was the strongest gymnast on the team at that moment. It would be very surprising if Galieva competed in the all-around. Back then the team management made all the decisions. The one who was told to compete – competed. …

A: I’ll confess, in 1998 I thought I would retire. I tore my Achilles and gave birth to my son. I had a break of almost two years. I wasn’t even thinking about gymnastics. But after Alisher’s birth, I came to the gym just to condition a bit, to get back into shape, because a week after giving birth my weight was 1 kg lower than during the competitive career. At that time they bought new equipment for the gym in Tashkent. I swear, I just wanted to hang from the bars …

Q: Your only motivation to continue is your love for gymnastics?

A: No, not just love. I have a dream – to win an Olympic medal of any kind for Uzbekistan. I am moving towards that goal step by step. …

CHUSOVITINA: I AM A STRONGER ATHLETE NOW THAT I WAS IN 1992