Category: Olympics

controversial Béla Károlyi

Getting over the shock of Béla’s death at only age-82, many are still wrestling with conflicting emotions about the legendary coach.

YES he inspired many around the world. YES he helped popularize the sport in the USA.

But many, many gymnasts were injured and psychologically damaged by the Károlyi system which I would call unscientific and unsafe.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Béla Károlyi was never convicted of any crime. You might argue that he escaped justice many times.

GymCastic has always done a good job covering the controversies. Listen to this PODCAST episode if you want to know more:

The Legacy of Bela Karolyi

Béla Károlyi is dead

Controversial coach Béla Károlyi has died, age-82.

One Romanian site says he was living in Huntsville, Texas at the time.

In my opinion, Béla was no technical coach, but a great motivator and promoter.

Without question, he helped popularize Artistic Gymnastics around the world, personal coach to two Olympic champions.

Many of those who knew him best had mixed feelings.

I felt his training methodology was unscientific. Unsafe.

Márta was somewhat better — but in the early 2000s, still required kids to do 10 routines / day immediately before competition. Dumb. Dangerous.

Worst of all, Károlyi success in the USA motivated Steve Nunno and others to emulate harsh coaching.

Márta Károlyi remained the national team coordinator for USA Gymnastics until 2016.

In 2024, we are far better off with elite American leaders like Alicia Sacramone Quinn and Chellsie Memmel.

“I Have Made Their Lives Miserable”

That’s what famed gymnastics teacher Bela Karolyi says about the rival coaches who criticize his ruthless methods—but he could say the same about the girls he is training to become Olympic champions.

Olympic Artistic Swimming

Twin sisters seem to excel in Artistic Swimming.

Artistic swimming (formerly called synchronized swimming) in Paris had total of 96 athletes competing in two medal events, namely the women’s duet and the mixed team.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

“Simone Biles Rising!” – BEST LIMITED DOCUMENTARY SERIES

“Simone Biles Rising!” won the Critics Choice Documentary Award for BEST LIMITED DOCUMENTARY SERIES.

https://twitter.com/oxentepipoca/status/1845866840087769278

Simone Biles Rising

This 4 part documentary on Netflix is extremely good.

It was fun reliving Paris.

Good editing. They got the Gymnastics right. Yet didn’t overwhelm the general public with too much technical jargon.

All gymnasts should see it if only to know that EVEN Simone Biles gets nervous at age-27. It’s normal.

Laurie Hernandez is the best colour commentator.

I was impressed with Joscelyn, too. So charismatic and well spoken.

Simone’s Mom is charming. I’m not surprised she got so much screen time.

I did NOT enjoy reliving Simone’s (possible) calf injury in Paris. … Whew.

Imagine the storyline if she had withdrawn before Vault in qualifications.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

GymCastic has a comprehensive review.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

On the Olympic qualifying rules 2028

Hardy Fink again encourages Federations to vote for a return to the system used 2005 to 2021.

He details why the current system is not working in this document.

29 Olympic Qualification Competitions, but the Rules Were Approved Again.Download

top male gymnasts 2021-2024

According to zhoxxyy.

Click through for the full story.

1. Hashimoto Daiki – JPN 🇯🇵
Olympic Team Champion and 2022 & 2023 All-Around World Champion
1 Oly Gold / 4 World Gold / 5 World Silver| 37 points
2. Zhang Boheng – CHN 🇨🇳
Olympic All-Around Vice Champion, 2021 All-Around World Champion
2 Oly Silver / 1 Oly Bronze / 2 World Gold / 1 World Silver| 26 points
3. Zou Jingyuan – CHN 🇨🇳
Olympic Champion & 2022 World Champion on Parallel Bars
1 Oly Gold / 2 Oly Silver / 2 World Gold / 1 World Silver| 25 points
4. Carlos Yulo – PHI 🇵🇭
Olympic Champion on Floor & Vault & 2021 World Champion on Vault
2 Oly Gold / 1 World Gold / 2 World Silver / 1 World Bronze | 24 points
5. Shinnosuke Oka – JPN 🇯🇵
Olympic All-Around, Team & High Bar Champion
3 Oly Gold / 1 Oly Bronze| 22 points
6. Liu Yang – CHN 🇨🇳
Olympic Champion & 2023 World Champion on Rings
1 Oly Gold / 1 Oly Silver / 1 World Gold / 1 World Silver | 16 points
7. Rhys McClenaghan – IRL 🇮🇪
Olympic Champion on Pommel Horse and 2022 & 2023 World Champion
1 Oly Gold / 2 World Gold | 14 points
8. Kazuma Kaya – JPN 🇯🇵
Olympic Team Champion & 2021 Vice Champion on Pommel Horse
1 Oly Gold / 1 World Gold / 2 World Silver | 13 points
9. Illia Kovtun – UKR 🇺🇦
Olympic Vice Champion Parallel Bars & 2023 All-Around Vice Champion
1 Oly Silver / 1 World Silver / 1 World Bronze | 12 points
10. Stephen Nedoroscik – USA 🇺🇸
Olympic Bronze Medalist & 2021 World Champion on Pommel Horse
2 Oly Bronze / 1 World Gold| 11 points (tie)
10. Su Weide – CHN 🇨🇳
Olympic Team Silver Medalist & 2023 Bronze Medalist on High Bar
1 Oly Silver / 1 Gold World / 1 Silver World / 1 Bronze World | 11 points (tie)

Hashimoto Daiki

coach Sam Mikulak

Great gymnast. Great coach.

U.S. Olympians at the White House

Celebrating excellence in American sport.