Category: psychology

Monika Míčková on eating disorders in Rhythmic

Monika Míčková is a retired Czech rhythmic gymnast. She competed Worlds 6 times.

She posted an awful retrospective of her long career. It begins with …

You’re fat.

You are lazy.

You are incompetent.

You are stupid.

From the mouth of the coaches I heard these words almost every day and took them as a normal part of the drill. They also behaved equally to other girls, regardless of age and performance. No one imagined something strange going on, everyone accepted that it was supposed to be. …

You can read it here. (Czech)

I used Google Translate.

(via

I love Commonwealth Games

It’s a big time meet … yet everyone is still smiling and happy.

Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, Malaysia

For smaller nations like Wales, it’s like the Olympics.

Latalia Bevan and Maisie Methuen are excellent gymnasts.

The AA Final was actually a very good competition for most of the competitors. Congratulations.

Nick Ruddock interview

Amanda Turner:

Ruddock served as junior national coach for the British women’s team from 2010-14. In the team competition at the Junior European championships, the British women rose from fifth in 2010, to fourth in 2012 and then to second in 2014, placing behind gold medalist Russia and ahead of Romania. The team also won five more individual medals that year in historic success: the all-around bronze and vault gold for Ellie Downie, floor exercise gold for Catherine Lyons, floor silver and vault bronze for Amy Tinkler.

He then spent a year as personal coach to Durham’s Amy Tinkler, the 2015 British national champion who helped Britain win a team bronze medal at the 2015 World Championships and then captured the bronze medal on floor at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

IG: You’ve said that most coaches focus too much on the technical side, instead of what you have called the big picture of “happy/healthy/hungry to learn.” How did this idea come to you?

NR: … Coaches now have access to every single drill and exercise ever used, so these no longer form part of a competitive advantage for people. It’s now the application of this knowledge, the standards and crucially; the delivery of the content that is the “difference that makes the difference.”

Soft skills such as communication, emotional intelligence and relationship management should be at the core of a coach’s skill set, but I don’t know too many coaches who sign up for online courses or workshops in these areas. They’re not as glamorous, but will have a far greater effect on their performance.

NR: … I sought the very best mentors early on in my coaching whom I owe an awful lot to, notably Al Fong and Armine Barutyan-Fong, and Valeri Liukin, who all took me under their wing, and continue to guide me. The Fongs have created a truly remarkable environment, one which I have never seen emulated elsewhere …

read more …

IG Online Interview: Nick Ruddock (Great Britain)

Nick just launched a coaching group called his Inner Circle. Those who sign up will have personal access for resources and advice.

related – GymCon 2018 – June 24th in the UK

in praise of coaches

… She walked onto the floor proud and confident. Her routine was very well done especially for doing it all together for the first time. She made a small mistake in one part but she owned it nonetheless. At the end of the routine she started to cry. I immediately assumed that she was upset with herself.

… There was a moment of awkward silence. Suddenly, she ran over and gave me the biggest hug. I was shocked and confused. She said “I did it! I’m so proud of myself I can’t believe I did it!”

She was in tears because she was so happy. …

A Positive Moment To Cherish

related – To my Gymnast’s Coaches, Thank You