Category: psychology

Nick Ruddock interviews Nick Blanton

Nick and Nick coached together years ago in the U.K.

Today Nick Blanton is one of the top coaches and clinicians in Canada.

They talk coaching philosophy in this inspiring audiocast.

Aleksandra Soldatova on eating disorders

Aleksandra Soldatova is the 2018 World All-around Rhythmic bronze medalist representing Russia.  She plans to try out for the Tokyo Olympics.

“I’d once starved myself for several days before realizing I was on the brink… that I’d reached my limit. Then I found the courage to tell my coach about my problems,” Soldatova said.

The 22-year-old has currently put her sporting career on hold to allow her the space to deal with her health problems.

She said she has managed to stop her bulimic behaviors with the help of her coach, her friends, and a psychologist, but admitted she still has nightmares in which she gains weight, which remains a fear. …

‘I could have starved for days’: Russian gymnastics queen Alexandra Soldatova on battle with bulimia

HAPPY to be back at Gymnastics

Compared with many team sports, it’s easier to maintain physical distancing in an individual sport like Gymnastics.

Darcie Fellows posted an excellent video showing the benefits of kids getting back to Gymnastics after the COVID-19 lockdown.

Click PLAY or watch Santa Rosa Gymnastics on YouTube.

Thanks Mary.

Dave Tilley on Athlete A

#GymnastAlliance

Dave is pissed at bad coaches. 

Quit coaching if you can’t do it safely. 

He points out there are many excellent, ethical, safe coaches too.  We don’t hear about them.

He calls for mandatory sport science coach education in the USA.  The States is the only major western nation where coach education is not required.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Sam Mikulak will retire after this season

Sam’s done a lot of reflecting during COVID-19 shutdown.

He’s engaged to be married, too.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Chellsie: “It’s a comeback”

#official

The 2005 world all-around champion, mother of two, age-32, says she wants to compete.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

related – THIS CHELLSIE MEMMEL COMEBACK IS LOOKING MORE AND MORE REAL

following the #GymnastAlliance allegations

If you are having trouble keeping up with the ongoing series of gymnasts brave enough to come forward with incidents of past abuse, catch up on the GymCastic podcast.

432: #GymnastAlliance

434: Svetlana Khorcanceled

Svetlana Khorkina was a fantastic gymnast. But she’s clearly an egomaniac with no empathy. Literally the last person in the Gymnastics world who should be commenting on safety and ethics.

Dutch team enjoys a ‘healthy sports climate’?

UPDATE

The Dutch Federation has taken allegations very seriously.  And especially the admissions of Gerrit Beltman, now coaching in Singapore. 

Last week, the KNGU announced an independent investigation into all Gym Sports.  And urged athletes to report abuses to the Center for Safe Sports in the Netherlands. 

And now they’ve stopped the coaches of the current National Team from working with those athletes while the investigation is underway.  Gymnasts can still train, but not with their personal coaches. 

‘The stories are coming from all sides,’ KNGU chairwoman Monique Kempff told a news conference. ‘And if you want to make a cultural shift, you cannot take half measures.’

Read more at DutchNews.nl

___ original post from July 28, 2020 below:

Good news.  Things have changed for the better.

The current Team Netherlands supports their coaching system.

The statement can be read on the Instagram pages of Sanne Wevers, Lieke Wevers, Eythora Thorsdottir, Vera van Pol, Laura de Witt, Tisha Volleman, Sara van Disseldorp, Naomi Visser, Kirsten Polderman and Sanna Veerman. Céline van Gerner, who stopped last August, also shared the statement. …

“The past period has been an accumulation of sad news from the world of gymnastics. First internationally, but now also nationally. Our condolences go to everyone who has had negative experiences in our sport.”

“We do not recognize ourselves in the image that is now sketched of Dutch gymnastics with regard to the stories of the past. Where in the past there was room for physical and mental flogging, this is a thing of the past … 

National gymnastics team responds: ‘We do not recognize ourselves in the sketched image’

Netherlands at Doha 2018

Gymnastics training and growth

Dr. Keith Russell, former Canadian Men’s Artistic Gymnastics National Coach and personal coach of two Olympians. Past President of the FIG Scientific Commission.

This session is mainly MAG and WAG.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.