Category: psychology

deep dive – Men’s Gymnastics in Paris

I learned a lot from listening to Kensley and Sam recap the Paris Games.

Both were unconvinced by the judging of the Floor Apparatus Final.

Should Yulo have won Gold?

Paul Hall stepped down as British Gymnastics men’s head national coach. Recall he was appointed in 2018 after Eddie van Hoof was removed. Eddie is now leading the resurgent Canadian team.

Kensley was in Paris as an analyst. Shares some behind the scenes stories.

Sam talks much about strategy, team building, and psychology of competing at the highest level.

He has advice on what the USA needs for Los Angelos 2028.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (1hr 45min)

father consoles daughter after missing medal

Fred Sirieix and his daughter Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix in Paris.

THIS is how to parent.

mental training of routines at the competition

Paul Juda was amazingly consistent over his Olympic run.

Beacon, the USAG “therapeutic companion”

Follow Beacon on Instagram.

Introducing Beacon: The dog that helps the U.S. gymnastics team after Simone Biles’ mental health problems

inspiring kids to do Gymnastics

Handing out medals to just a few is only one small goal of the Olympic Movement.

Motivating children to do sport — I’d argue — is much more important.

when will AI help coaches?

Online VIDEO and YouTube in particular was the greatest technological innovation for coaches.

But what has Artificial Intelligence done for coaches, so far?

Coaching is so individualized, it might be one of the last domains for using AI.

Google is being criticized for this TV ad run during the Olympics. But I’m OK with it.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is awesome.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

celebrating at the Olympics

My gut reaction — as a former cranky old judge — to Ray Zapata celebrating after hitting Floor and qualifying for the Final was … too much for the Olympics.

I would prefer gymnasts do that after stepping down from the podium.

He had saluted the judges. No deduction.

Many disagreed. Many want to see more honest emotion from gymnasts at the end of their routine, even if still on the podium.

Here’s the argument for letting athletes show their emotions.