Category: safety

USAG cancels a club membership

USA Gymnastics terminated the membership for American Institute of Gymnastics in Aurora effective Oct. 11 because the gym owners violated policy and membership requirements, said Toby Stark, director of safe sport for the national organization.

The gym is specifically accused of violating a requirement that member gyms don’t associate in any way with a person who is permanently ineligible for membership in USA Gymnastics, Stark said. …

Chicago Tribune

Update – It sounds like the banned member is Michael Cardamone who was convicted in 2005 of sex abuse.

spotting Men on Horizontal Bar

Extremely difficult. A bad idea in most cases, I’d say. You are just as likely to cause an injury as prevent one.

Almost all male gymnasts try to land flat when they miss, absorbing the impact over as much surface area as possible

Click PLAY or watch our World AA Champ on Tumblr.

https://www.tumblr.com/16-233/166240174119/actualasiantrash-back-when-ruoteng-fell-on-his

Rape and the Justice System in a College Town

Gymnovosti posted on how rape is viewed in former Soviet Union nations. Things are even worse there for girls and women than in the west.

The protection afforded rapists there, however, reminded me of the protection afforded American Football stars.  🙁

_____ originally posted June 2016

I’m worried when gymnasts – male and female – go off to University.

College athletes have, at least, a support system on arrival. A team. Coaches and staff looking out for them.

You would never have seen Brock Turner’s face if he had been sentenced 3-5 years. Or more. He could’ve gotten 14 years.

brockturner

When he was sentenced only 6 months people asked:

• Is it because he’s a Stanford student?
• Is it because he’s a scholarship athlete?
• Is it because he’s white?

This case led me to read Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer.

The acclaimed author researched 230 rapes in town, most of which either weren’t prosecuted or the prosecutions were bungled. Most rapists walked away without punishment.

This guy did go to trial.  If I were on the jury I would have found star quarterback Jordan Johnson guilty of rape.

Jordan Johnson

Instead the state of Montana paid Johnson $245,000 under a settlement where he agreed to drop claims that the school and its officials mishandled the investigation against him.

This guy – Brandon Vandenberg – former Vanderbilt football player,  was found guilty for his role in the gang rape of an unconscious female student in 2013.

Brandon Vandenburg

Only one of his rapes. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison.

The Department of Education has an investigation ongoing into 192 universities alleged to be mishandling sexual-assault complaints.

A good gift for a student going away to University for the first time would be this book – Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town

Most young people don’t know the law. Are clueless when it comes to date rape. Acquaintance rape. 😦

related – my full review of the Krakauer’s book

petition demanding change at USAG

By any standards, response by USA Gymnastics to the Nassar scandal has been slow at best. I assume their lawyers are advising foot dragging in hopes of reducing the number of liability suits.

Three of Nassar’s victims ask you to sign a petition:

Jamie Dantzscher – 2000 Olympic Bronze Medalist, Artistic Gymnastic

Jessica Howard – 3 Time National Champion, Rhythmic Gymnastics

Jeanette Antolin – Former USA National Team Member, Artistic Gymnastics

Change USA Gymnastics Leadership in Wake of Sex Abuse Scandal

People hoped that the forced resignation of President Steve Penny in March 2017 would make a difference.

Has it?

Penny got a $1 million severance package from an organization with annual revenue of about $23.7 million (2015).

If USA Gymnastics Chairman Paul Parilla resigns tomorrow, will USAG athletes be safer?

I’m not so sure. 

But lacking any other way to pressure a monopoly like USA Gymnastics, I signed.

 

“Stranger Danger” – tips for kids

One example.

read more – Beyond Stranger Danger: 6 Off the Wall Tips That Can Save Your Kid’s Life

USAG responds to McKayla Maroney

“USA Gymnastics admires the courage of those, like McKayla Maroney, who have come forward to share their personal experiences with sexual abuse. Because of their strength in coming forward, predators can be held accountable for their actions. We, like so many others, are outraged and disgusted by the conduct of which Larry Nassar is accused. We are sorry that any athlete has been harmed during her or his gymnastics career.

“We are strengthening and enhancing our policies and procedures regarding abuse, as well as expanding our educational efforts to increase awareness of signs to watch for and reporting suspicions of abuse, including the obligation to immediately report. USA Gymnastics, its members and community are committed to working together to keep our athletes as safe as possible.”

USAG

SafeSport updates

If you are trying to make sense of recent accusations and denials online, click over to GymCastic.

Jessica puts together a summary at the 1 hour mark of the audiocast.

SafeSport updates about Dominque Moceanu, Mary Lou Retton, Michigan State, Jeena Nelson (a sex offender volunteering at Altius Gymnastics Club in Utah, not the one in WI) and 1992 Olympic Champion, Tatiana Gutsu has accused Vitaly Scherbo of rape.

277: Post-Worlds Therapy Session

McKayla Maroney molested by Nassar

Read her statement on twitter. #MeToo

no deduction on Radilov’s landing

How a vault should be landed. Bringing forces to zero in the safest ways possible.

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

 
These landings are super dangerous.Some of his competitors injured on Vault landing at Worlds 2018: Uchimura, Audrys Nin Reyes, Yang Hak-seon.