Category: safety

sex differences and sport

We are unique in having men and women do such different apparatus in a sport commonly called Artistic Gymnastics.

There are pros and cons, of course.

There are distinct differences between men and women. It’s not always logical to have women do exactly the same sport, same rules, same equipment as men.

For one thing, women are far more likely to suffer ACL injury than men.

It makes sense to change rules and put women at lower risk of ligament tears, if possible. Different landing mats, for example.

Simone’s Yurchenko Double Pike is as good or better than any male. BUT — on average — women are more flexible, less strong than men.

…Scientific questions of relative performance lead to those of player safety, and ultimately to philosophy: what do varying opinions about changing women’s game reveal about the purpose of sport in society? …

Economist – Women are not the same as men. Should the rules and kit of their sports be?

Economist has a good podcast on the topic.

The GymCastic interview with Steve Butcher touches on some of the same points.

Canadian SafeSport Program

SafeSport Gym Education is a collection of gymnastics organisations from across the country who worked hard to create documentary style videos to share what safe sport means from real people.

Completely unscripted from real athletes, real coaches and real parents.  This is a collection of moments, feelings and stories to educate us all. …

Link to SafeSport Gym Education Website

Click PLAY or watch ONE VIDEO on YouTube. Includes Felix Dolci, Ellie Black, and others.

FIG Safe Sport Symposium Oct 3-4, 2023

In conjunction with Artistic Worlds, FIG is running a Safe Sport symposium in Antwerp, Belgium.

It’s FREE. You can attend LIVE or online.

Register online.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Elena Mukhina 1979 Floor

Elena Mukhina was the 1978 World Championships AA champion. An amazing talent for her time.

Did Elena compete the first 1 1/2 twist step-out?

Recall the tragedy when she broke her neck two weeks before the opening of the 1980 Summer Olympics, leaving her permanently quadriplegic. That was on a now-banned rollout skill on Floor. Her coach Mikhail Klimenko was blamed by Elena.

She died likely of complications from quadriplegia on 22 December 2006 (aged 46). Klimenko died of cancer age-65.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

RUS not competing Asian Games

This makes it even more difficult to believe Russian athletes will end up competing the Paris Olympics.

The 19th Asian Games — confusingly called 2022 Asian Games — are scheduled to be held from 23 September to 8 October 2023 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.

Gymnastics should welcome ALL

Tom Farden – under review

This is the first time I’ve ever heard of a complaint about the Utah Head Coach.

According to 5 former gymnasts, mothers of 4 gymnasts, and 2 former staff members who worked with Farden during his 23-year collegiate coaching career, he’s accused of verbal and emotional abuse.

Sydney Soloski, for one, defended Farden. And she’s quite outspoken about ethics.

future USA Gymnastics Training Centre?

Interesting idea.

There are pros and cons with National Training Centres. Recall that Gymnastics Australia quit the Australian Institute of Sport due to problems.

MAG and all other FIG disciplines would benefit most by training with WAG, the highest profile discipline.

IF it happens, USAG will have to choose a location. More central geographically would make for easier travel logistics.

Certainly any State with abortion restrictions should not be considered. After all, USAG wants to call this a “Wellness Center“.

Worst are those in dark orange.

Axios – Where abortion has been banned now that Roe v. Wade is overturned

Human rights and safety of athletes should be highest priority for parents sending their children off to camp.

mental health in sports

The best way for the coach to deal with psychological problems is to treat them like physical injuries.

One day your athlete might have a sore ankle. Anther day lack of motivation. Or unexpected fear of a skill. Even depression.

You’d have experts as part of the coaching team. Trainers. Psychologists. Etc.

Athletes can recover from a sore ankle. Athletes can get over fear issues.

In recent years, mental issues among athletes have gained visibility thanks to role models like Simone Biles and Ricky Rubio; now, the focus is on prevention and tangible action …

There’s no longer a taboo. There’s no more secrecy or stigma. Tennis star Carlos Alcaraz talks openly about his psychologist. So does Spanish badminton player Carolina Marín. 

Ricky Rubio recently announced that he is taking a break from basketball for his mental wellbeing. 

Simone Biles took a step back from gymnastics for two years to take three steps forward now. She left the Tokyo Olympics and today, she is thinking about the games in Paris. …

Mental health in sports: How the new generations broke a taboo and learned to take a break

Simone for ‘Friends of the Children’

Friends of the Children is a national nonprofit organization that selects and invites youth – all of whom have unique talents, interests and dreams, and face multiple systemic obstacles – to be paired with a paid, professional mentor called a Friend.

We hire and train Friends to support our youth from as early as age 4 through high school graduation – 12+ years, no matter what. …

Friends of the Children