Category: safety

Should PanAms be cancelled?

Recall that PanAms were moved from USA to Brazil.

The President of the Pan American Gymnastics Union (PAGU), Naomi Valenzo, confirmed to Gymnastics Now Monday morning that the artistic, rhythmic, and trampoline Senior Pan American Championships (commonly referred to as Pan Ams) will no longer take place in the United States.

Instead, Brazil has agreed to host the events in June …

Gymnastics Now

This meet is critical in that 4 additional Olympic spots are decided from the AA. Two for men, two for women.

BUT the pandemic is worse than ever in Brazil. Over 4,000 Covid-related deaths in 24 hours for the first time. Only 8% of the population has had the first dose of any vaccine. Their President is a COVID denier who opposes any lockdown measures.

How can Brazil be safe for international travel by June?

Is there enough time on the calendar to move it again? If so, where? Canada — for example — wouldn’t allow the international travel.

I feel PanAms will soon be cancelled. And that’s a shame for those gymnasts who’ve trained the past year for one last shot at Olympic qualification.

Cordelia linked to the FIG policy:

Greek gymnasts abused

Nearly two dozen Greek gymnasts alleged they suffered decades of abuse and neglect “bordering on torture” at the hands of their coaches, in a letter published on Wednesday.

The letter was sent this week to Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis by 22 female and male athletes, revealed by Greek daily EfSyn.

It alleged “harsh and abusive” practices dating back to 1985 included forced fasting, psychological and physical punishment and sexual harassment. …

Greece in recent months has been rocked by a wave of allegations of sexual abuse in the fields of arts, sport and education.

More than three years after the #MeToo movement surfaced in the United States, the code of silence in Greece was broken in December by a two-time Olympic sailing medallist, Sofia Bekatorou. …

Greek gymnasts allege decades of abuse by coaches

Evan Manivong – 14.75 vault

STICK. Then pulls out his vaccination card!

More than a million people have watched this vault.

“Go get vaccinated everyone.”

Click PLAY or watch Evan on CNN.

Click PLAY or watch an ABC interview on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/abcWNN/status/1379356558908350465

Jordyn Wieber to U.S. Olympic Reform Panel

The 16-member Commission will be responsible for conducting a study on matters related to the state of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement in the United States. …

There is a deadline of the end of July for it to deliver its recommendations and detailed report, but it seems certain that deadline will be extended.

human rights in Qatar

Some boycotted World Championships hosted in Doha.

I did go. Hopeful that Qatar will be a leader of Muslim nations in improving human rights. Soon.

The 2022 World Cup is a MUCH BIGGER deal.

I expect changes to be made. Quickly.

German national team during World Cup qualifying.

Congratulations University of Iowa

The team just missed qualifying to the final 16 — but I’d call Iowa 2021 one of the success stories of the season.

Leaders in social justice, too.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

Auburn withdraws from Regionals

The Auburn gymnastics team will not compete at the 2021 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional Championship this weekend due to positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing within the program.

The action is consistent with COVID-19 management requirements put forth by the NCAA and the Southeastern Conference.

Auburn Tigers

Spencer weighs in on how that affects everyone else:

The NCAA won’t redo brackets if the withdrawal happens more than 24 hours after they are made …

train saltos UP to high, soft mats

Technique developed allows gymnasts to stretch fully — for safest possible landings — when the high mats are removed.

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.

British Gymnastics delays

A group of 17 former elite gymnasts, including three Olympians, who are pursuing legal action said they were “disappointed but not surprised” that the governing body had failed to reply to a “Letter of Claim” sent on 25 February and said that every day of further delay risks “serious harms” to those still in the sport. …

racial bias in sport

With Simone and Gabby as black Olympic Champions, it’s easy to ASSuME that racial bias in sport is being reduced, at least in Gymnastics.

Not so.

At each step along the athlete’s journey — from youth sports to college to the professional world — there are glaring inequities, often along racial lines. …

Throughout history, white American athletes have been afforded the opportunity to improve unimpeded while minorities have been left to scratch and claw for every inch. …

UNEQUAL PLAYING FIELD
Simone Biles, right, hugs Gabby Douglas after the Secret U.S. Classic