Russia could be banned from Tokyo 2020

Putin loves sport.

I suspect corruption in Russian Anti-Doping goes all the way to the top.

The World Anti-Doping Agency has given Russia 3 weeks to explain how multiple positive drug tests were deleted from a database during the agency’s investigation into the massive doping scandal that broke in 2016.

Why it matters: If Russia doesn’t comply, the country will likely be banned from next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo. …

Axios

Who can compete WAG? MAG?

Obviously every athlete has the right to compete in sport.

In many sports, athletes must compete EITHER in the women’s category, or the men’s.

In the case of Caster Semenya, she was allowed to compete in the women’s division until an IAAF rule change. She is appealing that May 2019 decision.

In Connecticut, male athletes who identify as female have been allowed to compete in Track and Field.

Two of their competitors, Selina Soule and Alanna Smith, feel that’s unfair to them.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights has agreed to investigate the situation in Connecticut.

We have a long, long way to go before this issue is decided.

Abigail Pesta’s The Girls

I haven’t read The Girls yet.

But here’s one review:

The survivors and those who advocate for them are the only voices telling the story. This is partially due to the fact that numerous others in the larger investigation—people who have been subsequently fired, charged or outed as having aided Nassar—refused to comment or never responded to Pesta’s requests.

Pesta also makes no effort to explain Nassar’s motivations or to locate the “man” behind the “monster.” It’s a choice that makes the book stronger, and as a true crime story, it makes a case for how these narratives can be told in a victim-centering way. …

Abigail Pesta’s The Girls Succeeds by Solely Giving a Voice to Sexual Assault Survivors—Not Their Abuser

street acrobat Oliver De La Rosa

Oliver performs in NY City and coaches at Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation — a non-profit organization that provides free and low cost gymnastics to urban youth.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Rachael Denhollander – What Is a Girl Worth?

Available now hardcover, Kindle and audio.

Same day Rachael published her children’s book – How Much Is a Little Girl Worth?

It’s available hardcover and Kindle.

Click PLAY or watch Rachael on YouTube.

Tom Meadows interview

Tom Meadows is one of the top age group men’s coaches in the USA at Cypress.

This is a long listen, but well worth playing in the background, if you can. His daughter is a 14-year-old Level 10 — so he addresses the problems of the American WAG program as well.

Tom feels boys and especially girls slow down to reduce injuries and increase longevity in the sport.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Katelyn Ohashi – ESPN interview

One of Katelyn’s best interviews.

To the few confused people still out there — Katelyn takes ownership of her own body. Not going to listen to others to tell her what to think or what to do.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Katelyn Ohashi: ‘I wanted to bring the joy back to gymnastics’

Rhythmic gymnast Jessica Howard

Jessica Howard was a 3-time National Champion from Florida.

At the Ranch in 1999 she was abused by the criminal doctor.

The ranch turned out to be a nightmare. Jessica was there solely to see Nassar for a week, not to train, and she felt isolated, especially since no parents were allowed there. “It was like a prison on an island where you couldn’t escape.”

She was the perfect target for a predator …

What Gymnastics Did To Jessica Howard

a Gym Mom tells it like it IS

Yep.

Gymnastics is one crazy sport. Some days mom Misty Brown wonders whether or not it’s all worth it.

This popular post is from 2017:

words across the water

 

Here’s an update from 2018:

just to be here

Personally I’ll be cheering for Beach Ries who in 2019 is a Level 10 at GTC Utah. She simply won’t give up. Loves her team.