Category: sport medicine

Nancy Armour: Postpone Tokyo Olympics

No one wants to see the Olympics and Paralympics postponed. But it’s the right thing to do, the responsible thing to do.

At this point, the only thing to do.

“Even if they said, ‘We’re going to postpone this two years,’ then I know. Then I can say ‘OK, I don’t have to stress the next three weeks trying to work out.’ I can self-quarantine and be safe and do everything they’re asking,” gymnast Colin Van Wicklen told USA TODAY Sports. …

… challenges that make it impossible to go forward with the Games as scheduled. Here’s a look at three of the biggest:

  • Training

  • Qualification

  • Anti-doping

Read more …

Opinion: Postpone Tokyo Olympics for the good of the athletes and the public

Sam Oldham interview

Sam Oldham won Bronze in Team at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

The youngest member of the squad.

Very eloquent, in this interview Sam discusses the challenges he faced mentally and physically during his career.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

 

 

20+ NCAA Achilles ruptures so far

There are many every season.

It’s a BIG risk for older, powerful gymnasts.

Georgia freshman Amanda Cashman is out.

Alabama’s Griffin James likely out.

ex-MSU coach Kathie Klages convicted

A jury on Friday convicted a former Michigan State University gymnastics coach of lying to police when she denied that two teen athletes told her of sexual abuse by sports doctor Larry Nassar in 1997, nearly 20 years before he was charged.

Kathie Klages, 65, was found guilty of a felony and a misdemeanor in a Lansing courthouse where Nassar was sentenced more than two years ago. Klages faces up to four years in prison at her April 15 sentencing.

She is the second person other than Nassar to be convicted of charges related to his serial molestation of young women and girls under the guise of medical treatment. …

Recall that Klages continued to support Nassar during his investigation — even asking Michigan State gymnasts to sign cards of support.

related – In a parallel story, then assistant wrestling coach Jim  Jordan asked his team to deny the sexual abuse of male wrestlers by team doctor Richard Strauss at Ohio State University.

Stauss committed suicide in 2005 after being accused of abusing at least 177 students.

 

Free SHIFT Sports Medicine Clinics 2020

FREE to the first 100 registrants at each.

Travel, hotel, and food paid by participants.

Open to gymnastics coaches, gymnastics medical providers, and strength and conditioning coaches working in gymnastics.

University of Utah – Saturday, June 13th, 2020 8:30am – 5:00pm

University of Alabama – Saturday, July 18th, 2020 8:30am – 5:00pm

Details.

Dr. Dave Tilley is the organizer.

Expected topics include:

Building Healthy Training Cultures For Athlete Wellness and High Performance
Training Methods for Skill and Level Development
Gymnastics Strength, Conditioning, and Physical Preparation Methods
Gymnastics Flexibility Methods – Science Meets Practical Applications
Understanding, Preventing, and Managing Gymnastics Injuries
Gymnastics Mental Health, Recovery, and Nutrition
TBD based on participant topic request via survey

 

Achilles tendon tears in College Gymnastics

The list is long already.

McGregor, Boise
Dickson, UGA
T Brovedani, UW
J Henderson, Iowa
A Zhong, BYU
Eleanor LaFountain, Ursinus
Lena Greene, OSU
K Coca, Pitt

College Gym News updates a major injuries list throughout the season.

related – Bill Sands – why so many NCAA Achilles tears? 

related – Dave Tilley – COMBATING ACHILLES TEARS IN GYMNASTICS (PT I): INVESTIGATING POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS 

Rachael Denhollander on USAG

Guardian: It’s been more than three years now since you came forward and this movement started. How do you feel about everything USA Gymnastics has done since?

Rachael Denhollander: Disappointed. They have completely refused any shred of transparency and accountability.

They have refused to identify even one thing that went wrong. They have refused to identify even one coach that was abusive or one abusive situation, to point to something and say, hey, we shouldn’t have allowed that.

And if you cannot even acknowledge the problem, you cannot fix the problem. …

Rachael Denhollander: ‘When you speak out against your own community, you lose everything’

Rest in Peace Melanie Coleman

Terrible news.

Melanie Coleman died after being injured on a Bars dismount in training.

“We are heartbroken and stunned by Melanie’s passing,” head coach Mary Fredericks said. “She was an incredibly hard worker and a sweet-spirited young woman. …”

Melanie’s family has set up a GoFundMe.com page, as well as a page that coordinates meal donations to the family at MealTrain.com.

Southern Connecticut State University Athletics Mourns Passing Of Gymnast Melanie Coleman