Category: sport medicine

Fuzzy Benas interview

What a story!

Christy Sandmaier:

After winning national “Rookie of the Year” honors, Benas underwent shoulder surgery following his freshman NCAA season in 2022. Then, just as he came back from that injury, a pumpkin carving accident severed a nerve in his hand, requiring a four-hour surgical repair. Just two days after being medically cleared to resume training after his hand injury, Benas suffered an Achilles tendon tear while training on floor.

“Difficult doesn’t really describe it,” Benas says of his long road to recovery. “I admit there were some dark times, when I wondered if I’d be back here, but now I am and, yeah, it feels good.”

At January’s Rocky Mountain Open, Benas, competing in his first All-Around competition since April 2022, put an exclamation point on his comeback, earning the highest tally of his career, and the NCAA season to date, with a massive 85.2 six-event total. …

Inside Gymnastics – Call it a Comeback – Oklahoma’s Fuzzy Benas is back, and better than ever

“Enhanced Games” with no drug testing?

One again, dumb people are planning a multi-sport games with no restrictions on performance enhancing substances.

Gymnastics included.

Here’s what happened last time this idea came up. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

should FIG require a proper “landing”?

Male FIG gymnasts must show control on landing. I’d say right now there is TOO MUCH emphasis on STICK in MAG FIG.

Obviously, FIG women have never been required to show control. Absolutely no control often results in a very small deduction for WAG.

I’m of mixed feelings on this question:

should FIG require a proper “landing”?

On the one hand, it would force coaches to include dismounts that are more fully mastered. A good thing. AND it would help separate the best of the best routines.

On the other hand, I fear more injuries on landing might result. Stepping or hopping out of a high impact landing is an excellent way to dissipate forces. Gymnasts trying to “SAVE” a competition landing could suffer more injuries.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Giarnni Regini-Moran documentary

Giarnni’s quest for Paris.

The comeback from posterior cruciate ligament injury.

Inspiring.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

FIG Para-Gymnastics webinar

Gymnastics and acrobatic sports are difficult to modify for the Paralympics.

However, 12 nations have Para-Gymnastics programs running already.

Special Olympics Gymnastics is much more available.

The inclusion of gymnastics in the programme of the Paralympic Games has always been part of FIG President Morinari Watanabe’s vision. In this sense, the FIG has created the Paralympics and Special Olympics Working Group that is actively working towards the inclusion of the discipline in the programme of the Paralympic Games. To help achieve this goal, a roadmap has been developed. 

We are happy to invite you to watch the first para-gymnastics webinar on the FIG Education YouTube channel. 

via email

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. #inspiring

FIG WTC Antwerp Worlds Report

2023 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships Antwerp, BEL

Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Technical Committee Report

fig-wag-wtc-worlds-2023-reportDownload

WaPo investigation into NCAA abuse

For many, many gymnasts the opportunity for a College scholarship to gain their education is a fantastic experience. Indeed, the vast majority of gymnasts I’ve spoken with are happy with their decision to compete after Club.

BUT it doesn’t work for all. I’m particularly concerned about risk of serious injury competing so many times each season in NCAA.

Recently, Molly Hensley-Clancy and Emily Giambalvo did a deep dive into female college gymnasts complaints for the Washington Post:

Beneath NCAA gymnastics’ glow, a familiar ‘toxic’ culture

Female gymnasts say college was supposed to offer a reprieve from intense club programs. Then they arrived on campus and found more of the same.

I believe that story is not behind the paywall.

Schools identified in the article:

  • University of North Carolina
  • LSU
  • Utah
  • Penn State
  • Clemson
  • Utah State

Eating disorders are common for many young women, especially college athletes. But studies consistently find female gymnasts are at a staggeringly high risk, with a 2004 study finding 42 percent of gymnasts and other elite “aesthetic sport” athletes, such as figure skaters, had disordered eating habits, compared with 16 percent in sports like soccer or basketball.

Certainly I believe the complainants.

I also believe that many of their teammates had positive experiences with the same coaches. Both can be simultaneously true.

Are things getting better in the NCAA?

Rebeca on training after knee injuries

Rebeca Andrade has had 3 ACL tears: 2015, 2017, and 2019.

Yet she came back to be competing the all-around right beside the greatest gymnast all time, Simone.

It’s possible.

Since her three major knee injuries, Andrade has picked her spots to compete extremely carefully.

After her 2022 World all-around win, she didn’t compete on the floor exercise again until this year’s Worlds in Antwerp.

“I have complete freedom to talk to Chico [Francisco Porath], who is my coach, and he knows that when I’m in pain, I tell him that, ‘Today, it is very difficult. Is it okay for us to hold off on that workout, to do a lighter workout?’ because he knows that the next day I’m going to arrive at the gym and I’m going to do my best,” explained Andrade of her approach.

“This is very important to me. This exchange that we have, this trust that we have in each other – and also, the physical part, the physical trainer, the multidisciplinary part also with physiotherapy, massage therapy, psychologist [is important].

Olympics.com

injured 2022 European Champions

It’s a dangerous sport.

Jessica Gadirova ACL injury

Awful news.

Can she recover in time for the Paris Olympics?

It is possible.