Perfect Balance by Julia Konner

Review by Gymnastics Coaching editor Rick McCharles

Pacific & Court Publishing sent me a review copy of a new book by Julia Konner — Perfect Balance.

Published August 2024.

It’s very good. I recommend it for coaches, parents, and serious older gymnasts.

It’s science based, but easy enough to read for every teenager.

Coaches can read this book to remind of important principles for being successful in Gymnastics and Life.

Gymnasts can treat it as a fill-in-the-blank workbook, if they prefer.

Honest and up-to-date. I found nothing with which I could disagree. 😀

I liked the section titled Handling the Hardships of Gymnastics.

The chapter on Quitting, best of all. This should be recommended to any older gymnast contemplating hanging up the grips.

Gymnastics is a master teacher of how to fail. More important, it is a master teacher of how to overcome failure. As a gymnast, you deal with so much failure that after a while it doesn’t seem so scary. Many people avoid challenges because they are so afraid to fail—but not you. You know that when you fail you are one step closer to success. You also know that failure is a normal (and helpful) part of life.

Julia Konner, MPH, CHES, is a former collegiate Division 1 student-athlete and coach with over 16 years of competing as an artistic gymnast. Through her many years as a club athlete, collegiate athlete, and team captain, she has faced her own adversities through injuries, body image issues, and impact that training 30+ hours/week has had on her social life.

Over the years she has helped countless young and college-aged athletes navigate the ups and downs of the complicated, arduous, and time-consuming sport of gymnastics.

Through her personal experience and intricate knowledge of the sport, Konner provides evidence-based advice for young gymnasts at every level. She holds a master’s in public health (MPH) from the University of California, Davis.

During and after finishing her graduate work, she worked in research and program management related to prevention and mitigation of chronic diseases through healthier lifestyle habits.

She remains active as a competitive CrossFit athlete, focused on both the physical side of strength as well as the mental. She currently lives in Washington, DC, and works in public health.

Robert Tvorogal – H Bar

Wow.

Rhys for G-star

G-star is a Dutch designer clothing company that specializes in making raw denim—an unwashed, untreated denim.

Models for the brand include Liv Tyler, Formula 1 Driver Max Verstappen, former World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, and our new Olympic Champion.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Kim Bui to IOC Athletes’ Commission

I can’t think of any more experienced and brilliant gymnast.

Kim Bui is a triple Olympian. And brilliant scientist.

should you bring a specialist to Olympics?

I almost always question the risk of bringing a specialist for possibly only 1 apparatus.

But what’s the HIT rate for Max and Louis Smith over all their Worlds and Olympics?

HIGH … I’m thinking.

Svetlana Khorkina – Bars

In 2024, the name Svetlana Khorkina is synonymous with pro-Putin politics, egomania, and extremely outspoken comments on social media.

BUT — in her day — she was a revolutionary and dominant Bars competitor. At 5′ 5″ not wearing grips!

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

R.I.P. Yurchenko Double Pike

WHO will be next to ever compete this very difficult and risky Vault?

I recall asking the master of Yurchenko — Kyle Shewfelt — why he didn’t pursue YDP.

It was doable, he said, but too risky as being slightly wrong on preflight could easily land you on your head.

Raegan Rutty OLY to Miss Universe

 Cayman Island’s first ever Olympic gymnast is now their Miss Universe contestant.

Raegan Rutty competed Tokyo.

Prizes include a $70,000 3-year scholarship.

Miss Universe will be hosted in Mexico City November, 2024.

Gymnastics video game 😀

In real life.

Sebastien Lambert and friends.