Gymcastic – UCLA’s Miss Val

We discuss the results and routines from the fall European series and the Mexican Gala, the history of the Sokol’s in the US and share the skill combinations we most want to see on bars and high bar. Then, in the first of a two-part series, we talk to UCLA head coach Valorie Kondos Field about why gymnastics matters, the power of an athlete identity, college gymnastics as a life skills class, basing personal value on performance, the Kellogg’s Tour, incentivizing artistry and her most embarrassing moment as a dancer. …

link to the audiocast

Click PLAY or watch Dragalescu’s controversial Gala Floor “routine” on YouTube.


… Did they have to pay money to watch one of the greatest Floor men of all time perform triple backhandspring? 🙂

Olympic Champ Kanaeva retires

Double Olympic Gold Champion Rhythmic Gymnast Evgenia Kanaeva said in September that she had not retired — but was just taking some time off after London.

But Dec. 4th she announced her retirement after being elected the vice-president of the All-Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation.

Congratulations on your fantastic career.

They’ll be no shortage of modelling opportunities. Here’s a pic from the November Marie Claire magazine shoot.

(via Zhenya Kanaeva Gymnasium)

Canadian lobster in Japan

Hugh Smith on Facebook:

… we are here for Toyota Cup in japan. Tak (Kikuchi) and I brought Nova Scotian lobster as a gift to Kohei and his coaches. This is a pic of them opening the lobster box.

Kohei said Tuesday that he and his new wife are expecting a baby in the Spring.

Stalder drills

Nick Blanton, formerly of IGC, is now at Fundy Gymnastics, New Brunswick.

Here’s some footage from a clinic he put on at Island Gymnastics Academy, Charlottetown.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

if you let me play sports …

… I’ll have more self confidence,” …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Active For Life – ‘Let Me Play’: 1995 Nike ad still relevant today

Money is mostly wasted on “tough on crime” initiatives. What we really want to do is get kids hooked on sports.