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

Pride Tape

The NHL (National Hockey League) was infamously homophobic and non-diverse.

I know. I’m a Canadian.

That league has improved tremendously in recent years, however. Protecting minority players and taking actions so that all in the sport can be treated equally.

But now …

Rainbow-colored Pride Tape has been part of pro ice hockey for seven years, symbolizing the sport’s pledge to be welcoming and inclusive. But the NHL has banned the athletic tape, quickly sparking a backlash.

Critics say the league’s decision is a step backward.  …

The tape got a big boost in early 2016, when the Edmonton Oilers used it as a way to support young LGBTQ+ athletes who might otherwise quit playing ice hockey in the face of homophobia and discrimination. …

The NHL bans Pride Tape, setting off a backlash from players and fans
Marian Studenic of the New Jersey Devils

One bit of good news where I live …

MAG PanAms ➙ USA, CAN, BRA

An exciting team competition.

  1. United States 249.860
  2. Canada 246.794
  3. Brazil 245.394
  4. Argentina 238.995
  5. Mexico 234.262
  6. Cuba 230.228

Clemson’s hydraulic Vault matting

I’d first seen motorized mat lifts in the nordic nations. For Team Gym.

GREAT idea.

The main progression for Vault is to train uphill. On to soft mats.

Taiso in Saskatoon has a permanent Vault table. It works extremely well.

But if you don’t have space for a permanent set-up, consider something custom like they are using at Clemson.

JUDGING the FIG judges

The BIGGEST problem with Artistic Gymnastics judging is the Execution Score range between best and worst.

That range is too small — therefore it’s mostly Difficulty Score that decides ranking.

This article doesn’t address the BIG issue, but it is interesting to see how FIG is evaluating their judges.

Dr Hugues Mercier speaks exclusively to Olympics.com about his 10-year project that evaluates judges’ performance in disciplines such as artistic and rhythmic gymnastics. …

“Judging a routine in pommel horse is intrinsically much more difficult than judging a routine in vault, and it’s very important for the tools we provide to be fair. So, I always tell the judges that the mathematical tools that we use take into account that judging in pommel horse is difficult.

“So, on a 7.5 routine, which is a good routine on pommel horse, a judge who makes an error of, let’s say 0.3, 0.4 is completely normal. In vault, giving 9.5 instead of 9.1, it’s a very, very, very large error… it’s an outrageous difference. So, this is all scaled, so that when we analyse the accuracy of judges, we take into account the apparatus on which they judge.” …

Olympics.com

Tramp World Cup series winners

Throughout the year, gymnasts competing in all trampoline disciplines at World Cup events earned ranking points based on their performance, with 60 points awarded for a win, 55 for second place and 50 for third place, down to 30th place in accordance with the FIG World Cup rules.

The top three Individual gymnasts in the world ranking also earn extra prize money. …

China dominates the Trampoline world rankings at end of 2023 season

Zhu Xueying (CHN)

Jordan Chiles – PanAms Flag Bearer

If you needed any more confirmation that U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles is the veteran leader of the U.S. squad at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, look no further than the Estadio Nacional Friday evening (20 October) as the 22-year-old carries Team USA’s flag in the Opening Ceremony.

“Honestly, I was in shock. I was in awe. … Chiles told Olympics.com Thursday (19 October) following her squad’s podium training session. …

“It just brings me back to when Miss Simone [Biles] did it for her 2016 era,” she said later. “I’ve always dreamed of being able to be a flag bearer.” …

Jordan Chiles: “I don’t look like anybody else. I’m not the typical gymnast you see every day.”

Gymnastics in Nigeria 2023

by site editor Rick McCharles

Fast Forward

Uche Eke was the first gymnast to represent Nigeria at the Olympics.

He won’t be the last.

Uche is from Maryland, competed for Michigan. But he traveled to Nigeria twice a year from a young age and took part in domestic competitions.

Now retired, Nigeria is looking for the next Uche Eke. And the next Simone Biles. 😀

Following Worlds Antwerp I flew to Benin City, Nigeria to lead an FIG WAG / MAG Artistic Age Group Camp.

I’ve led many of these camps in developing nations around the world. Nigeria was the best organized, so far.

This is a group of coaches with mixed resources.  Training from 6 – 24 hours / week maximum. 

I wanted to challenge the top coaches while not intimidating those with few hours, limited set-up, take-down equipment. 

The 3-year-old Gym at Ogbemudia stadium is the best in the nation.

Click PLAY or watch get a glimpse on YouTube. Indoor drone footage. Very cool.

In fact, the main factor holding back Nigeria is lack of training facilities.

Entrepreneurs have not yet opened many private gyms in Nigeria the way they have in Egypt and other developing nations. 

Course Content

As many of the top coaches had done the Age Group Camp with me previously, I reviewed all sections having them practice on samples of the Physical, Technical, and Competition Routines.

A HUGE improvement from before the pandemic is having the Age Group PDF documents linked to YouTube.  All coaches were quickly comfortable finding and working with the FIG videos from the PDF.  

Next we looked at best practice introducing BASICS to beginners. The Age Group program offers everything you need from pre-competitive up to FIG Junior.

Fast Forward

Nigeria plans to compete at World Cup competitions in 2024.  

Their top male gymnasts are world class on Floor and Vault.

My thanks to Hardy Fink, the mastermind behind the FIG Age Group program in all disciplines.

This content is a terrific resource and FREE to every coach online.

Check out the FIG Age Group program. Download the PDFs in English, Français, or Español.

H Bar medalists Worlds 2023

  1. 🥇 Daiki Hashimoto (JPN) 15.233
  2. 🥈 Tin Srbic (CRO) 14.700
  3. 🥉 Weide Su (CHN) 14.500

Tin Srbic is so clean on this set.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Trampoline World Cup winners 2023

After five events on the FIG Trampoline World Cup calendar this year in Baku (AZE), Santarem (POR), Coimbra (POR), Palm Beach (USA) and Varna (BUL), the 2023 prize winners are known – and four of the six are from China. …