FIG WTC really should encourage these skills more.
The greatest Artistic gymnast all time was Jackie Bender.
1-arm handstand mount (Rankin) is a fantastic way to start a routine.
At 2022 Worlds we cheered Nikolett.
PLAN to retire from sport
Super smart and eloquent former CAN elite and Utah star Sydney Soloski was interviewed on HOW her retirement is going.
Good and bad.
Sports Canada actually has a program called MyGamePlan.ca which offers transition resources for athletes.
I’m not sure Sydney is eligible as she’s been off the CAN National Team for years now.
6-time Olympic medalist, Max Whitlock, has decided to resume training. He felt unsettled outside the Gym. It ain’t easy to retire.
Worlds PHOTO Competition
Hundreds of thousands of photos were taken in Liverpool.
After each competition, one was named PHOTO OF THE DAY.
If you are on Facebook, you can see the collection HERE.
The sample above was host GBR learning they had qualified a full team to the Paris Olympics — after a truly weird and bad Team Final.
I didn’t get a chance in Liverpool to congratulate GBR Men’s Head Coach Paul Hall.
Congratulations Paul !
Andrew Vetter on Early Specialization Sport
A former gymnast, circus performer, former Gymnastics coach, today Andrew runs a business consulting strength and conditioning for athletes (mostly gymnasts).
He has some radical ideas:
- Zero competitions until 10+ years of age.
- FUNdations. Training with the goals of physical & motor development, but where Gymnastics routines are not the main goal.
- Prioritize the “extras” (e.g. nutrition, hydration, rest, academics, and mental performance, …)
- Have fun and enjoy the process over the progress
Read part 1 of his post on Medium:
Gymnastics: My Thoughts on an Athletic Hybrid Model to an Early Specialization Sport
TANG CHIA-HUNG – H Bar
Named after Canadian Owen Walstrom, his first release was known by the nickname “Wally Whirl“. More guys should use it.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
GymCan Culture Report expected JAN 2023
Gymnastics Canada brought in McLaren Global Sport Solutions to review Ethics, Safety & Culture.
Richard McLaren, who led investigations into Russian doping and corruption in the International Weightlifting Federation, is well respected in the field.
I first filled out McLaren’s online survey. Better than most of those fill-in-the-blank forms.
At the end of that survey, I was asked if I would be available for an in-person online interview. Of course I was keen to do so — and that happened NOV 8th.
About 90 minutes long, I felt McLaren was very open to hearing everything I had to say regarding culture. We spent most of the time talking recommendations for the future.
For example, I was asked what 3 changes I’d make first IF I was suddenly in charge of Gymnastics Canada.
I did call McLaren out on independence and transparency. And left convinced GymCan will have no influence on their findings.
McLaren Global Sport Solutions and those within it are completely independent of Gymnastics Canada, its sponsors, and other stakeholders.
MGSS has been contracted by Gymnastics Canada to independently, and without any interference or dictates from the sport, develop a Roadmap to a Culture Review and a Safe Sport Policy Review.
Roadmap to a Culture Review & Safe Sport Policy Review terms of reference
For example, the McLaren Report of Canada Soccer published July 2022 was scathing.
I told my interviewers they should do exactly the same with Gymnastics if that’s what the investigation finds.
I’d recommend spokespeople from Gymnasts for Change Canada have interviews with McLaren. They will listen.
The documentary BROKEN – The Toxic Culture of Canadian Gymnastics was released this week.
Canadian victims can contact Gymnasts for Change:
Gymnastics in Ireland
One of the most improved FIG nations, now with a World Champion.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Kids will be inspired by Rhys. He’s got a BIG online following.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Daiki Hashimoto & Boheng Zhang
Two of the greatest gymnasts all time. Quite evenly matched. Both young. Likely a rivalry for the ages.
It’s a good time to be alive.
Hashimoto Daiki:
“Competing against him was a motivation (today). The battle with Zhang Boheng is so good.”
WHY wasn’t Kaylia Nemour at Worlds?
You probably saw her fantastic Bars routine from Arab Championships.
France wouldn’t let her compete for Algeria in Liverpool. Merde.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
This is Nina / Sunny level talent.
But she should switch to Straddle Cast handstands to avoid some angle deductions.
Kaylia Nemour was born in Saint-Benoît-la-Forêt, France on 30 December 2006 to a French mother and an Algerian father. …
Nemour became age-eligible for senior competition in 2022. Although her personal doctor cleared her to resume training, the French national team doctor was unwilling to do so.
As a result, Nemour opted to pursue changing her nationality to represent Algeria.
In July the International Gymnastics Federation approved the nationality change; however, because the French Gymnastics Federation blocked the request, Nemour will not be able to represent Algeria in FIG-sanctioned competitions (such as World Championships or African Championships) until July 2023.
Was Liverpool Judging improved?
I don’t pay much attention to scores when watching routines. The current FIG system is foolish, execution scores “boxed” too narrowly between best and worst.
BUT there were fewer complaints about judging at Worlds than usual.
And my gut feeling is that fewer blatant mistakes were made. Panels more willing to award a fair score to less well known gymnasts.
No doubt number crunchers will be looking more closely over coming days.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 