former gymnast Rea Kolbl crushed Eco-Challenge Fiji

Rea Kolbl competed for Slovenia until age-17.

Now age-27, she’s is a professional Obstacle Course Racer.

With no Adventure Racing Experience, Rea was asked to join Team Canada Adventure for the Eco-Challenge Fiji race now airing on Netflix.

First time in a major AR, Rea is already one of the top competitors.  #respect

A great athlete. Sure.  But Rea also has bachelor’s degrees in physics and astrophysics at Cal. And a master’s degree in science and engineering from Stanford.

Click PLAY or watch an inspiring 2017 feature on YouTube.

 

 

 

 

Training for Club Owners / Managers

Zander Arthur is offering an online course.

Good timing as we reinvent our Gyms following COVID-19 lockdown.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Details here. $349

related – Metzger’s Boot Camp costs about $2199 but is not being offered right now due to COVID.

Black Lives Matter athlete roundtable

Erynne Allen (Penn State ‘20), Sierra Brooks (Michigan ‘23), Alexis Brown (UC Davis ‘18), Darian Burns (Seattle Pacific ‘20), Dymiana Cox (Penn State ‘22), Kytra Hunter (Florida ‘15), AJ Jackson (Oklahoma ‘18), Zahra Lawal (Seattle Pacific ‘20), Nya Reed (Florida ‘22), Paige Williams (Minnesota ‘20) and Gabryel Wilson (Michigan ‘23)

Floyd’s murder was the flash-point that ignited impassioned protests throughout the United States, with millions of voices screaming for justice and demanding equity for Black citizens. Social media quickly became a hotbed of emotion, and NCAA gymnastics programs were not immune.

The content of the teams’ responses—both official and unofficial—was heavily scrutinized, with many drawing harsh criticism from the gymnastics community for being too generic or too anemic. …

Black Lives Matter: Shining a Light on Racism in NCAA Gymnastics

Which teams were able to use the words “Black Lives Matter”, and which were forced to use weasel words workarounds?

#GymnastAlliance update

It’s not easy to keep up, on different social media, with gymnast statements from around the world.

Fortunately, GymCastic has been doing that for us.  And updating each week.

Listen to episode #437 Lineup Racism?

performing on a spinning platform

I got dizzy just watching this.

Choreographer Yoann Bourgeois – “Celui qui tombe” (He who falls)

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

(via Kotke)

hmm – Helen Hu v Chellsie Memmell

Tough one.

Helen is the Beam dream.

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

 
Helen was featured on the University fan sports photo of the year.

Danusia Francis on improving Gym culture

Back in training for next summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo following quarantine, British-based Jamaican gymnast Danusia Francis is also devoting her energy to helping change the often-abusive culture of gymnastics brought to light in part by #gymnastalliance, an online movement launched in her native England. …

DF: The #gymnastalliance movement was an idea of (2012 British Olympian) Jenni Pinches.

… Jenni came up with the statement with the idea to show solidarity and that we do not stand for any kind of abuse in gymnastics. …

I also believe I am an example that you can achieve your goals within a nurturing happy environment instead of this culture of abuse that many gymnasts had to endure.  …

DF: I feel that if a gymnast isn’t happy at their club right now, then the best option would be to change clubs. There are many great coaches out there. You do not have to tolerate a negative experience …

Jamaica’s Francis: ‘You Do Not Have To Tolerate A Negative Experience

The secret agent: Danusia Francis

University of Alaska Anchorage eliminates Gymnastics

In light of declining budgets, UAA Chancellor Cathy Sandeen and Director of Athletics Greg Myford made the difficult decision to eliminate four programs from the UAA sports roster: men’s hockey, women’s gymnastics, men’s skiing and women’s skiing.

The changes will go into effect for the 2021-22 season and are expected to save approximately $2.5 million per year. Sandeen will seek University of Alaska Board of Regents’ approval for the proposed reconfiguration during the Sept. 10-11, 2020, meeting. …

goseawolves.com

Before September 10th, the TEAM would like our support.

Gymnastics Canada on #GymnastAlliance

… First and foremost, we wish to recognize the immense courage of these participants from across the globe in sharing their voices and speaking out about their difficult experiences in gymnastics.  …

In recent years, GymCan and its member associations have made significant strides to advance Safe Sport, including the development of an aligned Safe Sport strategy aimed at the prevention of maltreatment through national, provincial, and club-level Safe Sport policy development, enhanced education and advocacy measures, and neutral, fair, and expert-led policy compliance. …

Our safe sport strategy is supported by a robust National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), increased access to educational training focused on maltreatment (i.e., Safe Sport Training, Commit to Kids for Coaches, Respect in Sport), and the continued commitment of coaches, integrated support staff, and sport leaders to elevate their knowledge and to implement healthy, safe, and positive practices in their work. …

If you wish to share your experiences confidentially with a neutral party, please do not hesitate to access the Canadian Sport Helpline:

If you wish to share your experiences and/or submit a formal complaint to Gymnastics Canada or a provincial/territorial member association, please visit: http://gymcan.org/programs/safe-sport/reporting for more information.

For all other information, including policies, resources, and support services related to the GymCan Safe Sport program, please visit: http://gymcan.org/programs/safe-sport/overview.