“Cheer” – the documentary

Cheer (six episodes) now streaming on Netflix.

The stakes on the mat are high, but for these cheerleaders, the only thing more brutal than their workouts and more exceptional than their performances are the stories of adversity and triumph behind the athletes themselves.

… Netflix’s new documentary series “Cheer” follows the competitive cheerleaders of the 14-time National Championship winning team at Navarro College in Corsicana, TX.

Over the course of six episodes join the team members as they face injuries, sacrifice, personal setbacks and triumphs, all leading up to one nail-biting and adrenaline pumping final competition at the National Championship.

It’s gotten good reviews.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Terin Humphrey has a NEW book

“In the Middle” is a broad story of Olympic medalist Terin Humphrey’s journey through life.

It is a unique perspective of being “In the Middle” of gymnastics, careers, decisions, life, etc.

Unlike most Olympians’ books; it is not a story about her Olympic journey, but life after the Olympics.Most athletes live their lives being only an athlete. Once they are finished, their lives change. They struggle with their life after the sport.

Terin chronicles her experiences after the Olympics in hopes of helping others that are going through similar situations.

In The Middle: Thoughts and Lessons Learned from an Olympic Medalist

After a great career, recall that the USAG Athlete’s Council voted to remove Terin from her position as women’s gymnastics athlete representative.

JO 6-7 Vault – Will that Flip?

The recent change to Level 6 & 7 Junior Olympic Vault rules was a HUGE improvement.

Judges should be rewarding those compulsories which could FLIP successfully. Here are some examples.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Taylor Houchin – Vault

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

Gymnast Jax Kranitz’ Challenge

We dare you.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

Katelyn Rosen – Beam combo

Katelyn trains at Mavericks.

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

Click PLAY or watch her Bars on Instagram.

Michigan’s Sierra Brooks

There’s much for Michigan to be proud of from its 2019 season. The team came back from missing nationals entirely in 2018 to finish 2019 in 5th place, which quietly ranks as Michigan’s best result of the decade. In fact, Michigan hasn’t done better than 5th since Elise Ray was a freshman. …

Michigan has brought in two of the nation’s top L10 recruits in Sierra Brooks and Gabby Wilson …

Balance Beam Situation 

“I felt like I had accomplished everything I wanted to do in my J.O. (Junior Olympics) career and was looking forward to coming to Michigan.

Leaving home and my club gym family were heavy factors that weighed on my decision, but the pros and cons led me here. I am glad it did.” …

How a Junior Olympic Standout Wound Up at Michigan a Year Early

The Routine Podcast interviewed Sierra.

Men’s NCAA Gymnastics preview

CGA (College Gymnastics Association) posted a preview of the coming season with predictions:

  1. Stanford
  2. Michigan
  3. Oklahoma
  4. Nebraska
  5. Illinois
  6. Minnesota
  7. Penn State
  8. Iowa
  9. Ohio State
  10. Navy

Elise Ray and Bev Plocki

Great story.

… Elise Ray was at a crossroads.

After finishing her career as a gymnast at Michigan, she’d performed for Cirque du Soleil for three years, then worked briefly as a trainer and broadcaster.

Like many athletes whose careers had come to an end, Ray wasn’t sure what was next. So she called Bev Plocki, her college coach, and asked for advice.

“I haven’t really found that thing that I love,” Ray told her.

Plocki responded: “Elise, in my opinion, you were born to coach gymnastics.”

It was the first of three phone calls that came to define Ray’s career. …

How Elise Ray-Statz found a new path in gymnastics through Bev Plocki’s mentorship

IOC on keeping politics out of sport

Simone — for example — is welcome to express her views on any topic during an Olympic Press conference, but not on the podium.

Olympic leaders have long sought to keep political displays out of the international competition.

Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which serves as the foundational rulebook for the Games, prohibits athletes from any kind of “demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda.”

But the three-page document published Thursday by the IOC sought to provide more detail and nuance to that long-standing rule. It specified the locations where protests will not be allowed, including the field of play, the Olympic Village and during medal ceremonies and opening and closing ceremonies.

It also outlined times that athletes will be allowed to express political views: In press conferences, at team meetings or on digital media platforms.

“It should be noted that expressing views is different from protests and demonstrations,” the guidelines say. …

USA Today