GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

2026 Fantasy Gymnastics Update - NCAA Week 10

Your fantasy gymnastics update as you enter week 11 of the 2026 NCAA season: who's a steal, who's on a bye, who's competing twice, who's a bargain and much more. Season Pass on sale now: https://gymcastic.com/2026-gymcastic-live-shows-season-pass/ [https://gymcastic.com/2026-gymcastic-live-shows-season-pass/] Week 11 Lineups lock at noon on Thursday, March 12 at 3:15pm PT 00:00 Intro 00:38:28 Roster Bargains 00:52:19 Roster Bargains - All-Around 02:43 Roster Bargains - Vault 04:38 Roster Bargains - Bars 06:50 Roster Bargains - Beam 08:28 GymCastic Updates 10:03 Roster Bargains - Floor 12:02 League Leaders 12:17 10.0 Deals 13:33 League Stats This Week's College & Cocktails: March 14 after Utah @ UCLA. Join us at 9:30pm PT

China Dominates the New Mixed Team Format + USAG Pulls Out of World Cups

China wins the first-ever Mixed Team American Cup using the new LA28 Olympic format—and the result might reveal a major flaw in the event design. We break down how the three-round elimination format worked, why some teams advanced despite falls, and what strategies teams used when choosing apparatus. Plus, data analyst and figure skating official Dr. Elliot Schwartz [https://China%20wins%20the%20first-ever%20Mixed%20Team%20American%20Cup%20using%20the%20new%20LA28%20Olympic%20format%E2%80%94and%20the%20result%20might%20reveal%20a%20major%20flaw%20in%20the%20event%20design.%20If%20women%20only%20need%20bars%20and%20beam%20to%20win,%20was%20this%20competition%20basically%20built%20for%20China?%20%20We%20break%20down%20how%20the%20three-round%20elimination%20format%20worked,%20why%20some%20teams%20advanced%20despite%20falls,%20and%20what%20strategies%20teams%20used%20when%20choosing%20apparatus.%20%20Plus,%20data%20analyst%20and%20figure%20skating%20official%20Dr.%20Elliot%20Schwartz%20joins%20the%20show%20to%20explain%20the%20strategy%20behind%20the%20format,%20whether%20teams%20should%20be%20allowed%20to%20change%20lineups%20mid-competition,%20and%20what%20gymnastics%20could%20learn%20from%20figure%20skating%E2%80%99s%20scoring%20system%20and%20judging%20transparency.] joins the show to explain the strategy behind the format, whether teams should be allowed to change lineups mid-competition, and what gymnastics could learn from figure skating's scoring system and judging transparency. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Cold Open: Why This Mixed Team Format Was Built for China 01:11 – USAG Pulls Out of Turkey and Cairo World Cups 03:23 – Iowa State Cuts Gymnastics + KJ Kindler Fires Back 08:45 – Jessica on New USAG President Kyle Albrecht 10:02 – American Cup Mixed Team Format Debuts at the Reborn American Cup 11:42 – China Wins + Why This Format Favors China 13:01 – Round 1 Chaos: Brazil and the Philippines Are Eliminated 14:15 – Round 2 Drama: Asher Hong Falls and the U.S. Barely Survives 17:45 – Final Round Recap: U.S. Gets Silver, Japan Takes Bronze 19:00 – Club Gym Nerd Updates: College & Cocktails, Live Shows and More 20:05 – American Cup Deep Dive: Did It Actually Feel Like a Team Competition? 21:35 – Could Fans Follow the Meet? Arena Confusion and Missing Scores 23:23 – Peacock vs In-Arena Experience 25:43 – Should This Have Been a Head-to-Head Bracket? 28:54 – Debate Club: Should Teams Be Allowed to Change Lineups Mid-Meet? 31:17 – Event Selection Debate: Too Much P-Bars, Not Enough Chaos 33:55 – Comedy Highlights: Claire Pease High-Five Fail + Nastia Clip 35:16 – Broadcast Problems: NBC, U.S.-Only Focus and Missed Routines 41:17 – Interview: Dr. Elliot Schwartz [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-schwartz-3491852] on Strategy, Scoring and Figure Skating Lessons 44:01 – Could Gymnastics Use a Plus/Minus Scoring System? 47:52 – Planned Routines, Improvisation and What Figure Skating Does Better 52:01 – Specialist Strategy: What's the Ideal Team Construction? 55:55 – Is Saving Your Biggest Difficulty for the Final Round the Best Strategy? 59:24 – NCAA Update: UCLA vs Stanford Bronze Medal Reunion Meet 01:00:44 – Florida vs LSU: Historic 198.450 and Scoring Chaos 01:07:00 – Perfect 10 Update 01:08:45 – NCAA Rankings Update 01:10:06 – Listener Feedback: American Cup Broadcast Frustrations 01:16:29 – Tim Daggett Back on Air 01:18:15 – American Cup Right, Wrong and How to Improve It 01:23:47 – Outro: College & Cocktails After Utah at UCLA 01:25:01 – End UP NEXT * Fantasy Gymnastics podcast [https://gymcastic.com/tag/fantasy-gymnastics/] every Wednesday * College & Cocktails [https://gymcastic.com/category/club-content/college-cocktails/]: Utah at UCLA on Sat at 9:30ish * 2026 Cocktail and Mocktail menu here [https://gymcastic.com/community/dossiers-downloads/2026-college-cocktails-menu-single-file/] SUPPORT OUR WORK * Club Gym Nerd: J [https://gymcastic.com/club/]oin Here [https://gymcastic.com/club/] * Fantasy: 2026 College Fantasy Game [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-2026-college-fantasy-league/] now open with weekly winners * Merch: Shop Now [https://gymcastic.com/shop/] * Podcast Tour Tickets * Replay tickets on sale [https://gymcastic.com/2025-winter-gymcastic-live-show/] for our fundraiser show with all the tea from Cecile Landi * 2026 Live Show Season Pass [https://gymcastic.com/2026-gymcastic-live-shows-season-pass/] is now available, 4 shows for the price of 3 * Thank you to our sponsor Huel Limited Time Offer – Get Huel today with my exclusive offer of 15% OFF online with code GYMCASTIC15 at huel.com/GYMCASTIC15. New Customers Only. * Newsletters [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-newsletters/] * The Balance Beam Situation [https://balancebeamsituation.com/]: Spencer's GIF Code of Points * Gymnastics History [https://www.gymnastics-history.com/] and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim * Resistance Resources [https://gymcastic.com/resistance-resources/]

College & Cocktails: UCLA at Stanford Pre-American Cup

Live from Vegas: Team Bronze Reunion Meet starring Ana Barbosa and Jordan Chiles. And notes from American Cup podium training. Welcome to The Original College Gymnastics Post-Meet Show! It's UCLA at Stanford (2pm PT on ACC+ [https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/cf6913bd-8f8f-4b9e-9883-1e503559980d] scores here [https://scores.virti.us/?s=N9DghGCiZu]): See you after the meet around 4:00 PT for a group debrief and American Cup Preview from Jessica who is at the meet. Here's how to ask questions live [https://gymcastic.com/community/club-member-area-club-member-area-member-far/#post-89]. Full season mocktail menu here [https://gymcastic.com/community/bts/january-10-2026-300pm-pt-college-cocktails/] Extended Episode [https://gymcastic.com/college-cocktails-ucla-at-stanford-pre-american-cup/] + Live Q&A (Members) +70 extra minutes of analysis, behind-the-scenes secret stories, and answering your questions LIVE. Here's how to ask questions live [https://gymcastic.com/community/club-member-area-club-member-area-member-far/#post-89]. Can't make it live? Add Club bonus episodes to your favorite podcast player (instructions here [https://gymcastic.com/community/postid/89/]). Not a member? Join here [https://gymcastic.com/club/]. SUPPORT OUR WORK * Club Gym Nerd: J [https://gymcastic.com/club/]oin Here [https://gymcastic.com/club/] * Fantasy [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-2026-college-fantasy-league/]: 2026 College Fantasy Game [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-2026-college-fantasy-league/] now open. Never too late to join! * Merch: Shop Now [https://gymcastic.com/shop/] * Newsletters [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-newsletters/] * The Balance Beam Situation [https://balancebeamsituation.com/]: Spencer's GIF Code of Points * Gymnastics History [https://www.gymnastics-history.com/] and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim * Resistance Resources [https://gymcastic.com/resistance-resources/] Unlock the Episode 1. Join Club Gym Nerd → Choose a plan [https://www.gymcastic.com/club] 2. Complete checkout — your site account is created. 3. Log in here → /my-account/ [https://gymcastic.com/my-account/] 4. Return to this page and refresh. The extended player appears automatically. Join GymCastic Fantasy League! [https://gymcastic.com/fantasy/] What is College & Cocktails? Every week we pick a college meet to watch, then go live, right here on this page to discuss our immediate thoughts about the meet. Our superstar, bar tender Linzers, creates a bespoke themed mocktail and cocktail recipe for each meet. College & Cocktails combines our weekly Behind The Scenes Q&A live podcast with a college meet of the week. It's all part of the bonus content for our Club Members [https://gymcastic.com/club/] who support our work year around. For more info on how to watch your favorite elites, Olympic and World medalists in college and all year long, check out The Balance Beam Situation's schedule with links [https://balancebeamsituation.com/2026-ncaa-schedule/].

2026 Fantasy Gymnastics Update - NCAA Week 9

Your fantasy gymnastics update as you enter week 10 of the 2026 NCAA season: who's a steal, who's on a bye, who's competing twice, who's a bargain and much more. Season Pass on sale now: https://gymcastic.com/2026-gymcastic-live-shows-season-pass/ [https://gymcastic.com/2026-gymcastic-live-shows-season-pass/] Week 10 Lineups lock at noon on Thursday, March 05 at 1:45pm PT 00:00 Intro 00:39:10 Roster Bargains 00:57:25 Roster Bargains - All-Around 02:52 Roster Bargains - Vault 04:47 Roster Bargains - Bars 06:58 Roster Bargains - Beam 09:27 GymCastic Updates 11:04 Roster Bargains - Floor 12:55 League Leaders 14:05 10.0 Deals 14:40 League Stats This Week's College & Cocktails: March 07 after UCLA @ Stanford. Join us at 4:00pm PT

Why USAG Finally Pulled The Plug on GAGE, We Answer Your Letters

In an unprecedented move, USA Gymnastics has terminated GAGE's membership. We break down the letter sent to parents, the revolving door of suspended "owners", and what this means for the elite athletes caught in the middle. A preivew of the new Mixed Team format at the American Cup, discuss if the US is violating the Olympic Charter, and celebrate Stanford joining the 198 club in spectacular fashion. Plus, we answer tons of letters. College & Cocktails had a full GAGE Rage update [https://gymcastic.com/college-cocktails-gage-rage-georgia-at-kentucky/] on Saturday. CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 1:13 GAGE Membership Terminated: The Unprecedented USAG Decision 2:55 Impact on Athletes: History Lesson via Jordan Chiles and Lessons on Consequences 4:46 The Ownership Mystery: Karla Grimes & Tiffany Davenport Suspensions 11:05 SafeSport Rules: Why the GAGE Termination Happened Now 23:20 American Cup Preview: The New LA 2028 Mixed Team Format 35:19 Broadcast Strategy: Should We See Every Routine in 2.5 Hours? 50:04 The Olympic Charter: Should the US Be Banned from the Olympics? 59:25 Feedback: Front Attitude Turns & The Gymnastics Rage-O-Meter 1:18:10 Simone Biles' Future Training: Tropical Islands vs. New Elite Bases 1:22:01 Life Lessons: Stick Crowns & Participation Trophies in the Gym 1:29:59 NCAA Update: Stanford's Historic 198 & The Race for #1 1:40:09 The Grace McCallum Model: Finding Perfection in College Bars 1:41:48 Closing: Join Us for College & Cocktails SUPPORT OUR WORK * Club Gym Nerd: J [https://gymcastic.com/club/]oin Here [https://gymcastic.com/club/] * Fantasy: Open -2026 College Fantasy Game [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-2026-college-fantasy-league/] with weekly winners * Merch: Shop Now [https://gymcastic.com/shop/] * Team Bronze Design [https://store.gymcastic.com/products/87501403-team-bronze-t-shirt] * College and Cocktails [https://store.gymcastic.com/products/87758469-college-and-cocktails-t-shirt] * Live Shows * Replay tickets on sale [https://gymcastic.com/2025-winter-gymcastic-live-show/] for our fundraiser show with all the tea from Cecile Landi * 2026 Live Show Season Pass [https://gymcastic.com/2026-gymcastic-live-shows-season-pass/] is now available, 4 shows for the price of 3 * Newsletters [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-newsletters/] * The Balance Beam Situation [https://balancebeamsituation.com/]: Spencer's GIF Code of Points * Gymnastics History [https://www.gymnastics-history.com/] and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim * Resistance Resources [https://gymcastic.com/resistance-resources/]