GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

Fantasy Gymnastics Update - NCAA Week 2 - 2026

Your fantasy gymnastics update as you enter week 3 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 3 Lineups lock at noon on Thursday, January 15 at 03:45pm PT 00:00 Intro 00:31:10 Roster Bargains 00:52:20 Roster Bargains - All-Around 02:14 Roster Bargains - Vault 03:36 Roster Bargains - Bars 06:08 Roster Bargains - Beam 07:51 GymCastic Updates 09:02 Roster Bargains - Floor 11:53 League Leaders 12:20 10.0 Deals 12:14 League Stats 14:01 Byes & Injuries T his Week's College & Cocktails: January 16 after Oklahoma @ Missouri (SECN) Join us at 7:45pm PT

Anna Barbosu's NCAA Debut, Florida on Top, and LSU's Tiebreaker Explained

Why did LSU lose the tiebreaker — and what does it reveal about NCAA gymnastics scoring? The judging decisions behind LSU vs. Oklahoma, explain how tiebreakers actually work, and analyze Florida's rise to #1 after the first full week of competition. We also cover Anna Barbosu's historic NCAA debut, notable scores and trends across the country, and why GymCastic is leaving Twitter/X. HEADLINES * LSU gave an explanation of their tie breaker loss from the floor that doesn't match Virtus. GYMTERNET NEWS * What happened at the Sprouts Quad meet? Aka January Nationals. We discuss what happened between Oklahoma, LSU, UCLA, and Utah * Which team is topping the charts this week? * Florida spotlight * Kayla DiCello competed for the first time since 2024 Olympic Trials * Skye Blakely competed floor for the first time since 2024 National Championships * Should this team be able to win nationals? * What does this team need to do different this time around to make a national title happen? * Spotlight: The Show * Why Florida is winning the marketing game with its documentary/commercial show * This week's 10.0 club is brought to you by Avery Neff's gorgina Yurchenko 1.5 * This week's 9.975 club: * Vault: Paige Zancan, Hannah Horton, Ashley Glynn * Bars: Azaraya Ra-Akbar * Beam: Selena Harris * Floor: Cecilia Cooley * Our favorite moments of the week * Cadence Gormley (Kentucky) went full ninja-mode on beam and saved her front aerial * UC Davis has a humongous stick hat and we're here for it * Ana Barbosu has a part in her floor routine where she stabs herself in the stomach three times and uses the blood as lipstick before she throws it into a ravine. Do we think this is social commentary on the state of the Romanian federation? FEEDBACK * What was going on with the commentary at the Florida meet? * Score tower clarification question * We need Spencer to be our beacon of light for the 2026 season * University of Washington parking nightmare follow up * Could Al Fong continue coaching in the United States? * Why [https://www.wired.com/story/grok-is-pushing-ai-undressing-mainstream/] we are leaving Twitter UP NEXT * College & Cocktails [https://gymcastic.com/category/club-content/college-cocktails/]: Friday Jan 16th, 7:45 Pacific after Oklahoma Missouri (SECN) * 2026 Cocktail and Mocktail menu here [https://gymcastic.com/community/bts/january-10-2026-300pm-pt-college-cocktails/] * Add exclusive Club Content like College & Cocktails to your favorite podcast player (instructions here [https://gymcastic.com/community/postid/89/]). SUPPORT OUR WORK * Club Gym Nerd: J [https://gymcastic.com/club/]oin Here [https://gymcastic.com/club/] * Fantasy: GymCastic 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/] Join Our Fantasy League [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-2026-college-fantasy-league/] Chapters 00:00 – Headlines: LSU Loses the Tiebreaker + Anna Barbosu NCAA Debut 00:29 – Sprouts Quad "January Nationals" + How the Tie Happened 01:29 – Lexi Zeiss Beam Score Controversy (Start Value Mess) 06:32 – The Tiebreak Explained: Why Oklahoma Wins 08:50 – College & Cocktails Promo: "Angry Beam" + Weekly Shows 11:23 – Gymternet News: Romania Hires Nikolai Forminte (Again) 13:01 – Chow's Gym Lawsuits + SafeSport Named in Suit 14:00 – Adult Gymnastics Book: Broken to Unbreakable 15:02 – NCAA Week Recap: Utah Beam Disaster + Rankings 18:45 – Florida #1: Kayla DiCello Returns + Skye Blakely Adds Events 25:12 – Jenny Rowland's Silver Pants + Coaches Blocking Judges on Bars 27:20 – Florida "Documentary" = 15-Minute Sponsored Ad (Wells Fargo Vibes) 33:30 – Week's Big Scores: 10.0 + 9.975s Breakdown 40:08 – Vault Trend Watch: More Yurchenko Double Fulls 42:01 – Favorite Things: Cadence Gormley's 6-Second Beam Save 43:22 – Stick Crowns + UC Davis Giant Hat Comedy 45:01 – Anna Barbosu Debuts at Denver + "Stomach Stab Lipstick" Choreo 50:23 – Scary Vault: No Hands Contact… Why Wasn't It a Zero? 53:31 – Listener Feedback: Florida Commentary Was Brutal 55:51 – Scoreboard "Tower" Question: Why Scores Change On Screen 57:14 – GIFs of the Week Pressure Campaign + Parking Trauma Follow-Up 58:53 – Can Al Fong Switch Federations and Keep Coaching? 01:00:15 – GymCastic Leaving Twitter/X (Why We're Done) 01:02:43 – Where to Find Us Now + This Week's Schedule

College & Cocktails: Oklahoma LSU tie breaker inquiry drama explained

Welcome to College & Cocktails! The Original College Gymnastics Post-Meet Show This is our weekly Behind The Scenes Q&A episode. This week we are watching number Sprouts Quad Session One: Oklahoma, UCLA, Utah, LSU (scores [https://scores.virti.us/?s=9WRjkzZznl], watch on ABC [https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/31cddb55-5be3-48bb-b4c1-bfb0e5203873]) Extended Episode + Live Q&A (Members) +60 extra minutes of analysis, behind-the-scenes secret stories, and answering your questions. 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/]). Tip: After logging in [https://gymcastic.com/my-account/], refresh this page and the extended player will appear below. Not a member? Join here [https://gymcastic.com/club/]. Psst… members get this exclusive episode (and the live Q&A) right here on this page [https://gymcastic.com/college-cocktails-january-nationals/]. Join to unlock [https://www.gymcastic.com/club] · Already joined? Log in. [https://gymcastic.com/my-account/] CHAPTERS 00:00 – Welcome to College & Cocktails: January Nationals 01:11 – Meet Overview: Oklahoma 197.5 tie with LSU, UCLA, Utah 01:29 – Tonight's Drink: "If the Judges See It" 01:41 – The Tie-Breaker Nobody Needed (Why Oklahoma Won) 02:35 – Konnor McClain Beam Confusion Explained 03:26 – Lexi Zeiss Start Value Review & Score Change 04:03 – Can Coaches Talk to Judges? NCAA Rules Breakdown 06:17 – Why Konnor's Beam Was Never the Issue 07:09 – First 10 of the Season: Avery Neff Vault 07:43 – Why Utah Should Have a Gymnastics-Specific Arena 08:21 – The Legendary Flip-Off Tie-Breaker Explained 10:27 – Event Judging Breakdown Begins (Vault & Beam) 12:18 – Podium Seating, Fan Experience & Ticket Sales 13:47 – Where Florida Would Have Finished in This Meet 15:08 – Comparing Florida vs Oklahoma vs LSU 16:41 – Utah's Lowest Beam Score in 26 Years 17:39 – January Floor Syndrome (No One Is Ready) 18:30 – Jordan Chiles: Scoring Without Being at 100% 19:59 – Jordan's Conditioning, Fatigue & Schedule Reality 21:35 – Best Routines of the Meet (Caitlin, Avery, Execution) 23:12 – Avery Neff Beam Series: Will Judges Take It Away? 24:37 – Utah's Choreography Renaissance (Despite Falls) 25:16 – Faith Torrez Vault & Oklahoma Lineup Choices 26:06 – Oklahoma Freshman Spotlight: Ella Murphy Bars 26:40 – Hannah Burleson Return & Turn Technique 27:34 – UCLA Beam Improvements & Coaching Impact 30:19 – Why Faith Torrez Didn't Do Floor 30:29 – Injury Update: Macy McGowan 31:18 – "Most Decorated Gymnast" Claims & Broadcast Caveats 32:35 – Florida Commentary Problems Explained 34:11 – Florida Documentary First Impressions 35:14 – Heated Rivalry, Hockey & Why It Works 36:24 – Fantasy Gymnastics, Live Shows & Merch 37:40 – Fan Q&A Begins: Quad Format & Broadcast Structure 38:30 – West Virginia Finger Guns Debate 39:43 – Sports Bras, Leotards & Athlete Health 41:30 – Music Copyright, NCAA vs Elite Rules 43:19 – International vs NCAA Leotard Regulations 45:57 – Breast Injuries & Why Support Matters 46:50 – Sibling Gymnasts Competing at the Same Time 48:21 – Bent-Arm Catches on Bars Controversy 49:19 – Extreme Taping: Injury or Aesthetic? 51:25 – Weekly Awards: Meet Assassin & Artist 55:58 – Most Controversial Score of the Meet 57:42 – Salutes, Control & NCAA Finish Rules 58:10 – Commentators vs The Code of Points 59:09 – Yellow Cards: Still Not Being Enforced 01:02:07 – Minnesota Violence Statement, Resistance Resources Tonight's Cocktail Mocktail: If The Judges See It. Full season menu here [https://gymcastic.com/community/bts/january-10-2026-300pm-pt-college-cocktails/] Support Our Work * Club Gym Nerd: J [https://gymcastic.com/club/]oin Here [https://gymcastic.com/club/] * Fantasy: GymCastic 2025 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/].

Fantasy Gymnastics Update - NCAA Week 1 - 2026

Your fantasy gymnastics update as you enter week 1 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/ Week 2 Lineups lock at noon on Friday, January 09 at 02:45pm PT 00:00 Intro 00:28:11 Roster Bargains 00:52:19 Roster Bargains - All-Around 02:33 Roster Bargains - Vault 03:55 Roster Bargains - Bars 05:50 Roster Bargains - Beam 07:46 Roster Bargains - Floor 11:33 League Leaders 12:02 League Stats 13:38 Byes & Injuries This Week's College & Cocktails: Saturday, January 10, 3pm PT

SafeSport Finally Suspends Al Fong as Jordan Chiles Dominates NCAA Week One

SafeSport has suspended Al Fong for five years after a nearly six year long investigation, Melanie de Jesus dos Santos confirms her return ''to the gym'', and all the NCAA news to kick off the 2026 season. HEADLINES * SafeSport has suspended Al Fong for five years after a nearly six year long investigation * Armine was also suspended for one year after acting as the head coach of the Junior Worlds squad * Both coaches were suspended for emotional and physical misconduct * Listen to our interviews with Ivana Hong [https://gymcastic.com/episode-26-ivana-hong/], Terin Humphrey [https://gymcastic.com/60-the-second-most-powerful-woman-in-gymnasticsterin-humphrey/], and Sarah Shire Brown [https://gymcastic.com/358-regionals-preview-shire-brown-olivera-ruddock/], who talk about their time at GAGE under coach Al Fong * Melanie de Jesus dos Santos confirms her return ''to the gym'' according to her Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/p/DS8M-Ftkc20/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] GYMTERNET NEWS * More discontent brewing in France: 15-year-old Elena Colas, the junior world all-around silver medalist, declined a call-up [https://www.lequipe.fr/Gymnastique/Article/Apres-kaylia-nemour-la-fuite-d-un-autre-talent-elena-colas-l-etoile-montante-de-la-gymnastique-qui-menace-de-ne-plus-representer-la-france/1630761] to a French national team training camp in Martinique * SafeSport Continues to Fail * The AP finds SafeSport failed to finalize a lifetime ban [https://apnews.com/article/nassar-gardner-safesport-usa-gymnastics-olympics-abuse-b370ceca5f8c40346353eb9a4e7c9988] against coach Sean Gardner despite abuse allegations * Romanian Infighting * An audio recording reveals Camelia Voinea urging supporters to attack [https://golazo.ro/camelia-voinea-sabrina-voinea-corina-morosan-ioan-suciu-scandal-159709] coach Corina Moroșan, exposing a deep internal power struggle over how the gymnastics should be run in Romania * OC Coach Arrested * 25-year-old Jacob Alexander Demmin was arrested [https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/orange-county-gymnastic-coach-arrested-sex-crimes/] following an investigation into an alleged relationship with a girl under the age of 18 at Firestorm Freerunning. * Ellie Freakin' Black finally getting the recognition she deserves * Ellie Black was named to Order of Canada [https://ca.news.yahoo.com/gymnast-ellie-black-among-nova-163940142.html]: the second-highest honor for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada NCAA * The 2026 college season has begun! * Is competing in the first week of the season a good idea? bad idea? The WORST idea? * Jordan Chiles went 39.725 [https://www.instagram.com/p/DTEyKS5kS8h/?img_index=1&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] in week 1, leading the nation in the all-around standings, thoughts? * UCLA is ranked no. 1 with a 196.975 * How does UCLA's freshmen class fit into this picture? * Missouri went 196.850, counting a fall on beam! * Corrupt or Correct: Utah's scores, as covered on college and cocktails this week * Clemson breaking into the 196s after the first meet is a win * A triumph for vault variety! The first four vaults in Clemson's lineups were different * Cal broke into the 196s, an important result for the team to show they aren't dead * Leaps spotlight * Paulina Vargas, sophomore at Oregon State, proving to us that nobody really cares if you only do a two-pass floor routine as long as your leaps look as good as hers * Spotlight: The Show * Nina Ballou at LSU's exhibition SOLD her dance through, bringing like 15 different celebrations during the intros * Is it time to be worried? * Iowa State's 191.325 is their lowest score since 1999 RELATED EPISODES * Paris World Cup with Laura Cappelle [https://gymcastic.com/paris-world-cup-with-laura-cappelle/] * Jakarta Worlds Debrief: The Romanian Drama Explained With Coaches Daymon Jones & Patrick Kiens [https://gymcastic.com/jakarta-worlds-debrief-the-romanian-drama-explained-with-coaches-daymon-jones-patrick-kiens/] * 60: Terin Humphrey [https://gymcastic.com/60-the-second-most-powerful-woman-in-gymnasticsterin-humphrey/] * 26: Ivana Hong [https://gymcastic.com/episode-26-ivana-hong/] * 358: Regionals Preview, Shire Brown, Olivera, Ruddock [https://gymcastic.com/358-regionals-preview-shire-brown-olivera-ruddock/] UP NEXT * College & Cocktails [https://gymcastic.com/category/club-content/college-cocktails/]: Saturday, Jan 10, 3pm Pacific, following Sprouts Quad session 1 (Oklahoma, UCLA, Utah, LSU) * Add exclusive Club Content like College & Cocktails to your favorite podcast player (instructions here [https://gymcastic.com/community/postid/89/]). SUPPORT OUR WORK * Join Club Gym Nerd [http://gymcastic.com/club] (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes [https://gymcastic.com/club-content/] episodes. * Club Gym Nerd members [http://gymcastic.com/club] can watch the podcast being recorded and get access to all of our exclusive extended interviews, Behind The Scenes and College & Cocktails. * Not sure about joining the club? College & Cocktails [https://gymcastic.com/college-cocktails-lsu-at-utah/]: The Friday Night NCAA Gymnastics Post-Meet Show is available to sample (even if you aren't a Club Gym Nerd member yet). Watch or listen here [https://gymcastic.com/college-cocktails-lsu-at-utah/]. * Buy a Ticket to the Live Show with Cecile Landi and Levi * WATCH REPLAY HERE [https://gymcastic.com/2025-winter-gymcastic-live-show/]: Buy a ticket now or buy it as a gift! If you purchased a ticket to the live show with Cecile Landi and Levi Jung-Ruivivar benefitting The National Eating Disorder Foundation [https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/]you can still watch the replay. Watch highlights before you buy here. [http://youtube.com/watch?v=sQkwJZ2YbDc&feature=youtu.be] * 2026 LIVE SHOW SEASON PASSES ARE NOW AVAILABLE [https://gymcastic.com/2026-gymcastic-live-shows-season-pass/] That's 4 live show passes for the price of 3! Season passes will be available up until the week of the first show. Buy a 2026 season pass here. [https://gymcastic.com/2026-gymcastic-live-shows-season-pass/] MERCH * GymCastic Store [https://gymcastic.com/store/]: clothing and gifts to let your gym nerd flag fly and even "tapestries" (banners [https://www.teepublic.com/tapestry/48925286-simone-freakin-biles-tapestry?ref_id=1646], the perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast! * Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store [https://gymcastic.com/store/] THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS * Huel Daily Greens Ready to Drink – Get 20% off your purchase for New Customers with our exclusive code GYMCASTIC20 at https://huel.com/GYMCASTIC. Use our code and fill out the post checkout survey to help support the show! * Thank you to our Sponsor: "Broken to Unbreakable" by Lori Vollkommer available on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/BROKEN-UNBREAKABLE-COMEBACK-NEVER-COMING-ebook/dp/B0G2KHPHHB] or wherever you buy your books NEWSLETTERS * Sign up for all three GymCastic newsletters [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-newsletters/] FANTASY GAME: * GymCastic 2026 College Fantasy Game [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-2026-college-fantasy-league/] now open. Never too late to join! RESOURCES * Spencer's essential website The Balance Beam Situation [https://balancebeamsituation.com/] * Gymnastics History [https://www.gymnastics-history.com] and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim RESISTANCE Submitted by our listeners. * ACTION * Indivisible [https://indivisible.org/] * Practical ideas about what you can actually do in this moment, check it out: indivisi.org/muskorus [https://indivisi.org/muskorus] * 5Calls App [https://5calls.org/] will call your Congresspeople by issue with a script to guide you * * Make 2 to your Congressional rep (local and DC office). 2 each to your US Senators (local and state offices) * State your name and zip code or district * Be concise with your question or demand (i.e. What specific steps is Senator X taking to stop XYZ) * Wait for answer * Ask for action items - tell them what you want them to do (i.e. draft articles of impeachment immediately, I want to see you holding a press conference in front of...etc.) * ResistBot [https://resist.bot] * Turns your texts into faxes, postal mail, or emails to your representatives in minutes * LAWSUITS * Donate to organizations suing the administration for illegal actions * ACLU [https://www.aclu.org/], Southern Poverty Law Center [https://www.splcenter.org/], Northwest Immigration Law Project [https://www.nwirp.org/] * STAY INFORMED * Suggested podcasts: Amicus [https://slate.com/podcasts/amicus], Daily Beans [https://www.dailybeanspod.com/], Pod Save America [https://crooked.com/podcast-series/pod-save-america/], Strict Scrutiny [https://crooked.com/podcast-series/strict-scrutiny/] * Immigrant Rights * Know Your Rights Red Cards [https://www.redcardorders.com/], We Have Rights Video [https://www.wehaverights.us/], Your Rights on trains and buses video [https://www.aclu-wa.org/docs/your-rights-immigration-agents-trains-and-buse]