GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

The 90s International Team Championships: Fingerpainting, Vault Chaos & Olympic Legends in the Making

Relive the ridiculous wonderful, and deeply influential 1997–1999 International Team Championships, the friendly meets that defined pre-Sydney Olympics quad. We break down the biggest moments from Vanessa Atler, Dominique Moceanu, Simona Amanar, Ling Jie, Maria Olaru, Kristen Maloney, Elise Ray, and more—plus China's bars innovation, Romania's beam dominance, and the USA's rising queens. From NBC's fingerpainting fluff pieces to vault disasters, age-rule drama, and iconic routines, we revisit the meets that shaped an Olympic generation. RELATED: * 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/] * Trouble in Romania [https://gymcastic.com/trouble-in-romania/] * The History of Romanian Gymnastics (Commissioned) [https://gymcastic.com/the-history-of-romanian-gymnastics-commissioned/] * 80's Fight! The great Soviet Romanian Rivalry (Commissioned) [https://gymcastic.com/80s-fight-the-great-romanian-soviet-gymnastics-rivalry/] * The Fluff Cast [https://gymcastic.com/258-the-fluff-cast-commissioned/]: Deva isn't a castle?! * World Championships Headquarters [https://gymcastic.com/2025-world-championship-headquarters/] Videos, Interviews, Podcasts, Fantasy, Guides from Jakarta World Championships * Behind the Scenes - all episodes [https://gymcastic.com/category/club-content/behind-the-scenes/] SUPPORT THE SHOW: * Join Club Gym Nerd: https://gymcastic.com/club/ [https://gymcastic.com/club/] * Merch: https://gymcastic.com/shop/ [https://gymcastic.com/shop/] * Headstand Game: https://gymcastic.com/headstand-plugin/ [https://gymcastic.com/headstand-plugin/] * Forum: https://gymcastic.com/community/ [https://gymcastic.com/community/] UP NEXT: * Behind The Scenes [https://gymcastic.com/category/club-content/behind-the-scenes/]: Live Q&A podcast Friday this week only at noon Pacific/8 GMT NEWSLETTERS * Sign up for all three GymCastic newsletters [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-newsletters/] RESOURCES * Spencer's essential website The Balance Beam Situation [https://balancebeamsituation.com/] * GIFs of the Week and Meet schedule with links [https://balancebeamsituation.com/2025-ncaa-schedule/]. * Gymnastics History [https://www.gymnastics-history.com/] and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim * The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles [https://a.co/d/3rImmoU] by Aimee Boorman with Fact Checker. Aimee coached Simone from day one in gymnastics to three back to back World All Around titles, 14 world medals and an unprecedented 5 medals at the Rio Olympics. Get your copy [https://a.co/d/3rImmoU]

Olga Gymnastics Survivor Blows the Whistle: Abuse, Cover-Ups, and the Phelps Legacy

Emma Webb, author of Historic, exposes the untold history of Olga Gymnastics club and the Phelps family legacy. We break down the abuse scandal, the Whyte Review, Gymnasts for Change, and how survivors pushed British Gymnastics to finally reform. INTERVIEW We talk with Emma Webb (pseudonym), author of the new book Historic: The True Legacy of Childhood Sport - The Book Every Parent Needs to Read, [https://neverhistoric.com] a memoir detailing the trauma and abuse she endured under convicted child sex offender Brian Phelps, plus the aftermath of how the British legal system chose to protect abusers over children CHAPTERS (pre-auto inserted ads) 00:00 – Trigger Warning SA 01:03 – Brian Phelps' criminal charges and conviction 01:39 – The broader British gymnastics abuse reckoning 02:01 – Gymnasts for Change and the Whyte Review 02:36 – Restorative Program & the £15,000 split survivor offer 03:28 – How Emma first contacted GymCastic 03:44 – The long-term psychological and medical impact 04:10 – Doctors discovering internal injuries from childhood abuse 06:10 – Phelps' police interviews and his admissions 07:26 – Why survivors didn't pursue further prosecution 08:05 – Brian and Monica's life in France & public exposure 10:19 – Mapping all Olga locations & survivor triggers 11:05 – The pandemic pause and worsening mental health 11:33 – Discovery of the Phelps Legacy Club in 2022 12:10 – Multiple Phelps family members and their roles 12:22 – The "new" Renascence club operating despite convictions 12:28 – Timeline of Phelps fleeing & survivor disclosures 13:01 – A disturbing encounter: the club near Emma's son's bus stop 14:20 – Emma's decision: "Enough." Why she wrote Historic 15:06 – Reporting to the Whyte Review & British Athletes Commission 16:30 – Why reporting in the UK is a bureaucratic nightmare 17:36 – How reporting was mishandled & why systems fail 18:22 – How British Gymnastics and the council were complicit in Brian Phelps crimes 19:24 – Employment history: Phelps employed by the government & BBC 21:00 – Coaches and community "knew something was wrong" 21:14 – Other roles Monica and Brian held despite accusations 21:23 – The name "Renaissance" and why it matters 22:03 – How the club reopened after his release 22:45 – A fully avoidable tragedy: Phelps' first arrest in 1966 23:31 – Commonwealth Games cover-up to protect his career 24:34 – Royal audiences for Phelps & protected reputations 25:05 – The 10-year gap between his arrest and Emma meeting him 26:09 – How court attitudes toward sexual abuse haven't changed 27:03 – The Nik Stuart Foundation honoring Monica Phelps 28:13 – British Gymnastics leadership celebrating the Phelps family 29:29 – Video clip from the ceremony: denial of the Whyte Review 30:23 – Widespread knowledge in diving and gymnastics 32:03 – Comparing the Whyte Review to US investigations 33:25 – How the Whyte Review minimized sexual abuse 34:00 – Abuse in British Gymnastics: a larger pattern 35:55 – Non-sexual forms of abuse and lifelong harm 36:20 – Warning signs parents should not ignore 37:04 – Why the culture enables predators 38:17 – Parents' responsibility & due diligence 39:26 – Closed-door clubs & lingering dangers 40:39 – Male survivors vs. female survivors: unequal response 41:13 – How BG acted quickly for boys, not for girls 42:06 – Phelps' public statement denying Emma's reporting 43:29 – No mandatory reporting for the public in the UK 44:33 – Comparison to mandatory reporting vs good samaritan laws 45:05 – The UK protects money better than children 45:46 – How political leadership minimizes child abuse 46:12 – British boarding school culture & abuse 47:10 – What reforms are needed: national banned list & ombudsman 48:05 – Name changes allow offenders to disappear 48:14 – Hundreds of convicted offenders now untraceable 48:18 – How many survivors have come forward 49:01 – How many survivors known before the book 49:27 – Realizing past abuse only after adulthood 50:07 – Childhood context and normalization of abuse 51:01 – "Trust and Obey" culture at Olga and British school 52:53 – The moment Emma became a survivor, not a victim 53:30 – Returning to Olga decades later 54:01 – Parental responses and guilt 55:05 – What acknowledging PTSD unlocked 56:02 – How the trauma resurfaced during the pandemic 57:23 – Complex PTSD and real recovery work 58:07 – Finding effective PTSD support TOPICS * Read Whyte Review Investigation [https://www.sportengland.org/guidance-and-support/safeguarding/whyte-review], a full independent review into the allegations of abuse in British Gymnastics * How we got in contact with Webb after our Commentator Hall of Shame [https://gymcastic.com/441-gymnastics-commentary-hall-of-shame-commissioned/] episode * What moved Webb to write this book? * How many times had Brian Phelps been investigated and was still allowed to coach? * That time Monica Phelps (neé Rutherford) was still recognized at an award banquet [https://youtu.be/KH6i5oEvMeI?si=Yp-TwZkiNhZj_6Fu&t=2745] and thanked her "partner" * How can we convince parents to act quickly and take their children out of dangerous situations? * Difference between how British Gymnastics treated male victims vs female victims? * Should countries pass mandatory abuse reporting laws similar to good samaritan laws? * How she finally got help and finding a great therapist. * Silver linings in her journey. * What does justice look like for Emma. RELATED: * GymCastic's Safeguarding checklist [https://gymcastic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Safeguarding-Checklist_-What-to-ask-about-safety-at-your-gym-3.pdf] - questions everyone should ask a gym before signing up or working at a gymnastics club * Historic book website [https://neverhistoric.com] * Brian Phelps diving [https://youtu.be/8uVZ4YTfh_8?si=ES-LP69gCBekiexh&t=128] when he should have been in jail * BBC Gymnastics historical sex abuse case: Survivor claims 'catastrophic failures' [https://www.bbc.com/sport/gymnastics/64647237] * Monica Phelps awarded [https://youtu.be/WQOu4GTjJlM?si=vwPmjZHlmsvkDpNC&t=4420] at 2003 Nik Stuart Foundation * Mike Swallow speaks against Whyte Review a [https://youtu.be/KH6i5oEvMeI?si=Yp-TwZkiNhZj_6Fu&t=2745]t Nik Stuart Foundation awards * Olga Gymnastics / Renascence Club corporate documents [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07838861/officers] * British Gymnastics hired private investigator [https://www.heraldseries.co.uk/news/1088353.olympic-judge-is-jailed-for-sex-abuse/] to track down survivors of judge * British Gymnastics banned list [https://www.british-gymnastics.org/banned-expelled-members] * Report - Childhood trauma increases risk of MS [https://www.everydayhealth.com/multiple-sclerosis/childhood-trauma-linked-to-increased-risk-of-developing-ms] * SafeSport Training [https://uscenterforsafesport.org/courses/] * British Gymnastics Safeguarding [https://www.british-gymnastics.org/safesport/safeguarding] * The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles [https://a.co/d/3rImmoU] * Aly Raisman book [https://a.co/d/fewsIbB] * GymCastic Episodes * Gymnastics Commentary Hall of Shame [https://gymcastic.com/441-gymnastics-commentary-hall-of-shame-commissioned/] * Aly Raisman Interview [https://gymcastic.com/319-aly-and-lynn-raisman/] * British Ute Amelie Morgan [https://gymcastic.com/amelie-morgan/] * Lady Lisa Mason [https://gymcastic.com/137-lady-lisa-mason/] * Beth Tweddle Interview [https://gymcastic.com/episode-22-beth-tweddle/] SUPPORT THE SHOW: * Join Club Gym Nerd: https://gymcastic.com/club/ [https://gymcastic.com/club/] * Headstand Game: https://gymcastic.com/headstand-plugin/ [https://gymcastic.com/headstand-plugin/] * Forum: https://gymcastic.com/community/ [https://gymcastic.com/community/] * Merch: https://gymcastic.com/shop/ [https://gymcastic.com/shop/] NEWSLETTERS * Sign up for all three GymCastic newsletters [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-newsletters/] RESOURCES * Spencer's essential website The Balance Beam Situation [https://balancebeamsituation.com/] * GIFs of the Week and Meet schedule with links [https://balancebeamsituation.com/2025-ncaa-schedule/]. * Gymnastics History [https://www.gymnastics-history.com/] and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim * Behind the Scenes - all episodes [https://gymcastic.com/category/club-content/behind-the-scenes/]

Doping In Women's Gymnastics

The history of Doping in women's gymnastics staring East Germany, part two of Patrick Kiens and Daymon Jones' interview, USA Gymnastics' new CEO hire, the return of the American Cup, 2027 college signings and a LA 2028 comeback wish list mini-commission. youtube link CHAPTERS pre-automatic ad insert 00:00 – Steroids Disguised as Candy (Cold Open) 01:35 – HEADLINES: New USAG CEO Kyle Albrecht 04:41 – American Cup Returns as Mixed-Team Event 07:07 – College Signings: 2027 Class Breakdown 12:11 – United States of Romania: Romanian Stars Announce NCAA Plans 14:14 – More 2027 Signees: UCLA, Oklahoma, Utah, LSU, Georgia, Cal 16:52 – Elite Paths, Injuries & Why Some Elites Skip NCAA Signing 17:26 – DOPING DEEP DIVE (Part 1): East Germany's System Exposed 20:21 – How the GDR Program Worked: State-Run, Double-Blind, Children Targeted 22:31 – "Candy Steroids" & Personality-Based Doping Assignments 23:36 – What Drugs They Used & Why They Worked in Gymnastics 24:36 – Growth-Plate Closure, Neuro Drugs & Long-Term Damage 26:04 – Cadaver-Gland HGH & CJD Risk 27:41 – Reactions in 1989–1990 When the Stasi Files Were Opened 29:06 – IOC Refuses to Strip GDR Medals 29:47 – Missy Marlow Responds: "Where Did All the East Germans Go?" 30:34 – Should Medals Be Corrected or Re-Awarded? 34:13 – Abuse vs. Doping: Who Should Be Punished? 35:36 – Why These Lessons Still Matter for Today's Gymnastics 36:15 – ROMANIA UPDATE: Responses to Patrick & Daymon Interview 37:19 – Maria Holbură Speaks: "I Had to Stand Like a Soldier" 38:24 – NEW Abuse Video of Sabrina Voinea Surfaces 39:00 – Why Romanian Athletes Are Going to the Press 39:54 – INTERVIEW: Patrick & Daymon Part 2 Intro 40:06 – Jakarta Worlds: Overall Impressions 40:26 – Judging Shoutout: Silvia Brescia Nails It 41:47 – Artistry Judging Finally Taken Seriously 42:37 – Floor Choreography Evolving: "You're a Director Now" 43:18 – Consistency Across Subdivisions & Post-Olympic Judging Trends 44:18 – Should US Team Selection Use International Judges? 45:20 – Category Bias: Why Outside Eyes Matter 46:23 – Storyworth Ad Read (Spencer's Mom's Skirt Story) 49:54 – Huel Ad Read (Daily Greens + Peach Flavor Stan Club) 51:55 – Should Trials Use the Same Equipment Brand as Worlds? 53:22 – Equipment Access Inequities: US vs Europe 54:17 – Training Camps & Jet Lag Protocols 55:57 – "Survival of the Fittest": US System vs Small-Nation Systems 56:09 – Should Worlds Allow Traveling Alternates? 57:04 – Why Alternates Need the Experience 57:35 – Daily Logistics in Jakarta: Hotel, Volunteers, Food, Illness 59:07 – Only One Training Time per Day: The Reality 01:00:51 – FIG Cost-Cutting & Why Fewer Trainings Exist Now 01:02:04 – FIG Understaffing Concerns 01:03:12 – White Landing Mats: Visibility & Safety Issues 01:03:52 – Coaches' Round Table: No Questions Allowed?! 01:04:12 – Fujitsu 3D Judging System: Still Vaporware? 01:06:02 – What the Athletes Learned from Jakarta 01:07:31 – Dulcinea's Experience: Making Finals & Next Steps 01:08:32 – Upgrades, Code Exploration & Smart Routine Building 01:10:20 – Why E-Score Matters as Much as D-Score 01:11:03 – Routine Construction in the U.S.: A Long-Standing Problem 01:12:18 – Why International Judges Should Be Involved in Routine Design 01:14:12 – Long-Term Vision for Building a Program 01:14:46 – MINI COMMISSION INTRO: Comeback Wishlist for LA28 01:15:05 – Christy's Brief: "Who Should Come Back for 2028?" 01:15:25 – Spencer Prepares Emotionally 01:16:22 – Jessica's #1 Pick: Casey Jo Magee on Beam 01:17:56 – Spencer's #1 Pick: McKayla Maroney (All-Around Queen) 01:18:25 – Also Spencer: Brenna Dowell Comeback Campaign 01:19:10 – Jessica's #2 Pick: Vanessa Atler 01:20:04 – Spencer's 2009–2016 Alt Universe Superteam 01:21:00 – Pre-Paris Retirees: Who Should Return Now? 01:21:28 – JJ Marshall + Bailey Key + More Forgotten Talents 01:22:00 – The Gabby Douglas Rule ("No Today Show Comebacks") 01:23:04 – Why Gymnasts Need Real Meets Before Announcing 01:24:00 – College Head Coach Comeback Team?! (Casey Jo, Wieber, Preece, Tabitha) 01:25:10 – Cecile as Beam Queen? Citizenship Questions 01:26:07 – Tabitha Yim as the Secret Weapon 01:26:50 – Shawn Johnson? Nastia? Maybe Not. 01:27:03 – Chelsea/Alicia Self-Selecting Themselves for Paris (Chaos Edition) 01:28:32 – Join Club Gym Nerd / Fantasy Notes 01:29:11 – GYMTERNET NEWS: NCAA Schedule + ABC/ESPN Slate 01:30:03 – All-Japan Results + Aurora Tribute Routine by Kenzo 01:31:18 – FEEDBACK: Obi Cam Praise + Cocopuff the Pomeranian 01:32:38 – YouTube Subscriptions & Comment Rules 01:33:35 – Junior Worlds Preview: "It's in a Ballroom!" HEADLINES: * USA Gymnastics has hired Kyle Albrecht, a former Major League Soccer executive, to lead the organization. What do we think about this decision? * The American Cup is BACK as an international meet and is now a mixed-team event. When and where will the competition be held? * We have college signings for 2027! Who is going where? But what does it even mean to "sign" with a school? * All the big elites are going to Florida * No Hezly for LSU? * The United States of Romania starring Ella Oprea (Clemson), Amalia Ghigoarta (MSU), and Lilia Cosman (MSU) * DOPING IN WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS: * If you thought doping wasn't a problem in gymnastics, Uncle Tim busted out the archives to let you know otherwise * Blue Pills and Broken Spines: How East Germany Destroyed Its Young Gymnasts [https://www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/11/blue-pills-and-broken-spines-how-east-germany-destroyed-its-young-gymnasts/] * The Vault Champion Who Vanished after Doping [https://www.gymnastics-history.com/2025/11/1981-the-vault-champion-who-vanished-after-a-positive-doping-test/] INTERVIEW: PATRICK KIENS AND DAYMON JONES PART TWO * VOINEA ABUSE ALLEGATION UPDATE: Video and more allegations against Camilla Voinea [https://golazo.ro/camelia-voinea-sabrina-voinea-video-abuzuri-gimnastica-156123] * What were the reactions from the Romanian media about last week's part one interview with Patrick and Daymon? * Maria Holbură released a statement [https://golazo.ro/maria-holbura-tensiuni-abuzuri-gimnastica-patrick-kiens-156101] speaking out about the abuse within the Romanian system * What do Patrick and Daymon think about selection procedures for the American system? * What were Jakarta World Championships like in comparison to previous World Championships? * How did they feel about competition safety and the equipment? * Is the Fujitsu AI judging system actually happening? Reactions from the presentation * What do judges want to see in terms of artistry on beam and floor? * A shout out to Sylvia Brestyan for her analysis on judging accuracy * How American gymnasts can reconstruct their routines for code-smart routines * What are some positive examples of athlete adaptation? MINI COMMISSION [https://gymcastic.com/club/]: COMEBACK WISH LIST FOR THE LA 2028 GAMES * This mini commission is from our Fantasy Winner, Christy: With the next summer Olympics in LA, it's the perfect time for someone to mount a comeback! Love a good comeback, and who wouldn't want to compete at your home country's Olympics!?! Is there anyone you realistically believe is training for a comeback, and who would you like to see come out of the woodwork and make a run for 2028? GYMTERNET NEWS: * NCAA schedules are starting to roll in! * Starts: * Jan. 10 - ABC - Sprouts (Oklahoma, UCLA, Utah, LSU) * Jan 10 - ESPN2 - Sprouts (Michigan State, California, Kentucky, Michigan) * Ends: * Apr. 18 - Championship Preview Show is back, followed by NCAA Championship * All Japan Championships results * VT: Miyata Shoko (13.999 average) UB: Nakashima Karin (14.066) BB: Kishi Rina (14.500) FX: Kishi Rina (14.166) AA: Kishi Rina (55.999) UP NEXT: * Behind The Scenes [https://gymcastic.com/category/club-content/behind-the-scenes/]: Live Q&A podcast Friday this week only at noon Pacific/8 GMT RELATED: * World Championships Headquarters [https://gymcastic.com/2025-world-championship-headquarters/] Videos, Interviews, Podcasts, Fantasy, Guides from Jakarta World Championships * 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/] * Trouble in Romania [https://gymcastic.com/trouble-in-romania/] * The History of Romanian Gymnastics (Commissioned) [https://gymcastic.com/the-history-of-romanian-gymnastics-commissioned/] * 80's Fight! The great Soviet Romanian Rivalry (Commissioned) [https://gymcastic.com/80s-fight-the-great-romanian-soviet-gymnastics-rivalry/] * The Fluff Cast [https://gymcastic.com/258-the-fluff-cast-commissioned/]: Deva isn't a castle?! * Behind The Scenes: Back from Jakarta [https://gymcastic.com/behind-the-scenes-back-from-jakarta/] * Eythora Thorsdottir and Coach Patrick Kiens [https://gymcastic.com/178-eythora-thorsdottir-and-coach-patrick-kiens/] * Behind the Scenes - all episodes [https://gymcastic.com/category/club-content/behind-the-scenes/] SUPPORT THE SHOW: * Join Club Gym Nerd: https://gymcastic.com/club/ [https://gymcastic.com/club/] * Headstand Game: https://gymcastic.com/headstand-plugin/ [https://gymcastic.com/headstand-plugin/] * Forum: https://gymcastic.com/community/ [https://gymcastic.com/community/] * Merch: https://gymcastic.com/shop/ [https://gymcastic.com/shop/] * Thank you to our Sponsors: * Storyworth Memoirs! Right now, save $10 or more during their Holiday sale when you go to STORYWORTH.com/GymCastic [https://welcome.storyworth.com/?utm_source=gymcastic&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=summer2019&promo=hR8XucBp] * Huel Daily Greens Ready to Drink – Get 15% off your purchase for New Customers with our exclusive code GYMCASTIC at https://huel.com/GYMCASTIC [https://huel.com/GYMCASTIC]. Use our code and fill out the post checkout survey to help support the show! NEWSLETTERS * Sign up for all three GymCastic newsletters [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-newsletters/] RESOURCES * Spencer's essential website The Balance Beam Situation [https://balancebeamsituation.com/] * GIFs of the Week and Meet schedule with links [https://balancebeamsituation.com/2025-ncaa-schedule/]. * Gymnastics History [https://www.gymnastics-history.com/] and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim * The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles [https://a.co/d/3rImmoU] by Aimee Boorman with Fact Checker. Aimee coached Simone from day one in gymnastics to three back to back World All Around titles, 14 world medals and an unprecedented 5 medals at the Rio Olympics. Get your copy now [https://a.co/d/3rImmoU]. And if you loved it, please leave a review.

Jakarta Worlds Debrief: The Romanian Drama Explained With Coaches Daymon Jones & Patrick Kiens

Former Romanian head coaches Daymon Jones and Patrick Kiens [https://www.instagram.com/wcc.elite.team/?hl=en] join us to unpack the turmoil inside Romanian gymnastics — from new accusations to decades-old coaching culture and leadership struggles. Plus: what we learned from the 2025 Jakarta World Championships and our wish list for future World Championships. And a happy message [https://youtu.be/MlD4YBCO174?si=IiaTchk1y0VRMh8O] from Rings World Champion, Donnell Whittenburg. Find Resistance Resources here [https://gymcastic.com/resistance-resources/]. CHAPTERS - pre auto-ad insert 00:00:00 – Intro Cold Open: Romania abuse reports surface 00:03:36 – Headlines: Romania context (Golgota, Voinea, leadership turmoil) 00:10:02 – Interview: The Romanian Situation with Daymon & Patrick 00:10:34 – Abuse allegations and what coaches witnessed firsthand 00:20:15 – Old-school culture, leadership failure, and bad press 00:31:13 – Federation power dynamics, elections, and fallout 00:41:28 – Updates & programming notes 00:45:17 – Jakarta Worlds Debrief: Overall medal table (WAG/MAG highlights) 00:49:16 – China's event-specialist strategy (7 routines, 3 medals) 00:51:54 – Judging parity: Melnikova's AA score & floor 14 club 00:55:51 – Selection & pipeline fixes (camp vs real meets) 01:06:44 – Who needs a reset? USA, Italy & Brazil post-Olympics 01:24:11 – FIG talk: host selection, logistics & equipment issues 01:32:02 – Gymternet News: Canada CEO, Arthur Gander results, Liverpool 2030 bid 01:36:56 – Listener feedback & notes UP NEXT: * Behind The Scenes [https://gymcastic.com/category/club-content/behind-the-scenes/]: Live Q&A podcast Friday this week only at noon Pacific/8 GMT RELATED: * World Championships Headquarters [https://gymcastic.com/2025-world-championship-headquarters/]Videos, Interviews, Podcasts, Fantasy, Guides from Jakarta World Championships * Trouble in Romania [https://gymcastic.com/trouble-in-romania/] * The History of Romanian Gymnastics (Commissioned) [https://gymcastic.com/the-history-of-romanian-gymnastics-commissioned/] * 80's Fight! The great Soviet Romanian Rivalry (Commissioned) [https://gymcastic.com/80s-fight-the-great-romanian-soviet-gymnastics-rivalry/] * The Fluff Cast [https://gymcastic.com/258-the-fluff-cast-commissioned/]: Deva isn't a castle?! * Behind The Scenes: Back from Jakarta [https://gymcastic.com/behind-the-scenes-back-from-jakarta/] * Eythora Thorsdottir and Coach Patrick Kiens [https://gymcastic.com/178-eythora-thorsdottir-and-coach-patrick-kiens/] * Behind the Scenes - all episodes [https://gymcastic.com/category/club-content/behind-the-scenes/] SUPPORT THE SHOW: * Join Club Gym Nerd: https://gymcastic.com/club/ [https://gymcastic.com/club/] * Headstand Game: https://gymcastic.com/headstand-plugin/ [https://gymcastic.com/headstand-plugin/] * Forum: https://gymcastic.com/community/ [https://gymcastic.com/community/] * Merch: https://gymcastic.com/shop/ [https://gymcastic.com/shop/] NEWSLETTERS * Sign up for all three GymCastic newsletters [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-newsletters/] RESOURCES * Spencer's essential website The Balance Beam Situation [https://balancebeamsituation.com/] * GIFs of the Week and Meet schedule with links [https://balancebeamsituation.com/2025-ncaa-schedule/]. * Gymnastics History [https://www.gymnastics-history.com/] and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim * The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles [https://a.co/d/3rImmoU] by Aimee Boorman with Fact Checker. Aimee coached Simone from day one in gymnastics to three back to back World All Around titles, 14 world medals and an unprecedented 5 medals at the Rio Olympics. Get your copy now [https://a.co/d/3rImmoU]. And if you loved it, please leave a review. Cover Art & Photos: Steve Cooper ©Gymcastic

The Nightmare That Was The 2000 Olympic Trials

We revisit the U.S. 2000 Olympic Trials where the selection committee's athlete rep REFUSED to certify the team and USAG announced the team anyway! The 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials This week, we have a group commission from Brianna, Stephanie, Atwood, Laura, Karla, and Emma, all about [deep breath] the collective nightmare that was the 2000 Olympic Trials. We discuss: * The gymnasts: Elise Ray, Amy Chow, Kristen Maloney, Morgan White, Jamie Dantzscher, Vanessa Atler, Dominique Dawes, Alyssa Beckerman, Tasha Schwikert, Rachel Tidd, Jeanette Antolin, Amanda Stroud, Shannon Miller * The breaking news that there actually was official selection criteria, and it was technically followed. * The significance of 2000 Trials as the worst thing that has ever happened ever, the controversy of the selection process, the low point this represented in athlete-first commentary, and just…the Bela of it all * Shannon's comeback * What if Atler had been able to compete on the "new" vault? * The way the commentators talk about Alyssa Beckerman * The infamous Rybacki fluff piece * DLO + Punch front * Shannon's vault injury * BEIGE DRAPES * Steve Nunno's performance piece * The Moceanu sadness forest * Why they selected the team they did, and was it the right call? RELATED EPISODES * The History of Olympic Trials Controversies [https://gymcastic.com/the-history-of-olympic-trials-controversies-commissioned/] * Shannon Miller Interview Part 1 [https://gymcastic.com/148-shannon-miller/] * Shannon Miller Interview 2015 part 2 [https://gymcastic.com/168-shannon-miller-belarusgate-ned-vs-gb/] * Vanessa Atler [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiTzI2WwfDyAhU3IjQIHR25Cq8QFnoECAMQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fgymcastic.com%2F254-vanessa-atler%2F&usg=AOvVaw0gySYFtZsk4xK_jSsw2PTW] * Jamie Dantzscher Interview [https://gymcastic.com/420-jamie-dantzscher/] * How to Stage a Gymnastics Protest [https://gymcastic.com/how-to-stage-a-gymnastics-protest/] * Tokyo Olympics Recap [https://gymcastic.com/tokyo-olympics-recap/] SUPPORT OUR WORK * Club Gym Nerd: J [https://gymcastic.com/club/]oin Here [https://gymcastic.com/club/] * Commission an episode [https://gymcastic.com/product-category/group-commission/] * Add exclusive Club Content like College & Cocktails to your favorite podcast player (instructions here [https://gymcastic.com/community/postid/89/]) * Headstand Game: P [https://gymcastic.com/headstand-plugin/]lay Now [https://gymcastic.com/headstand-plugin/] * Forum: Start Chatting [https://gymcastic.com/community/] * Merch: Shop Now [https://gymcastic.com/shop/] * Thank you to our Sponsor: * Huel Daily Greens Ready to Drink – Get 15% off your purchase for New Customers with our exclusive code GYMCASTIC at https://huel.com//GYMCASTIC [https://huel.com//GYMCASTIC]. 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CHAPTERS - pre-auto ad insertion 00:00 – Introduction: Jakarta Worlds and Sleep Deprivation Update 03:29 – About : One of Our Most Popular Episodes 05:12 – Show Intro: The Nightmare That Was the 2000 Olympic Trials 08:10 – Format Overview: 6-5-4 and Why It Mattered 11:27 – The "Selection Criteria Is F***ing Shocking" Breakdown 16:42 – Who Was on the Selection Committee (and Why That's a Problem) 21:08 – Setting the Scene: Panic After 1996, Comebacks, and Chaos 25:50 – Significance: One of the Worst Selection Decisions Ever 30:31 – Day 1 Begins: "This Will Be Bela's Team" 33:52 – Jamie Dantzscher on Bars: The "Bela Fixed Jamie" Narrative 36:59 – Morgan White Isn't OK 39:40 – Shannon Miller on Bars and Vault: Injuries and "Good Catch by Nunno" 43:52 – Vanessa Atler's Vault: What If She'd Had the Table? 47:16 – Alyssa Beckerman Commentary: Moral Failings ≈ Missed Skills 50:08 – The Rybacki / Dantzscher / Atler Fluff: Coaching Betrayals 52:33 – Weird-Ass Shannon Miller "Party Time" Fluff 53:55 – Huel Daily Greens Ad: The Vitamin Redemption Arc 57:03 – Atler's Floor and the Scoring Face That Said It All 59:49 – Atler's Terrifying Beam Dismount and the "Nightmare Walrus" 1:03:14 – Day 2: Shannon's Vault Injury and Bela/Nunno/Nassar on Deck 1:08:55 – The Beige Drapes Fluff: Bela as Star of the Show 1:13:29 – Atler Bars Semi-Miss and Nunno's Performance Piece 1:17:12 – "Alternates Are Not Ranked" – The Policy Loophole 1:20:43 – Atler's Day 2 Vault Downgrade and Implications 1:24:02 – The Wildly Inappropriate Morgan White Body Commentary 1:28:21 – Tasha Schwikert Appears: "Mom and Dad Are Dealers" 1:31:09 – More Beckerman Disrespect and MLT Quotes of the Year 1:34:38 – Moceanu Fluff: Clawing at the Tree in the Sadness Forest 1:38:12 – Amy Chow's Calm Dominance on Day 2 1 :42:07 – Final Scores and Who Actually Hit 1:46:04 – Final Team Selection Disaster and Tracee Talavera's Refusal to Sign RESOURCES * Jakarta [https://gymcastic.com/2025-world-championship-headquarters/#guide] Worlds [https://gymcastic.com/2025-world-championship-headquarters/#schedule] Headquarters page [https://gymcastic.com/2025-world-championship-headquarters/#guide] * 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 * Kensley's men's gymnastics site Neutral Deductions [https://www.neutraldeductions.com/#google_vignette] RESISTANCE RESOURCES > here [https://gymcastic.com/resistance-resources/]