GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

Your fantasy gymnastics update as you enter week 5 of the 2025 NCAA season: who’s a steal, who’s on a bye, who's competing twice, who's a bargain and much more. Week 05 Lineups lock at noon on Friday, January 31st, at 2:30pm PT 00:00 Intro 00:00:29 Roster Bargains 00:00:43 Roster Bargains - Vault 03:17 Roster Bargains - Bars 07:11 Roster Bargains - Beam 10:15 Roster Bargains - Floor 14:10 League Leaders 15:23 League Stats 16:20 Byes & Injuries Link to the College & Cocktails Schedule: https://gymcastic.com/community/postid/4336/ [https://gymcastic.com/community/postid/4336/]

The GEC Conference refuses to participate in the S.C.O.R.E. board judging accountability system. Wondering what happens now? We have answers from the oversight committee. Romania and the U.S. are both using GymCastic to argue their sides in the Paris bronze medal debacle, Livvy Dunne has thoughts on scoring, plus Corrupt or Correct and all the gymternet news. Headlines * Because of Elon Musks' double nazi salute [https://youtu.be/-VfYjPzj1Xw?feature=shared&t=17], going forward, GymCastic will no longer link  to Twitter. We encourage listeners to follow #Ncaagym and other gymnastics starter packs on Bluesky  [https://bsky.app/profile/gymcastic.bsky.social] * GymCastic confirmed Friday [https://gymcastic.com/college-cocktails-oregon-state-vs-auburn/] that the Gymnastics East Conference (GEC) refuses to participate in the S.C.O.R.E. Board pilot program * Related episodes * How Olympic Judges are Chosen, Interview with Dr. Hughes Mercier [https://gymcastic.com/judging-the-judges-how-judges-are-chosen-for-the-olympic-games/] * Romania and the United States both use GymCastic to argue their sides in the Paris floor bronze medal case appeal before the Swiss Supreme Court * Related episodes: * The Definitive Guide to the Bronze Medal Debacle [https://gymcastic.com/the-definitive-guide-to-the-paris-floor-bronze-debacle-so-far/] * Simone Biles Rising Director Katie Walsh Interview Part One [https://gymcastic.com/behind-the-scenes-with-simone-biles-rising-special-guest/] * Simone Biles Rising Docuseries Director, Katie Walsh Part Two [https://gymcastic.com/behind-the-scenes-with-simone-biles-rising-docuseries-director-katie-walsh/] Gymternet News * Ella Zirbes' (Utah) social media update about her floor troubles. * Why former Russian rhythmic gymnast [https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/01/24/don-t-mess-with-alina] Alina Kabaeva and her alleged relationship with Putin could help her win a political battle against Irina Viner * People are mad at Livvy Dunne for her Tweet about NCAA scoring * Anna Li's gymnasts and #itsnottrue reposts * Follow-ups from last week *  What is Helen Hu's valdez-thing called? NCAA * Surprise, surprise. Oklahoma still tops the NCAA rankings while Jade Carey leads the all-around * Florida is the first team of the season to break into the 198s but we have thoughts * LSU forgot to sacrifice another high heel this week and had some issues at Arkansas * Aleah Finnegan (LSU) accidentally got ejected from the floor on her double Arabian * Opportunities for comedy * Eastern Michigan hosted the first annual Golden Girls Meet [https://www.instagram.com/p/DE8Fny3yZBa/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D]! * Raphaelle Perreault (LIU) accidentally launched herself into the guard rails and it was hilarious * A boy at the Alabama vs Oklahoma meet tried to distract Audrey Davis on vault but she was too locked-in to care Corrupt or Correct * Kaliya Lincoln and Amari Drayton both got 9.85s for their Yurchenko one-and-a-halfs. Neither vault score is possible. *  Follow-up question: is cowboying a deduction? This is why we need front and back judges. NCAA Week 4 Highlights * Brenna Neault's (Stanford) ring leap is the ONLY one that should be getting credit Feedback * Can individuals qualify to SEC Championships? * How to watch NCAA gymnastics abroad UP NEXT:  * College & Cocktails: * The NCAA Post Meet Show, our live Q&A podcast: Friday, January 24th * Immediately following the Meet of the Week: Battle Fine Arts! Michigan State at UCLA * Full NCAA schedule and links here [https://balancebeamsituation.com/2025-ncaa-schedule/] * Listener Brooke has created a link [https://gymcastic.com/community/postid/4336/] that imports the entire College & Cocktails schedule into your Google and iCal calendar * Fantasy [https://gymcastic.com/fantasy/] Lineups Lock: Friday, Jan. 16 - 3:30pm Join Club Gym Nerd [http://gymcastic.com/club] (or give it as a gift!): * * Weekly Q&A  Behind The Scenes [https://gymcastic.com/club-content/] podcast, dedications, mini-commissions [https://gymcastic.com/club/] , group commissions [https://gymcastic.com/product-category/group-commission/], exclusive extended interviews, and College & Cocktail [https://gymcastic.com/category/club-content/college-cocktails/]s [https://gymcastic.com/category/club-content/college-cocktails/] episodes. Plus discounts and first dibs on Live Show tickets and merch. * Exclusive VIP section on the message board Forum Join Our Fantasy League [https://gymcastic.com/fantasy/] 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/] NEWSLETTERS * Sign up for all three GymCastic newsletters  [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-newsletters/] FANTASY GAME: * * * * GymCastic 2025 College Fantasy Game [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-2025-college-fantasy-league/] now open. Never too late to join! THE LATEST  * College & Cocktails: Oregon State. vs Auburn [https://gymcastic.com/college-cocktails-oregon-state-vs-auburn/] * The 5th Rotation: January 21, 2025 [https://gymcastic.com/the-5th-rotation-january-21-2025/] * We Have 10s and Suspensions [https://gymcastic.com/we-have-10s-and-suspensions/] * College & Cocktails: Florida at LSU [https://gymcastic.com/college-cocktails-florida-at-lsu-2/] * The 5th Rotation: January 14, 2025 [https://gymcastic.com/the-5th-rotation-january-14-2025/]

0:01:25 Headlines * Kaliya Lincoln: Olympian, or Not? * Correction/Clarification: in the U.S, the USOPC recognizes traveling alternates as Olympians, but the IOC does not. Non-traveling alternates are not officially considered Olympians. * West Virginia gymnasts did a photoshoot in a coal mine and now they have a Plunger Stick Crown [https://bsky.app/profile/gymcastic.bsky.social/post/3lfvmx2anek2h] * Rutgers head coach, Umme Salim-Beasley, on administratie leave [https://whyy.org/articles/rutgers-womens-gymnastics-coach-on-leave-report-volatile-team-environment/] after investigation. * The investigation concluded that there was an inappropriate relationship between Salim-Beasley and the former AD Pat Hobbs. * Salim-Beasley refused to answer any questions about her relationship with Pat Hobbs, a violation of her employment contract. * The gymnasts on the Rutgers team noticed things that seemed wrong with the relationship between Salim-Beasley and Pat Hobbs. * Parents and gymnasts had complaints that were not being addressed. * Pat Hobbs forwarded emails with the names of the parents and gymnasts that were complaining to Salim-Beasley. * Children at practice were unattended and running around, causing dangerous situations. * Gymnasts reported their complaints to the head coach and AD, but felt unsatisfied with the results. * Rutgers investigation stated that they are keeping records of complaints. * Avery Neff  (Utah) suffered double sprains on a rebounding pass. * Yul Moldauer (USA) has been suspended for whereabouts violations from USADA. 0:25:37 Spencer is Raising an Army of baby bloggers 0:26:58 GymCastic Updates  0:29:24 Gymternet News * The Gymnastics Canada CEO, Andrew Price, is leaving. * Donnell Whittenburg is joining EVO. 0:30:48 NCAA * Jade Carey is ranked number one in the all-around. * Brooklyn Moors competed on three events, and her vault has improved over the last two weeks. * The crowd at the Maryland meet was large and supportive. * Chae Campbell wants to be a dancer, and her floor routine is her audition tape. * Jordan Chiles finally got a 10 on bars. * The First 10's OF 2025 * * Helene Hu beam [https://youtu.be/eJv2k152Ly0?feature=shared] at Oklahoma with a Johnson (Valedez full turn to handstand) * Jordan Chiles bars at Maryland  [https://youtu.be/w2Cn-YCqDGQ?feature=shared] * Dominique Dawes went to the Maryland meet. * Simone Biles went to the Georgia meet and participated in some of the athletic traditions. 0:48:52 Corrupt or Correct * Aleah Finnegan floor routine at LSU received a 9.975, which is impossible. * She stepped back on her final pass, which was a forward landing. * A step back on a forward landing is a mandatory tenth deduction, making the score a 9.85. * Audrey Davis's beam routine received a 9.925 * She had a balance check on her aerial and soft knees throughout the routine. * Oklahoma gymnasts are very good at covering up errors with choreography. * Use choreography to gaslight the judges! * Faith Torrez's beam routine received a 9.80. * Defining built-in deductions 0:59:05 NCAA Week 3 Highlights * Riley McCusker is back on bars for Florida. * Sloane Blakely looks amazing this year. * What makes a meet entertaining versus boring. *  exhibitions, time to go or save for your favorite who can't make the lineup * Bring back phones on desks to make judges conferences shorter. * Iowa State was a beam team on Friday night. * Grace McCallum hit her routines after witnessing Avery Neff's injury. * Jaycie Ranger needs a radar gun to clock her DLO speed. 1:09:40 Where Would 90's Romanians go for ncaa gymnastics? 1:17:53 Feedback 1:22:30 Sisters in Lineups * McBride and Co sisters competed in the same lineup for Southern Utah in 2023. * The Blakely sisters being the first sisters in the same lineup for Florida since 2014 . 1:28:02 Judging News *  FIG Intercontinental Judging exam are available. * The majority of level one judges from the last cycle did not make it back to level one this cycle. * There is no U.S. judge with a level one rating (the World and Olympic rating). * Cheryl Hamilton received a level three rating.This is not the first time Cheryl Hamilton has not passed the exam for the top level. * The U.S. has a big disadvantage because there are no level one judges. * The hosts discuss how the U.S. brevet testing invitation system works and why some people have complaints about it. UP NEXT:  * College & Cocktails live Q&A podcast: Friday, January 24th * Immediately following the Meet of the Week: * Full NCAA schedule and links here [https://balancebeamsituation.com/2025-ncaa-schedule/] * Fantasy [https://gymcastic.com/fantasy/] Lineups Lock: Friday, Jan. 16 - 3:30pm   Join Club Gym Nerd [http://gymcastic.com/club] (or give it as a gift!): * * Weekly Q&A  Behind The Scenes [https://gymcastic.com/club-content/] podcast, dedications, mini-commissions [https://gymcastic.com/club/] , group commissions [https://gymcastic.com/product-category/group-commission/], exclusive extended interviews, and College & Cocktail [https://gymcastic.com/category/club-content/college-cocktails/]s [https://gymcastic.com/category/club-content/college-cocktails/] episodes. Plus discounts and first dibs on Live Show tickets and merch. * Exclusive VIP section on the message board Forum Join Our Fantasy League [https://gymcastic.com/fantasy/] 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/] NEWSLETTERS * Sign up for all three GymCastic newsletters  [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-newsletters/] FANTASY GAME: * * GymCastic 2025 College Fantasy Game [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-2025-college-fantasy-league/] now open. Never too late to join! THE LATEST  * College & Cocktails: Florida at LSU [https://gymcastic.com/college-cocktails-florida-at-lsu-2/] * The 5th Rotation: January 14, 2025 [https://gymcastic.com/the-5th-rotation-january-14-2025/] * Still No 10s [https://gymcastic.com/still-no-10s/] * The Ultimate 2025 NCAA Gymnastics Season Outlook [https://gymcastic.com/the-ultimate-2025-ncaa-gymnastics-season-outlook/] * College & Cocktails: Oklahoma, LSU, Cal, Utah [https://gymcastic.com/college-cocktails-oklahoma-lsu-cal-utah/]

* Anna Li and Jiani Wu have been suspended [https://www.ocregister.com/2025/01/08/anna-li-jiani-wu-suspended-by-u-s-center-for-safesport-for-abusing-athletes/] after a six year investigation * We have an update on Ella Zirbes (Utah) floor incident [https://www.sltrib.com/sports/utah-utes/2025/01/11/why-utah-gymnasts-were-frustrated/]. * Olympic floor medalist, Ana Barbosu (ROM) is headed to Stanford. * The Sprouts Meet: Oklahoma vs. LSU and Leanne Wong taking the AA crown. * Plus the return of all the elites around the NCAA to competition. * Q&A When is it a bail and when is it an overshoot? * Corrupt or Correct: Should it get credit -  back pikes, 2 foot back layouts and layout pikes on beam. * A Mini-Commission [https://gymcastic.com/product/world-champion-level/] on the Best UCLA Choreography of all time. * Kim Hamilton [https://youtu.be/R44rsRNR0Sc?feature=shared], Chae Campbell [https://youtu.be/5i0S8GtF6QM?feature=shared], Ariana Berlin, [https://youtu.be/wpXCRLi1jNk?feature=shared&t=18] Stella Umeh [https://youtu.be/A5cqZEcNvio?feature=shared], Yvonne Tousek [https://youtu.be/uPyK7RQa4CI?feature=shared&t=44],  Nia Dennis [https://youtu.be/UYZ4GvoZih8?feature=shared], Sophina De Jesus [https://youtu.be/GTIwOHQ_udg?feature=shared], Kristina Comforte [https://youtu.be/RORHhzmFPMM?feature=shared&t=11], Leah Homma, [https://youtu.be/PETSoEs73UQ?feature=shared&t=59] Katlyn Ohashi [https://youtu.be/4ic7RNS4Dfo?feature=shared], Brittney McCullough, [https://youtu.be/WZttjfJ_m4E?feature=shared&t=46] Alison Stoner [https://youtu.be/F_I8gqmmRX4?feature=shared&t=8] * NEXT PODCAST: College & Cocktails -  Friday at 6:15pm PT after Florida/LSU * Full NCAA schedule and links here [https://balancebeamsituation.com/2025-ncaa-schedule/] Join Club Gym Nerd [http://gymcastic.com/club] (or give it as a gift!): * * Weekly Q&A  Behind The Scenes [https://gymcastic.com/club-content/] podcast, dedications, mini-commissions [https://gymcastic.com/club/] , group commissions [https://gymcastic.com/product-category/group-commission/], exclusive extended interviews, and College & Cocktail [https://gymcastic.com/category/club-content/college-cocktails/]s [https://gymcastic.com/category/club-content/college-cocktails/] episodes. Plus discounts and first dibs on Live Show tickets and merch. * Exclusive VIP section on the message board Forum UP NEXT:  * College & Cocktails: Friday, January 17 6:15pm PT * Meet of the week: Florida @ LSU (ESPN 2) * Fantasy Lineups Lock: Thursday, Jan. 16 - 3:30pm Join Our Fantasy League [https://gymcastic.com/fantasy/] MORE GOODIES: * * GymCastic newsletters  [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-newsletters/] * College & (M)Cocktails menu [https://gymcastic.com/community/postid/2728/] * GymCastic Fantasy Games [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-2025-college-fantasy-league/] * * Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store [https://gymcastic.com/store/]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!

Interview: Luisa Blanco (48:17) NCAA champion for Alabama, Colombian Olympian and Paris all-around finalist talks about her career and what's next. In this week's interview we discuss: * Her next chapter in gymnastics * Growing up at WOGA * What her parents did to afford gymnastics * Her most embarrassing fall of all time * Learning a Patterson * Why she went elite and what she learned about herself * Details about her shoulder injury * The Paris Olympic experience Gymternet News * German gymnasts are speaking up [https://www.faz.net/aktuell/sport/mehr-sport/tabea-alts-vorwuerfe-hat-der-turner-bund-hinweise-zu-missbrauch-ignoriert-110201009.html] about abusive coaching practices. (2:31) * Oceanside quad meet's organizational disaster and the 2019 article in Variety [https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/gamers-choice-awards-lawsuit-2-1203101452/] detailing a lawsuit against the organizer. * We said goodbye to Olympic great and holocaust survivor, Agnes Keleti. Watch her gorgeous beam routine under trees. [https://youtu.be/c6ldo3YHYug?feature=shared&t=14] Week 1 Meet News * Jessica and Spencer attended the American Gold Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Classic in Oceanside, CA and share their impressions * How Jade Carey, even after all her success, continues to improve * The return of Brooklyn Moors to three events * Cal's steady performance to open the season * Reactions to the scoring and Score Board from Cal co-head coach, Justin Howell (27:02) * Ondine Achampong (Cal/GB) on adjusting to life at Berkeley and her ACL recovery (46:26) Join Club Gym Nerd [http://gymcastic.com/club] (or give it as a gift!): * * Weekly Q&A  Behind The Scenes [https://gymcastic.com/club-content/] podcast, dedications, mini-commissions [https://gymcastic.com/club/] , group commissions [https://gymcastic.com/product-category/group-commission/], exclusive extended interviews, and College & Cocktail [https://gymcastic.com/category/club-content/college-cocktails/]s [https://gymcastic.com/category/club-content/college-cocktails/] episodes. Plus discounts and first dibs on Live Show tickets and merch. * Exclusive VIP section on the message board Forum * More goodies: * GymCastic newsletters  [https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-newsletters/] * College & (M)Cocktails menu [https://gymcastic.com/community/postid/2728/] * GymCastic Fantasy Games [https://gymcastic.com/fantasy-2024-us-classic/] * 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/] RELATED * * Things You Only Know if You Are A Gymnast [https://gymcastic.com/386-things-you-only-know-if-youre-a-gymnast-with-bram-verhofstad-commissioned/] * Growing Up at Round Lake [https://gymcastic.com/episode-17-growing-up-in-the-soviet-gymnastics-system-and-training-at-round-lake/] * Behind The Scenes: every Friday find them all here [https://gymcastic.com/category/club-content/behind-the-scenes/] * Behind The Scenes: GOAT Tour & Jordan's Swiss Appeal [https://gymcastic.com/behind-the-scenes-goat-tour-jordan-case/] COMMISSIONED EPISODES * * The FluffCast [https://gymcastic.com/258-the-fluff-cast-commissioned/] * Gymnastics Dumest Rules  [https://gymcastic.com/gymnastics-dumbest-rules/] * GymKata starring Kurt Thomas [https://gymcastic.com/gymkata/] * A Quitters Try: The CNN Parkettes Documentary  [https://gymcastic.com/best-of-gymcastic-a-quitters-try-the-cnn-parkettes-documentary/] * The Leotard Episode [https://gymcastic.com/the-leotard-episode/] * Uncle Tim's Mythbusters [https://gymcastic.com/uncle-tims-mythbusters/] * Find them all here [https://gymcastic.com/category/episode/commissions/]