2013 January | GymCastic

This week we talk to 2009 World All-Around Champion and University of Florida freshman, Bridget Sloan. She tells us about the transition to NCAA gymnastics, the athletic trainer who she calls her surrogate father, air pollution at the Beijing Olympics, age falsification and Martha Karolyi commenting on her weight on television.

In that special way, that only the two best satirists in the business can do, Spanny and Uncle Tim review Gymnastike’s groundbreaking documentary series about Mary Lee Tracy’s elite program at Cincinnati Gymnastics. Check out Spanny’s recap here. We talk about our favorite NCAA meets so far, UW’s bad ass Kylie Sharp who is competing despite needing a liver transplant and OSU’s shocking fashion-related injury that even the writers of Make It Or Break It couldn’t have thought up.

Ellis Mannon of Minnesota. High bar dismount of double front with one and a half twists.

Adrian Evans’ hand slips off of the ring before his dismount.

Watch more video of 2013 Navy Open – PSU, William & Mary, Temple, & Springfield at Navy on gymnastike.org

Landon Funiciello’s vault.

Watch more video of 2013 Navy Open – PSU, William & Mary, Temple, & Springfield at Navy on gymnastike.org

Unexpected Choreo of the Week- Kaylyn Millick from WV. Clean, crisp, and innovative (around the 9:30 mark).

Sarah DeMeo of Alabama vs LSU on beam.

Lena Degteva (left) with her sister Marina in Ukraine around 1981.

This week we interview Canadian and NCAA champion, Lena Degteva. Lena was born in the mid-70′s in Lvov, Ukraine and later immigrated to Canada. The daughter of two gymnastics coaches, she quite literally grew up running around the famed Soviet national gymnastics training center at Lake Krugloye, affectionately known as,”Round Lake.” In 1989, Lena became the Soviet Junior National Champion and an official athlete-in-residence, training alongside greats like Chusovitina and Gutsu at Round Lake.

Lena Degteva is now a professional stylist based in Los Angeles. She is still connected to her gymnastics roots as a choreographer and custom leotard designer. She answers all of our deepest, darkest and most ridiculous Sovietophile gymnerd questions.

Here’s a look at what Round Lake was like around the time Lena was training there (1991).

Katy and Lauren answered our call for positive gymnastics stories. Read the full letters here. They are guaranteed to make you smile and warm your heart.

Beth Tweddle on wedgies and her bum.