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In this classic episode we bring you our full interview with Olympic gold medalist and longtime NBC commentator, Tim Daggett. Recorded in September 2012, Tim talks about his life-threatening leg injury at the Rotterdam World Championships, the Produnova vault, what he wants hardcore gymnastics fans to know, his thoughts on the direction the code is going, the loss of the perfect 10, cheating and kindness in coaching.

Halloween Costume Contest! Send in your photos by November 1st. Any gymnastics related costume is eligible from this year or years past! Was your best gymnastics costume in 5th grade? That’s ok. Send in your photos to gymcastic@gmail.com to win the poster of your choice from Cloud & Victory. See below

Related:
Episode One: Tim Daggett Part One
Episode Two: Tim Daggett Part Two

Daggett’s injury at the 1:30 mark.

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We start our special episode by looking back at some of the physical, emotional and sexual abuse stories from gymnastics’ recent past. We start in the 1980’s. If you are a long time listener, you’ll find out why Jessica always calls the 80’s the Dark Ages. With three special guests we discover the history which brought gymnastics to this point of change, what has been done to stop abuse, what loopholes still need to be shored up, and what educational and policy programs for prevention are now available. In addition, you’ll find out how to stop and report gymnastics child pornography.

Our guests are, Scott Reid, investigative reporter for the Orange County Register, Katherine Starr, two time Olympian and founder of Safe4Athletes, and Lynn Moskovitz-Thompson, Director of Educational Services at USA Gymnastics.

Check out the resources discussed on the show. Safe4Athletes, including their app.  USAG’s Club’s Care and We Care campaigns. FBI’s Innocent Images Task Force.  The FBI Internet Crime Complaint form. Scott Reid’s report on defeated statute of limitations bill in California SB 131 and his abuse investigation. YouTube’s reporting hub.

In this episode:
Can club-hopping by abusers be stopped?
How to make a standard of behavior an effective tool for identifying grooming behavior and abusers early.
Stopping character assassination of girls who are abused.
Learning how to speak up and being heard by adults.
Why kids don’t come forward when they are abused by a coach.
How to support a gymnast who has been abused once he or she comes back to the gym.
What questions to ask before choosing a gym.

Remember the Halloween Costume Contest is on! Send in your pictures by November 1st to receive the poster of your choice from fan-couture experts, Cloud & Victory.

 

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This week, British Olympian Jenny Pinches joins us to discuss the latest news and the state of gymnastics. We talk about: the two new gymnastics reality shows in the works, Victoria Komova returning to training (or playing?) after a serious case of meningitis, the Kohei Uchimura interview on team gold for Rio, Aimee Boorman‘s interview after becoming the first ever female American head coach of an all-around World Champion, Simone Biles; Rodionenko’s complaints about Aliya Mustafina being called for “equipment testing”, a skill table for gymnastics like diving has, Philipp Boy‘s latest ovulation inducing photo and Nelli Kim‘s claims that she is being slandered by Russia’s top gymnasts.

Dvora Meyers joins us to talk about Carlotta Ferlito‘s racially charged remarks and the Facebook post where Italian Federation spokesman, David Ciaralli defends Ferlito, stating increased difficulty is designed to make things easier for,”colored people.” Read the Chicago Tribune’s full story on Ferlito-Gate here.

In our Worlds Wrap Up, Uncle Tim identifies trends in scoring and tells us if Execution or Difficulty reigned supreme. Then it’s favorites, worsts, wedgie solutions, where the judges got it wrong, the hottest coaches and athletes, the routines that make Jenny and Jess feel funny and what the Code of Points and the International Gymnastics Federation are doing right and what rules still need to be changed.

Don’t forget to send us your entries for the Halloween Costume Contest! The winner can pick the poster of their choice from the fabulous Cloud & Victory. Here are just a few of the options below. Send photos to gymcastic@gmail.com by November 1st.

Related Links

Uncle Tim’s 2013 World Championships by the Numbers: The Ladies
Uncle Tim’s 2013 World Championships by the Numbers: The Dudes
Dvora’s blog Racism in Gymnastics
Dvora’s Deadpin article  Are Black Gymnasts The New Black QBs?
Our Simone Biles interview
Our Kyla Ross interview
Our Jake Dalton interview
Our Sam Mikulak interview
Our Victoria Moors interview

The routine that makes Jenny Pinches feel funny. #WomanCrushWednesday

Ali Zahran from Egypt does the Victorian.

Submitted skill we love, Michael MAKINGS (RSA), 180 counter salto backward to rollout. No value given (boo!), but can used as choreography if you want to be AWESOME!

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Blythe, Bea, Michelle and Emma direct from Antwerp; the super-fans and journalists recap event finals: McKayla Maroney on her triple yurchenko, what Aly Raisman said about the pressure McKayla has been facing, what Larissa Ilordache said after the beam final, full details on the beam final controversy, Carlotta Ferlito‘s rant about inquiries, our dream choreographer for Floor World Champion Simone Biles, Epke Zonderland and his huge difficulty on high bar, heartbreak for Becky Downie on bars, and Peggy-Gate and the bathroom situation at the venue.

Don’t worry, next week we will discuss Ferlito’s interview on October 4th after All-Around finals about dyeing her skin black in order to win (0:56) > CARLOTTA 11 E LODE.

Follow Blythe on Twitter @GymExaminer, Facebook and at Gymnastics Examiner.
Follow Bea on Twitter @TheCouchGymnast and The Couch Gymnast
Follow Emma on Twitter @MoominWhisky

Watch Here: http://usagymworlds.com/live/
CBC Broadcast Sports Saturday with Kyle Shewfelt and Lori Strong on October 19th.
NBC Broadcast will be October 12th and 13th.
UTRS World Rankings WAG
UTRS World Rankings MAG
FIG YouTube here
Tunnel Bear VPN

Related Interviews
Our Simone Biles interview
Our Kyla Ross interview
Our Jake Dalton interview
Our Sam Mikulak interview
Our Victoria Moors interview

Sonya Tayeh Choreography Playlist