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This week, we have a commission from Club Gym Nerd member Sara, who requested an episode all about the things you only know if you’ve actually done gymnastics. But that’s not all! We have the pleasure of being joined by a special guest, Dutch elite gymnast and 2017 world floor finalist Bram Verhofstad, to help us in this vital mission.  

From how annoying it is when people ask if you’re going to the Olympics (NO! SHUT IT!), to pit boogers and urban legends (or not so urban legends) about finding rats in the pit, to the only proper way to break in grips, to gymnast’s gross cool and impressive hands, to favorite beams, to vault-step rituals, to awkward spotting accidents, it turns out there’s a lot that gymnasts know that no one else could ever understand. Plus, you’re going to learn what “tricky boys” are, and you won’t be disappointed. 

Find Bram Verhofstad on YouTube , Instagram

SUPPORT THE SHOW

• Join Club Gym Nerd here.
• Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here.

FURTHER READING

• Worlds Team Updates
• Paris World Cup
• Things Are Happening – September 13, 2019
• The Race to Tokyo – All-Around Qualification
• The Race to Tokyo – The Bubble Teams

RELATED EPISODES

• 384: But What about Allan?
• 383: Russians and Investigations
• 382: 2020 Olympic Qualification with Prof. Spencer
• 381: I’m Just Pissed Off Already—US Nationals Review

MORE WAYS TO LISTEN 

LISTEN HERE

 

Heads up! We have a bonus, extra mini-episode this week because we really need to talk about the Department of Justice. 

GYMTERNET NEWS

• The Wall Street Journal and OC Register report that the Department of Justice is investigating sexual abuse claims AND financial and business misconduct within Olympic organizations
  • Jessica has never been more excited about anything, ever
  • Steve Penny, endorsement deals, and the post-Olympic tour. MMMM HMMM.
• Bruno Grandi, former president of the FIG, has died
• Comeback queens Chen Yile and Sanne Wevers are going to Worlds!
• Polish gymnastics jail exists and is NOT OK
• California passed a bill that would let college athletes collect endorsement money. We discuss what this could mean for the NCAA (say it with us, “a multi-BILLION dollar organization!”) and for college athletes. 

MEET NEWS

• Everyone chanted for Melanie at the Paris World Cup and also just screamed through the entirety of floor routines. 
• Plus, what you need to know for following US women’s selection camp this weekend. It’s this weekend, you guys! AHHHHH!

SUPPORT THE SHOW

• Join Club Gym Nerd here.
• Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here.
• GymCastic Meet-Up in Stuttgart at Worlds, Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at 11 AM UTC+02

RELATED EPISODES

• 384: But What about Allan?
• 383: Russians and Investigations
• 382: 2020 Olympic Qualification with Prof. Spencer
• 381: I’m Just Pissed Off Already—US Nationals Review

MORE WAYS TO LISTEN 

LISTEN HERE

 

US MEN’S SELECTION CAMP

• The worlds team has been named: Sam Mikulak, Yul Moldauer, Akash Modi, Trevor Howard, and Shane Wiskus. Allan Bower is traveling alternate. 
• The drama before the drama: VP of the men’s program Dennis McIntyre resigned on the eve of camp
  • Who is Dennis McIntyre?
  • How do we feel about him?
  • What’s with the timing? And what’s with those Danell Leyva/Jon Horton tweets?
• What went down at selection camp
  • Why Colin Van Wicklen didn’t make the team, and why Donnell Whittenburg had to high five himself
  • The US men (that’s right, the US men) had a 97% hit rate. And Sam Mikulak (that’s right, Sam Mikulak) has gone 24-for-24, along with Akash Modi and Shane Wiskus. WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE?
• Allan Bower is the alternate. Kensley talks us through what’s going on feelings-wise. 
• Why this was an impossible choice with no right answer, but also why the selected team makes sense

GYMCASTIC GLOBAL

• The Netherlands friendly was LIT as the youths say. Do the youths still say lit? We gush about Lieke and Eythora on floor for a while. As is required. 
• Giorgia Villa and that beam routine
• The World Challenge Cup in Szombathely brought us the return of Roxana Popa, history for South Africa, NECK TATTOOS OF LOVE, and the MAG comedy troupe—featuring Oleg and Shatilov and Spencer’s new obsession, Sofus Heggemsnes and his salute and facial expressions) 
• Ioana Stanciulescu’s beam mount at Romanian nationals
• Nominative rosters for worlds are OUT!
  • We discuss the risky strategy of leaving people off teams for Olympic qualification reasons
  • Where is our Epke?
  • NCAA women to worlds
  • Why you need to stop freaking out about the US women. For now.

GYMTERNET NEWS

• Gymnastics coach Joseph Lewin sentenced for molesting girls
• Our semi-regular update to use caution with backyard trampolines or trampoline parks–see image and story posted to our Twitters (warning, the image is graphic)
• A friendly reminder that everyone should be following Chellsie Memmel on the socials because she continues to do amazing things and share them.
• Ohashi’s ESPN Body issue is out.
• Svetlana Khorkina is expecting her second child
• In an interview Shawn Johnson East Says Day After the Olympics Was ‘One of the Hardest Days of My Life’ https://buff.ly/2HMxQp0
• Mai Murakami has said she will call it quits after 2020
• Michigan State University News
  • MSU was fined a record $4.5 million for Larry Nassar sexual abuse
  • MSU seeks to dismiss lawsuits filed by more than 100 Larry Nassar victims

SUPPORT THE SHOW

• Join Club Gym Nerd here.
• Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here.

FURTHER READING

• US Men’s Selection – Day 2 Live Blog
• Women’s Nominative Rosters
• US Men’s Selection – Day 1 Live Blog
• US Men’s Selection Camp Preview
• Let’s Talk Worlds Teams – Netherlands and Italy
• Have Mersin! (Challenge Cup)
• Things Are Happening – August 30, 2019
• 2020 NCAA Roster Reveals

RELATED EPISODES

• 383: Russians and Investigations
• 382: 2020 Olympic Qualification with Prof. Spencer
• 381: I’m Just Pissed Off Already—US Nationals Review

MORE WAYS TO LISTEN