Why Melnikova has effectively ended her career, gymnast lifetime injuries, coaching change payoffs.

HEADLINES
- Melnikova just got AIN status but it’s going to be taken away…
- Frederick Richard now holds the world record for the most back flips within 24 hours
- Calling all publishers! Vanessa Atler has a book the world needs to read
- Serie A Final: French junior, Elena Colas beats Nemour and Esposito
GYMTERNET NEWS
- What would you wear to Jordan Chiles’ vampire masquerade birthday party?
- Morgan Price leaving Fisk?
- Why is NCAA championships viewership down slightly?
- Which US elites we might see at Worlds this year in Jakarta
- Ukrainian refuses photo with Belarusian and Russian gymnast.
- Lots of coaching changes including Maggie Haney, who’s suspension is up.
- Helen Hu got the shorthand of her iconic beam routine tattooed on her arm.
- Sentenced for sexual abuse and having child sexual abuse material, Lance Spencer of Bozhi’s Gym Nest in West Virginia.
MINI COMMISSION: GYM SWITCHES
- World Champion-level Club Gym Nerd member Josh commissioned us to talk about coaching changes and gym-switching. How can some coaches bring out untapped potential within athletes and turn weaknesses into strengths? What are some notable examples of this across different eras?
MINI COMMISSION: LONG-TERM HEALTH
- World Champion-level Club Gym Nerd member Kara commissioned us to discuss the long-term physical effects that gymnastics has on gymnasts’ bodies. We hear stories of how Mary Lou Retton and Morgan White requiring hip replacements at very young ages – is that normal? Is the degree of impact directly proportional to the level at which the gymnasts trained?
- Bonus question: In the sportsballs, athletes’ jersey numbers can be retired as a tribute to their greatness. If we had an equivalent for gymnastics, what floor music should be “retired” based on the level of mastery of the gymnasts who performed to it?
UP NEXT
- Behind The Scenes: at noon pacific on Fridays.
CHECK OUT FACT CHECKER’S NEW BOOK WITH AIMEE BOORMAN
- The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles by Aimee Boorman with Fact Checker is topping the sport charts – SUCK IT SPORTS BALLS! If you loved reading the book, please leave a review
BONUS CONTENT
- Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes.
- Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and get access to all of our exclusive extended interviews, Behind The Scenes and College & Cocktails.
MERCH
- GymCastic Store: clothing and gifts to let your gym nerd flag fly and even “tapestries” (banners, the perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast!
- Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store
NEWSLETTERS
- Sign up for all three GymCastic newsletters
RESOURCES
- Spencer’s essential website The Balance Beam Situation
- Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim
RESISTANCE
Submitted by our listeners.
- ACTION
- Indivisible
- Practical ideas about what you can actually do in this moment, check it out: indivisi.org/muskorus
- 5Calls App will call your Congresspeople by issue with a script to guide you
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- Make 2 to your Congressional rep (local and DC office). 2 each to your US Senators (local and state offices)
- State your name and zip code or district
- Be concise with your question or demand (i.e. What specific steps is Senator X taking to stop XYZ)
- Wait for answer
- Ask for action items – tell them what you want them to do (i.e. draft articles of impeachment immediately, I want to see you holding a press conference in front of…etc.)
- Make 2 to your Congressional rep (local and DC office). 2 each to your US Senators (local and state offices)
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- ResistBot
- Turns your texts into faxes, postal mail, or emails to your representatives in minutes
- ACLU Mobile Justice App
- Allows you to record encounters with public officials while streaming to your closest contacts and your local ACLU; REPORT any abuse by authorities to the ACLU and its networks.
- Indivisible
- LAWSUITS
- Donate to organizations suing the administration for illegal actions
- STAY INFORMED
- Suggested podcasts: Amicus, Daily Beans, Pod Save America, Strict Scrutiny
- Immigrant Rights