Rolled Ankle-Gate rocks the U.S. Women’s World Championships Selection Camp as Hezly Rivera and Claire Pease withdraw. With the team now down to 8 gymnasts, who’s in the best position to make Jakarta World Championships team? Plus: huge surprises from Italian Nationals, Szombathely World Cup highlights, and the latest gymternet news.
Correction: An earlier version of this episode said that the college athlete NIL visa lawsuit was complete. The U.S. government lost their motion to dismiss. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for late October.
HEADLINES
- The U.S. Worlds Selection Camp is now down to 8 competitors after national all-around champion Hezly Rivera and U.S. Classic Champion Claire Pease withdraw from Worlds contention
- What can we expect from Worlds selection camp? Whose stocks went up to make the four-member team?
- Italy has named its Worlds team: Giulia Perotti, the National Champion who knows how to make a wolf turn not-boring; Emma Fioravanti, the new senior who can tumble AND do weird choreography; Chiara Barzasi; the bars swinger; and ASIA D’AMATO; the veteran making her return after an injury that took her out of the Paris Olympics
- Meet news from the Szombathely World Cup
MEET NEWS
- First year senior, Giulia Perotti, secured a spot on the Worlds team by winning the all-around at Italian Nationals
- Manila Esposito and Alice D’Amato were NOT named to Italy’s Worlds team
- Is this a smart move with the athletes’ long-term health in mind? Or a self sabotaging dumpster fire mess?
- Did someone sabotage the bars? Kaylia Nemour competed as a guest at Italian Nationals and uncharacteristically had a fall on the first day
- Manrrrrrique Larduet competed here and won the men’s all-around competition
- Why Italian Nationals is so much fun and what the United States can learn from it
- Giorgia Villa, Martina Maggio, and Andrea Andreoli bringing the comedy we all need
- Who won what at the Szombathely World Cup?
- Flavia won beam, obviously
- Denisa Golgota won floor! But can we talk about the E-scores here?
- Our favorite Argentinian gymnastics queen, Isabella Ajalla, competed here!
GYMTERNET NEWS
- The International Paralympic Committee dropped all sanctions against Russia and Belarus. Ukrainian Sports Minister, Matviy Bidnyi, called the decision a betrayal of “conscience and Olympic values”
- Indonesian gymnast, Naufal Takdir Al Bari, passes away after a training accident in Russia
- Attorneys for the family of a teenager injured from a “loose foam pit” injury, resulting in his quadriplegia, are suing Evolution Gymnastics Academy for $350 million
- Millie Bobby Brown is in talks to star as Kerri Strug in Gia Cappola’s new movie, “Perfect”, a biopic about Kerri Strug
GYMCASTIC UPDATES
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UPCOMING COMPETITIONS
- September 29-Oct 2: U.S. Women’s Selection Camp
- Behind The Scenes: U.S. World Team Selection Camp Chat 10 am Oct 1st.
- Behind The Scenes: U.S. World Team Reveal chat 12 PST/ 8 GMT Friday October 3rd.
RELATED:
- Episode – Chinese World Team analysis on Behind The Scenes
- Episode – 2025 U.S. Championships Recap
- Episode – 2025 U.S. Classic Recap
- Episode – Paris World Cup with Laura Cappelle
- Behind the Scenes – all episodes
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RESOURCES
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The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles
by Aimee Boorman with Fact Checker. Aimee coached Simone from day one in gymnastics to three back to back World All Around titles, 14 world medals and an unprecedented 5 medals at the Rio Olympics. Get your copy now. And if you loved reading (or listening) to the book, please leave a review.
- Spencer’s essential website The Balance Beam Situation
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- Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim
- Kensley’s men’s gymnastics site Neutral Deductions
RESISTANCE
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- Indivisible
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- Suggested podcasts: Amicus, Daily Beans, Pod Save America, Strict Scrutiny
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Cover Art: Steve Cooper©Gymcastic Photos: Filippo Tomasi for GymCastic
