What We’re Talking About
Things are starting to heat up. We just had our the first Olympic qualifier in the World Cup series, NQS scores are about to reshuffle the rankings, award nominations are starting to arrive and Oklahoma hasn’t scored below a 198.3 all month. This is the magical time of year when elite and college are intertwined giving us more gymnastics than we know what to do with (just kidding, there’s no such thing). On top of that, this elite season is all about positioning and qualifying for the Olympics, which adds to the excitement. In college, Oklahoma continues to march toward their three-peat… but what makes sports so exciting is that anything can happen–and we know certain teams on paper should be a legitimate threat when the time comes.
Feelings
- We watched No. 1 vs. No. 2 this week. At present, nobody is close to Oklahoma
- European Gymnastics is leaving X, feels like the healthy move
- We hope more coaches ask questions like Sarah Shire Brown
- Happy for Emma Malabuyo taking all the points in her first World Cup
- Who need bars? Nina Derwael is now the beam queen
- We love the French invasion
- Every arena should style it out like Cairo
- We need more floor deals, this Utah State NIL deal just makes sense
- We love an instruction manual for the crowd
- LSU continues to change the NIL game with their new Amazon deal
Facts
- LSU posted their highest beam score in program history
- Jade Carey has surpassed 100 career wins
- NC State has claimed the ACC title
- One reason is the week-in week-out performance by Chloe Negrete
- The 3rd HBCU is coming to college gymnastics
- The Heron: Put it in the books
- The Winter Cup live stream schedule
- That’s back-to-back 10s for Selena Harris on vault
- Gigi Mastellone scored the first perfect 10 in Southern Connecticut State’s history
- The Winter Cup fantasy challenge is now open
Award(s)
- When earrings attack: Leanne Wong
- Best use of slow motion: Brooklyn Moors layout stepout
What’s On the Socials?
IT'S FINN'S FLOOR & IT'S PERFECT
That's @aleahfinn third career perfect 🔟 on floor!
📺 SEC Network pic.twitter.com/TaUEIM8jeW
— LSU Gymnastics (@LSUgym) February 17, 2024
Mara Titarsolej, you are ✨𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓✨
The senior has the first-ever perfect 10 on bars in Mizzou Gymnastics history!!#MIZ🐯 pic.twitter.com/Cyacx5PEOI
— Mizzou Gymnastics (@MizzouGym) February 17, 2024
🙌🙌🙌#WeAreUK | #Team50 pic.twitter.com/vlotfIv8J4
— Kentucky Gymnastics (@UKGymnastics) February 17, 2024
THE HERON ‼️ pic.twitter.com/y77SUKvtQb
— josephine (@ringleaps) February 16, 2024
Quotes
“I’m not bitter. I want to get better. Make it make sense!!” ~ Sarah Shire Brown, A Nittany Lion looking for answers
The Penn State coach just asking questions that we all have.
♦
“IM SICK & TIRED OF NOTHING FITTING………please send me petite stores to shop at”
~ Simone Biles, Wardrobe challenged
The GOAT, speaking on behalf of the gymnastics community, took to social media to find some clothes that fit.
♦
“I wanted to find the joy in it, but we want our name in the record books.”
~ Emily Shepard, Grad Student
Emily was commenting on the historic ACC title won by her NC State team.
♦
“I think I can handle it. I’ve had a lot of experience. I’m just mainly very excited for this opportunity.” ~ Emma Malabuyo, Cairo Silver Medalist
In an interview with Olympics.com, Emma discussed the journey ahead in an attempt to secure a ticket to the Paris Olympics.
♦♦♦
College & Cocktails
Listen to this past week’s bonus episode: College & Cocktails: LSU vs. Auburn
Cocktail of the Week:
Record Smash
Smashing all previous instances of excellence.
Boozy
2 oz of gin
.75 oz honey syrup
.5 oz lemon juice
2 lemon slices
3 drops of Jessica’s emotions
5 basil leaves
Make Your Drink:
Muddle together lemon slices, juice, fresh basil, and honey. Add in choice of gin and Jessica’s emotions and shake to chill. Double strain into a glass over a single large ice cube.
Stick the Landing:
Garnish with fresh basil
Full Recipes & Entire Season Cocktail Menu Available Here (Thank You Linzerz!).
♦♦♦
What? You want even more? Join Club Gym Nerd and you get a bonus episode, College & Cocktails, every Friday after our meet of the week. Once the NCAA season is over you continue to get a weekly bonus episode every Friday afternoon. Plus you get access to all of our archives, exclusive content and more. Then we give the sober analysis on Monday (or Tuesday) after we’ve allowed the data to penetrate our feelings.
This column was composed and compiled by Steve Cooper, Editor, GymCastic; as performed by hosts Jessica O’Beirne and Spencer Barnes.
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