What We’re Talking About
Welcome to the broadcasting booth Aly Raisman! It’s easy to rib people who make mistakes doing live commentary and we want to acknowledge the fantastic job Aly did in her debut. Commentating is a really tough gig that, when done well, requires a lot of prep work and attention to details. It was clear that Aly had done her homework and respected her new role. We’re so happy Aly found her way back to the sport in such a public way so that we can all benefit from her love of the sport.
Now let’s talk about the Tennessee Collegiate Classic. Seven teams competed. Seven teams scored all-time program records! For that to happen in a single meet is beyond a statistical improbability. Either every gymnast on every team ate the best bowl of Wheaties in their life for breakfast, or the scores were inflated. Now… we talk about impossibly high scores all the time. When a big-time team scores a 10.0 with a foot-shuffle, for example, we make mention and move on. It feels like it’s the cost of doing business. No harm no foul. The top teams stay the top teams. However, when these lesser-acclaimed schools, which included Fisk, Lindenwood, Northern Illinois, Ball State, Kent State, SEMO, and UW-Whitewater post puffed up scores, it begins to push some of those top teams around and can reshuffle seeding or possibly eliminate gymnasts from the post season. Lots of coaches are now big mad. At the end of the day, however, this is the fault of the coaches. They are seeing the results of the behavior they have incentivized. It’s the coaches who are supposed to be a check on the judging and so of course when they’re receiving the benefit of high scores with obvious deductions they’re willing to accept the results. Their literal jobs are on the line. And for the judges, if you want another assignment this is how you play the game. Perhaps now that these big scores are getting spread around we’ll see a change. One can hope.
A final thought on marrying the broadcast booth with calling out deductions… we’d like to formally request that gymnastics take a page from the sports ball and put a judge in the booth to call out deductions or “missed calls.” Judges, referees, etc. make mistakes in every sport. Gymnastics should lean into the conversation of highlighting human error, it’s a small gesture demonstrating respect for the fans.
Feelings
- Aly Raisman might have a career in gymnastics
- Maggie Nichols is Unstoppable
- We’re excited to watch Konnor McClain’s elite comeback
- Same with Brody Malone
- We’re digging the new USAG Medal Table
- Love that Lindenwood isn’t going quietly
- Maybe the NCAA should consider supplemental robot judging too.
- Bailey Bunn is our new favorite stunt woman
- We applaud KJ Johnson’s wedgie crack choreo
- The Clemson leotard game is genius. Two meets and their program has forced itself into the conversation regardless of how good their gymnastics is (and it’s good!)
Facts
- Show it to grow it.
- Sunisa Lee is single-handedly keeping us on social media
- The first team to reach 198 this season wasn’t Oklahoma or LSU, it was Ball State
- Ball State balled out. Congrats
- Mara Titarsolej posted the highest score in Missouri gymnastics history
- Suki Pfister is our Thanos
- Haleigh Bryant now has 11 career perfect 10s
- Arkansas just set a program record and they’re only getting better
- All seven teams at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic set program records
- Amelie Morgan and Charlotte Booth are on the list for English Championships
Award(s)
What’s On the Socials?
KIYA JOHNSON FINISHES IT OFF WITH A PERFECT 10 😍@espnW | @SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/hKoRjAfPPz
— ESPN (@espn) January 20, 2024
🔟 FROM BOTH JUDGES!! WOW SUKI!!!#ChirpChirp x #WeFly pic.twitter.com/pzYv0rs0n1
— Ball State Gymnastics (@BallStateGYM) January 20, 2024
LILY. SMITH.
She earns a perfect 🔟 on bars!
She is the first Georgia freshman to receive a Perfect 10 since Marline Stephens on floor in 2001 and the first on bars since Lori Strong at the 1993 NCAA SE Regional. #GloryGlory | #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/Q0ugbqrmUk
— Georgia Gymnastics (@UGAGymnastics) January 20, 2024
— Sunisa lee (@sunisalee_) January 23, 2024
Quotes
“It’s definitely difficult, but my number one goal is still the Olympics, to make that team. When we finish the NCAA season, then I’ll move into elite season.” ~ Konnor McClain, National Champion/Olympic Hopeful
Konnor shared her plan to return to elite and ultimately compete in Paris.
♦
“Discussion surrounding foreign athlete participation in domestic U.S. competitions. Recommendation that foreign athletes are not eligible to participate in Winter Cup, American Classic or U.S. Classic.”
~ USAG, Women’s International Elite Committee Meeting
During the January 9th Women’s International Elite Committee Meeting it was voted that we can’t have nice things and Melanie de Jesus dos Santos won’t compete like last year.
♦
“Unfortunately, I don’t remember receiving any information about the robot judging.”
~ Satu Murtonen, technical director of Finland’s Women’s Artistic Gymnastics
In a new article about the Fujitsu scoring system, coaches and athletes expressed how they’re still not receiving the results of the robot judges, which were promised.
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“I did soooooo much prep thank you for noticing 🙂 the support from everyone has been amazing. I didn’t expect this!!! Thank you to everyone for all the kind comments it means so much.” ~ Aly Raisman, Sports Broadcaster
The Olympic gold medalist stepped into the broadcasting booth and showed everyone how an elite athlete (and person) prepares.
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College & Cocktails
Listen to this week’s bonus episode recorded immediately after the quad showdown between Oklahoma, Utah, LSU and UCLA: College & Cocktails: Aly’s Debut
Cocktail of the Week:
Judge Juice
These judges are drinking something… this might be it.
Boozy
2 oz Gin or Spirit of the Code “Gin”
1.5 oz Pomegranate
1 oz Lime
1 oz Simple Syrup
Make Your Drink:
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake to chill. Double strain and serve “up.”
Stick the Landing:
Garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary.
Full Recipes & Entire Season Cocktail Menu Available Here (Thank You Linzerz!).
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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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