GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

VIRTUAL TICKETS ON SALE NOW:  MOHINI  LIVE SHOW Interview: Amelie Morgan It had been 93 years since the British women's gymnastics team had won an Olympic team medal, then Amelie and her teammates took home a historic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Now entering (and excelling in) her senior season at Utah, Amelie has hit 86 of 87 career routines. In this week's interview we discuss: What she wished she had known about communication and time off as a young elite Her decision to move on from elite gymnastics, and specifically why she didn't try to make the Paris Olympics team The extraordinary loophole that now allows her, as a foreign athlete, to earn NIL money Homeschooling Changes in the British Gymnastics system Competing in the high altitude in Utah Doing gymnastics at a height of 5'6" and more! Gymternet News West Virginia took their team photos in a coal mine We ponder other stereotypes that we are ridiculous, but also make us giggle Rebeca Andrade named Woman of the Year by GQ Brazil Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!). It includes: Weekly Q&A  Behind The Scenes podcast, dedications, mini-commissions , group commissions, exclusive extended interviews, and College & Cocktails episodes. Plus discounts and first dibs on Live Show tickets and merch. Exclusive VIP section on the message board Forum More goodies: GymCastic newsletters  College & (M)Cocktails menu GymCastic Fantasy Games 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 RELATED Lisa Mason interview  Beth Tweddle interview  Things You Only Know if You Are A Gymnast Growing Up at Round Lake Behind The Scenes: every Friday find them all here Behind The Scenes: GOAT Tour & Jordan's Swiss Appeal COMMISSIONED EPISODES The FluffCast Gymnastics Dumest Rules  GymKata starring Kurt Thomas A Quitters Try: The CNN Parkettes Documentary  The Leotard Episode Uncle Tim's Mythbusters Find them all here

VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON TICKETS ON SALE NOW: MOHINI LIVE SHOW   Interview: Elle Reeve Elle Reeve is an award-winning journalist renowned for her incisive reporting on pivotal moments in recent American history. She gained national acclaim for her Vice News coverage of the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, delivering an unflinching look at the event that highlighted the rise of white nationalism. Her work, praised for its depth and courage, earned a Peabody Award. Reeve has continued to report on critical political and social issues, including the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Known for her immersive storytelling and empathetic approach, she has contributed significantly to public understanding of extremism and its impacts on democracy. Much of her reporting is chronicled in her new book, "Black Pill: How I Witnessed the Darkest Corners of the Internet Come to Life, Poison Society, and Capture American Politics." In this interview Reeve explains how her years of gymnastics training help keep her safe while reporting from the violent frontlines of domestic extremism. She explains how her many hours of watching fluff pieces about gymnastics teams living and training under fascism sparked her interest in politics from a young age. Elle's gymnastics background helped her embed with neo-Nazis to cover the now infamous white nationalists, “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia where a white nationalist killed a counter protester. Gymternet News: Tonya Paulson sparks change in Sweden with her switch to Taiwan Igor Radivilov announced his retirement Jordan Chiles has a memoir coming out in March Margzretta Frazier is the new alternate for athlete rep on the USAG board U.S. Nationals is heading to New Orleans in 2025 LSU has set a new season ticket record for LSU Gymnastics Writer and editor of International Gymnast magazine for 38 years, Dwight Normile, has passed away Ohio State is set to provide direct payments to student athletes next year, and their men's gymnastics team will maintain their scholarships  Plus more! Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!). It includes: Weekly Q&A  Behind The Scenes podcast, dedications, mini-commissions , group commissions, exclusive extended interviews, and College & Cocktails episodes. Plus discounts and first dibs on Live Show tickets and merch. Exclusive VIP section on the message board Forum More goodies: GymCastic newsletters  College & (M)Cocktails menu GymCastic Fantasy Games 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 RELATED The GIF-tacular story for the Atlantic Elle did in 2012 Elle Reeve's documentary on Charlottesville  The Karolyi Secret Police Files Interview with Nadia & The Secret Police Author Dr. Stejarel Olaru Part One Episode 2: Interview with Nadia & The Secret Police Author Dr. Stejarel Olaru Part Two The Dark Legacy of Bela Karolyi Growing Up at Round Lake Behind The Scenes: every Friday find them all here Behind The Scenes: GOAT Tour & Jordan's Swiss Appeal COMMISSIONED EPISODES The FluffCast Gymnastics Dumest Rules  GymKata starring Kurt Thomas A Quitters Try: The CNN Parkettes Documentary  The Leotard Episode Uncle Tim's Mythbusters Find them all here

TICKETS ON SALE NOW: PORTLAND LIVE SHOW From romanian candles  to Mohini's pizza- all your favorite fluff pieces revisited. Originally published on July 15, 2017. It's the commissioned episode you've all been waiting for...the FLUFFCAST! We jump into all the most insane, hilarious, horrifying, sexist, perfect, amazing, diva-tastic, butterfly-gazing, Romanian candle-holding fluff pieces in the history of gymnastics broadcasts. Thank you so much to Fluff Feels for commissioning the episode we were born to do, and thank you to everyone who sent in suggestions! Jessica and Spencer dissect: 2000 Olympic All-Around fluff  NBC's Living-Parents Championship, starring Russian daddy issues and soldiers kidnapping Zamo. Prod's shaved eyebrow Prod's convertible flexing fluff, the only verifiably true fluff ever The legendary Romanian candle cups Elise Ray and the butterfly NBC's weird obsession with 1950s-style nuclear families 2000 Atler v. Dantzscher v. Beth Rybacki's tears How much resentment and blame? ALL OF IT! What's the deal with that wild west picture? And that helicopter-parent one? 1996 Kerri Strug lives in everyone's shadow fluff  Is this the most sexist fluff of all time? Jessica's expletive parade Invention of the Bechdel Test for gymnastics fluff pieces "A diva is magical" That time Khorkina was perfect in every way Was saying, "I want to win as much as I want to mother my own child" really such a big deal? 1994 Romanian terrifying fluff of horrors The twist ending and the LITERAL DEAD BODY Trouble with keeping communist narratives straight NBC's fascination with Romanian people's eyes Freakonomics episode update "Abortion and Crime, Revisited (Update)" 2024 1995 Moceanu fluff A creepy pedophile wonderland of a fluff piece Why is Bela so bad at boats? That insane 1997 "I Will Remember You" fluff Moceanu standing in a forest in a leo clawing that tree in 2000 1992 Bogi and her coach fluff How respectfully and maturely do we think NBC handled the issue of suicide? Bogi has no time for family or your sexist coach narratives Kim Kelly gets bumped Blurry smoke-filled rooms! Shadiness! “Who’d they drop?” “You, Kim.” Mohini delivers pizzas (1) (2) Why let fact get in the way of narrative? Important question: what are raffle bars? The most upsetting and bizarre fluff you will ever see A lesson on which issues should never be addressed in fluff pieces Elvire Teza 1998 More fun with racist Chinese music! Why we want to move to France and live with the French team JOIN CLUB GYM NERD or give it as a gift! Join Club Gym Nerd here with brand new membership tiers, commission your own episode, or commission your own segment. Buy some of our awesome merchandise here. RELATED EPISODES 257: The Daniels Report 256: 1996 Olympic All-Around Final (Commissioned) 255: 1996 Olympic Team Final (Commissioned) 254: Vanessa Atler 200: Alicia Sacramone 197: Betty Okino 187: McKayla Maroney 38: Svetlana Boginskaya 31: Elise Ray 28: Kristen Maloney 19: Andreea Raducan 17: Growing Up In The Soviet Gymnastics System And Training At Round Lake 225: 1992 Olympics Recap with Wendy Bruce (Commissioned) 185: 2008 Olympic All-Around Finals (Commissioned) 252: Myths, Legends, and Unexpected Moments in Gymnastics History (Commissioned)

TICKETS ON SALE NOW PORTLAND LIVE SHOW Bela's Legacy Bela Karolyi helped usher many gymnasts over decades to the pinnacle of the sport. If medals are the measure of success, few can match his accomplishments. When addressing his legacy, however, it would be irresponsible to ignore the wake of destruction he left behind and the culture he helped cultivate that resulted in the largest sexual abuse scandal in American sports history. Many gymnasts, even those who have shared their own stories of abuse by him, have equally expressed gratitude and admiration. It's possible to recognize his accomplishments while also addressing the physical and emotional scars he left on the sport. We are sensitive to those grieving, but we also feel an obligation to honor those who have suffered by sharing a more complete picture of Bela Karolyi. In an exclusive, we have decided to share the most serious allegation against Bela, which we unearthed in our reporting while scouring the Romanian Secret Police documents. The accusation is of sexual assault. We have redacted the names and specific dates to protect the other individuals involved. At the time, the accuser was a teenager less than half Bela's age. It’s important to note that this document was recorded in the Secret Police files, but it has not been substantiated. With that said the police files corroborated the story from the survivor noting that the accuser confided in two adults, over two separate occasions a year apart. The decision to disclose a sexual assault allegation against Bela is not one taken lightly, especially in the wake of his passing. However, this revelation serves an essential purpose, not only for historical accuracy, but also for societal accountability and justice. Only by confronting uncomfortable truths can we honor the experiences of survivors, learn from systemic failures, and create a safer, more just society. Silence and deference to power have already caused immeasurable harm. It is time to prioritize truth and healing over the preservation of a mythological past. SEE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT and TRANSLATION HERE From the National Council for the Study of the Securitate Archives. Document: I 0005189 Volume: 001   MORE PROJECT K Project K: Operation Olympia Project K: Romanian Gymnastics Documents of Abuse, Neglect & Authority Project K: Documents of Alexandrina Comaneci’s Warning Project K: Interview with Nadia & The Secret Police Author Dr. Stejarel Olaru Project K Episode 2: Interview with Nadia & The Secret Police Author Dr. Stejarel Olaru Part Two Chinese and British Trial Chaos, and Project K: Decoding Romanian Secret Police Files on The Karolyis with Dr. Simona Petracovschi CREDITS: Original Reporting by Jessica O’Beirne and Cosmin Bogdan, freelance journalist. Contributions by Steve Cooper. Translations by Beatrice Gheorghisor and Cosmic Bogdan. Official document transcription and translation by Transperfect. SUPPORT OUR WORK - JOIN CLUB GYM NERD Or give it as a gift!. It includes: Weekly Q&A  Behind The Scenes podcast, dedications, mini-commissions , group commissions, exclusive extended interviews, and College & Cocktails episodes. Plus discounts and first dibs on Live Show tickets and merch. Exclusive VIP section on the message board Forum More goodies: GymCastic newsletters  College & Cocktails menu (including mocktails, of course) GymCastic Fantasy Games 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 RELATED The Karolyi Secret Police Files Olympic coach John Geddert criminal charges and death Doug Boger: OC Register: Doug Boger banned Story on Colorado resident, Doug Boger: "Gymnasts Accuse Colorado Coach Of Sex Abuse, Torture" GymCastic episode Preventing Abuse in Gymnastics Episode where we predict the future: Biggest Olympic Judging Scandals  Find all our recent episodes here Behind The Scenes: every Friday find them all here Behind The Scenes: GOAT Tour & Jordan's Swiss Appeal COMMISSIONED EPISODES The FluffCast Gymnastics Dumest Rules  GymKata starring Kurt Thomas A Quitters Try: The CNN Parkettes Documentary  The Leotard Episode Uncle Tim's Mythbusters Find them all here