Gymnastics - does it still exist?
March 19, 2020 10:15 AM Subscribe
Gymnastics is cancelled (will the Olympics even happen?!), but the gymternet is alive and well. There's COVID-19 advice from the great Svetlana Khorkina, a watch party that replaced last week's Friday Night Heights, some reminiscing about the best moments from the NCAA season, and Adult Gymnastics.
It's unclear whether or not the FIG (the sport's governing body) understands the "What if the qualifying events don't happen?" guidelines they wrote, but they certainly will be complicated and make almost no one happy. Meanwhile, some athletes continue to train, while gym after gym (alongside the National Training Center) is closed down.
Members of the Dutch national team are taking a leaf out of 1960's Czech gold medalist gymnast/badass Vera Caslavska's book and training in the forest, while Spanish gymnast Cintia Rodriguez is taking a page from Rhys McClenaghan's book and training at home.
Meanwhile, USA Gymnastics continues to be a massive dumpster fire, with the news recently that they spent a mere $900 on Safe Sport, the organisation responsible for protecting athletes from abuse, in February (out of $1.78 million), at the same time their lackluster offer to survivors drew criticism. They even messed up wishing Simone Biles, the greatest gymnast of all time, happy birthday.
But the great Kathy Johnson Clarke can still do a handstand. So not all is lost.
It's unclear whether or not the FIG (the sport's governing body) understands the "What if the qualifying events don't happen?" guidelines they wrote, but they certainly will be complicated and make almost no one happy. Meanwhile, some athletes continue to train, while gym after gym (alongside the National Training Center) is closed down.
Members of the Dutch national team are taking a leaf out of 1960's Czech gold medalist gymnast/badass Vera Caslavska's book and training in the forest, while Spanish gymnast Cintia Rodriguez is taking a page from Rhys McClenaghan's book and training at home.
Meanwhile, USA Gymnastics continues to be a massive dumpster fire, with the news recently that they spent a mere $900 on Safe Sport, the organisation responsible for protecting athletes from abuse, in February (out of $1.78 million), at the same time their lackluster offer to survivors drew criticism. They even messed up wishing Simone Biles, the greatest gymnast of all time, happy birthday.
But the great Kathy Johnson Clarke can still do a handstand. So not all is lost.
I am going to be heartbroken is Sam Mikulak doesn't get a third Olympics. He's improved his gymnastics so much in the last few years, including developing the capacity to hit six routines in major competitions. I want him to go to Tokyo and medal.
My son left artistic gymnastics a year or so ago, and after giving both diving and cheerleading a try, has fallen in love with trampoline and tumbling. He has mats and a high-quality trampoline at home, but he's going stir-crazy not having practices to attend.
posted by Orlop at 1:41 PM on March 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
My son left artistic gymnastics a year or so ago, and after giving both diving and cheerleading a try, has fallen in love with trampoline and tumbling. He has mats and a high-quality trampoline at home, but he's going stir-crazy not having practices to attend.
posted by Orlop at 1:41 PM on March 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
And, of course, at home he can only do a small fraction of his skills, for safety reasons. He was excited about learning new skills and is really disappointed.
It's funny though—last week he had me call the gym on Monday night to say that he wasn't coming to practice because of coronavirus risk. The owner said, "Well, OK, but let him know that we get the gym regularly cleaned by Some Company Whose Name I Can't Remember and they spray down everything."
Two days later, we got the email about the gym being closed until at least early April.
Gyms like the one he practices at now are among the small businesses I'm worried will not survive. My son's other passion is dog training, and we were delighted recently that a new facility was opening near us, because otherwise we'd have had to drive an hour or more for agility classes for him and his border collie. But now I'm afraid for the women who own it. They've obviously invested a lot in their building and in getting ready to open, and if they can't open, it will be sad for us, but could be financially catastrophic for them.
posted by Orlop at 1:47 PM on March 19, 2020
It's funny though—last week he had me call the gym on Monday night to say that he wasn't coming to practice because of coronavirus risk. The owner said, "Well, OK, but let him know that we get the gym regularly cleaned by Some Company Whose Name I Can't Remember and they spray down everything."
Two days later, we got the email about the gym being closed until at least early April.
Gyms like the one he practices at now are among the small businesses I'm worried will not survive. My son's other passion is dog training, and we were delighted recently that a new facility was opening near us, because otherwise we'd have had to drive an hour or more for agility classes for him and his border collie. But now I'm afraid for the women who own it. They've obviously invested a lot in their building and in getting ready to open, and if they can't open, it will be sad for us, but could be financially catastrophic for them.
posted by Orlop at 1:47 PM on March 19, 2020
One more, from my friend Dvora: an interview with Colin Van Wicklen on postponing the Olympics.
posted by apjanke at 2:16 PM on March 19, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by apjanke at 2:16 PM on March 19, 2020 [2 favorites]
Orlop, I remember you from the last gymnastics thread! I'm glad your son found a sport he loves, though it does suck to postpone training.
My daughter was due to start a parent/child tumbling class next month, and obviously that's off the table now. I do appreciate that the gym has decided to completely close, though it took them longer than I would have liked.
I will also be heartbroken for Sam. He was so good at the American Cup, and I've been hard-core rooting for him all quad. But also Morgan Hurd. And everyone, really.
posted by guster4lovers at 3:24 PM on March 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
My daughter was due to start a parent/child tumbling class next month, and obviously that's off the table now. I do appreciate that the gym has decided to completely close, though it took them longer than I would have liked.
I will also be heartbroken for Sam. He was so good at the American Cup, and I've been hard-core rooting for him all quad. But also Morgan Hurd. And everyone, really.
posted by guster4lovers at 3:24 PM on March 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
I watched some collegiate gymnastics in last week or so and is there any non hi-femme representation?
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:13 PM on March 19, 2020
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:13 PM on March 19, 2020
I’m surprised to find myself concerned about MyKayla Skinner. She temporarily left college right before her senior year to go back to elite, saying she had unfinished business from 2016 (she was not selected for the team, and there’s a whole story in that as well). She’s been busting her behind to get back into elite form and... now what?
Although at least she can go back to school and will likely get a complete senior NCAA season next year, which is something Kyla Ross and Maggie Nichols (among others) were deprived of... I feel REALLY badly for them.
posted by angeline at 7:30 PM on March 19, 2020
Although at least she can go back to school and will likely get a complete senior NCAA season next year, which is something Kyla Ross and Maggie Nichols (among others) were deprived of... I feel REALLY badly for them.
posted by angeline at 7:30 PM on March 19, 2020
Thirding the heartbreak for Sam Mikulak. I've been rooting for him for so long, and he does such beautiful gymnastics. I really wanted to see it rewarded at the Olympics this time. He's been the heart of that team for a while.
I'm also selfishly sad about probably not getting to see Kyla Ross compete again. It's bittersweet to see my favorite seniors graduate, and I'm sad she didn't get the sendoff she deserved.
I'm glad the gymternet is keeping the spirit of the sport going while the gyms are closed down.
posted by Salieri at 8:56 PM on March 19, 2020
I'm also selfishly sad about probably not getting to see Kyla Ross compete again. It's bittersweet to see my favorite seniors graduate, and I'm sad she didn't get the sendoff she deserved.
I'm glad the gymternet is keeping the spirit of the sport going while the gyms are closed down.
posted by Salieri at 8:56 PM on March 19, 2020
1960's Czech gold medalist gymnast/badass Vera Caslavska
No kidding about the badass part. Her story is fascinating, both heroic and more than a little tragic. For anyone not familiar with it and jonesing for some gymnastics and an example of a woman who stood up for what was right and refused to back down, or just looking for an interesting 90 minute diversion during lockdown, then it might be worth checking out the documentary on her, Vera '68, which is perhaps a bit hagiographic but not undeservedly so and was filmed at just the right time when Caslavska was returning to public life after a long absence and before her later illness and death, capturing the something of the spirit that made her a great gymnast and political figure.
posted by gusottertrout at 10:57 PM on March 19, 2020 [3 favorites]
No kidding about the badass part. Her story is fascinating, both heroic and more than a little tragic. For anyone not familiar with it and jonesing for some gymnastics and an example of a woman who stood up for what was right and refused to back down, or just looking for an interesting 90 minute diversion during lockdown, then it might be worth checking out the documentary on her, Vera '68, which is perhaps a bit hagiographic but not undeservedly so and was filmed at just the right time when Caslavska was returning to public life after a long absence and before her later illness and death, capturing the something of the spirit that made her a great gymnast and political figure.
posted by gusottertrout at 10:57 PM on March 19, 2020 [3 favorites]
angeline, I wondered that about Skinner too. She's saying she definitely will go back to NCAA next season, but what happens if the Olympics are postponed? Does she get to defer for another year? Will her body hold up?
I'm really sad for Maggie and Kyla and people like Jessica Yamzon, who missed her last meet EVER after competing in the all around in almost every meet of her college career.
fluttering hellfire, I'd say you'd have better luck with some of the PAC-12 teams if you're looking for less femme presentation. The SEC is all glitter all the time, generally. UCLA has a lot of diversity in appearance. However, the sport definitely skews feminine, both in elite and NCAA.
And gusottertrout, thanks for the doc! I'm definitely going to add that to the watchlist.
posted by guster4lovers at 5:33 AM on March 20, 2020 [1 favorite]
I'm really sad for Maggie and Kyla and people like Jessica Yamzon, who missed her last meet EVER after competing in the all around in almost every meet of her college career.
fluttering hellfire, I'd say you'd have better luck with some of the PAC-12 teams if you're looking for less femme presentation. The SEC is all glitter all the time, generally. UCLA has a lot of diversity in appearance. However, the sport definitely skews feminine, both in elite and NCAA.
And gusottertrout, thanks for the doc! I'm definitely going to add that to the watchlist.
posted by guster4lovers at 5:33 AM on March 20, 2020 [1 favorite]
Orlop, I remember you from the last gymnastics thread! I'm glad your son found a sport he loves, though it does suck to postpone training.
He's almost 13. It's been interesting watching as the boys peel off from artistic gymnastics as they reach middle-school age. Suddenly 16 hours of practice every week feels like it cuts into things they want to do, like hang out with friends. When he was diving, which he hopes to go back to at some point, he had former teammates and competitors practicing with him, and would see more at meets—diving is a really natural place for former gymnasts to go, though he also has former teammates playing soccer and other team sports.
Trampoline and Tumbling is very low-key compared to artistic gymnastics, and there's not that same sense that missing practices for a few weeks/ months will ruin everything. But he'll be happy to be able to get back to it.
posted by Orlop at 6:08 AM on March 20, 2020
He's almost 13. It's been interesting watching as the boys peel off from artistic gymnastics as they reach middle-school age. Suddenly 16 hours of practice every week feels like it cuts into things they want to do, like hang out with friends. When he was diving, which he hopes to go back to at some point, he had former teammates and competitors practicing with him, and would see more at meets—diving is a really natural place for former gymnasts to go, though he also has former teammates playing soccer and other team sports.
Trampoline and Tumbling is very low-key compared to artistic gymnastics, and there's not that same sense that missing practices for a few weeks/ months will ruin everything. But he'll be happy to be able to get back to it.
posted by Orlop at 6:08 AM on March 20, 2020
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