Gymnastics News #21 - Tumbling on to Tokyo

[ilovepaydays]

Colleges aren’t going to add any sports to their athletic programs if they aren’t going to break even. The only reason why a lot of women’s sports have survived is Title IX and that schools have to match #s of scholarships and $$$ spent. Other than football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and (I think) gymnastics, pretty much every other NCAA sports operates at a almost pure loss because they don’t generate (hardly) any revenue.

In fact - for men - schools are dropping a lot of programs like track & field, swimming, and gymnastics.

 

[ilovepaydays]

Adding to what I posted above, here’s a link to a chart of the maximum scholarships allowed at each NCAA Division I school per sport for men and women.

Because football has so many scholarships and schools have to make up the match to total #s offered to women, the number of scholarships available to men in other sports is less than women.

The difference in sports like gymnastics is quite alarming. I wonder what % Oklahoma’s men’s gymnastics team (who are national champions, BTW) have any scholarship AT ALL. Yul Moldauer probably has a full ride, but according to the chart, the school has a max of 6.3 scholarships $$$ to give out between those gymnasts.

 

[barbk]

I think the key to growing any sport beyond a handful of elites is college scholarships. I know tons of parents that steer their girls towards sports where they can get a scholarship to go to college. Softball, triathlon (recently designated an emerging sport), volleyball, gymnastics, etc.

The key is that gymnastics (unlike soccer) is a head-count sport for NCAA Division I colleges -- teams can have up to 12 scholarship athletes and those can be (like football) full scholarships (tuition, fees, room & board, books & supplies) -- at a school like UCLA, a gymnastics scholarship can be worth $120K over four years $240K if the student is from out-of-state. And, families don't have to pay continuing costs for gym time, coaching, travel, or leotards. Usually there is excellent athletic training, PT and medical support.

 

[Debbie S]

Just a lot of skaters who may wish to continue in the sport, but can't afford to or have an outlet to do so outside competing in the elite level.

Collegiate figure skating has grown a lot over the past 10 years - both intercollegiate team comps during the school year and individual collegiate Nats in the summer for Int through Senior level. Most of the skaters who skate for their school team weren't anywhere near elite level, but there are some 'big' names who participated or participate currently: Heidi Munger skates for BU, and Gretchen Donlan, Armin M, and several other skaters who competed at the nat'l level have competed in collegiate when their elite careers were over. And there is also synchro. But skating is a club sport, so no scholarships are available. I believe there are a couple schools where synchro is a varsity sport - Miami U in Ohio is one, but not sure if they offer any scholarships.

 

[Rob]

Now apparently it's official - Maile is done with elite, has dropped down to level 10, and will be heading to NCAA (Utah) next fall. https://twitter.com/FloGymnastics/status/1093969255689707520

With the open team slots at 3 (no-one competes with Biles absent an untimely injury), and she's not a powerhouse on one or two events like Jade Carey or Kara Eaker, she would have to compete with Hurd, Smith, McCallum, McCusker, and the rising juniors, she's realistic that she's fallen behind. She'll have a great time at Utah.

 

[danafan]

Former Canadian National Team Director Dave Brubaker was acquitted of all charges today. Gymcan will proceed with an internal investigation per their code of conduct policies.

http://gymcan.org/news/details/2019_BRUBAKER_VERDICT

 

[MacMadame]

But skating is a club sport, so no scholarships are available. I believe there are a couple schools where synchro is a varsity sport - Miami U in Ohio is one, but not sure if they offer any scholarships.

Free ice time and they their expenses on the team are paid for (costumes, travel, coaching for team routines) is what I was told. But only for the varsity team.

(I tried to verify this but wasn't able to.)

 

[MIsty Blades/Skate Mom]

Kenzo has flair.

Kenzo Shirai doing Mai Murakami's floor routine, he even manages to do the cringeworthy choreography better than Mai.

 

[snoopyskater]

Someone told me that Simone Biles gave Morgan Hurd a piggyback ride at the world championships. Is this for real? How cute is that, if true?

 

[ilovepaydays]

Yep. Here’s s short clip of it.

Apparently, the positive interactions between Simone and Morgan at 2018 Worlds were a huge deal because they didn’t get along earlier last year.

 

[snoopyskater]

Yep. Here’s s short clip of it.

Apparently, the positive interactions between Simone and Morgan at 2018 Worlds were a huge deal because they didn’t get along earlier last year.

Oh, that's adorable. Thank you for posting that. It's hard to believe they didn't get along at one point. I'm glad they were able to work it out and become friends.

 

[VGThuy]

I think the Biles Hurd friendship was the highlight of the gymnastics season last year. We need more positivity in this sport.

 

[DimaToe]

So I know that the next two years are un-predictable, injuries etc. but does anyone think a new senior will come and challenge for the medals at worlds in 2019? Looking at things Biles will be up there, Hurd likely to be up there, id also add Murakami who improves with age, Mustafina because, well it’s Mustafina, and all my fingers and toes crossed that we get Iordache healthy enough to do AA at a major championship. I would love to see another gymnast pull a Morgan Hurd kind of rise but few of the U.S. juniors are making it to seniors without injury it seems.My first thought was that Andrade or Saraiva of Brazil could do it, but I think that the best bet might be with the Italian talents to make a splash during the Olympic season.

 

[Aceon6]

I’d love to see Andrade hit on all four events!

 

[Deleted member 74551]

I’d love to see Andrade hit on all four events!

I’ve been waiting for her to put it together, her gymnastics is so flighty and pleasant to watch.

 

[Aceon6]

FINALLY! USAG found a qualified president. Li Li Leung was announced today. https://usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=23308

 

[pollyanna]

FINALLY! USAG found a qualified president. Li Li Leung was announced today. https://usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=23308

She sounds perfect!

 

[Rob]

She does!

 

[skatfan]

She does!

Agreed. Let’s hope the board gives her the right kind of support.

 

[skipaway]

Disapproval from Some

Leung's appointment has already come under fire from some of Nassar's victims, who released a statement through an attorney on Tuesday.
"Sadly, Ms. Leung has precisely the same sports marketing background as her predecessors Steve Penny and Kerry Perry," John Manly, an attorney for some of the survivors said in the statement. "That is exactly the wrong background to implement change to protect children."
Manly accused the organization of choosing a "consummate insider" who would protect its secrets.
"She has long-standing ties to the U.S. Olympic Committee and she was clearly their choice. Further, her association with the NBA is far from encouraging. The NBA has a horrible record in dealing with sexual assault and abuse by its players and staff," Manly's said.

 

[Rob]

It is going to be hard to find someone with experience in running a sports federation who has had no prior affiliation with the USOC or any other sports federation. And I can't think of any squeaky clean sports federations. Who do they want? An athlete with no administrative experience at all?

 

[ilovepaydays]

It is going to be hard to find someone with experience in running a sports federation who has had no prior affiliation with the USOC or any other sports federation. And I can't think of any squeaky clean sports federations. Who do they want? An athlete with no administrative experience at all?

Well, I’ve heard from many who want someone like Aly Raisman to either 1) be in charge of USAGym, or 2) lead GymCastic’s proposed gymnasts’ union that Jessica’s thinks is a great idea.

I will wait and see about Leung. She can’t end up being much worse than Steve Penny or Kerry Perry.......

 

[Erin]

I'm in "wait and see" mode too. I do think it's promising that she was willing to take a press call right away, which Perry never did during her tenure. She is certainly saying all the right things - but we'll see whether she can deliver on what she is saying. For the sake of the sport, I really hope so.

As for Manly's comments, I take them with a bit of a grain of salt. He wasn't going to like anyone they picked and I was basically expecting those comments. Again...we'll see what happens.

 

[Aceon6]

Other than digging USAG out of the ditch, their biggest priority is retaining and getting new sponsors. They need an income stream, particularly if the lawsuits will drain anything in the bank account today. IMO, Leung has just the qualifications needed to save USAG if it can be saved.

 

[Rob]

Aly Raisman might be a good figurehead, but I don't think she has any experience running a nonprofit or managing a staff or budget.

 

[Aceon6]

Aly Raisman might be a good figurehead, but I don't think she has any experience running a nonprofit or managing a staff or budget.

This. IIRC, she went to Babson, a really good business school, but stayed only a year before resuming training. I suspect Brestyan taught her a bit about management, but I don’t believe she’s actually managed anything other then her own training. Mom and Dad manage the money.

 

[Simone411]

I just wanted to congratulate Simone Biles for winning the Sports Woman of the Year Award from the Laureus Worlds Sports Awards that was held in Monaco on the 19th.

NBC will be broadcasting it Sunday, February 24th - 11:30 a.m. Central (12:30 p.m. Eastern time).

Here's an article with a list of the countries that will also be able to watch:

Laureus World Sports Awards to be broadcast globally.

If this has been posted somewhere else, my apologies in advance.

ETA: Congrats to Lindsey Vonn for winning the Spirit for Sport Award.

 

[becca]

It is going to be hard to find someone with experience in running a sports federation who has had no prior affiliation with the USOC or any other sports federation. And I can't think of any squeaky clean sports federations. Who do they want? An athlete with no administrative experience at all?

Yeah I think people are being silly she is not involved in the mess.

 

[VGThuy]

Not to get too deeply into gymnastics past, but I some how ended up on a clickhole of 2005 Worlds, and my gosh, if only Alicia Sacramone and Chellsie Memmel were that healthy and in that condition for the 2004 Olympics and if Nastia's birth certificate could have been altered. They hit those dance jumps and were able to get the high SVs needed to compete. It was the lower SV due to those dance combinations not getting credited that ended up being the downfall of the U.S. team at the 2004 Olympics. Well, that and missed connections on beam when they realized the McCool's beautiful form (my gosh was her form beautiful despite weird feet) rendered her useless under that code. Kupets's tumbling was great at the 2004 Olympics but her dance elements were a mess and her injury resulted in the U.S. losing out on a potentially strong beam score... Mohini hit at trials was the only American to make FX finals but that was due to a dance combo getting credit at Team Qualifications that she couldn't get credit for in Team Finals and FX Finals. That sort of set her up to fail. Looking back, the U.S. whole lead up to those games and that camp system killed so many gymnasts and we were left with a team of who was still semi-healthy enough to compete and a gymnast like Mohini and even Terin Humphrey should have been alternates.

Back to 2005 Worlds, who should have won AA? Chellsie or Nastia? They were only 0.001 apart. I sort of loves that Worlds because it was sort of a reprieve from the 2004 games with Cheng Fei getting her due somewhat (though she missed out on FX finals as she underperformed there).

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

I just got home from the World Cup in Melbourne.

Two things really stood out in this competition for me.

Firstly is how great it is to see legends like Vanessa Ferrari and Oksana Chusovitina still competitive with athletes half (or even a third) of their respective ages.

Secondly, Australia's Georgia Rose Brown is one of the taller ladies. To compensate for her height, the apparatus monitors did something I have never seen, or was even aware could be done during an event. They adjusted the uneven bars and made them higher for her.