159: 2015 Championships Preview Show

"Swaggie Maggie" Nichols is about to lay the smack down in Indianapolis at the 2015 P&G Championships. © Christy Linder

This week Evan Heiter and Jessica preview the 2015 P&G Championships, and Spencer from The Balance Beam Situation recaps Gymnastike's "Beyond The Routine" show about Gabby Douglas and Nia Dennis at Buckeye Gymnastics.

• The Maggie Nichols factor - Don't doubt the power of the swag! How her injury at last year's Pan Am Championships will make her this year's newest World Team member.
• How to watch Team Sam Peszek and Evan Heiter rock the commentary game with Raj Bhavsar all week long in Indianapolis.
• Why Norah Flatley will be missing this competition.
• Which "2000 Babies" (AKA juniors who will be age eligible for the Rio Olympics next year), have the best chance making a case for their spot on the Rio team:
  • Rachel Baumann, Desiderio, Foberg, Frazier, Gaskins, Laurie “Baby Shakira” Hernandez, Johnson-Scharpf, Paulson, Quinn, Ragan “Feivel” Smith, or Olivia Trautman.
• We each pick the routines that must be seen lest the Gym God's rain down fire upon your soul!
• Upgrades and Placement: Will Gabby upgrade here or wait for Worlds? Is Kyla keeping her Bhardwaj or downgrading bars because of her fall at Classics? Will Simone throw her Cheng vault in Indy?
• Which specialists need to absolutely slaughter their event in order to make the team for Worlds?
• Which men are most likely to break into the old boys club and steal the coveted specialist spot for Scotland.
• How MyKayla Skinner and her choreographer got themselves into the Glasgow news for an epic leotard-related cultural gaffe.
• Why every time Sydney Johnson-Scharpf does a routine or Brenna Dowell approaches bars, Vegas-style lights should ignite around the apparatus and everyone should fall to their knees in worship!
• The draw for the World Championships is out so we had to debate the US team merits starting vs. finishing on beam.
• Finally, Spencer recaps Gymnastike's "Beyond The Routine: Buckeye"
  • He rides the "implied shade express" as Gabby talks about her legitimate comeback and why new coach, Kittia Carpenter is a supportive person (as opposed to...)
  • Like a gymnastics version of CSI, we dissect the clues that led to Nia Dennis's departure from her longtime gym, Buckeye for Legacy Elite.
  • Discuss what coach Fernando Villa and Gabby would look like if they watched Dance Mom's together.
  • We appreciate all of the moments when Mr. Positivity, Christian Gallardo, is on camera.

Results for P&G Championships are at pgchamps.com. All sessions will be streamed live on pgchamps.com/live.

If you are having trouble with access to Universal Sports outside of the US, try using a VPN. Our listeners recomend TunnelBear, Hola, ZenMate and GetUsVPN.

TV Broadcasts (all times Eastern):

• Aug. 13 Women’s gymnastics – 7:30-9:30 p.m. – Universal Sports – LIVE
• Aug. 14 Women’s gymnastics – 12-2 a.m. – NBCSN – taped
• Aug. 14 Men’s gymnastics – 8-10 p.m. – Universal Sports – LIVE
• Aug. 15 Men’s gymnastics – 1-3 a.m. – NBCSN – taped
• Aug. 15 Women gymnastics – 8-10 p.m. – NBC Sports – LIVE
• Aug. 16 Men’s gymnastics – 3-4:30 p.m. – NBC Sports – LIVE

GymCastic Listener Meet-Up

Watch Gymnastike's Beyond The Routine episodes with Gabby Douglas and Nia Dennis here.

• 156: Pan Am Games Event Finals and Secret Classic Preview
• Secret Classic: What Does Success Here Mean
• 106: Biles and Ross Dominate the 2014 US Secret Classic
• 2014 Senior Secret Classic Competition Photo Gallery
• 2014 Junior Secret Classic Competition Photo Gallery
• Photo Gallery of Podium Training at the 2014 Secret Classic
• 105: Chicago Secret Classic Preview, Cuba is Back & Nadia Promotes Adult Gymnastics
• Episode 42: The 2013 Secret US Classic from Chicago
• Episode 41: Laurie Hernandez & Coach Maggie Haney
• Episode 9: Chellsie Memmel, Swiss Cup & FIG Presidential Proposals
• 148: Shannon Miller
• Episode 28: Kristen Maloney
• Episode 31: Elise Ray
• Episode 33: Simone Biles & Her Coaches
• Episode 48: Kyla Ross
• 61: Katelyn Ohashi Clears The Air
• 77: Aly Raisman