207: A History of Political Protests in Gymnastics

IN THE NEWS

In the news, Uncle Tim, Dvora and Jessica chat about:

• Russia has not been banned as a country, but the FIG must decide on individuals. (3:00)
  • Valentina has declared Ksenia Afanasyeva retired, might not be true but Afan is out.
  • Kuksenkov was cleared of all Meldonium doping charges earlier this year and is in Rio.
• Marta Karolyi Press Conference (9:25)
  • We've decided Rhonda Faehn and Simone Biles/Aimee Boorman have started working Marta's mouth like a puppet because she held an open practice and even said the gymnasts must all be trained as individuals! Praise the gym gods!
• Germany, Steingruber Win in Chemnitz (14:00)
  • Sophie Scheder scored a 15.25 on bars (better at German Nationals with 15.5 which ranked her 8th in the World)
  • Catalina Ponor scored a 14.700 on VT in Chemnitz. She outscored Larisa Iordache (FX, double Y turn immediate illusion turn!) on every event (except bars, which Ponor didn't do)
  • Ponor has a full twisting DLO
  • Ponor took on her haters on Instagram--straight up Gabby Douglas style.
• Insane Skill Alerts (17:40)
  • Kirsten Polderman (NED) switch-half Dick. What should the Dick Half be rated?
  • Will Sae Miyakawa (JPN) compete her front full to double front on the Gymnova floor in Rio?
  • Artem Dolgopyat (ISR) is doing a triple back.
  • Takahiro Goshima (JPN) doing a back 3.5 to punch 2.5; He can also do a front 3.5 but he won't be in Rio.
• A History of Political Protests in Gymnastics (27:45)
  • Are political protests allowed by the IOC and what are the rules about free speech for athletes?
  • Vera Caslavska (CZE) wasn't punished for her protest against the Soviets by the IOC but Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos were expelled from the Games.
  • 1991 World Championships, Kuwait's thank you t-shirts.
  • Statements by gymnasts that could have been taken as protest speech.
  • Politically charged uniforms: Korea vs. Japan's rising sun throwback flag leotards.
• Black Lives Matter (56:30)
  • Should the US gymnastics team be prepared to answer questions about Black Lives Matter?
• Rio Olympic Athlete Village update. (1:02:00)
• Dvora's experience interviewing Oksana Chusovitina and Svetlana Boginskaya for Elle magazine.
• Khorkina "Biles will always be second."
• Maggie Nichols continues to be a shining light of joy.

INTERVIEW Because the end of the quad is a time for competitive retirements and new artistic beginnings, we have a little glimpse into a gym nerd dream job with the casting director of Le Rêve, Louanne Madorma. (1:17:19)

• They have self-taught, level 8 and Olympians all in the show, there are knitting circles and dance contests, but unfortunately it's nothing like the movie DreamGirls.
• Louanne was in the roller-skating sensation, Starlight Express, and has hilarious blooper stories.
• The Wynn hotel, where Le Reve lives, pays for college at nearby UNLV!
• Contact Louanne Madorma at Le Rêve casting here.
• Listen to Jessica's review of Le Rêve in episode 41 here.

CONTEST Win: The End of the Perfect 10: The Making and Breaking of Gymnastics' Top Score – from Nadia to Now by Dvora Meyers What: Write a new rule for the next quad How: #Endofthe10Book @GymCastic on Instagram or Twitter Deadline: Sunday, July 31st at midnight.

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