GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast14 Joulu 2016

233: Danell Leyva 2016

THIS WEEK'S INTERVIEW

Danell Leyva is back on the show (listen to his first appearance here)! The eight-time World and Olympic medalist was the only American man to earn a medal for the U.S. at the 2012 Olympic Games with a bronze in the all-around. He did that after not even being named to the team! When John Orozco was hurt, he moved from Rio alternate to team member. He was the 2011 world champion on the parallel bars, defending silver medalist going in to 2015 Glasgow World, but failed to reach the podium. He came back a year later at the 2016 Olympics in Rio to win parallel bars and horizontal bar silver. We discuss:

Why dog bites are obviously good luck for him.
Who should have won the Rio Olympic all-around and p-bars finals.
Rio got bad press, but London had some of the same problems.
What he thinks of the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse allegations.
Being called the "temperamental Cuban American" in the pre-event finals arena video at Worlds in 2015.
Girlfriend Power: How he changed his mindset from Glasgow to Rio and got the joy back.
Being named alternate to coming home with the most medals of any U.S. male in Rio.
Race and his ethnic heritage.
His p-bars striptease at the Rio Olympic Gala.
Was doing the post-Olympic tour worth it this time around?
What was it like in the arena when Samir Ait Said (FRA) fractured his leg on vault in Rio.
What he would do to help the men's team--individualize!

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Join Club Gym Nerd here.
Buy one of our awesome shirts here.

RELATED EPISODES

Catching up with Danell Leyva at the Winter Cup

Jaksot(895)

2026 U.S. Championships Preview

It's elite national championships week. Let's break it down. Join Club Gym Nerd for the ad-free extended episode, live Q&A podcasts all week and complete members-only archive. GET IN-PERSON OR VIRTUA...

4 Elo 41min

Ellie Black's Historic Double + World-Elites-Go-to-College Fantasy Draft

ON SALE NOW: GymCastic LIVE at U.S. Championships in Phoenix WHEN: Sunday, Aug 9th after the women's final podium ceremony at 6pm-ish WHERE: Streaming online or Phoenix, AZ WHAT: It's the post-meet af...

28 Heinä 1h 28min

2026 U.S. Classic Debrief: Esponda, Ohashi's Next Move and the Worlds Picture

HEADLINES Nadia Comăneci says Ana Barbosu's legal fees in the fight to retain her Paris 2024 bronze medal will be covered. U.S. CLASSIC MORNING-AFTER COFFEE KLATSCH Reese Esponda Wins the U.S. Clas...

22 Heinä 1h 21min

Behind the Scenes: U.S. Classic 2026 Meet Report, Reese Esponda Wins, Ohashi Returns & Skye Blakely Shines

Our immediate reactions right after the meet! Everything from the 2026 U.S. Classic, including Reese Esponda's all-around victory, Katelyn Ohashi's return to elite competition, Skye Blakely's event ...

19 Heinä 24min

Behind The Scenes: Suni Lee is back! US Classic Podium Training & Hot Mic Moments

Recorded immediately after Senior Women's podium training at the U.S. Classic. Suni Lee officially announced her comeback documentary, Katelyn Ohashi unveiled upgrades ahead of the U.S. Classic, Jade ...

17 Heinä 24min

US Classic Preview: Katelyn Ohashi, Skye Blakely & Qatar is Shopping For Gymnasts

Hear from the Ohashi and Skye themselves while we preview the 2026 U.S. Classic and break down every major storyline heading into one of the most important meets of the elite season. This week we disc...

14 Heinä 51min

Becky Downie: Paris, Trauma, Fibroids & Changing British Gymnastics

Three-time Olympian Becky Downie is here and opens up about the difficult years between Tokyo and Paris, why she never officially retired after the Olympics, recovering from multiple surgeries and two...

7 Heinä 1h 17min

The History of Italian Gymnastics: From Circus Acrobatics to Olympic Champions

The History of Italian Gymnastics traces the remarkable rise of one of the world's most successful gymnastics nations—from Italy's early Olympic champions and circus acrobatics roots to the Vanessa Fe...

1 Heinä 1h 34min