GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

Live from Vegas: Team Bronze Reunion Meet starring Ana Barbosa and Jordan Chiles. And notes from American Cup podium training. Welcome to The Original College Gymnastics Post-Meet Show! It's UCLA at Stanford (2pm PT on ACC+ scores here):  See you after the meet around 4:00 PT for a group debrief and American Cup Preview from Jessica who is at the meet. Here's how to ask questions live. Full season mocktail menu here  Extended Episode + Live Q&A (Members) +70 extra minutes of analysis, behind-the-scenes secret stories, and answering your questions LIVE. Here's how to ask questions live. Can't make it live? Add Club bonus episodes to your favorite podcast player (instructions here). Not a member? Join here. SUPPORT OUR WORK Club Gym Nerd: Join Here Fantasy: 2026 College Fantasy Game now open. Never too late to join! Merch: Shop Now Newsletters The Balance Beam Situation: Spencer's GIF Code of Points Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim Resistance Resources Unlock the Episode Join Club Gym Nerd → Choose a plan Complete checkout — your site account is created. Log in here → /my-account/ Return to this page and refresh. The extended player appears automatically. Join GymCastic Fantasy League! What is College & Cocktails? Every week we pick a college meet to watch, then go live, right here on this page to discuss our immediate thoughts about the meet. Our superstar, bar tender Linzers, creates a bespoke themed mocktail and cocktail recipe for each meet. College & Cocktails combines our weekly Behind The Scenes Q&A live podcast with a college meet of the week. It's all part of the bonus content for our Club Members who support our work year around. For more info on how to watch your favorite elites, Olympic and World medalists in college and all year long, check out The Balance Beam Situation's schedule with links.

SafeSport permanently banned Al Fong and Armine Barutyan-Fong; Arthur Akopian and Galina Marinova are facing yet another investigation; plus World Championships roster shockers and federation drama heading into Rotterdam. We also sit down with new U.S. Center for SafeSport CEO and Olympic gold medalist Benita Fitzgerald Mosley to discuss regaining trust, data privacy, case timelines, reporting, resources and what she wants to change. WIN A FULL COMMISSIONED EPISODE You pick the topic. We record a full episode about it. This is currently the ONLY way to commission a full episode. Enter the raffle by October 9. We'll draw the winner at Worlds in Rotterdam! HEADLINES • Arthur Akopian and Galina Marinova are under investigation by SafeSport AGAIN, years after the Washington Post investigation. • Al Fong and Armine Barutyan-Fong have been permanently banned by SafeSport. • Ana Barbosu speaks out about leaving Romania, the Paris medal controversy and finding a healthier training environment in the U.S. • Oksana Chusovitina declines her Worlds vault spot. • North Korea declines its Worlds team spot; Malaysia takes its place. • Taiwan's federation faces a government investigation after allegedly rejecting Worlds invitations for apparatus specialists. • Yang Fanyuwei is left off China's Worlds team despite having one of the world's top bars scores. • Georgia Godwin is not on Australia's Worlds team. • Alice Kinsella returns to the all-around with a 53.900. INTERVIEW: SAFESPORT CEO BENITA FITZGERALD MOSLEY We discuss SafeSport's  data security, case timelines, investigations, reporting, prevention and the future of the Center. SAFESPORT RESOURCES • In-Person Training Resources • Abuse Prevention Resources • Centralized Disciplinary Database Update • Extended SafeSport Hotline Hours • SafeSport Investigator Fired After Arrest GYMTERNET NEWS • Nadia Comăneci joins the judging panel of "Românii au talent." • The U.S. Classic returns to Hoffman Estates in July 2027. • Virgin Atlantic becomes Team GB's official airline for LA28. WHAT MEETS ARE ON? • Szombathely World Cup — Sept. 18–20 • Asian Games — Sept. 21–24 • Paris World Cup — Sept. 26–27, the final FIG competition before Worlds. CHAPTERS 00:00 – SafeSport Breaking News 01:40 – Akopian & Marinova Under Investigation Again 04:13 – Al Fong & Armine Barutyan-Fong Permanently Banned 07:00 – Ana Barbosu Speaks Out 09:50 – World Championships Drama 13:01 – Taiwan Federation Scandal 19:00 – China & Australia Worlds Roster Shockers 25:40 – Alice Kinsella's All-Around Return 31:39 – Full Commission Raffle & Club Gym Nerd 36:04 – SafeSport CEO Benita Fitzgerald Mosley 37:51 – Interview: The Future of SafeSport 01:29:00 – SafeSport Data Security Follow-Up 01:29:40 – gymternet News 01:34:47 – Upcoming Meets SUPPORT OUR WORK • Join Club Gym Nerd for ad-free episodes, weekly Behind the Scenes, our complete members-only archive, games, score tools, forum and live-show discounts. • Shop GymCastic. HUEL Make healthy eating simple. Get 15% OFF online with code GYMCASTIC at huel.com/GYMCASTIC. New customers only. Thank you to Huel for partnering with and supporting our show! GYMCASTIC TOOLS & RESOURCES • LA 2028 Roster Lab • Elite Score Explorer • International Gymnastics Calendar • GymCastic Games • GymCastic Newsletters • Resistance Resources

Andrew Chupp — coach, queer adult gymnast, creator and joy distributor — joins us to talk about making gymnastics your own. From Britney Spears floor choreography to competing on beam, Andrew shares how returning to the sport brought him community and creative freedom. You pick the topic. We make the episode. Our Full Episode Commission Raffle is the ONLY way to commission a full GymCastic episode. It's a fundraiser for our trip to Rotterdam for the World Championships. Enter here for a chance to choose the topic. The GymCastic store sale is on! IN THIS INTERVIEW Inclusive competition and bringing performance back to floor. Starting adult classes, making time to train and finding your people. Coaching adults, revisiting basics and letting go of old expectations. Rethinking deductions, facing internet hate and staying visible. Queer joy, body image, courage and accountability. FIND ANDREW AND YOUR COMMUNITY Andrew Chupp's YouTube channel Adult Gymnastics Like a Fine Wine: Find your community, meets and classes. Adult Gymnastics resources CHAPTERS 00:00 Meet Andrew Chupp 01:42 Adult Meets & Inclusive Competition 05:01 A Different Kind of All-Around 10:26 Growing Adult Gymnastics 13:47 Britney Spears & Finding Joy Again 21:07 How to Start an Adult Class 23:20 Making Time & Finding Community 25:28 Coaching Adults & Starting Small 33:19 Rethinking Deductions 36:34 Queer Sports & Belonging 40:21 Adult Meets at Every Age 46:47 Facing Internet Hate 57:57 Courage, Accountability & Growth 1:00:58 What's Next for Andrew RELATED EPISODES It's Never Too Late to Start Adult Gymnastics Tumble: The Adult Gymnastics Reality TV Show Tumble Episode 2 Tumble Episodes 3 and 4 Tumble Episode 5 Tumble Finale Nadia Promotes Adult Gymnastics New USAG President Kyle Albrecht's First Interview on Athlete Safety & the Future of Gymnastics SUPPORT OUR WORK Join Club Gym Nerd for weekly Behind The Scenes episodes and the members-only archive. Shop the GymCastic store sale. TOOLS AND RESOURCES GymCastic tools: LA 2028 Roster Lab Elite Score Explorer International Gymnastics Calendar GymCastic Games GymCastic Newsletters The Balance Beam Situation: Spencer Barnes' GIF Code of Points Gymnastics History: Gymnastics history and Code of Points archive from Uncle Tim Resistance Resources  

The good, the bad and the BARTA of it all - Before social media, there was GGMB—the Gymnastics Gossip Message Board. We revisit the influential, informative, bizarre and sometimes deeply toxic message board that helped shape the early gymternet—and GymCastic itself. Plus, the developing Rich Stenger/Cal gymnastics Instagram story, Suni Lee's stolen bronze bust is recovered, we fix Claire Pease's floor construction, and draft dream seven-member Olympic teams. FULL COMMISSION RAFFLE: This is currently the only way to commission a full GymCastic episode. Entries are $10, enter as many times as you want, and other prizes will be available. Winner(s) drawn in Rotterdam. Enter here. HEADLINES Russian lobbying and financial flows in World Gymnastics Developing Rich Stenger/Cal gymnastics Instagram story Suni Lee's stolen bronze bust has been recovered World Team Camp roster GGMB: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE BARTA What was the Gymnastics Gossip Message Board? We revisit the scandals, gossip, insiders, bizarre word filters, genuinely valuable gymnastics knowledge and toxicity of one of the early gymternet's most influential communities. We discuss how GGMB influenced GymCastic, why our earliest episodes resembled an "audio message board," what we intentionally left behind and what we kept—including chasing down rumors to find out what is actually true. MINI-COMMISSIONS Fix Her Routine: We attempt to build a smarter, realistically achievable floor routine for Claire Pease. Dream 7-Member Olympic Teams: Jessica and Spencer select dream U.S. and international teams using the classic seven-member format. GYMTERNET NEWS Former Rapid City gymnastics coach sentenced to federal prison Gymnastics Australia launches its growth blueprint ahead of Brisbane 2032 CHAPTERS 00:00 – Russian Lobbying, Rich Stenger & Breaking News 03:45 – Suni Lee's Head Was Found 07:30 – World Team Camp & Raffle 12:21 – GGMB: The Good, the Bad and the BARTA 36:01 – Updates & Live Show Replay 36:48 – Mini Commission Fixing Claire Pease's Floor Routine 58:21 –  Mini Commission Dream 7-Member Olympic Teams 1:19:43 – Dumpster Fire & Gymternet News HUEL: Limited Time Offer – Make healthy eating simple. Get Huel today with my exclusive offer of 15% OFF online with my code GYMCASTIC at huel.com/GYMCASTIC. New Customers Only. Thank you to Huel for partnering and supporting our show! Club Gym Nerd: Ad-free episodes, Behind The Scenes every Friday, mini-commissions, immediate post-meet coverage and more at GymCastic.com/club. SUPPORT OUR WORK Club Gym Nerd: Join Club Gym Nerd for weekly Behind the Scenes episodes, our complete members-only archive, games, the forum and live-show discounts. Shop GymCastic: Shop merch. GYMCASTIC TOOLS, GAMES AND RESOURCES GymCastic tools: LA 2028 Roster Lab — Now with auto-fill highest-scoring team, team comparisons and updated roster briefs. Elite Score Explorer — U.S. Championships scores are in, plus new charting options and the vault bonus toggle. International Gymnastics Calendar GymCastic Games GymCastic Newsletters The Balance Beam Situation: Spencer Barnes' GIF Code of Points Gymnastics History: Gymnastics history and Code of Points archive from Uncle Tim Resistance Resources  

The GymCastic Movie Club takes on FLASHDANCE—the runaway 1983 hit that is essentially a collection of MTV music videos held together by sparks, leg warmers and vibes. Thank you, Rose for commissioning this episode.  We discuss the stunt wigs, the film's gymnastics influence, and the gayest welder's burlesque bar in Pittsburgh. Alex's complete lack of ballet training and the legendary final audition featuring a dive roll performed by collegiate gymnastics history-maker Sharon Shapiro. Jessica also brings us firsthand stories from Sharon about filming the scene. Commissioned by Rose.  WIN A FULL-EPISODE COMMISSION Enter the raffle for the chance to choose the subject of an entire GymCastic episode—as long as it is tangentially gymnastics-related! The raffle helps fund our on-site coverage of the 2026 World Championships in Rotterdam. IN THIS EPISODE • Which one is Flashdance again? • The true story that inspired the movie • Jennifer Beals and Pittsburgh Ballet Versailles • How Flashdance influenced gymnastics floor routines • Sharon Shapiro's iconic audition dive roll • The stunt doubles and constantly changing wigs • The gayest welder's burlesque of all time • Tina Tech's "Manhunt" routine • Jeanie's disastrous skating audition • Everything wrong with Alex's boss-turned-boyfriend • The "What a Feeling" finale • Casting a gymnastics remake   CHAPTERS 00:00 – Welcome to the Flashdance Movie Club 02:51 – The True Story and 1983 Phenomenon 07:05 – Why Flashdance Is Gymnastics-Related 11:37 – The Plot, Such as It Is 21:06 – The Gayest Welder's Burlesque 40:49 – Montage-a-Palooza 49:25 – Jeanie, Skating and the Supporting Characters 59:20 – Who Is Hannah? 1:02:53 – Lobster and the Horrible Boss Romance 1:14:23 – The "What a Feeling" Audition 1:18:52 – Sharon Shapiro's Stories from the Set 1:25:08 – Casting the Flashdance Remake   JOIN CLUB GYM NERD FOR BONUS STUFF Ad-free episodes, weekly bonus shows, our complete archive, members-only games and tools, the community message board and Behind The Scenes every Friday at noon Pacific: https://gymcastic.com/club/  GYMCASTIC TOOLS LA 2028 Roster Lab: https://gymcastic.com/2028-roster-lab/ Elite Score Explorer: https://gymcastic.com/elite-scores/ International Gymnastics Calendar: https://gymcastic.com/gymnastics-calendar/ GymCastic Games: https://gymcastic.com/games/ SHOP GYMCASTIC https://store.gymcastic.com/