GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

What are the greatest gymnastics routines ever performed? This commissioned episode takes on an impossible challenge: building the Pantheon of Gymnastics. Jessica and Spencer debate the most iconic vaults, bars routines, beam masterpieces, and floor exercises across every era—from Olesia Dudnik, Yang Bo, and Kim Gwang Suk to Simone Biles, Rebeca Andrade, Kaylia Nemour, and Sunisa Lee. Along the way they revisit the artistry of 1989 Worlds, the greatest NCAA floor routines ever performed, and the unforgettable performances that defined generations of gymnastics fans.
REFERENCE VIDEOS

Vanessa Atler's double-twisting Yurchenko from 1999
Mo Huilan's iconic typewriter floor routine from 1994
Produnova's tango floor routine with a freakin' double-arabian punch front!!
Jesus Rivera proving why Cuba was at the forefront of artistry i
Lashenova on why the Soviets weren't messing around with artistry
Can you even bring pain of a nation if you don't have a sad violin? Natalia Frolova, Brooklyn Moors, and Leah Homma 
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction & Commission Brief
02:12 VAULT: Greatest Vaults Ever
07:16 Simone's YDP
09:29 Andrade's Cheng
10:56 The Amanar Debate
12:12 Best DTYs
15:27 Shannon Miller's Yurchenko Full
16:18 Greatest Rudis
17:38 Yang Yun's Flying Jesus Vault
18:13 Produnova, Yulo & Davtyan
23:11 BARS: Greatest Bars Routines Ever
25:47 Kim Gwang Suk
28:04 Amy Chow Appreciation
29:04 He Kexin's Beijing Masterpiece
32:06 Beth Tweddle
34:00 Mustafina

42:35 BEAM: Greatest Beam Routines Ever
42:42 Dudnik & Yang Bo
44:10 Li Li & Ke Qinqin
46:39 Gutsu & Lysenko
48:43 Kui Yuanyuan
50:30 Fan Ye
53:01 Soviet Beam Greats
56:04 Anna Pavlova
59:40 Komova & Flavia
01:03:07 Sanne Wevers
01:06:10 Zhou Yaqin & Zhang Qingying
01:09:01 Why Simone isn't the beam GOAT

01:11:12 FLOOR: Greatest Floor Routines Ever
01:11:29 Podkopayeva & Omelianchik
01:14:16 Dominique Moceanu
01:16:39 Mo Huilan's Typewriter Routine
01:17:01 Elena Produnova
01:18:03 Jesús Rivera
01:20:45 Céline van Gerner & Eythora
01:23:02 The Legendary 1989 Worlds Floor Session
01:30:17 Simone Biles
01:31:18 Vanessa Ferrari
01:33:22 Rebeca Andrade
01:33:56 Pain of a Nation: Greatest Choreography
01:38:21 Dobre, Filatova & Petrik
01:41:34 NCAA Floor Pantheon
RELATED EPISODES
252: Myths, Legends and Unexpected Moments in Gymnastics History
258: The Fluff Cast
312: 4th Is the New 1st
313: Best Floor Routines EVAH!
History's Best Beam Routines
UP NEXT
Behind The Scenes Fridays at noon Pacific 
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Elite summer is officially here and GymCastic is breaking down the state of the art in gymnastics heading into the 2026 season. We discuss Simone Biles revealing she "almost died," Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos' emotional return to competition in France, and the gymnasts currently setting the global standard on vault, bars, beam and floor. From Kaylia Nemour's historic bars work to Hezly Rivera leading the all-around rankings, we analyze what it actually takes to contend for World medals in 2026. Plus: French Nationals artistry deductions, NCAA news, and the latest gymternet controversies.
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SHOW NOTES
Simone Biles shared that she "almost died" in what she called one of the scariest experiences of her life.
Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos returned to exhibition competition at French Nationals for the first time since the Paris Olympics, performing floor and discussing her recovery and renewal in Martinique.
French Nationals introduced separately listed artistry deductions in live scoring — the future is now.
Elena Colas won the French all-around title with a 54.250 and continues her rapid rise as one of the top new seniors in the world.
We break down the current world leaders on every apparatus and discuss:
• Why Kaylia Nemour is redefining bars
• Why Hezly Rivera is currently the all-around world leader
• What makes beam composition "state of the art"
• Why vault scoring may be changing
• What separates a 14 floor routine from a 13 in 2026
GYMTERNET NEWS
• Utah gymnastics Ghana trip controversy discussion
• NCAA age-rule proposal update
• New proposed NIL restrictions in Congress
• Texas abortion laws and athlete healthcare concerns
• Sam Oldham's charity comeback routine
• Jackson Harrison Achilles injury
• Emma Slevin transfers to Arkansas
• Coaching updates across NCAA
• Gymnastics Australia concussion investigation
CHAPTERS
00:00 Simone Biles' scary health news
01:21 Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos returns at French Nationals
08:30 French Nationals artistry deductions revolution
09:25 Elena Colas wins French Nationals
17:02 Elite Summer 2026 begins
18:08 All-Around World Leaders: Hezly Rivera vs Kaylia Nemour
27:12 Vault world leaders and why vaulting has changed
35:30 Bars: Why Kaylia Nemour is redefining gymnastics
49:05 Beam world leaders and Chinese beam excellence
1:02:02 Floor exercise: what makes a 14 in 2026?
1:10:18 Gymternet News
1:16:04 NCAA age rule proposal explained
1:19:08 New NIL bill and athlete pay debate
1:21:29 Texas abortion laws and athlete safety concerns
1:23:00 Sam Oldham's charity comeback routine
1:24:01 Jackson Harrison injury and Emma Slevin transfer
1:24:33 NCAA rules and laws limiting athlete income
1:25:58 Australia concussion investigation
UP NEXT
Behind The Scenes Fridays at noon Pacific

Simone Biles and Rebeca Andrade are two of the greatest gymnasts in history. Yet they competed against each other just five times in nine years! In this episode, we tackle what may be gymnastics' biggest structural problem: the world's best athletes rarely get the chance to face each other. We propose a complete overhaul of the competition system, including world rankings, federation-free qualification pathways, athlete-controlled careers, an elite season, and fan-voted wild cards. We also explore how sports like tennis, the WNBA, and other professional leagues handle competition, athlete compensation, data rights, and fan engagement—and what gymnastics can learn from them. Plus, we discuss real-time scoring technology, VR and AR viewing experiences, digital-twin technology, and other innovations that could modernize the sport and make gymnastics easier to follow for fans around the world.
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Intro: Revolutionizing Gymnastics
01:01 – HEADLINES Texas State Adds D1 Gymnastics
03:13 – Canadian Championships & Ellie Black
07:07 – Koper Cup Chaos
14:04 – Behind The Scenes: Sharks, Dysentery & Club Gym Nerd
16:32 –  Gymternet News: Texas Coach Indicted, DA looking for suvivors
17:38 – Simone Biles Is Still 50/50
21:18 – Ukrainian Gymnastics Protest Campaign
22:23 – Denver's Achilles Injury Research
24:09 – Florida's Singapore Tour
25:35 – Nadia's 50-Year Perfect 10 Celebration
26:54 – Michigan Men Get a New Facility
27:28 – Gymnaestrada Comes to Las Vegas
28:59 – New Pakistan Gymnastics Documentary
30:25 – 1984 U.S. Men's Team Documentary
33:08 – Iranian Women Win Historic Medal
33:47 – Melanie & Rebeca Return Updates
34:25 – Revolutionizing Gymnastics: How We Fix The Sport
34:45 – The Problem: The Best Gymnasts Never Compete
37:19 – Simone vs Rebeca: Only 5 Times in 9 Years
39:17 – When World-Class Athletes Get Left Home
42:06 – Why Federations Have Too Much Power
47:02 – Borrowing the Tennis Model
50:34 – Rankings, Injuries & Athlete Autonomy
54:24 – Wild Cards System
56:26 – Fixing Judging with Technology
58:26 – Make Scores Understandable
01:01:12 – Real-Time Skill Tracking & Data Visualization
01:01:39 – AR, AI & Digital-Twin Technology
01:03:29 – VR Front-Row Seats for Every Fan
01:09:01 – Alternative Broadcasts & Fan Engagement
01:14:06 – How Gymnasts Should Actually Get Paid
01:16:39 – Athlete Unions, Data Rights & Ownership
01:22:40 – The WNBA Model for Athlete Bio Data
01:24:38 – Designing the Perfect Competition System
01:27:12 – Turning Olympic Viewers Into Real Fans
01:34:15 – Listener Question: Biles I vs Dos Santos

BONUS Welcome to Behind The Scenes: Secrets of The Podcast
We are enjoying a well earned break this week. But we'd never leave you without the news. Here is a little bonus of our weekly Q&A show for Club Gym Nerd members, where we answer your questions live.  To listen or watch the full episode login here. 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.
GymCastic Live: Featuring Chae Campbell
Replay tickets available → Get tickets here
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Behind the Scenes Intro & Che Campbell Replay
01:28 – Georgia News: Laurent Landi Officially Joins Cecile
01:53 – Joscelyn Roberson Transfers to Georgia
05:02 – Which WCC Gymnast Could Follow to Georgia?
07:42 – Konnor McClain's Post-NCAA Season Health Update
11:47 – Chuso at Tashkent & World Gymnastics Score Problems
13:11 – Japan's Worlds Team Heartbreak
15:09 – Worlds Qualification Rules & Rotterdam Tickets
17:00 – U.S. Pan Ams Team Announced
19:06 – Claire Pease's Cheng: Real or Not Yet?
20:42 – GymCastic Updates: Games, Referrals & Merch Sale
22:52 – Liverpool Gets 2030 Worlds
23:21 – Melanie de Jesus dos Santos Returns
25:33 – Melnikova's U.S. Gym Tour
26:14 – Chinese Nationals Beam Queen News
27:35 – Kidney Transplant Update & Sam Oldham Spy Database Follow-Up
30:15 – Goodbye to Regular Listeners / Club Gym Nerd BTS Begins
31:24 – Jessica's Graduation Trip to Boston
32:47 – Tufts Graduation Week & Boston Pops
33:57 – Baccalaureate, Jumbos & Tufts Civic Duty
36:17 – AI as a Weapon & Graduation Speeches
38:22 – Plane Seat Hell & Back Row Bathroom Life
40:43 – The Overmedicated Seatmate
42:45 – Cape Cod, Jaws & Great White Shark Warnings
45:59 – Provincetown, Mayflower Money & Gayborhood History
47:04 – The Giant Ship Inside the Library
47:42 – Airbnb Disaster: Wet Dog Smell, Mold & Mineral Deposits
50:54 – Eurovision, Sweden & Body-Part Grammar
54:12 – New Zealand Gymnastics Jail Explained
56:36 – Can College Gymnasts Train Year-Round?
58:42 – What Happens to Competition Equipment?
60:00 – EVO Gymnastics, Men's Training Centers & Funding
62:40 – Does Florida's Elite Focus Hurt NCAA Titles?
64:20 – Why WAG Needs an EVO-Style Model
65:03 – Resistance News & Legal Wins
67:02 – Wrap-Up, Sam Oldham Extended Interview & Memorial Day Sign-Off
RELATED
Sam Oldham Interivew - Jpanese gymnastics spy network 
Behind The Scenes - Fridays at noon pacific 

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Olympic bronze medalist Sam Oldham joins Jessica for a conversation about his personal Japanese Gymnastics Spy, mental health, ADHD, grace and letting coaches learn rather than be cancelled, sports science failures, NCAA gymnastics, and life after the 2012 Summer Olympics. From injury prevention and athlete autonomy to judging politics and storytelling in gymnastics media, this episode dives deep into how the sport is changing — and where it still falls short.
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GymCastic Live: Featuring Chae CampbellReplay tickets available → Get tickets here
SAM OLDHAM INTERVIEW
British gymnastics legend Sam Oldham is here, and yes, we're going to talk about everything from winning Great Britain's historic (first in 100 years) bronze medal at the London Olympics that changed everything for British Gymnastics, to the chaos, comedy, and emotional whiplash of elite gymnastics life. Sam brings the rare combination of competition accolades, deep gym nerd-student credentials, and the kind of honesty about athlete culture that makes you gasp-laugh and then immediately need a therapy session. We discuss the pressure cooker of British Gymnastics, his friendship and love for his coach, surviving weight-obsessed culture he swore he would never succumb to, and being followed by a Japanese gymnastics spy!
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CHAPTERS
00:00 – Intro & Why Sam Oldham's Story Matters  
02:15 – The Reality of Funding Men's Gymnastics  
06:40 – Building Relationships That Save Careers  
10:12 –  Live Show Replay & Club Gym Nerd Perks  
16:11 – Sam Oldham on Coaching Wisdom & Sergei's Influence  
22:45 – Why Gymnastics Breaks So Many Athletes  
28:33 – Neurodiversity, Burnout & Life After Elite Sports  
36:20 – The Pressure of Being "Perfect" as an Athlete  
44:08 – Mental Health, Identity & Retirement from Gymnastics  
52:14 – British Gymnastics Culture vs NCAA Energy  
01:01:32 – Training Through Pain & Learning to Fuel Properly  
01:08:45 – Eating Disorders, Fasting & Dangerous Training Culture  
01:15:24 – Has Gymnastics Culture Actually Changed?  
01:22:50 – Why Athletes Need Control of Their Own Narrative  
01:30:57 – Speaking Out Against Harmful Coaching  
01:33:44 – Cancel Culture, Grace & Learning in Coaching  
01:40:10 – Why Storytelling Changes Gymnastics Culture  
01:44:59 – The Japanese Gymnastics "Spy Network" Story  
01:48:18 – FIG Studying NCAA Gymnastics & the Future of Pro Leagues  

UP NEXT
Behind The Scenes Fridays at noon Pacific (next one May 22nd)
SUPPORT OUR WORK
Club Gym Nerd: Join Here
Merch: Shop Now
Games
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Newsletters
The Balance Beam Situation: Spencer's GIF Code of Points
Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim
Resistance Resources
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