GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

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 Achilles ruptures, competing without a permanent gym or coach, and why she believes British Gymnastics has finally begun to change. We also discuss the future of uneven bars, athlete autonomy, trauma-informed coaching, and the equipment issue Becky says is holding back bar specialists around the world.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Cold Open – "I Wasn't a Functioning Human"
00:25 Introduction: Becky Downie's Journey to Paris
05:27 Life After Paris: Retirement, Fibroids & Starting Again
08:08 Discovering the Fibroids That Changed Everything
14:42 Dating, Family & Wanting Children
15:27 Paris Olympics: New Coaches, New Team Dynamic
20:00 Trauma, Lilleshall & Recovering After Tokyo
31:19 Learning to Heal & Process Trauma
37:39 Training Without a Coach or Gym
40:12 Why LA 2028 Is Still the Goal
44:07 Sponsor: Huel
45:37 Body Maintenance, Strength Training & Supplements
51:30 Has British Gymnastics Really Changed?
54:22 Equipment Injustice: The Uneven Bars Problem
57:03 Why Gymnova Bars Need to Change
01:01:08 Two Achilles Ruptures & Learning to Trust Your Body
01:08:25 Athlete Autonomy & Speaking Up
01:11:17 Athlete Representation & The Future
01:12:34 The Book Becky Wants to Write
01:15:33 Looking Ahead to LA 2028
01:15:43 Update: Coach, New Gym & Commonwealth Games Decision
GET MORE FROM GYMCASTIC
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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 Ferrari revolution and today's powerhouse led by Alice D'Amato and Manila Esposito. We explore the forgotten pioneers, iconic eponymous skills, the dominance of Jury Chechi on rings, the 2019 breakthrough World medal, the unforgettable Paris Olympics, and whether Italy has what it takes to defeat Team USA during the Los Angeles quad. Along the way we revisit Vanessa Ferrari's controversial Olympic floor finals, the MTV series that made Italian gymnasts celebrities, and the innovations that changed the Code of Points forever.
CHAPTERS
00:00 The History of Italian Gymnastics
01:40 Why Italy Is a Gymnastics Superpower Today
06:40 Italy's First Olympic Champions & Circus Origins
12:58 Which Gymnastics Cities Would Win Olympic Gold?
17:05 Italy's First Women's Olympic Medal
19:00 Laura Micheli: The Lady of the Rings
23:05 The Rome Olympics at the Baths of Caracalla
26:26 The Sexism Era & Why Italy Stopped Winning
29:50 Jury Chechi & The Return of Italian Dominance
33:05 Italy's Most Innovative Skills
38:03 Italian Skills Still in the Code of Points
44:35 GymCastic Updates & Community News
46:16 The Ferrari Revolution Begins
50:34 Vanessa Ferrari Wins the 2006 World Title
56:10 Should Ferrari Have Medaled in 2012 & 2016?
01:01:00 Did Vanessa Ferrari Deserve Olympic Gold in Tokyo?
01:07:10 MTV's Italian Gymnastics Reality Show
01:14:35 The Next Generation: 2019 World Bronze
01:19:40 Nicola Bartolini & Italy's Men's Revival
01:22:48 Paris 2024: Team Silver & Beam Gold
01:28:59 Can Italy Beat Team USA?


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Welcome to Behind the Scenes! Every Friday, Club Gym Nerd members join us live for our unfiltered Q&A, breaking gymnastics news, behind-the-scenes stories, hot takes, and all the conversations that don't fit into the main show. This public episode is just a preview—the full conversation continues after 37:07 with our extended discussion, listener questions, NCAA rule changes, Asian Championships, the new GymCastic Roster Lab with special guest, Scott Bregman (Spencer is on vacation). 
Support independent gymnastics journalism and unlock the full episode every week by joining Club Gym Nerd: https://gymcastic.com/club/ 
CHAPTERS
00:00 Katelyn Ohashi Is Back!
01:18 Why This Comeback Is Such a Big Deal
03:00 How Katelyn Ohashi Changed Gymnastics Coverage Forever
05:29 The Biggest Challenge Facing Her Return
08:01 Why Veteran Gymnasts Have an Advantage
10:35 Do Specialists Still Have a Chance?
13:06 Pan Am Dengue Fever & Why Team Depth Matters
13:55 Should NCAA Stars Represent Other Countries?
17:24 Can Ohashi (or Riley McCusker) Make Team USA?
19:42 NEW! GymCastic Roster Lab Preview
23:24 USA Championships Preview
26:12 Is FlipNow Worth It?
28:05 What Happened to USA Gymnastics Live Scores?
37:07  Behind the Scenes Continues for Club Gym Nerd Members
NCAA's New Five-Year Eligibility Rule Explained
How the Rule Changes Recruiting & Scholarships
Will Fifth-Year Athletes Change College Gymnastics?
Asian Championships & New World Qualifiers
Home HPV Tests & Skipping Pap Smear a Cautionary Tale
Fact Check: Riley McCusker & NCAA Bars Title
Simone vs. Rebeca Vault Debate
Are Back Walkovers Actually Bad for Your Back?
Which NCAA & Elite Stars Could Return?
More NCAA Comeback Predictions
Listener Questions
Disclosure Day Movie Debate
WATCH
Jade Carey and Ohashi at American Classic in Minnesota on USAG's FlipTv
Rhythmic, Tumbling, Trampoline and Acro Championships (USA Gymnastics Championships) in Tulsa on USAG YouTube
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Rebeca Andrade is back—and people are confused...did she come out with her girlfriend or not? We break down Andrade's long-awaited return at the 2026 Pan American Championships, Claire Pease's all-around title, the controversial one-point vault run deduction that cost Charleigh Bullock gold, and why the mixed MAG/WAG competition format deserves a bigger stage. We also discuss the latest U.S. team injury updates, World Championship qualification, and how to get out of pap smears for life!

This is the weekly Behind The Scenes Q&A show, where we answer 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). Tip: After logging in, refresh this page and the extended episode player will appear below. Not a member? Join here.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome / Rebeca Andrade Returns
01:56 Monday Update: People are confused, did Andrade come out or not?
4:10 Event finals recap
06:15 Rebeca's comeback: Why she already looks ready for Worlds
11:14 Claire Pease wins the Pan American all-around title
12:34 Charleigh Bullock's controversial one-point vault deduction
15:35 Pan American Championships qualify teams to Worlds
22:03 U.S. injury updates: Hezly Rivera & Lila Richardson
26:13 Thais Fidelis, Hillary Heron & other Pan Am standouts
28:50 Men's World Championship qualifiers & Canada's historic finish
31:07 Mixed MAG/WAG competition: Should more meets use this format?
36:41 Why Rebeca Andrade was allowed to warm up floor
40:59 Members-only Behind the Scenes begins
Club Gym Nerd Extended BTS - for the full episode Join here
40:59 Updated cervical cancer screening guidelines & HPV testing
44:23 Nastia's famous "butt shelf" beam choreography
50:38 Becoming a Gym Nerd: Listener story
52:06 Simone Biles inspires contemporary art
53:26 Should gymnastics allow lyrics in floor music?
1:00:00 Pokémon GO privacy & app permissions
1:02:22 Rebeca Andrade vs. Simone Biles: Who has the greatest Cheng?
1:09:15 Modern Pentathlon, obstacle racing & Olympic oddities
1:14:42 Resistance Corner
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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
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