GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

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 titles, Jade Carey's upgrades, Nationals qualification, the biggest breakout performances, and historic gay TV moment. 
We also discuss NBC's broadcast, routine construction, Nationals qualifying procedures, and answer Club Gym Nerd questions.
This is our live Q&A show, where we answer your questions. Here's how to ask questions live. Can't make it live? Add Club bonus episodes to your favorite podcast player (instructions here). For the extended episode  log in, refresh this page and the extended player for Club Members will appear below. Not a member? Join here.
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Historic Moment in Gay Gymnastics History
01:31 – Jade Carey Takes the Long View
03:11 – Reese Esponda's Bars, Beam and Winning Floor
05:41 – Katelyn Ohashi's Successful Elite Return
06:23 – Ohashi's Beam Inquiry and Qualification Score
08:45 – The Meet's Real Winner: Smart Routine Construction
10:09 – Why Ohashi's Comeback Is Already a Huge Success
13:07 – Could Ohashi Be Invited to Nationals?
15:53 – Skye Blakely Wins Bars and Beam
16:42 – Ally Damelio's Seitz
17:20 – Were the U.S. Classic Scores Too Generous?
19:12 – Leanne Wong's Smarter Beam Composition
22:53 – BONUS FOR CLUB MEMBERS BEGINS
To listen to the full episode login or join Club Gym Nerd for the extended Behind The Scenes episode every Friday: https://gymcastic.com/club/
23:53 – Why Katelyn Ohashi and Laurie Hernandez + Jade Made Jessica Cry
26:48 – Breakout Stars: Zoey Molomo and Isabella Anzola
31:50 – Building a World Team From the U.S. Classic
33:31 – How to Watch Peacock and the International Feed Together
34:29 – Jade Carey's Full-Twisting Double Layout Technique
36:50 – Do World Team Members Have to Be Top-Five All-Arounders?
37:10 – Should Jade Carey Increase Her Bars Difficulty?
42:02 – Charleigh Bullock's Compelling Bars Score
42:28 – Izzy Stassi's Elite Potential at Oklahoma
44:30 – Is the U.S. Currently a World-Gold Team?
45:32 – Tom Forster and the Selection Committee
49:10 – Why USAG Needs a Single-Event Qualifying Score
51:02 – Suni Lee and the Case for Specialist Qualification
52:25 – Should Katelyn Ohashi Petition to Nationals?
1:00:35 – Gymnasts Still Planning Elite Comebacks
1:03:12 – Shilese Jones' Comeback Status
1:03:30 – The Broadcast's Skye Blakely Resilience Narrative
1:08:48 – The Absurdity of Mandatory "Dry Seasons"
1:09:49 – What Does "No Partying" Actually Mean?
1:10:14 – Jessica Disappears to Dance in the Street
1:10:57 – Is LSU's Injury Management a Problem?
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.
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GYMCASTIC TOOLS, GAMES AND RESOURCES
GymCastic tools: LA 2028 Roster Lab, Elite Score Explorer and the International Gymnastics Calendar
GymCastic Games
GymCastic Newsletters
The Balance Beam Situation: Spencer's GIF Code of Points
Gymnastics History: Gymnastics history and Code of Points archive from Uncle Tim
Resistance Resources

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 Carey looked every bit the World Team favorite, and Spencer and Jessica break down everything they saw during senior women's podium training. Plus: behind-the-scenes stories, hot mic moments, start values, fantasy picks, and an extended Club Gym Nerd Q&A. 
For the full episode login or join Club Gym Nerd. 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.

Before competition begins, build your team for the 2026 U.S. Classic Fantasy Game. Lineups lock Saturday at 6:45 p.m. Eastern.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome, Hot Mics & US Classic Podium Training
00:52 Suni Lee Officially Announces Her Comeback
03:08 Should Single Event Specialists Have a Pathway to Championships?
06:28 Katelyn Ohashi's Upgraded Floor Routine
10:00 Katelyn Ohashi's Beam Changes & Strategy
14:00 Lost Luggage, AARP & Elite Warm-Up Rituals
15:10 Skye Blakely's Beam Upgrade
17:22 Leanne Wong's New Beam Composition
21:15 Beam Connection Bonus Explained
21:56 More Leanne Wong Routine Nerding
23:01 Fantasy Game, Elite Score Explorer & Roster Lab Updates
24:55 Store Sale, Referral Program & Bluesky Groups
BONUS FOR CLUB MEMBERS BEGINS
To listen to the full episode login or join Club Gym Nerd for the extended Behind The Scenes episode every Friday: https://gymcastic.com/club/
25:00 Beam Bonus Bungle Story
26:28 Final Thoughts on Leanne's Beam
28:59 Jade Carey Wins Podium Training
30:02 Jade's Upgrades & Event-by-Event Review
31:55 Izzy Stasi's Oklahoma Era & New Choreography
34:10 Zoe Molomo, Simone Rose & Dulcy Caylor Notes
36:45 Comedy Awards, Hot Mic Moments & Withdrawals
37:08 Club Gym Nerd Q&A Begins
38:00 Single-Event Qualification to Nationals Debate
43:02 Should Nationals Matter More Than Worlds Selection?
50:58 Who Was Terrible at Compulsories?
53:31 The Most Memorable Compulsory Disasters
56:40 Are Olympic Comebacks About Passion or Business?
01:01:39 Spencer's Dream Suni Lee Bars Routine
01:05:08 The Perfect Acting Role for Laurie Hernandez
01:05:58 Is Elite Gymnastics Inherently Bad for Kids?
01:08:43 Can You Reach Elite Without Early Specialization?

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, Elite Score Explorer and the International Gymnastics Calendar
GymCastic Games
GymCastic Newsletters
The Balance Beam Situation: Spencer's GIF Code of Points
Gymnastics History: Gymnastics history and Code of Points archive from Uncle Tim
Resistance Resources

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 discuss:
• Katelyn Ohashi's return to elite gymnastics at age 29 and what she needs to qualify for U.S. Championships
• Skye Blakely's first elite all-around competition since 2024
• Jade Carey's return after nearly a year away from competition
• Leanne Wong's first meet since winning World all-around silver
• Reese Esponda, Dulcy Caylor, Charleigh Bullock, Simone Rose and other gymnasts to watch
• Laurie Hernandez's official official coming out
• Shilese Jones calls out USA Gymnastics leadership
• Romania updates
• Tiana Sumanasekera will represent Sri Lanka
• Qatar's recruiting of young French gymnasts
• NCAA eligibility changes
• World Championships qualification updates
HOW TO WATCH THE 2026 U.S. CLASSIC
Friday, July 17 -Senior Women's Podium Training – 2:00 p.m. ET on FlipNow
Saturday, July 18 - Jr– 2:00 p.m. ET, Senior Women – 7:00 p.m. ET on Peacock/NBC
GYMCASTIC LIVE FROM CLASSIC IN HARTFORD
Friday after podium training (approximately 4:30 p.m. ET)
Saturday after the senior women's competition (approximately 9:30 p.m. ET)
Play the 2026 U.S. Classic Fantasy Game
SUPPORT OUR WORK
Club Gym Nerd: - https://gymcastic.com/club/
Shop GymCastic Merch: - https://store.gymcastic.com/
CHAPTERS
04:35 U.S. Classic: Qualification Scores & What's at Stake 06:26 Katelyn Ohashi's Elite Comeback 13:13 Should There Be an Ohashi Wild Card? 17:22 Skye Blakely on vault plan and Nemour 20:37 Leanne Wong Revenge  Era 23:23 Jade Carey's Return Plan 26:46 Who to watch at U.S. Classic 31:04 Gymternet News 31:22 Laurie Hernandez Officially Comes Out 34:34 The "Unfinished Business" Comeback Narrative 37:48 Romania Drama Update 40:14 Philippines Federation & Levi Jung-Ruivivar 43:56 Qatar Recruiting French Gymnasts 46:19 Doping Ban & Coach Arrest 47:20 Russia, Belarus & Olympic Eligibility 49:06 Shilese Jones Speaks Out About USA Gymnastics 49:40 NCAA Adopts New Eligibility Rules
GYMCASTIC TOOLS
LA 2028 Roster Lab
Elite Score Explorer
International Gymnastics Calendar
Games
Newsletters
The Balance Beam Situation
Gymnastics History & Code of Points Archive
Resistance Resources

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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https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJwVDDnyD6Ig
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SUPPORT 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?


UP NEXT
Behind The Scenes Fridays at noon Pacific (no BTS on July 4th but enjoy the entire archive!)
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NEW! GymCastic Tools
LA 2028 Roster Labj

Elite Score Explorer

International Gymnastics Calendar


Games 
Newsletters
The Balance Beam Situation: Spencer's GIF Code of Points
Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim
Resistance Resources