I need to stop looking up gymnastics right before I go to bed.
I guess what we saw Nastia do on bars was in our imagination and this is exactly why I hate the every 4 year media.
I expect better of the Los Angelos Times.
“Memmel did one thing at U.S. Classics two weeks ago and she ranked last,” Karolyi said. “It is totally different with Nastia. She ranked on balance beam, and I know what she is working for on bars. Nastia’s situation is much different than Chellsie’s.”
How is it different? She missed 3 of 4 routines and you overscored her to keep her in the meet.
Karolyi also said she is willing to give defending Olympic all-around champion Liukin an additional two weeks to finish preparing her uneven-bar routine and to polish her beam routine, the only two events in which Liukin plans to compete at the Olympic trials and at the Olympics, should she make the team.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOkay
Kyla you need to clean up but Nastia, don’t have a dismount to a routine you don’t get credit for. That’s okay oh and Kyla, No Amanar for you but you need to hit it.
Lets not pretend you care about anyones safety Marta. You were afraid your judges would mess up like they did on night one and give Kyla a better score then Gabby like on bars. Notice Kyla didn’t score as well on night two but Gabby went up 4 tenths.
I am going to bed.
Am I the only one offended that Marta actually thinks her excuse makes sense?
Tags: marta karolyi
Gymtruthteller's Blog 
June 12, 2012 at 3:01 AM |
My blood pressure just went up about 50 points.
June 12, 2012 at 3:01 AM |
So did mine and tomorrow I need to get up early.
June 12, 2012 at 3:05 AM |
I think that just made my migraine worse! How is it different? And if she would have let Chellsie show bars instead of telling her to only do beam then she would have probably blown Nastia’s bars away but then again I’m sure Marta knew that and she couldn’t have Chellsie beating Nastia again!
June 12, 2012 at 3:10 AM |
I want China to win. I don;t even care who is on this team anymore. I just want Marta to fail
June 12, 2012 at 3:19 AM
Dear Russians, don’t count on a gold on bars cause Nastia is totally going to have an 8.0 bar routine ready so you might as well forget it now lol
June 12, 2012 at 3:20 AM
I kind of want Romania to win. I just want to see them stick it to the Karolyis. Although really I would like to see USA win but not with Nastia on the team and I’m kind of thinking that if they don’t win this Olympics Marta will finally get fired, like she should have been after 2004.
Also I don’t think Marta even believes her own lies. She just thinks the media and gymnastics fans are stupid enough to believe the crap she spews. She comes across as one of the most fake, dishonest people in interviews I think I’ve ever seen.
June 12, 2012 at 3:10 AM |
Personally, I don’t see the difference at all. The double standard is alive and well. I really feel for Chellsie . . . she should have been allowed to redeem herself (and would have) at VISAs. Totally unfair.
June 12, 2012 at 3:30 AM |
OHH god !! someone can get rid of martha .. she is everyday more annoying
June 12, 2012 at 3:36 AM |
Random gymnastics articles
June 12, 2012 at 3:41 AM |
I NEVER root against an athlete, but at this point, I’m 100% positive the fix is in for Gabby (how does an athlete wobble, grab the beam, jump off the apparatus and still score over a 14? HOW?) and I’m struggling with myself to not wish she totally headcases beam and floor at Trials and forces Martha to let Kyla compete AA with Jordyn and Aly in London.
And the situation with Chellsie? Nastia hit a routine at Classics that would never, ever be used in team finals, gets a pass to Nationals, shows 1 okay beam routine, 1 bad one and two bar routines that made Aly Raisman look like an UB specialist and she gets to go?
I’m not going to let my hatred of this game playing and politics ruin how I feel about these girls though. I love the fight we see from Jordyn in every single competition, Kyla Ross’s gymnastics is just flat out gorgeous, Aly might be the most consistent gymnast in the last decade which is astounding considering the level of difficulty she competes, Maroney’s vault is the most beautiful piece of gymnastics I’ve ever seen and Gabby’s obviously been through a lot of crap in and out of the gym to get to this point. I want them to go to London, kick some major ass and if I have to deal with Martha getting the credit for it, well then…I’ll mute the TV. 😉
June 12, 2012 at 2:34 PM |
Haha! Yes, bottom line is, I am rooting for these kids, well, most of them.
June 12, 2012 at 4:24 PM |
Exactly. At the end of the day I kind of feel like these will be the girls that will make it to London. I do think that Marta will put Nastia on as an alternate – even if half the team breaks their legs at the Olympics Marta won’t use an alternate – so the most Nastia will get is a nice “good-bye” to the sport (something Chellsie didn’t get, but there’s nothing we can do about it at this point, we’ve said our peace) and a replica medal.
The “other” part of me wants Team USA to not even make the podium and not even bring back medals AT ALL so finally SOMEONE can point a finger in Marta’s direction. No way should these girls be relying on their scores in domestic meets; they are all fake. I even feel bad for Aly because no way in hell will she come close to 60 points at the Olympics, even if she hits all of her routines. If they were marking Shawn down right and left for lack of toe point, flexibility, and grace in ’08 they will mark down Aly significantly. I love Aly – wish she had better form – but if I were Marta I’d be concerned. I wouldn’t want to use Aly for anything other than FX, and I wouldn’t want to use Maroney for anything other than vault. I also would be hiding under a blanket if Gabby goes up for beam. They all have such immense talent, and Marta is really going to give them one hell of a shock at the Olympics when Aly looks at her floor score and doesn’t see a near 9.0 execution.
June 12, 2012 at 3:55 AM |
Forget it Jake, it’s Chinatown!!!!
That’s my overall sentiments for Marta and the Olympic team selection process.
I’m coming out of my stupor about Gabby, and am seeing the overscoring and leniency she gets. Still pissed about Chellsie, and hoping that McKayla will pull through and get on the team coz that amanar and mustafina deserves a gold medal.
The thing I’m most astounded by is the blatant injustice of it all, and how we all know Marta is F’d up but no one could do anything to stop her! These are mostly underage girls who devoted their childhood and bodies to this sport, and to see it all being ruled by the wicked Marta is just sad.
The one lesson I took away from Visa’s – today I ran out, got the highest hooker boots I could find, the skimpiest dress that screams whore, piled on makeup, and threw my hair up Nastia style. Nastia may have failed to recruit me as one of her “hot pink” gas, but I’m all about her new endeavor into “hot trash”.
June 12, 2012 at 4:47 AM |
To somewhat hijack: surprising no one has mentioned the Nastia interview that was on CNN Sunday night. She actually said that Valeri wants her to go on after London, try one more World Championships. Hard telling if that’s what he really wants of if she’s throwing out a last-ditch attempt at relevancy. *shrugs*
Hello, by the way. I’m usually over at Sarah’s blog but since she’s AWOL I’ve been spending a lot of time here. *waves*
June 12, 2012 at 8:01 AM |
Good let Marta have Nastia continue on with that horrible non existent bar routine of hers. One of two things will happen…1)She will flop as she has been at Trials and embarass herself or 2) She will fly off the bar and break an arm, shoulder, leg, hip, neck, or something else and she’ll be forced out. She’s not in remotely in shape and it’s seriously laughable that in a few weeks a dramatic change will happen..
June 12, 2012 at 10:02 AM |
It’s time for a petition to get rid of Marta
June 12, 2012 at 12:32 PM |
At this point I hope Romania comes up from behind to take the team gold. If I even watch this crap anymore. Maybe I’ll start following college gymnastics.
June 12, 2012 at 12:39 PM |
As bad as I want Team USA to take team gold (I want it for Jordyn, Aly, McKayla, Alicia, etc etc) – IF they bring Nastia I hope she falls off bars and beam and end up in bronze or off the podium.
Can you imagine if they bring her, she’s not ready and she falls, how pissed the others will be? I can imagine John Geddert would be livid – and maybe that will contribute to bring tthe change USA Gym needs.
June 12, 2012 at 2:42 PM |
wow. I really want team USA to take Gold also, however, IF, Nastia makes the team (which I don’t think she will) I STILL want them to win. I want this for the USA and for all the girls. I’m rooting for whoever gets selected to the team. Will definitely NOT root against a single American in the Olympic games or hope ANYONE falls or fails.
I believe Nastia was invited to trials because her name is a BIG draw. They want a large audience to watch and one way to start getting the other girls’ names out there amongst the general public is for a lot of people to watch trials.
June 12, 2012 at 2:58 PM
I think in the end almost all of us who read and comment on this blog are going to be rooting for the US team no matter what even though we say we won’t at times because of Marta and the other shenanigans that go on at USA Gymnastics. It’s kind of like family — no matter how dysfunctional it may be and no matter how screwed up some of the members are you rally around them when they go against outsiders. I really don’t think anyone has to really worry about Nastia making the team though. Sending her to Trials is a publicity stunt to boost ratings at for Trials, plus I believe Marta delights in sticking the knife into Chellsie’s back even further. I do think there is some chance she will make Nastia an alternate – again a publicity stunt if it happens.
June 12, 2012 at 8:53 PM
Not me. I was rooting for China in 08.lol and I want China again.
June 12, 2012 at 3:06 PM
I just want Marta gone. I was telling my husband about it, and he was like “wow, I wouldn’t expect that from an open, democratic system as the USA”. It’s just that the “ideal” of sports in a big democracy as the USA should be clean and free of lobbying and back-room discussions. Enter the Karolyis and it’s back to communist Romania in terms of dirty politics.
Having said that, if they do bring Nastia and she falls, I will of course be devastated for the team, but the silver lining is that that can bring about change and get the Karoluis the heck outta there.
June 12, 2012 at 3:14 PM
Unfortunately I think Marta is with us for at least another four years no matter what. It is depressing.
June 12, 2012 at 3:20 PM
I dont think Marta is with us for another for years. I think she’s with us until she is no longer on this earth. There is no freaking way she is ever going to let USA gymnastics out of her tightly clenched fist. Everytime she says she might retire, I just roll my eyes.
June 12, 2012 at 3:29 PM
The problem is vampires don’t actually die, because they already are dead. We have got to find some wooden stakes and a mallet.
June 12, 2012 at 3:32 PM
Before the PC police jump on me, I was just joking with that last comment. I do not actually advocate driving a wooden stake through somebody’s heart!
June 12, 2012 at 4:26 PM
But that’s the only way to kill a vampire. Or, does anyone have any garlic?
June 12, 2012 at 4:44 PM
Hahaha no worries terrygymfan, you made me laugh 🙂 It’s just fun to be a bit un-PC sometimes!
June 12, 2012 at 12:40 PM |
I wonder if Chellsie could sue them? I doubt she would, but can you imagine Martha and co. being dragged into court?
June 12, 2012 at 1:01 PM |
I have got to stop reading Marta quotes just before going to bed. It gave me a nightmare. I was at work and was told I had a new boss. I went into her office to meet her and her chair was turned toward the window. The chair slowily turned around. It was Marta! Just like the final scene from Psycho – you know the one where they go into the basement and find Norman’s dead mother.
June 12, 2012 at 3:21 PM |
HAHAHAHAHAHA
that is hideous. and hilarious. and you need to stop reading things she says before bed.
June 12, 2012 at 2:55 PM |
Can some one explain to me why Kyla only got a 8.95 execution score on her bar routine night two? I saw one small leg separation, and a tiny hop on dismount, but other than that I really don’t get it…
June 12, 2012 at 3:05 PM |
So Gabby would win UB.
June 12, 2012 at 3:07 PM
Dead on.
June 12, 2012 at 3:17 PM |
Nah even worse than that…Anna Li’s UB blew everyone else’s away and should have won. Even though it’s not consistent and she won’t make a 5 person team, that routine deserved to win sunstantially over Gabby’s damnit.
June 12, 2012 at 3:21 PM
I didnt even see Anna Li’s bars at VISAS. I love how selective the camera can be.
June 12, 2012 at 4:30 PM |
It’s really stupid though. Whoever is the best at whatever they do should be rewarded. I love how the fact that Kyla BEAT Gabby’s UB score night 1 was kind of ignored and just swept under a rug.
It’s OK though I keep telling myself the Olympics will change EVERYTHING…because it will. 🙂
I mean, at worlds last year JORDYN’S bar score was higher than Gabby’s! Even on event finals! Hello?! While I do think Gabby deserves a spot on this team, it’s not like her bars are unbeatable. Very much the opposite.
I really hope Kyla hits at the Olympics and gets a well-deserved chance for that second AA spot. She’s been the most consistent gymnast (besides Aly and Jordyn, of course) and she’s beautiful on bars and beam. I hope she can get that vault around and FECKING upgrade her floor (although Marta won’t let her).
I swear, if I were her coach I’d be making her upgrade that floor over a year ago…
June 12, 2012 at 4:01 PM |
That’s because Jordyn was on floor at the time..which is understandable I suppose. No reason not to play it though instead of lingering shots of gymnasts standing around later- they did broadcast Maroney’s horriffic-looking fall after all. It is on USAG youtube though. It scored a 15.55 and deserved more if 15.85 was the winning standard.
June 12, 2012 at 4:31 PM |
I think even Bridget’s bars were underscored. Both times. They were beatiful, and much better than Nastia’s even without the dismount. Her lines are so pretty. I prefer her bars over Anna Li’s even. Anna barely ever hits anyways so she’s not going to be on this team. She’s headed towards Brossville where the Patterson lives.
June 12, 2012 at 7:03 PM
brossville where the patterson lives. I think McKayla Mannoying is headed there too… all I can think is Marsha Marsha Marsha… oh no my nose…. Something suddenly came up so I cant go out with you. I think Mannoying is the next lauren conrad
June 12, 2012 at 8:53 PM
Wow you mean NBC hasn’t already given the fifth spot to Nastia lol
June 12, 2012 at 4:35 PM |
I have to say – was Nastia “really” planning to leave out that dismount or was she just saying that to cover her sorry a$$ up? I thought the plan was to get through “an entire” bar routine! That includes a dismount! Even a double tuck or something you see in NCAA – anything but a single effing layout! I think that whole thing about her telling Marta she was taking out the dismount to preserve her shoulder was a big stupid lie. She’s probably not even that injured.
I can just imagine Chellsie coming home at the end of night 1 (and night 2) and screaming in a corner. It would give me enough motivation to just go for 2013 worlds and KILL EVERYONE (not literally – I mean, pull a Memmel and win it all).
All I gotta say is that I hope the tour fees you’re getting paid are worth it, Chellsie.
And I’m calling it now – Marta will give an Olympic alternate spot to Nastia as a going-away present.
June 12, 2012 at 8:49 PM |
She planned the dismount and gav e up on it, needed a back up excuse and used that. She trained the dismount. We all saw it so for her to say she didn’t have one is a lie
June 13, 2012 at 12:27 PM
She planned and trained the dismount…there was video of podium training where she did her dismount from ’08. If you are not in shape to do a full routine, own it, dont lie about it. She said in that Gymnastike video interview that she has been only doing sections of the routine…hasnt been training full sets. WTF sense does that make at this stage of the game? Oh, right, because you jumped on the comeback wagon just in time for Media Summits…not in time for endurance training…
June 13, 2012 at 3:31 PM
Yep, you said it!! This really is ridiculous! But, think how much more money the tour people will make off her if she is a contender, and not just a past Olympian…frankly, I would have thought she would be worth more having had a stellar career, and not have this as our final memory of her, but the marketing folks must know better
June 12, 2012 at 7:08 PM |
Here’s the thing though. Nastia would’ve qualified for Nationals had she competed like she did at Classics at Nationals. Her two event score was exactly a 56.00 and she would’ve needed at 28.00 (exactly half of that) to qualify to Nationals.
As much as I’m mad Chellsie’s petition wasn’t granted – Nastia did do better.
June 12, 2012 at 8:57 PM |
I don’t care what she would have done. All I care about is what she did do and she didn’t do anything.
June 12, 2012 at 9:21 PM
What did Marta mean when she kept saying she expected Nastia to “compete” a bar routine at Nationals. I thought that meant she had to perform a legitimate full routine even if mediocre, and skipping a legit dismount means she did not do that.
June 12, 2012 at 9:45 PM |
LOL yea that’s like saying “what if Chellsie scored what she did at LAST YEAR’S nationals”…she would have made it through.
I love how for Nastia it’s all of these excuses, all of these “could have’s” and “well she’s the reigning Oly champion” yet for Chellsie, who competed at full readiness JUST LAST YEAR, it’s just “she did not show readiness and did not get the required score, so she shouldn’t have been sent through.”
I mean l wish these people would listen to themselves sometimes.
And Terri, yeah she said something like “complete” or “compete” – either way she didn’t do it. I’m wondering why she didn’t even just do an NCAA dismount – a double tuck? If she’s not in shape to do that then what the eff is she doing on podium at nationals in the first place?!
I mean the whole thing is ludicrous. Karma where are you?
June 12, 2012 at 11:27 PM
Yeah, or “what if Chellsie was allowed to compete the floor she showed in podium training, she would’ve scored over a 14.0 and qualified for Nationals”
Just re-watched that. Pisses me off that someone who shows that caliber at podium training at Classics is not allowed, but Nastia who looked ready to faint after suffering through her sub-standard bar routine is given a trials ticket.
June 12, 2012 at 11:34 PM
Maybe I’ll be yelled at, but it kind of pisses me off that Chellsie just didn’t do the floor routine at Classics instead of beam. If she could do it in podium, why not? And she was falling on beam at podium, so I’m sure she kind of knew she’d fall at Classics just given the way training was going.
It irks me she and her dad trusted Marta when given all their experience with this sport, they should have known better. I know it’s easy to say after the fact, since I’m sure Chellsie figured her petition would be granted given her experience and her performance at last year’s nationals.
June 12, 2012 at 11:36 PM |
Gabby – After reading everyone’s comments about Gabby being overscored, I had to go back and watch the meet again. I think the Top 3 all had their share over overscores Gabby included. But to be fair, Gabby has good execution and high difficulty and I don’t think she was more overscored than Jordyn and Aly. In her defense, her splits on beam are bigger than Jordyn and Aly’s combined and other than her fall, her beam routine was pretty solid. And no way should Jordyn’s connections have been credited as they were. That said, I still would only use Gabby on Bars in TF (and Floor only if we have to).
Kyla – After the top three the scoring got really crazy… Price was underscored. Sloan bars definitely underscored. There were other underscores as well. And of course Nastia was the most blatantly OVERscored. Kyla was actually scored pretty fairly IMO (except beam was a little low) and due to her excellent execution she will likely score about the same internationally whereas the top 3 girls will score lower internationally. Marta is definitely taking Kyla unless she bombs at Trials which I do not see happening. And for the record Tim Daggett spoke highly of her both days and put her on his team on the board for those that say the commentators pick her apart.
McKayla – ITS OFFICIAL! MCKAYLA’S SPOT IS UP FOR GRABS! She cannot be used on anything but vault. There is nothing she can do to secure her spot except hope those nibbling at her feet can’t grab on (i.e. the total she adds to the team score with her 1 vault is not exceeded by the total another gymnast can add on one or more events).
Chellsie – I agree should have been sent to Visas…. Marta never wanted her to comeback because no matter how well she did at Visas or Trials, she has proven to be injury prone and Marta would not have taken the chance on her anyways. It was actually convenient for Marta that she bombed her beam routine at Classics so she could take her out of the running before she amazed us and Marta still left her off.
Nastia – Even if she hits a decent bar routine both days of Trials (big IF), that would not be enough to name her to a team when all of the other girls have proved themselves over and over. As others have said, Nastia is great for ratings so they had to send her to Trials and probably also name her as an alternate.
June 12, 2012 at 11:47 PM |
I have a feeling as well that if Nastia doesn’t make the team she will be an alternate but I hope they choose an AAer for the traveling alternate like Finnegan or Price
June 13, 2012 at 12:15 AM
I personally would not choose Finnegan because she doesn’t have a usable bar routine. The rest can move around to fill spots on vault, beam, floor but it looks like our team will only have 3 bar workers so if one of them is hurt…. the alternate needs to be able to do is Bars. I am all in for Price.
June 13, 2012 at 1:32 AM
I think most of the 08 girls will end up alternates although I would love to see Alicia get her floor back and get the FHS double on vault
June 13, 2012 at 1:06 PM
I agree! The FHS would out do McKayla and if she has her floor we do not need to use Gabby in TF! If Alicia makes it than I would consider taking Anna as the travelling alternate but thats me not Marta.
June 13, 2012 at 2:57 PM
Alicia’s floor may not have lots of difficulty but if she can do it cleanly like last year then it should score pretty well if she could get high 14s or low 15s on floor that would be good and as for the FHS Double it has a 7.2 start value and if she does it with the same form as her Rudi I could see her scoring in the high 16s
June 13, 2012 at 3:31 PM
I’d still be scared to use ASac on floor in TF only because at nationals last year she fell and couldn’t stay in bounds. I really hope we get to see her FHS Double before she retires though.
June 13, 2012 at 2:57 AM |
Is anybody reading Dom’s book yet? The description of training with the Karolyis is amazing. It confirms everything I suspected about them. They are horrible people. Only part of the way through.
June 13, 2012 at 3:12 AM |
Don’t believe everything she says. She would sell her soul for some publicity.
I have no plans to read the book, I am not putting money in her pocket but someone else online said there is no big secrets in the book having to do with gymnastics. They were bored.
Feel free to share what she said. Spoilers have no place on this blog.lol
June 13, 2012 at 3:45 AM
And Ohashi is training an Amanar? I’m afraid she’ll end up like Bross before 2016 I’m no gymnastics expert but it seems like Ohashi needs to have her training paced a little better
June 13, 2012 at 9:12 PM
She did a 5.0 start value vault night one. It think she did her DTY night two. He is going to kill her with that Amanar. This is so stupid her DTY has issues being twisted
June 13, 2012 at 4:24 AM
http://m.nbcdfw.com/nbcdfw/pm_108184/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=jIN6XXHn
June 13, 2012 at 4:59 AM
Are they delusional…
Bross would have done better to focus on floor and bars which is what is currently needed.
Unfortunately, she just doesn’t have that clean, crisp look on beam or bars (which marta calls the international look).
This is ok if you’re an all rounder like jordyn or aly (who don’t have gorgeous lines either) but not good enough if you’re a 2 event specialist on bars and beam.
And whats with her beam dismount, surely she can’t see herself being named to a highly competitive Olympic team when she can only land the damn thing 1/10 times!
Even Nastia does better on beam and she is not exactly great…
I have to say I admire Rebecca for persisting so long in elite gymnastics with a difficult body type (specifically her knock knees) which makes her more injury prone. I’m pretty sure Russia and Romania weed out gymnasts with less than perfect body types pretty early in the game
I hope she is still eligible for college gymnastics as she seems like a nice kid and could contribute well to a college team
June 13, 2012 at 5:23 AM
I think she went pro awhile back from what I’ve heard which is too bad because I think she would do well in college gymnastics
June 13, 2012 at 3:32 PM
I knew Bross was done the moment they said she was only doing bars and beam. USA could’ve used her floor more than her beam, especially since she refuses to let go of that dismount.
June 13, 2012 at 3:15 PM |
GTT – yes, it’s true that Moceanu enjoys fame, but I think it is also true that she had a very tough upbringing with her father and the Karolyis. We know that her father hired a hit man to killed her coach – that is fact. We know that she felt she needed to divorce herself from her dad. We also know that her mother was made by her father to get rid of their baby (Dom’s sister) with no legs – also fact. So if she says he beat her and only loved her for her gymnastics, why would I not believe that. And whatever she says about the Karolyis has been corroborated by all the gymnasts in “Little Girls in Pretty Boxes” as well as other books. Even Kerri Strug, who wrote glowingly about Bela in her autobiography (“Landing on My Feet”), said he could be pretty cruel and very tough.
So I do feel badly for Dominique and do plan to read her book. I think she has important things to say. So what if she likes publicity – yes, that makes her annoying at times, but her message is still powerful, don’t you think?
June 13, 2012 at 3:17 PM |
Here is my take on Dom’s book thus far. I downloaded it onto my Kindle last night and have only had about two hours to read it thus far. I agree that some of the parts are pretty boring, at least to me. There is a fairly lengthy part near the beginning giving the background of her family in Romania that I essentially skipped over. I also have pretty much skipped over the part about her sister since I already know the gist of it from the 20/20 piece. I intend to go back and read these parts later. Also, her description of her early training as a gymnast in Florida is pretty conventional and nothing new, although we do see what an incredibly near-psychopathic father she had. Her mother was very submissive and easily-intimidated so all-in-all it was the quintessential dysfunctional family.
Where the book gets interesting to me is when she starts training with the Karolyis at age nine. It confirms everything I know and suspect about the Karolyis. She doesn’t have one positive thing to say about either of them, and she trained with them for four or five years. They were both bullies. Bela had the ability to figure out a weak spot with every one of his gymnasts and would exploit it. With the non-immigrant gymnasts, he knew he could not physically beat them like he did in Romania so he relied mainly on verbal abuse and other intimidation tactics. With Dom, he knew he could actually physically abuse her, although he had to do it indirectly rather than directly. He would just call up Dom’s dad and say she was being lazy or not following instructions, and he knew the result would be Dom getting a thrashing that night.
Dom tells one incredible story about something that happened at the Karolyi Ranch in the summer of 1996 just before the Olympics. She was rooming with Kerri Strug when her dad burst into their cabin, grabbed her by the ear, and drug her over to Bela and Marta’s house. Bela and Marta had apparently discovered a stash of candy that was hidden in Dom’s teddy bear. Her dad berated her in front of her mom and the Karolyis and walloped her across the face while Bela and Marta stood there smugly like Mafia dons watching one of their thugs beat someone up.
Of course we have to take Dom’s word for it as to what went on in the Karolyis’ house. Her dad is dead and her mom is far too passive and easily-intimidated to talk. And of course the Karolyis are going to deny this happened if asked. But I believe it because it is 100% consistent with what so many other former Karolyi gymnasts have said about them, and the way we know Marta continues to act now. Dom may be prone to exaggeration but I think everything she says about the Karolyis is fundamentally true.
Except for the Karolyis and her dad, and to a more limited extent her mom, thus far Dom has not criticized many at all in her book. She has said nothing negative about any of the other gymnasts, and in fact praises most of them. She also has positive things to say about almost all of her coaches except the Karolyis. Also, she does not come across as a braggart or pretentious at all. If I based my opinion of her based on what I have read so far in her book, I would think she is actually very down to earth and likeable person. Now that is a part of this that I realize may not be the truth. I don’t have enough information about her at this point though to really form a judgment.
Oddly, there is nothing in her book thus far about any sexual thoughts on her part, thinking about boys, sexual tension between coaches and gymnasts, etc. That is in complete contrast to Jen Sey’s book where she seemed to have that subject on her mind every other minute. However, I’ve only gotten through the point just past the Olympics when she left the Karolyis. I think she had just turned 15 so there may be some of that in the latter parts of the book.
I fell asleep last night just as I was getting into the part of the book where her dad starts building a gym, takes all her money, hatches a murder plot, etc. I suspect I will not find all this as interesting since it really doesn’t involve gymnastics in general like the part about the Karolyis does. It is still probably worth the read though. I will give you my take on that part later if everybody is interested.
June 13, 2012 at 3:24 PM
Thanks for the summaries! Please keep them
Coming!
June 13, 2012 at 3:27 PM
And as for the Karolyis why am I not surprised! But of course USAG pretends not to know of any unacceptable behavior going on because they are all Karolyi puppets
June 13, 2012 at 3:30 PM
Wow, thank you for the great summary!! Can’t wait to read the books but the parts that bore you will probably bore me too – LOL. I am not sure I agree with you that the Karolyis would deny their abuse because remember when Dom went to the media in 2008 (when Jen Sey’s book came out) and said that Marta grabbed her by the neck and slammed her face to the phone – that whole bit? Well, Marta (and Bela) NEVER denied that. In fact Marta was quoted as saying it’s a shame that Dom “only remembers the difficult parts of training” or something like that. She DID NOT deny what Dom said. I think Dom is smart enough to know she could be sued if she said anything untrue. And after all, Joan Ryan was never sued either for all the crap she said about Bela in “Pretty Boxes” so that stuff must be true too.
June 13, 2012 at 3:33 PM
Thanks for sharing Terri – please keep it coming! I’m definitely not going to buy her book…
Where’s Aerial and her review of the SJ book? 🙂
June 13, 2012 at 4:15 PM
Gymsurfer, I probably should have said the Karolyis won’t admit their abuse. Their tactic when confronted with an allegation is to simply avoid the question and say something that doesn’t answer the allegation, and if necessary start talking incomprehensibly in a thick Romanian accent (especially Bela)!
June 13, 2012 at 4:44 PM
Ha ha, that is true Terri. Deny Deny Deny and then talk Romanian-English. They totally use their accent to their advantage, no question. Hilarious.
June 13, 2012 at 9:11 PM
Thanks for this. Now I don’t even have to skim through it at the book store.lol
What did she say about other gymnasts? I always got the impression she hated Shannon Miller.
June 13, 2012 at 9:23 PM
She said was amazed to see that Shannon cried a lot during practice before the 1996 Olympics, but Shannon was a steely and great competitor. She was amazed because the Karolyi gymnasts never would be allowed to cry. She said the fact Shannon could show emotion at practice but still succeed in competition showed you can have emotion. It was very complimentary.
She said good things about Keri Strug – mainly for providing her emotional support (like a big sister). Liked Dawe’s outgoing personality and gymnastic style. Complimented Jenny Thompson. Didn’t say much about Kim Zmeskal but didn’t criticize either.
June 13, 2012 at 9:50 PM
Shannon was injured in 1996. If you watch the 96 Nationals she was in tears because she had tendernitis in her arm and couldn’t even grasp the bar. It was so bad by the Olympics she did not tumble even in podium training.
Thanks for the answer
June 13, 2012 at 9:59 PM
This discussion makes me want to dig up her teenage autobiography at my parents’ house and then read them both to compare. Perhaps I’ll try that after exams are done and let you all know my conclusions 🙂
June 13, 2012 at 11:08 PM
I forgot she also complimented Amanda Borden. Said she was a great team leader and made everybody feel good.
She said the Karolyis kept her and Keri isolated from the other team members and would hardly let them eat.
June 13, 2012 at 11:14 PM
Bela is an idiot but Moceanu should blame her mother and father for this. They let this happen, knew about it and didn’t care and I don’t care how knocked down her mother was. NO WAY IN HELL would I let my child be mentally abused this way.
I also want to point out that Dominique only seems to be able to come up with one time she was hit by Marta. In no way should she be hit by anyone especially a non parent but a lot of this seems to be mental abuse and honestly it was mental abuse her father paid for. He is to blame for this mostly
June 13, 2012 at 11:39 PM
Dom does blame her father aa much as Bela and Marta. He was a psychopath.
Bela and Marta were too smart to hit the girls in the US. With Dom though they could just let her dad do it for them.
I agree entirely with you GTT that these parents bear a lot of the blame for allowing their kids to be subject to this abuse. It’s a cautionary tale for any parent that wants to get their daughter involved in elite gymnastics. Stayed involved, research the coach/gym carefully, but don’t interfere with legitimate coaching. The Don Peters/Doe Yamashiro situation is another cautionary tale. Do not just hand your daughter over to someone!
June 14, 2012 at 12:01 AM
What is the real situation with Don Peters. Did usa-gymnastics know he was abusing gymnasts but did nothing about it? I am thinking of writing a blog about that.
June 14, 2012 at 1:58 PM
Jennifer Sey said in her 2008 book that rumors were rampant at the Goodwill Games in 1986 that Peters and Yamashiro were having a fling, but then it turned out that Yamashiro told Sey about the relationship when they were roomates at Stanford in the late 80’s/early 90’s, so I don’t know true it is that “everybody suspected” something was going on at the time it happen (which if true would suggest USAGymnastics should have at least investigated Peters at the time). I am pretty sure Jennifer Sey thinks USAGymnastics turned a blind eye to this sort of thing in general, and probably the Peters case in particular, for years. LInda McNamara, another coach at SCATs, said she suspected Peters was having affairs with some of his gymnasts and confronted Peters about it in the early nineties. She says he admitted the affairs and promised to stop, and she didn’t tell anyone. Linda McNamara knowing about it though isn’t USAGymnastics knowing about it.
I do know that a lot of gymnasts who were at SCATs over the years did not know about his antics and were shocked when this came out last fall.
So I think it is very unclear based on what we know publicly whether USAGymnastics knew or should have at least suspected that Peters were engaging in inappropriate behavior and did nothing about it. USA Gymnastics banned him for life last November but I am sure its position is that they did not know about his misconduct until recently.
It is amazing to me though how little attention this has received in the media. There has not even been much discussion about it in the blogs. I think your starting a blog topic about it is a great idea.
June 13, 2012 at 3:23 PM |
I pre-ordered Dom’s book but haven’t gotten it yet. I aam currently reading Karolyi’s Feel No Fear and wow, if you didn’t know how he *really* is you’d think he was some great, loving papa-bear of a coach. That’s how he talks of his “kids” in the book. No mention whatsoever of his tough training or the fact that he has so many enemies in gymnastics and in the media. No defensiveness whatsoever. He really believes his own bullshit with all his heart and soul – what an ego.
June 13, 2012 at 4:07 PM
Feel No Fear made me want to vomit, especially the way he attacked Chelle Stack. It’s a pack of lies and was pure retribution against her for being one of the first to call him out for his abuse. A little bit like the Chelsie Memmel situation. Cross the Karolyis and there will be retribution.
Have you gotten to the part where he says he had no problem with girls going through puberty and putting on “five or ten pounds” because of it. Five or ten pounds? How many girls, even small and very thin girls, do you know who only put on five or ten pounds when they go through puberty? Even these elite gymnasts, with their almost non-existent body fat, put on 20-25 lbs when they go through puberty. That shows how delusional and out-of-touch Bela was, expecially with anything having to do with a teenage girl’s body. No wonder so many of his gymnasts wound up with eating disorders and recurrent injuries (to say nothing of the emotional problems he caused them). The real laugher is when he claims (in several pages actually) that he was a forward thinker on the issue of proper diet for the girls!
June 13, 2012 at 4:17 PM
What I still don’t understand is how they are so powerful and how they have kept their claim to women’s gymnastics. You’d think by now, with all of this evidence, that more people haven’t tried to stand up against this. I guess now that they no longer coach it’s just “forgotten” or shoved aside? If I were a coach that cared about my athlete, I’d want nothing to do with them or with Marta. Especially with this whole politics game of “if you cross me, I will shut you down” sort of thing.
I mean – who are they paying off here??? Makes no sense. Even the girls right now, they won’t be Marta’s favorites forever. Once she turns her attention away you’re done. Just ask Rebecca Bross. I really don’t understand how/why more people haven’t gotten involved against them.
I can see maybe Geddert having the guts when everything is played out with Jordyn, but the problem is – if she’s in charge for many more years and he brings another talented elite to the table, that gymnast will be blackballed just by means of association. That’s why Kim Zmeskal is probably not saying a word – if she does her future with USAG and her career basically would be over.
Maybe what it will take is a bunch of spurned gymnasts who don’t have anything to do with gymnastics once their careers are over.
June 13, 2012 at 4:23 PM
Yeah, I think you are absolutely right, but wouldn’t “spurned Gymnasts” simply be disregarded as bitter and vengeful? Like, “see? Those girls who couldn’t hack it…they are the only ones complaining” kind of thing…I am certain that if Memmel is ticked (and how could she not be) she is protecting her Dad’s future in USGymnastics, don’t you think?
June 13, 2012 at 4:28 PM
Yeah totally – Chellsie really is in a corner because her dad owns a gym and probably hopes for more elites to come his way. I think it will take a “non-spurned” gymnast to come forward…Kerri Strug would have been perfect but she obviously doesn’t want any negative energy coming her way.
Shawn Johnson would be great if she outed them. She only mentioned how in ’08 all of the selection camps completely exhausted everyone, so she thought it was a great idea that the Olympic team would be selected right after Trials.
It would be interesting though if she followed up her book with a sequel and discussed why she was left off of that ’11 Worlds team and maybe even discuss how that basically sent her a big message there was no way Marta was planning on taking her to the Olympics.
Speaking of Shawn, I saw somewhere that she was asked about a DWTS return and she responded that she would have to ask her doctor if she could dance, and that he specifically told her no more gymnastics. There has to be more to that story.
I think she’s holding out until after the Olympics…
June 13, 2012 at 4:39 PM
Yeah, now this is rather off topic, so let me know if I should remove, but, how do you guys feel about the selection committee including a gymnast (something i am comfortable with) but how about if that gymnast has only recently stopped competing? (i.e. Nastia being on the 2011 world team selection??). I think there should be a 10 year moratorium? Or perhaps just 8, for two Olympic cycles? That way, said gymnast has not competed with the current crop of girls. She might still have a bias toward her previous coach (or against him/her) but she could surely be more objective than a girl who is judging girls she knows so well, and either favors or wants to see fail (even subconsciously…LOL).
June 13, 2012 at 8:11 PM
I agree with you it would be much less of a conflict of interest if they waited two Olympic cycles like anyone on the selection commitee for London should have not completed since before the 04 games
June 13, 2012 at 4:46 PM
Sofia, you are absolutely right that gymnasts who complain are usually portrayed as “bitter,” “disgruntled,” “whiners,” “girls that couldn’t hack it.” Mary Lou said something to that effect back in the early 90s when all this about the Karolyis first started coming out. (I think she said, “You never hear the winners complain.”) I lost whatever little respect I had for Mary Lou when I read she said that because it is easy for her to take such a smug attitude when she lucked into her fame simply because she was at a boycotted Olympics on a home field. There is all sorts of pressure of gymnasts and former gymnasts not to be vocal about this. Say what you want about Dom but she does have guts.
June 13, 2012 at 5:04 PM
Ha ha!! I was referring to the exact same quote from Mary Lou in another statement!! And, smug is right! She is a mother now…you would think she would have a little sensitivity to the kids competing now. I know that certain aspects of the sport have to be tough by definition…it is a tough sport, but verbal and physical abuse… really?? Some coaches seem to manage not to cross that line.
I agree Dom has guts!!!
June 13, 2012 at 8:58 PM
Does she have guts or is she a fame whore willing to sell her soul for publicity?
Marta is a witch and she holds grudges. She has never forgiven Shannon Miller for beating Zmeskal and she gave that tenth medal to Alicia to make sure Shannon lost the record for most world medals and someone else said to me she is bitter about Chellsie Memmel because she beat Nastia during her coming out party in 05 and that is why she screwed Chellsie the first chance she got.
(She tried to screw Chellsie in 03 by not putting her on the world team and sending her to Pan ams for having the nerve to do well and not be one of her chosen ones but everyone got hurt and she had no choice but to send her to worlds.
June 13, 2012 at 9:21 PM
Marta probably hates pretty much anyone who beats Nastia (Chellsie,Shawn) or any of her other favorites she probably really doesn’t like Jordyn but she doesn’t have much of a choice right now but I wouldn’t be surprised if she screws over Jordyn first chance she gets
June 13, 2012 at 9:38 PM
Conspiracy theory time:
I am pretty sure Marta tortured Shawn at the selection camps after trials to make sure she was too tired to beat Nastia did Shawn say that when they got to camp there names had been removed from the team and they were told to compete like everyone else for a spot?
Also maybe it actually isn’t Valeri’s idea to keep Becca’s Patterson maybe it’s Marta telling her she needs it to make the team?
Maybe Shawns knee wasn’t really that bad but Marta and Nastia told her no way retire now?
Marta will try to torture Jordyn at camp after trials so that Gabby can have a chance to beat her
Wonder who is going to be on Marta’s bad side next quad?
June 13, 2012 at 9:51 PM
I think Shawn realized after the camp before worlds where she was hitting and not named to the team that Marta didn’t want her there.
June 13, 2012 at 4:46 PM
Totally agree with you Sofia. But then again – it probably doesn’t matter at the end of the day who’s on the selection committee because it all ends up being what Marta wants.
June 13, 2012 at 5:05 PM
Yeah, so true!!
June 13, 2012 at 4:55 PM
WOW Mary Lou had the balls to say that?! She should know better – in my mind she doesn’t deserve to be considered an Olympic AA champ. She wouldn’t have won had it not been boycotted. She was only a “darling” because she had a great smile. And her vault did not deserve a perfect 10 if Shannon’s vault in ’92 didn’t get that score (and Shannon landed without bending her knees).
As for winners not complaining? I think Dom has a bonafide gold medal at least!
Didn’t Courtney McCool lash out too at one point? She’s not a “loser” in the sense…
June 13, 2012 at 4:41 PM |
Yup Terri, I read the whole book. Totally agree that he is full of it when it comes to weight. The book made me want to vomit too. Did you read Nadia Comaneci’s book “Letters to A Young Gymnast”? I actually really liked it although I also think she has a very black and white, communist mindset like Bela. However her strength of character amazes me. You have to read the parts in which she sticks up for Bela and also when she says she doesn’t believe kids have any pressure (seriously??!)
Sanity – the Karolyis haven’t been outed because they produce medals. As Joan Ryan says, “do we want our kids to win or do we want our kids to stay healthy?” Although it is quite obvious that we CAN and DO win with coaches other than Karolyis, USAG still obviously believes that it’s Bela and Marta’s leadership that produced World and Olympic gold. And that’s all they really care about – gold, which means more money for them. They could care less about abuse and anorexia.
June 13, 2012 at 4:51 PM |
Yeah I can see that – which is why the “bad” part of me hopes USA does not get any medals in London. I know, awful – but long-term it would be best for the sport if the Karyolis were not part of it.
Even though US is highly favored this year, it “could” happen. Romania/Russia get gold and silver, and US/China would battle for bronze. I don’t see Weiber (although I love her) winning that AA title unless someone from Russia truly effs up.
As for apparatus event finals, the only chance of someone from the US winning gold there is Maroney on vault. The judges will deduct the crap out of Aly on her form issues for floor. As for bars (China, Tweddle, or Russia) and beam (Romania, China, Russia)…don’t see a US girl getting gold there, either. Although it would be cool to see Kyla surprise everyone.
June 13, 2012 at 4:59 PM |
Totally got the same vibe from Nadia’s book, she is a survivor, and shows real strength of character, to me. But, sadly, I remember both Mary Lou and Nadia, in separate interviews, saying something to the effect that “the champions never complain”…as if the girls that didn’t win only snark because they didn’t win, not because they have legit complaints. I found that disappointing.
I do think that having a central training facility has improved things and been responsible for a lot of the success of the American team. It seems that the girls bond more and function as a team better, due to participating in the camps. Beyond that, whatever the Karolys have accomplished is far out weighed by the harm they have done. Centralizing can be Marta’s legacy….if she retires, someone else can carry that aspect on whilst overhauling other aspects to improve things for the athletes…surely?.
June 13, 2012 at 6:41 PM
Sofia, I think I said somewhere on this blog that I actually do think establishment of the semi-centralized training system was a good idea. Not only does it help increase team unity and bonding, I think it discourages the idea that you have to sign up with only two or three “politically-connected” coaches/gyms to have a chance at making the Olympic team. Ironically, that was one of the problems with what happened down at the Karolyi Gym – these girls and their families literally felt trapped – and therefore became subject to the Karolyis’ power and abuse — because they feared being told to leave by the Karlolyis (and forfeiting their chances of making the Olympics) as much as they dreaded staying. No single individual coach or gym has anywhere near that power today. Marta exercises it on a national basis but at least she doesn’t have the direct daily influence/power over the lives of girls like she and Bela had in the eighties and nineties.
I even said that the Karolyi Ranch is a good National Training Facility. It’s too bad it comes with Marta attached.
I don’t have an issue with former Karolyi girls who have a different view/opinion of the Karolyis or just want to keep their mouth shut. That’s their prerogative and I’m sure if the opinions are different they are honestly held. I just didn’t like Mary Lou’s snotty attack on the character of the girls who voiced criticisim. I’m more forgiving of Nadia for her comment because all-in-all I like her and respect her more as a gymnast. LOL I need to read her book.
June 13, 2012 at 8:25 PM
I don’t think the camps are a bad idea but I don’t think they need to be forced into competition mode at every single camp I think that it should be like their more like their normal training and then have camp competitions every so often and with selection for meets
June 13, 2012 at 11:17 PM
I think the central training is a great concept but I agree – take out the national coordinator thing. Or at least diminish their control. It’s not suitable. Most team sports do have national training centers but I don’t believe they have this type of “Marta” persona running the whole entire program.
Women’s gymnastics should be ran similar to men’s gymnastics, no?
June 13, 2012 at 6:51 PM |
Right there with you, terrigymfan!! I am new to the blog, so there will probably be a lot of my comments about which people will think, um, said that already! LOL But, it sure is fun to discuss all of this with you all! Yeah, don’t know quite what to make of Mary Lou…, and yeah, I agree, Nadia seems above reproach.
June 13, 2012 at 8:45 PM |
I’m pretty new to this blog too Sofia. It really is fun discussing gymnastics with everyone. I almost feel like I am getting to know a lot of people personally. GTT does a great job (and puts in a lot of work) running this blog, plus she has a wickedly good sense of humor!
Regarding Nadia, it’s kind of like the way my husband, who is an avid golf fan, feels about Jack Nicklaus. Jack has made an obnoxious comment or two over time but he gets a free pass because hey, he’s Jack – the greatest!
June 13, 2012 at 9:18 PM |
Nadia did not deserve her 10. She took a step:)
June 14, 2012 at 1:52 PM |
GTT – In her book “Letter to A Young Gymnast”, Nadia says the same thing about her 10 – she wasn’t perfect, she took a step. That makes me like her more – that she doesn’t think she was ever *that* great.
June 13, 2012 at 9:02 PM |
Russia has at least one verified Amanar And are they really score that low or do the Russians believe in underscoring as apprised to Marta’s over scoring
June 13, 2012 at 11:53 PM |
Unfortunately it’s Paseka, who isn’t a frontrunner, more an alternate. It’s more important to see who of the top few have one. Musty may not as well bother, a clean DTY from her would score higher than a sloppy crappy-twisting barely around amanar. Komova doesn’t seem to have the power for one, could be wrong there. Grishina might, she didn’t compete- hope she’s better in time! Her FX is amazing.
The bar scores are really high- 16,134 Komova 15.834 Musty. Apparently there were numerous mistakes dragging other events down so difficult to see if it’s overscored or fair, especially as they do have unbelievable bars so it’s not an obvious inflation.
June 14, 2012 at 3:05 AM
Yeah if the Russians show up healthy the USA needs three workers on each event with 15+ I think Kyla and Gabby’s bars can get over 15 I think internationally Jordyn’s could get high 14s which could be made up for with Maroney’s Amanar if it scores high 15s or low 16s I think Kyla, Jordyn, and Aly are probably capable of getting low 15s or close to it on beam on vault Mckayla, Jordyn, and Aly/Kyla/Gabby could score over 15 on vault but on floor Jordyn and Aly could probably get low 15s or close to it but I don’t see anyone else’s floor scoring anywhere close to that unless Kyla upgrades and I don’t think Gabby’s routine would score that internationally or McKayla’s that is why it would be good if Alicia could get her floor back and get the upgraded vault
June 14, 2012 at 3:35 AM |
This is probably a bit of a conspiracy theory thought, but I felt like NBC over did it with “how much Marta loves Kyla” on Sunday. Does anyone think Marta would replace Kyla with Nastia? Because Marta is portrayed as “loving” Kyla,” this wouldn’t make it look like she was favoring Nastia but “doing what was best for the team.” I just didn’t buy how dramatic the announcers sounded. Or maybe she would name Nastia, Nastia gets “hurt” and Kyla gets to be her alternate? I’m new here and would like your thoughts. On another note, I think you hit the nail on the head with all your thoughts about Marta and Nastia – glad someone is calling a spade a spade.
June 14, 2012 at 4:38 AM |
It makes sense. My first thought was Marta must have told them that she likes Kyla and will be on the team so start talking her up.
Your conspiracy makes perfect sense to me and I would not put it past Marta.
June 14, 2012 at 3:35 PM
I hope your first thought is correct. I could so see Marta screwing Kyla. I’m so sick of what I’m seeing by Marta and USAG. I wish Chellsie would post some of what she had planned to do at Nationals on Youtube as a way to say “thank you” to her fans….it would be great if she could show a bar, beam, and floor routine that made Nastia and USAG look like crap. I realize she can’t be “aggressive” toward USAG for her dad’s sake and for fear it would make her look like a bad sport…but sometimes a little passive aggressiveness can make a HUGE statement…way for her to show up at Nationals and be professional. If she wants to be a judge, I hope she can be one w/out having to bow down to Marta…I imagine it will be hard. Oh, and I wonder if part of the reason Chellsie didn’t attend camps was to avoid Marta’s abuse. Her dad seems like a really loving, down to earth person, and I can’t see him standing back if Marta were mistreating his daughter. I’m sure with Nastia’s arrogance that she is gloating right now that Chellsie is out since Chellsie beat hear at World for the title..if Nastia goes to London I hope Marta hasn’t paid off the international judges and Nastia scores lowest on bars and beam…what a great last impression this would be!!
June 14, 2012 at 3:47 PM
I still don’t understand why Marta has a favorite in Nastia (even before she was a senior) over others…shouldn’t she just be in favor of winning, period?
She should have thanked Chellsie then for beating Nastia in ’05 …probably lit a fire under that girl’s a$$ since she obviously thought she was the best thing since sliced bread.
If Marta screws over Kyla, I hope she comes back from London medal-less. How many people would want to see that Kellogg’s tour of non-Olympic champions? I know it’s mean for the other girls, but it would probably force her retirement thus the future of gymnastics would be much more tolerable.
John Geddert seems very protective of Jordyn. I can’t help but hope something goes down and he has to out Marta. He came close to it last year when he was discussing how the selection process was entirely too exhausting and it should be changed. I can imagine if Jordyn had been injured and couldn’t compete at Worlds (say, if she was the one to go down instead of ASac), he would have pointed a finger at Marta. Jordyn’s his meal ticket, so…
June 14, 2012 at 4:13 PM
I hope he is protective of Jordyn. She may need it. If Marta doesn’t like Jordyn and Marta thinks she could pull it off w/out her, look out Jordyn. Otherwise, as long as Marta needs Jordyn, the ball is in her court. Jordyn went pro at the American Cup (I think); the spotlight this time around should have been Jordyn’s but Shawn, Nastia and Gabby are stealing the show. I wonder if she regrets that decision or if she’s doing ok w/ sponsors. I also wonder if Marta and Nastia’s dad have some ties (here is more conspiracy)..maybe her dad still has some pull on the international scene…seems like I remember some talk about Nastia’s family and all the friends they’d see at Worlds in 07. Nastia has such a strong presence in USAG and I don’t get it. How does someone name a competition after themselves and be on a selection committee over their peers? I didn’t used to believe all the talk about her arrogance, but that threw me over the edge. How does USAG think she is a good pr person for them…is it me or do most people not like her…what is it that she really gives USAG besides bad pr and drama?
June 14, 2012 at 4:50 PM
I don’t get it either – but if you look like on the USA Gym fb page, it seems to be just a big Nastia orgy in the comments section. Even after her botched bar routine “she did amazing! oh, what a talented athlete! Well of course she didn’t win because helloooooo she didn’t have as much time to prepare as the others awww pooor Nastia!”
June 14, 2012 at 6:24 PM
There’s this stupid b*tch named MaryMargaret Murphy or whatever on their FB page that I swear she works for them. She’s anti-Kyla (says her gymnastics is “not mature enough at this stage”…wha?) and she is all about defending Nastia “oh well we only saw what was on TV we don’t KNOW Nastia was just sulking in a corner by herself talking to nobody. For all we know she was running around congratulating everyone and high-fiving Gabby for beating her.”
And then she goes on about how Nastia was following the RULES so she “deserves” to go to Trials, whereas Chellsie was “obviously not displaying readiness to compete.”
Yet Nastia can’t even do a dismount yet and she’s ready? Gimme a break!
Fecking idiot, get a clue – she KILLS me.
June 14, 2012 at 7:16 PM
There are a lot of idiots on that facebook page. I stopped reading. It’s a waste of time. I am positive that USA-Gymnastics sends people to post on their page to make the negativity go away.
June 14, 2012 at 7:01 PM
Sanity – YEP seen that one, and she annoys me a lot. She’s probably Steve Penny’s wife haha.
That is why I love coming here – you guys know about gymnastics!
June 14, 2012 at 8:23 PM
This Mary lady also made a comment saying Kyla isn’t focused on the team aspect and doesn’t get along with the other girls, so she doesn’t know if Marta will take her. Now that makes sens (& is positive)! Kyla shouldn’t go b/c she’s not popular enough with the girls but beats Gabby at Pacfic Rims and Raisman in Italy?…but Nastia should go b/c…why was that again??…lol. I think this Mary lady is trying to imply Kyla isn’t good so it won’t look crazy if Marta picks Nastia over Kyla, which she wants. I feel sorry for all the other athletes…I’m sure the other girls know they need to be nice to Nastia since she’ll be deciding their fate when she’s back on the selection committee….totally ridiculous!
June 14, 2012 at 8:42 PM
Kyla got along with the girls betteat Nationals then Nastia did. She was seen talking to them several times. Nastia stayed by herself.
If Marta sent her lackey to write lies on the facebook page imagine what poor Kyla has to deal with to make this team.
June 14, 2012 at 9:00 PM
Yeah I have a feeling it’s really Marta and she’s disguising herself as this crazy Mary lady. Funny how she argues when people say they SAW Nastia not talking to anyone at Secrets and Classics (because they were THERE) and here she is saying “well that’s only what the TV showed, you don’t know the truth.”
Then she goes on and says that Kyla doesn’t get along with anyone. That’s so stupid. The TV at least showed Kyla cheering on Grace (I think that’s a WOGA girl) and she was also congratulating Jordyn, Aly, Gabby…she was also shown laughing with ASac of all people.
Kyla better make this team. She beats Aly/Gabby internationally (when Marta can’t control the judges) so that should speak for itself.
June 14, 2012 at 11:09 PM
Someone got banned on the page and now everyone is arguing about it. It’s too bad I can’t comment on what is going on.
June 14, 2012 at 11:11 PM
Let me guess someone said something Anti Nastia or Marta and the KGB had to shut them up
June 14, 2012 at 11:13 PM
From what I can gather someone called out usa-gymnastics for ignoring the abuse and this Mimi girl and Mary Margaret got her banned from the page.
June 14, 2012 at 11:32 PM
Of course USAG can’t be held responsible for anything their policy is if we don’t actually see it (or even if we do) then it must not be real
June 14, 2012 at 9:00 PM
I agree. It’s sickening & down right abusive. But we already know Marta is abusive, and no one who can do anything about it cares enough to do anything about it. Oh how I wish Shawn and Chellsie could stand together and out everyone…I can dream, right? But Chellsie’s poor dad and Chow would go down if the ship sank.
June 14, 2012 at 9:06 PM
@sanitynmotion…I had the same thought about Mary being Marta or Nastia’s mom. I’d find it really funny if it was b/c at least we’d know she’s hearing everything and some people don’t belief the garbage going on!
June 14, 2012 at 9:27 PM
Yeah the more I think about it, the more I feel like Shawn kind of just gave up after she didn’t make that last Worlds team and really got the hint that Marta wasn’t going to take her no matter how hard she worked. I still don’t understand that though because Shawn was REALLY good for USAG. She is the most recent gymnast to really make a splash on the bigger screen. I mean – I’ve asked many members of my family (who don’t follow gymnastics OR DWTS) and they know who Shawn is. They’ve never even heard of Nastia!
June 14, 2012 at 11:19 PM
Why can’t you comment? Were you the one banned? 🙂
Haha, the girl who got banned was Cecilia Moceanu. Not sure if she’s related to Dom – she didn’t look like she had any relation. She literally called people stupid to their face – I for one thought she was entertaining.
She was totally calling USAG out but also brought up the whole Peters thing I think. Or someone else brought up the Peters thing and now they are on the verge of getting banned.
June 14, 2012 at 11:37 PM
lol I have one facebook under my real name and I think I will keep it. My farm would die without me.lol
June 15, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Cecilia Moceanu got banned? 😦 She was one of the sanest people on there hahaha!
GTT, ditto about the farm lol.
June 15, 2012 at 12:08 AM
I love my farm. It’s the only reason facebook needs to exist:)
June 18, 2012 at 5:35 PM
I’ve had many a discussion with Mary Margaret on FB. I too believe that she is a USAG plant. I eventually stopped trying conversation because she doesn’t deal in facts. She writes like an entitled uppity beyotch so it could be anyone of them incognito. Haven’t been back in a while so for all I know, I could have been banned too.
June 18, 2012 at 5:38 PM
I love how everyone called her being a plant from the start. It’s pretty clear she is one.
June 18, 2012 at 5:47 PM
Yeah I couldn’t believe how this lady kept coming back with all of these stupid arguments..and it’s funny because no matter what time of day it is she’ll respond. And she always responds with stupid answers. I would feed her a fact (i.e., Nastia hasn’t been going to camps and never verified a bar routine), and she would either ignore it altogether or retaliate with something even more stupid like “were you there at camp?…so how would you know?” Yet somehow she would be “in the know” and not even consider she was being a hypocrite.
A lot of people have called her out that she works for USAG…it’s kind of funny.
June 14, 2012 at 5:13 AM |
Off topic I know but anyone tell me what happened to Anna Li at the world championships last year? I guess she was the alternate, but then when Alicia got hurt and left Martha didn’t add Anna to the team? Why not? And why was she on the podium getting a medal but then Alicia has 10 world medals?
June 14, 2012 at 7:02 AM |
You guys aren’t gonna forget Sarah’s birthday, are you?
June 14, 2012 at 11:43 AM |
To start with, hi to all of the regular posters. I have been reading this blog (and most of the comments) for a long time now and have never felt the need to post. Could someone please explain what is so bad about Gabby’s floor? I understand that her dance choreography is not good and neither is her music but her leaps (and landings at Visa’s) are amazing. I just want to know what I am missing as it must be something. Aly’s choreography is not good and her leaps aren’t the best either, do you all think that Gabby’s execution/choreography is worse than hers? Please do not take this comment as disagreeing with you all, I am just after an explanation of your thoughts. Thanks!
June 14, 2012 at 6:15 PM |
No one here that I can remember ever said they loved Aly’s floor routine. It’s good for her but overall we know about her dancing or lack there of.
Gabby’s music is horrid and IMO she has no rhythm or connection to the music. Her lack of rhythm especially bugs me.
June 14, 2012 at 6:21 PM |
I think Gabby’s floor would be much better with different music/choreo but overall she has the ability to score higher marks with her leaps and form. Aly has horrible form. She has mad tumbling but that’s it – and that’s why I was mad that they gave her like a 15.8 score at nationals because she will be lucky to even get a 14.8 at the Olympics. She will be lucky to get the second AA spot too because it’s guaranteed the highest score she’ll bring on bars is somewhere in the high-13/low-14…and with the Russians able to do near 15/16 on bars, she’s not going to be on that podium unless those Russians fall on beam and collapse on floor.
Gabby on the other hand would likely out-score Aly IF SHE HITS because of her form…even on beam, if she hits she would out-score Aly. If only you could take Aly’s ability to hit and combine it with Gabby’s gymnastics, you’d have one hell of an athlete right there.
June 15, 2012 at 12:21 AM |
NBC got it right:
“But there is only one vote that matters, and Raisman definitely has it.
“I really love to have this kind of gymnast,” Karolyi said. “She gives her heart.”
http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/gymnastics/raismans-steadiness-wins-her-favor-with-karolyi.html
June 16, 2012 at 3:27 PM |
Some of my thoughts:
1) Gabby’s recent blog post has made me despise her gymnastics even more. She obviously doesn’t realize she was blatantly overscored at Visas.
2) The Russian gymnasts did not look as strong as I thought they would be at the Russian Cup. Komova is much too tentative on beam to score well at the Olympics.
3) I can’t wait for Olympic Trials, although I just hope Gabby doesn’t win due to Marta’s influence with the judges.
My post-nationals/pre-Olympic trials prediction (assuming Maroney has recovered from her concussion):
Team: Jordyn, Aly, Gabby, McKayla, Kyla
VT: Aly, Jordyn, McKayla
BB: Kyla, Aly, Jordyn
UB: Jordyn, Gabby, Kyla
FX: McKayla, Jordyn, Aly
Alternates: Alicia, Sarah, Nastia
Would this be a high enough scoring team to take the gold? Any thoughts?
June 16, 2012 at 8:27 PM |
That is my team and pretty much everyones team. IMO Kyla deserves the right to do AA and if he ups the anti on floor Marta should let her do it in prelims. Marta had her head so far up Gabby Douglas ass she probably thinks that floor routine should be in team finals. Hopefully she will be for a rude awakening come London.
I have taken Nastia off my alternate list. She does deserve not it. We need AA’ers as reserves in case anyone goes down. Vault isn’t needed because if we have to Kyla’s DTY gets scores really well. So we need a back up bars and a back up beam. Mayb e with a decent floor.
June 16, 2012 at 8:45 PM
I think Price, Finnegan, Sloan, or Alicia would be good Alternates
June 16, 2012 at 8:56 PM
We need an UB back up (Price and Bridget) a beam back up (Finnegan and Sacramone) and a floor back up ( Finnegan, Sacramone and Price. Even Bridget in case of disaster) Vault is covered even if we have to use Kyla and her DTY which gets scored really well. I like your choices but we could also call on Bross.
June 16, 2012 at 9:14 PM
Only for UB though I wouldn’t trust her beam unless by some miracle she gets rid of the Patterson dismount
June 16, 2012 at 10:23 PM
I have a feeling Marta is going to put Gabby in FX team finals instead of Mckayla. and also let Gabby be the fourth on vault during prelims so she can try to qualify for AA finals.
June 16, 2012 at 10:32 PM
Yeah I think Kyla is getting screwed out of the AA for Gabby no matter what and I also have a feeling that she is getting that top spot at trials if Marta has her way
June 16, 2012 at 10:41 PM
If Mckayla is left off floor that means Kyla is in and I am okay with that but it won’t happen. Marta will make sure that Gabby gets the second AA spot even if she has to fix it to make it happen.
June 16, 2012 at 10:52 PM
In prelims is it 4 up 3 count? Cause if she didn’t use McKayla on floor in prelims then Marta woul probably screw Kyla on Vault cause then she’d use Jordyn, Aly, McKayla, and probably give Gabby the fourth vault cause McKayla would have to vault in prelims to qualify for vault event finals
June 16, 2012 at 11:27 PM
Craopla. There is no way Kyla is doing AA with that team
June 16, 2012 at 11:37 PM
The only way Kyla is doing the AA is if instead of McKayla they bring another AA with pretty much no chance of an individual event medal like maybe Bridget cause even though she has good bars she would still most likely be out scored by Kyla and Gabby and due to the two per country rule wouldn’t go to EF
June 16, 2012 at 11:45 PM
Why is Marta telling Kyla she needs to fix the Amanar if she isn’t planning on her doing AA? Maybe she will take out Aly. Yes I know.lol
June 17, 2012 at 12:25 AM
Yeah Aly is a Marta favorite but then again no one above being screwed by Marta
June 16, 2012 at 10:52 PM
I like GTT’s analysis for alternates. We did a backup for bars the most but I don’t see anybody out there so good that we would have an alternate specialist just for that. So we need solid group of alternates to give us max flexibility to cover our weaknesses in nars, beam, and vault, and the more AA’s the better. What if Jordyn were to get hurt for example. We are going to need a solid AA’r to replace her not just someone who can cover one or two events. If an injury happens you never know who it will be. That’s why it’s an absurdity to even consider Nastia since she is only mediocre at best on beam anymore and can’t even finish a bar routine. You can’t justify carrying her as an alternate just to back up beam. It would be just a publicity stunt to carey her as an alternate but I wouldn’t put it past Marta to do that.
June 16, 2012 at 11:06 PM
JAS4 – yes it’s 4 up 3 count in prelims. The way I see it Marta is going to put Gabby in all 4 events in prelims no matter what so Kyla eill not compete in vault and therefore is screwed out of competing in AA finals. So she may as well put Mckayla in for FX prelims instead of Kyla because its not going to make much difference. A lot will depend on who looks better at Trials and training camp.
June 16, 2012 at 11:30 PM
Yeah Marta is making sure Gabby gets a shot at the AA no matter what unless Gabby falls all over the place between now and the Olympics and even then Marta would probably still have her doing the AA
June 18, 2012 at 5:06 PM |
Wow soo many ppl feel Gabby doesn’t deserve a chance in the AA but Kyla does? I haven’t decided who it should be after Jordyn yet. I personally do not think Kyla OR Gabby have earned it (YET). I hope Kyla is 2nd at Trials! But I think we should wait until Trials before deciding who the spot(s) go to.
June 18, 2012 at 5:24 PM |
You know what I totally agree with you. That second AA spot should be “duked out” at some point…but I think it should be fought for on international soil since if we’re basing it on US scores than Marta will make sure Gabby has the second spot. She pays those judges off or something I swear.
I still don’t understand why Kyla won’t upgrade her floor. Based on that alone she doesn’t deserve it. It makes me angry. A 5.5?! Are you kidding me?! On the apparatus that has the lowest scores anyways…I can’t believe she had that low of a start value when she was a junior. Her coaches should be smarter because all it does is open the door for Marta to completely leave her off the team entirely. If they are listening to Marta they ARE STUPID. Sorry. She should have upgraded floor MONTHS ago.
Anyway – and Gabby should have changed her floor routine, but I digress. Out of everyone though I would think the most “pissed off” person is Aly. She was gunning for that second AA spot too and it was obvious at nationals Marta wants to leave her just out of reach for the sake of Gabby. Not that I don’t think Aly deserves it either – if she gets the second spot she won’t be able to get on podium unless other people have a major miss-hap and if she doesn’t screw up on bars like she did the last two times she went for the AA at an international competition.
June 18, 2012 at 5:40 PM
She has a 5.8 as a junior. That is why I think Marta is forcing this on her. She can also do a double front and a really good one. She needs to add that in and put back the two and a half. A double twist> Is this 1992?
June 18, 2012 at 5:44 PM
It’s just stupid – on her coaches part – I mean, WHO in their right mind would trust Marta??? I am not part of the gymnastics world and even I wouldn’t trust her…in fact if she told me or my athlete to not train a certain apparatus I’d do the OPPOSITE and have them train it even harder.
I read somewhere else that she indicated to Kyla’s coaches to push perfect execution and lower her start values…which is just plain ridiculous…I’m thinking she was doing this so she’d give herself “room” to allow Nastia in over Kyla. Hopefully now that she’s seen that Nastia can’t even perform a level 10 dismount on the one apparatus needed of her, she’ll tell Kyla to make that floor SV go up. But 5.8 as a junior needs to go up to at least 6.0 as a senior.
Kyla and her coaches are only shooting themselves in the foot.
June 18, 2012 at 5:48 PM
I would not be surprised to hear that Marta told Kyla, You can be on the team just do what I say and have her lower her start value. Kyla should have upgraded her UB dismount. The double is too easy for her. She could easily add a twist.
June 18, 2012 at 5:41 PM |
No one is saying that. I think they all deserve to duke it out in prelims and whoever gets the best AA score wins.