The Swiss Gymnastics Paradox
The unique arrangement of the Swiss program handicaps the careers of its gymnasts. Creating a paradox for its athletes in the process. Continue reading The Swiss Gymnastics Paradox
Month: December 2020
Swiss Gymnastics: A Long History of Overcoming Adversity
Two Olympic boycotts and a program that spent decades being neglected due to sexism, Switzerland had to overcome so much adversity before it could win an Olympic medal. Continue reading Swiss Gymnastics: A Long History of Overcoming Adversity
The Worst Olympic Qualification Model Ever Devised
The 1976 Olympic qualification process was so flawed, teams could easily cheat the system and FIG had to scrap it three months before the Olympics. Continue reading The Worst Olympic Qualification Model Ever Devised
Which American Cities Have Produced the Most Olympians?
Which region of the United States is a gymnastics power? I tracked the hometown of every Olympian born in the United States to find out. Continue reading Which American Cities Have Produced the Most Olympians?
The List of Every Olympian Born in the United States
These are the Olympic gymnasts who were born in the United States. Some competed under the American flag, many did not. Continue reading The List of Every Olympian Born in the United States
Which American States Have Produced the Most Olympians
Which American state has produced the most Olympians? I crunch the numbers to find out. Continue reading Which American States Have Produced the Most Olympians
The Arrival of Anastasia Motak
Anastasia Motak entered the 2020 European Championships as a relatively unknown gymnast. She left with three medals and is the breakout star of 2020. Anastasia Motak has officially arrived. Continue reading The Arrival of Anastasia Motak
Larisa Iordache Has Unfinished Business
How has Larisa Iordache managed to stage such an improbable comeback? With so many goals yet to be achieved, Iordache still has unfinished business. Larisa is not leaving the sport until she has achieved what she has set out to do. Continue reading Larisa Iordache Has Unfinished Business
Beth Tweddle: The Most Under-Rated Gymnast of the Last 50 Years.
This article makes the case for Beth Tweddle being the most under-rated gymnasts of the last 50 years. I measure her consistency, longevity, medal count, and status as a trailblazer in the sport to make the case. Continue reading Beth Tweddle: The Most Under-Rated Gymnast of the Last 50 Years.
Why Sandra Izbasa is a Romanian Icon
An analysis of Sandra Izbasa’s career and why her unique experiences made her a Romanian icon. Continue reading Why Sandra Izbasa is a Romanian Icon
Gymnasts With the Most Top-8 Finishes in the All-Around
What if gymnast was credited for appearing in an AA finals in the same way they are credited for appearing in an apparatus finals? I crunch the numbers to find out. Continue reading Gymnasts With the Most Top-8 Finishes in the All-Around
The Most Successful Gymnasts Who Never Won a Gold Medal
These gymnasts never won a gold medal. But that didn’t stop them from becoming icons of the sport. Continue reading The Most Successful Gymnasts Who Never Won a Gold Medal
Why Gymnastics Was the Hardest Hit Olympic Sport in the Holocaust
In this article I examine the unique history of gymnastics that put the sport at the center of the Holocaust. Continue reading Why Gymnastics Was the Hardest Hit Olympic Sport in the Holocaust
Gymnastics and the Holocaust
Gymnastics was by far the hardest hit sport in the Holocaust. In this article I recount the careers of over 20 elite level gymnasts who had been murdered during World War II. Continue reading Gymnastics and the Holocaust
When Ukraine Ruled Gymnastics
Oksana Omelianchik, Tatiana Gutsu, and Lilia Podkopayeva. From the late 1980s to the early 1990s, Ukraine was an unstoppable force in gymnastics. Continue reading When Ukraine Ruled Gymnastics
When Ukraine Ruled the Artistic Sports
Tatiana Gutsu, Oksana Baiul, Lilia Podkopayeva, and Alexandra Timoshenko. Ukraine’s dominance of artistic sports in the 1990s was a sight to behold. Continue reading When Ukraine Ruled the Artistic Sports
How Dominant Was the Eastern Bloc in Gymnastics?
The Eastern Bloc once dominated gymnastics, but how should their medal count be interpreted? Continue reading How Dominant Was the Eastern Bloc in Gymnastics?
