The Media Needs to Stop Comparing Konnor McClain to Simone Biles
Konnor McClain is a great gymnast, but pegging her against Simone Biles is unwarranted and unfair. Continue reading The Media Needs to Stop Comparing Konnor McClain to Simone Biles
Author: Mike Davis
Myth vs Reality: Is Simone Biles Breaking an Age Barrier?
As Simone is forced to wait another year for the Olympics, she enters deeper into uncharted territory regarding her age. Continue reading Myth vs Reality: Is Simone Biles Breaking an Age Barrier?
McKayla Maroney: A Case Study of How Television Should Not Treat an Athlete
It is normal to cover gymnasts reacting to a tough loss. But did putting Maroney in 93.8% of their coverage cross a line? Continue reading McKayla Maroney: A Case Study of How Television Should Not Treat an Athlete
Tokyo 2021: What Comes Next
As the Olympic Games are moved to 2021, Gymnastics has four major logistical problems that need to be resolved. Continue reading Tokyo 2021: What Comes Next
How Bela and Marta Karolyi Got Their Daughter out of Romania
The road to retrieve their daughter from Romania took Bela and Marta Karolyi to a little known Congressman who worked on trade deals. What happened next would change the course of American gymnastics history. Continue reading How Bela and Marta Karolyi Got Their Daughter out of Romania
The IOC is in Denial and it is Only Hurting Athletes
The IOC’s defiance has unfairly put athletes in a state of limbo. Continue reading The IOC is in Denial and it is Only Hurting Athletes
Two-Time Olympians Who Never Competed in a World Championships
The idea of a gymnast making it to the Olympics 2x but not the World Championships may sound ludicrous, but a surprising number of gymnasts have done it. Continue reading Two-Time Olympians Who Never Competed in a World Championships
Coronavirus: What Olympic Sports Fans Need to Know
What fans of Olympic sports need to know as the COVID-19 situation develops. Continue reading Coronavirus: What Olympic Sports Fans Need to Know
Lorette Charpy: A Case Study In Mental Strength
After experiencing an equipment malfunction, it was how she reacted that makes Lorette Charpy an example of the mental strength gymnasts have. Continue reading Lorette Charpy: A Case Study In Mental Strength
The Queens of 4th Place (Part II)
The gymnasts who have had the worst luck with 4th place finishes. (Part II) Continue reading The Queens of 4th Place (Part II)
The Queens of 4th Place (Part I)
The gymnasts who have had the worst luck with 4th place finishes. (Part I) Continue reading The Queens of 4th Place (Part I)
Gymnasts of the 2010s Visualized
Gymnasts of the 2010s are visualized to show how dominant they were and on which events they had the most success. Continue reading Gymnasts of the 2010s Visualized
After Her Injury a Soviet Coverup Hurt Elena Mukhina Even More
Unable to hide the fact that their top gymnast had been seriously hurt, the Soviets found other ways to downplay the events that had transpired. Continue reading After Her Injury a Soviet Coverup Hurt Elena Mukhina Even More
How Fan Mail Bothered Elena Mukhina
After her injury Elena Mukhina received letters of support from fans, some of which did more harm than good. Continue reading How Fan Mail Bothered Elena Mukhina
Missouri Gymnastics: A Program Run Like The Ranch
How a humorous Tweet and a controversial award nominee expose a college program rife with problems. Continue reading Missouri Gymnastics: A Program Run Like The Ranch
Ranking the Most Dominant Gymnasts of All Time
Who is the best gymnast of all time? I give 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, and 1 for bronze to find out. Continue reading Ranking the Most Dominant Gymnasts of All Time
Dispelling the Myth: Title IX and Cuts to Men’s Athletics
Title IX is often blamed for the downfall of wrestling and men’s gymnastics. The real culprit is anything but. Continue reading Dispelling the Myth: Title IX and Cuts to Men’s Athletics
Ranking the Most Dominant Gymnastics Programs
A ranking of the top gymnastics programs based on how many medals their gymnasts won in the individual events. Continue reading Ranking the Most Dominant Gymnastics Programs
Ranking the Most Dominant American Gymnasts
Who was the best America gymnast? I give 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, and 1 for bronze to find out. Continue reading Ranking the Most Dominant American Gymnasts
The Dominance of Simone Biles is Insane (Part II)
After positive feedback from the Gymternet on Part I, I decided to rearrange the data to give additional recognition to Aliya Mustafina. Continue reading The Dominance of Simone Biles is Insane (Part II)
Ranking the Most Dominant Russian Gymnasts
Who was the best Russian gymnast? I give 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, and 1 for bronze to find out. Continue reading Ranking the Most Dominant Russian Gymnasts
Ranking the Most Dominant Romanian Gymnasts
Who was the best Romanian gymnast? I give 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, and 1 for bronze to find out. Continue reading Ranking the Most Dominant Romanian Gymnasts
The Fall of Eastern Europe Visualized
A visual perspective of when precisely Eastern Europe lost its dominance of women’s gymnastics. Continue reading The Fall of Eastern Europe Visualized
Ranking the Most Dominant Japanese Gymnasts
Who was the best Japanese gymnast? I give 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, and 1 for bronze to find out. Continue reading Ranking the Most Dominant Japanese Gymnasts
Ranking the Most Dominant Chinese Gymnasts
Who was the best Chinese gymnast? I give 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, and 1 for bronze to find out. Continue reading Ranking the Most Dominant Chinese Gymnasts
The Perfect Ten is Misunderstood
The perfect 10 made Nadia and Ohashi famous, but it didn’t make gymnastics famous. This fundamental difference is why the perfect 10 is misunderstood. Continue reading The Perfect Ten is Misunderstood
Ranking the Most Dominant Ukrainian Gymnasts
Who was the best Ukrainian gymnast? I give 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, and 1 for bronze to find out. Continue reading Ranking the Most Dominant Ukrainian Gymnasts
Is it Harder to Win Medals in Men’s or Women’s Gymnastics?
Is it easier to win medals in men’s gymnastics or women’s gymnastics? The question sounds simple but the answer is anything but. Continue reading Is it Harder to Win Medals in Men’s or Women’s Gymnastics?
Ranking the Most Dominant East German Gymnasts
Who was the best East German gymnast? I give 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, and 1 for bronze to find out. Continue reading Ranking the Most Dominant East German Gymnasts
The Gymnastics Side of Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant was famous for basketball. His involvement with gymnastics was not as well known. Continue reading The Gymnastics Side of Kobe Bryant
Ranking the Most Dominant Czechoslovakian Gymnasts
Who was the best Czechoslovakian gymnast? I give 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, and 1 for bronze to find out. Continue reading Ranking the Most Dominant Czechoslovakian Gymnasts
There is no Defense for the Actions of Mary Lou Retton
Mary Lou Retton notoriously meet with Congress over the Sex Abuse Bill. Here’s what actually happened. Continue reading There is no Defense for the Actions of Mary Lou Retton
Ranking the Most Dominant Hungarian Gymnasts
Who was the best Hungarian gymnast? I give 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, and 1 for bronze to find out. Continue reading Ranking the Most Dominant Hungarian Gymnasts
Ranking the Most Dominant Soviet Gymnasts
Who was the best Soviet gymnast? I give 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, and 1 for bronze to find out. Continue reading Ranking the Most Dominant Soviet Gymnasts
Thoughts on the Data: Which Countries Have Produced the Most Medalists?
The unappreciated success of France. The differences between Romania and China. The changing of the guard. I give my thoughts on Data Crunch #5.10 Continue reading Thoughts on the Data: Which Countries Have Produced the Most Medalists?
Which Countries Have Produced the Most Medalists?
This is not a list of how many medals a country has, but how many DIFFERENT gymnasts have won a medal for each country. Continue reading Which Countries Have Produced the Most Medalists?
The Dominance of Simone Biles is Insane
When Simone’s medal count is presented in a different way, her dominance is even more staggering. Continue reading The Dominance of Simone Biles is Insane
A History of the Average Age in Women’s Gymnastics
What year did the ages started falling giving us 14 year olds like Nadia? What year did they start rising giving us more 2x Olympians like Aly Raisman? I calculate the data to find out. Continue reading A History of the Average Age in Women’s Gymnastics
What Happens When You Put a Gymnast Through Spellcheck?
Aly Irishman, Lilia Padlocked, McKayla Marooned, Aliya Mustang, Mo Hilda, Nastia Licking. What happens when a gymnast is put through Spellcheck? Continue reading What Happens When You Put a Gymnast Through Spellcheck?
The Time an 11 year Old Nadia Defeated a Legend
In a little known competition from 1973, Romania’s best Olympian was beaten by an 11 year old. Continue reading The Time an 11 year Old Nadia Defeated a Legend
When Iran had Women’s Gymnastics
The little known story of the time Iran sent a gymnast to the Olympics in WAG. Continue reading When Iran had Women’s Gymnastics
The Bizarre Backstory to Atlanta Winning the 1996 Olympics
Few Olympic bids seemed more unlikely to win than Atlanta-1996, but to the surprise of everyone, it did. Continue reading The Bizarre Backstory to Atlanta Winning the 1996 Olympics
What the Atlanta Olympics Gave Us
An iconic American win on American soil produced a series of events that would impact the future of the sport in more ways than one. Continue reading What the Atlanta Olympics Gave Us
Why Texas Doesn’t Have College Gymnastics (Part II)
For a state that is an Olympic power in the sport, it lacks any noticeable presence. Part II covers the numbers and why Texas schools don’t fit the profile of the typical NCAA school that sponsors gymnastics. Continue reading Why Texas Doesn’t Have College Gymnastics (Part II)
Why Texas Doesn’t Have College Gymnastics (Part I)
For a state that is an Olympic power in the sport, it lacks any noticeable presence. Part I covers the history of Texas college athletics to explain why. Continue reading Why Texas Doesn’t Have College Gymnastics (Part I)
Ragan Smith is Already an NCAA Success Story
Ragan Smith’s arrival at Oklahoma has given her new life and has transformed her for the better. Continue reading Ragan Smith is Already an NCAA Success Story
How Should Germany’s Olympic Medals be Counted?
German Empire, East Germany, West Germany. What happened to the Olympic medals of all these countries? Continue reading How Should Germany’s Olympic Medals be Counted?
Add Another Jewel to Simone’s Crown
As Simone wins another award, her legacy continues to grow. Continue reading Add Another Jewel to Simone’s Crown
Ranking the Most Dominant Gymnasts of the 1930s
Who was the best gymnast of the 1930s? I give 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, and 1 for bronze to find out. Continue reading Ranking the Most Dominant Gymnasts of the 1930s
Gymnastics Bios #5: Olga Koval
In 1975 the USSR had a famed quartet of juniors. Three of them became legends. This is the story of the 4th gymnast. Continue reading Gymnastics Bios #5: Olga Koval
Italy: An Overlooked Gymnastics Program
For Italian WAG, its success goes far beyond a single class of 2003 gymnasts. Continue reading Italy: An Overlooked Gymnastics Program
The Russian High Jumper Everyone Should Root For
The dominant high jumper who is quickly becoming a modern day Mostepanova. Continue reading The Russian High Jumper Everyone Should Root For
Some Thoughts on Sexual Misconduct in Sports
A recent story in figure skating leaves lessons we should all learn from. Continue reading Some Thoughts on Sexual Misconduct in Sports
Ranking the Most Dominant Gymnasts of the 1950s
Who was the best gymnast of the 1950s? I give 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, and 1 for bronze to find out. Continue reading Ranking the Most Dominant Gymnasts of the 1950s
Gymnastics Bios #3: Galina Urbanovich
The little known gymnast who was the grandmother of the Soviet WAG dynasty. Continue reading Gymnastics Bios #3: Galina Urbanovich
Gymnastics Bios #4: Maria Gorokhovskaya
The life of the Olympic Champion who survived a brutal WWII siege, the Holocaust, and hid her Jewish background from Soviet officials. Continue reading Gymnastics Bios #4: Maria Gorokhovskaya
The 1952 Soviet Team and Anti-Semitism
To give context to the significance of the 1952 Soviet WAG team having two Jewish gymnasts, I discuss the history of anti-Semitism in the USSR in 1952. Continue reading The 1952 Soviet Team and Anti-Semitism
Ranking the Most Dominant Gymnasts of the 1960s
Who was the best gymnast of the 1960s? I give 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, and 1 for bronze to find out. Continue reading Ranking the Most Dominant Gymnasts of the 1960s
Ranking the Most Dominant Gymnasts of the 1970s
Who was the best gymnast of the 1970s? I give 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, and 1 for bronze to find out. Continue reading Ranking the Most Dominant Gymnasts of the 1970s
You Can’t Google Romania Without Getting Nadia Comaneci
For Romania, Nadia was more than just a gymnast. Continue reading You Can’t Google Romania Without Getting Nadia Comaneci
Ranking the Most Dominant Gymnasts of the 1980s
Who was the best gymnast of the 1980s? I give 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, and 1 for bronze to find out. Continue reading Ranking the Most Dominant Gymnasts of the 1980s
Ranking the Most Dominant Gymnasts of the 1990s
Who was the best gymnast of the 1990s? I give 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, and 1 for bronze to find out. Continue reading Ranking the Most Dominant Gymnasts of the 1990s
The Russian Gymnasts Who Broke Our Hearts
The Russian gymnasts who should have won more medals. Continue reading The Russian Gymnasts Who Broke Our Hearts
Ranking the Most Dominant Gymnasts of the 2000s
Who was the best gymnast of the 2000s? I give 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, and 1 for bronze to find out. Continue reading Ranking the Most Dominant Gymnasts of the 2000s
Thoughts on the Most Dominant Gymnasts of the Decade (2010s)
After ranking gymnasts based on the number of medals won, I give some thoughts on the results. Continue reading Thoughts on the Most Dominant Gymnasts of the Decade (2010s)
Ranking the Most Dominant Gymnasts of the Decade (2010s)
Who was the best gymnast of the last 10 years? I give 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, and 1 for bronze to find out. Continue reading Ranking the Most Dominant Gymnasts of the Decade (2010s)
Non-Olympians Who Should Have Gone to Multiple Olympics
The fascinating trend of great non-Olympians who came close to being 2x Olympians. Continue reading Non-Olympians Who Should Have Gone to Multiple Olympics
The History of Olympians Competing Under the Olympic Flag
Unified Team, Olympic Athlete From Russia, Refugee Olympic Team, and more. I recap the history of Olympians comping under the Olympic flag. Continue reading The History of Olympians Competing Under the Olympic Flag
USAG: The Consequences of a Cover-Up
USAG’s conduct during the Nassar scandal caused more pain than was necessary. Continue reading USAG: The Consequences of a Cover-Up
The 2019 World Championships Curse
In early 2019 there were nine active gymnasts with AA medals. Only one of them made it all the way to the end of the 2019 World Championships. Continue reading The 2019 World Championships Curse
Elena Mukhina’s Trip to America
In the wake of her 1978 AA title, Elena Mukhina went on a world tour. Among her stops were 10 American cities. Continue reading Elena Mukhina’s Trip to America
The Disputed Olympic Medals in American Gymnastics
How an Austrian gymnast and a triathlon made USA the most decorated MAG program up until the 1968 Olympics. Continue reading The Disputed Olympic Medals in American Gymnastics
USA Gymnastics: Why the Men Have More Olympic Medals Than the Women
It may come as a shock, but in the USA program MAG has more Olympic medals than WAG. Continue reading USA Gymnastics: Why the Men Have More Olympic Medals Than the Women
Dispelling the Myth: Jade Carey and Her NCAA Eligibility
Disproving the myth that Jade Carey will lose 1-year of NCAA if she takes the year off to train for the Olympics Continue reading Dispelling the Myth: Jade Carey and Her NCAA Eligibility
Gymnastics Bios #2: Carla Marangoni
The story of the 12-year old gymnast with an Olympic medal who lived for over a century. Continue reading Gymnastics Bios #2: Carla Marangoni
Why Canadians Pick UCLA
No college program has been so successful in recruiting Canadians. But why is this the case? Continue reading Why Canadians Pick UCLA
Gymnasts Throwing a First Pitch (Gif Guide)
When baseball meets gymnastics, the result is usually entertaining. Continue reading Gymnasts Throwing a First Pitch (Gif Guide)
How Many Medals Would Larissa Latynina Have Won Under Modern Scheduling?
Larissa Latynina won her medals in an era where the World Championships were held once every four years. What would have happened if she competed under the current format where they are held 3x every four years? Continue reading How Many Medals Would Larissa Latynina Have Won Under Modern Scheduling?
Shortly After Her Paralysis Elena Mukhina Wrote a Letter
A catastrophic injury cost Mukhina the use of her limbs. But that didn’t stop her from handwriting a letter 18 months later. Continue reading Shortly After Her Paralysis Elena Mukhina Wrote a Letter
The Year Without Gymnastics
In 1963 Caslavska and Latynina were poised for an epic showdown. Instead a boycott would prevent it from happening. Continue reading The Year Without Gymnastics
Data Crunch #4.2: Ranking AA Champions by Number of Medals Won
Awarding 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, & 1 for Bronze. I try to find the most dominating performance in WAG history. This article is writeup to accompany the data. Continue reading Data Crunch #4.2: Ranking AA Champions by Number of Medals Won
Data Crunch #4.1: Ranking AA Champions by Number of Medals Won (Data Hub)
Awarding 3 points for gold, 2 for silver, & 1 for Bronze. I try to find the most dominating performance in WAG history. This article features three graphics listing the results. Continue reading Data Crunch #4.1: Ranking AA Champions by Number of Medals Won (Data Hub)
The 1981 World Championships Conspiracy Theory (Part II)
A series of unusual events at the 1981 World Championships caused speculation that something was going on behind the scenes.
This is Part II that covers the actual competition itself. Continue reading The 1981 World Championships Conspiracy Theory (Part II)
The 1981 World Championships Conspiracy Theory (Part I)
A series of unusual events at the 1981 World Championships caused speculation that something was going on behind the scenes. This is Part I that covers the buildup to the 1981 World Championships. Continue reading The 1981 World Championships Conspiracy Theory (Part I)
How Olga Bicherova Defied Sexism in the USSR
After finishing up a successful athletic career Olga Bicherova decided to do something unconventional. Continue reading How Olga Bicherova Defied Sexism in the USSR
The Differences Between Nadia and Olga Korbut
They are two of the most famous names in gymnastics history, but they couldn’t have been any more different. Continue reading The Differences Between Nadia and Olga Korbut
Why So Many Gymnasts Come From Voronezh
Viktoria Komova, Angelina Melnikova, and Elena Davydova. Why is a relatively small Russian city a gymnastics powerhouse? Continue reading Why So Many Gymnasts Come From Voronezh
The First Time Turischeva Met Nadia Was an Outlandish Incident
In 1974 Turischeva first crossed paths with Nadia. The problem was, Nadia wasn’t supposed to be there. Continue reading The First Time Turischeva Met Nadia Was an Outlandish Incident
Simone Biles is Already a Legend, But She is Capable of Much More
Biles has already established an incredible legacy for herself. I came up with four things Biles can accomplish that will enhance her legacy even further. Continue reading Simone Biles is Already a Legend, But She is Capable of Much More
Data Crunch #3.3: Ranking the All-Around Champions by Apparatus Placement
In this Data Crunch I rank the AA Champions based on how they placed on each apparatus. This is the writeup for Data Crunch #3. Continue reading Data Crunch #3.3: Ranking the All-Around Champions by Apparatus Placement
Data Crunch #3.2: List of All-Around Champions by Apparatus Placement (Counting Ties)
The following is a list of AA Champions ranked by how well they perform on each apparatus.
This version of the data does count ties. Continue reading Data Crunch #3.2: List of All-Around Champions by Apparatus Placement (Counting Ties)
Data Crunch #3.1: List of All-Around Champions by Apparatus Placement (Not Counting Ties)
The following is a list of AA Champions ranked by how well they perform on each apparatus.
This version of the data does not count ties. Continue reading Data Crunch #3.1: List of All-Around Champions by Apparatus Placement (Not Counting Ties)
Gymnastics Bios #1: Annelore Zinke
The 1975 European Championships are best known for establishing the careers of Nadia Comaneci and Nellie Kim. This is the story of the gymnast who finished 3rd. Continue reading Gymnastics Bios #1: Annelore Zinke
The Soviet Gymnasts Who Were Victims of Their Own Success.
In the mid 1960s a new generation of Soviet gymnasts revolutionized the sport. But little did they realize, the revolution they started would be their undoing. Continue reading The Soviet Gymnasts Who Were Victims of Their Own Success.
Two Months After the 1964 Olympics, a Little Known Event Would Change Women’s Gymnastics Forever
The 1964 Olympics featured an epic showdown between Caslavska and Latynina. But it was the results of a minor competition two months later that would change the course of gymnastics history. Continue reading Two Months After the 1964 Olympics, a Little Known Event Would Change Women’s Gymnastics Forever
Data Crunch #2.2: Margin of Victory in Women’s Gymnastics
In Data Crunch #2 I’ll analyze the margin of victory of every WAG competition.
Why does the most dominating WAG performance of all time belong to a gymnast most fans have never heard of? Why is Lilia one of the most talented gymnasts of all time? Why did Shannon Miller lose the 1992 Olympics in such a close competition?
Read the article to find out. Continue reading Data Crunch #2.2: Margin of Victory in Women’s Gymnastics
Data Crunch #2.1: A List of the Margin of Victory For Every Gymnastics Competition
In Data Crunch #2, I will be examining the margin of victory (MOV) at various WAG competitions. The first article is a list of MOV for all WAG competitions. Continue reading Data Crunch #2.1: A List of the Margin of Victory For Every Gymnastics Competition
Data Crunch #1.5: A Breakdown of Every Perfect 10 Ever Awarded
In my inaugural Data Crunch series, I will analyze the Perfect 10 and how often it was given out.
#1.5 is the main hub of the project featuring a writeup and analysis of how often the perfect score was handed out. Continue reading Data Crunch #1.5: A Breakdown of Every Perfect 10 Ever Awarded
Data Crunch #1.4: Gymnasts Who Accounted For the Most Perfect Tens in a Single Competition
In my inaugural Data Crunch series, I will analyze the Perfect 10 and how often it was given out.
#1.4 is a list of competitions where a single gymnasts accounted for the highest total of all Perfect 10s scored. Continue reading Data Crunch #1.4: Gymnasts Who Accounted For the Most Perfect Tens in a Single Competition
Data Crunch #1.3: Gymnasts Who Scored the Most Career Perfect Tens (Counting Olomouc)
In my inaugural Data Crunch series, I will analyze the Perfect 10 and how often it was given out.
#1.3 is a list of career Perfect 10s ranking the gymnasts by the most amount of Perfect 10s. This list counts Perfect 10s scored at the 1984 Alternate Olympics (Olomouc) as equal to those scored at the World Championships and Olympics. Continue reading Data Crunch #1.3: Gymnasts Who Scored the Most Career Perfect Tens (Counting Olomouc)
