Gymternet Weekly: First U.S. Men’s National Team camp of 2021, Australian gymnastics inquiry uncovers ‘culture of abuse’ (April 26 – May 2, 2021)

It’s never a dull week around the gymternet! Here’s our weekly roundup of news, videos, and more from your favorite gymnasts!
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Top headlines from this post
– Recap: First U.S. Men’s National Team camp of 2021
The first U.S. Men’s National Team camp of 2021 took place at The Gymnastics Company in Indianapolis from April 28-May 1, with the camp meant to help athletes prepare for the upcoming U.S. Championships, Senior Pan American Championships, and beyond.
– Australian gymnastics inquiry uncovers ‘culture of abuse’
An independent inquiry into gymnastics in Australia says it has uncovered a culture of physical, emotional and sexual abuse in the sport. The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) found that bullying and body-shaming were prevalent at elite levels.
– Olympic Channel to stream gymnastics archives on new 24/7 channel for free the entire month of May
Throughout May 2021, the new Olympic Channel linear stream will replay some of the most incredible gymnastics moments from the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games, including original series All Around.
Recap: USA Gymnastics hosts first Men’s National Team camp of 2021
USA Gymnastics hosted the first Men’s National Team camp of 2021 from April 28-May 1 at The Gymnastics Company in Indianapolis. It was the first in-person training camp for the men since March 2020, with the camp serving to prepare attendees for the upcoming U.S. Championships and Senior Pan American Championships in June.
Outside of training, attending athletes took part in team meetings that focused on the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games, 2021 World Championships, mental health support and mindfulness, and brand-building tips for athletes. Athletes were also able to connect with the current athlete representative to the Men’s Program Committee, Kip Simons/Paul Ruggeri, who was onsite throughout the camp.
The following athletes were in attendance:
- Cameron Bock, Ann Arbor, Mich./University of Michigan*
- Allan Bower, Norman, Okla./University of Oklahoma*
- Adrian De Los Angeles, Colorado Spring, Colo./U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center*
- Alex Diab, Glen Ellyn, Ill./University of Illinois
- Isaiah Drake, Los Angeles, Calif./Gymnastics Olympica USA*
- Vitaliy Guimaraes, Norman, Okla./University of Oklahoma*
- Trevor Howard, Columbus, Ohio/Ohio State University*
- Paul Juda, Deerfield, Ill./University of Michigan*
- Riley Loos, El Dorado Hills, Calif./Stanford University*
- Brody Malone, Belfast, Tenn./Stanford University*
- Sam Mikulak, Newport Coast, Calif./U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center*
- Akash Modi, Morganville, N.J./Stanford University*
- Yul Moldauer, Arvada, Colo./5280 Gymnastics*
- Stephen Nedoroscik, Worcester, Mass./Penn State University*
- Eddie Penev, Penfield, N.Y./U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center
- Genki Suzuki, Norman, Okla./University of Oklahoma*
- Colin Van Wicklen, Spring, Texas/Cypress Academy of Gymnastics*
- Matt Wenske, Houston, Texas/University of Oklahoma
- Donnell Whittenburg, New Berlin, Wis./Salto Gymnastics Center*
- Shane Wiskus, Minneapolis, Minn./U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center*
- Alec Yoder, Columbus, Ohio/Ohio State University
*Denotes current National Team member.
You can watch replays of camp here, and check out the latest Men’s Program Committee minutes from March here.
Australian gymnastics inquiry uncovers ‘culture of abuse’

An independent inquiry into gymnastics in Australia says it has uncovered a culture of physical, emotional and sexual abuse in the sport. The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) found that bullying and body-shaming were prevalent at elite levels. The report highlighted a win-at-all-costs culture that created a risk of harm and abuse.
Gymnastics Australia, which commissioned the review last year, called the findings “confronting”.
“Gymnastics Australia unreservedly apologises to all athletes and family members who have experienced any form of abuse participating in the sport,” it said in a statement. “We also thank the athletes and other community members who engaged in the review process and acknowledge their bravery in doing so.”
Read the full story from the BBC here.
Olympic Channel’s ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together’ channel streaming iconic Olympic Gymnastics moments all May

Throughout May 2021, the new Olympic Channel linear stream will replay some of the most incredible gymnastics moments from the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games, including its original series: All Around, which follows the journey of three top competitors, from three different countries, as they prepare for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021.
Olympic Channel’s new channel ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together’ is now showcasing the best gymnastics moments from the Rio 2016 and London 2012 Olympics.
The channel, which you can stream for free and without subscription by clicking this link, is showing top archive moments from artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, as well as trampoline events.
Every day from 1-31 May 2021, the channel will stream replays of these events and many others.
Simone Biles battles Internet trolls in SK-II’s animated anthology ‘VS’
Even the greatest Olympic athletes face insecurities — just ask Simone Biles.
Skincare brand SK-II released “VS,” an animated anthology series starring Olympic athletes including Biles, Liu Xiang, Ishikawa Kasumi, Ayaka Takahashi, Misaki Matsutomo, Mahina Maeda and members of the Japan volleyball team Hinotori Nippon. The six short films follow each athlete as they battle societal pressures women face such as trolling, image obsession and limitations, personified as kaiju, or “strange beast.”
Biles’ film follows the gymnast as she’s harassed by online trolls, who take the form of small, real-life trolls. She tries to ignore them, but the trolls keep growing until they become a giant beast. Biles’ confidence is shaken, but she finds strength in her accomplishments and defeats the trolls.
“It’s an inside look at what I’ve personally dealt with and how I’ve chosen my own destiny and come out on top,” Biles told Campaign US.
Biles was involved in “a lot” of the creative process, which included replicating an animated version of herself.
“We went back and forth a couple of times, changing little features on my face so that it looked just like me,” she explained. “That was really different. I’ve never done a process like this, so it was super exciting to see. It’s really me.”
Biles wanted to be a part of the project because SK-II “fits into [her] daily life,” and what’s important to her “in and out of the gym.”
The creative strategy behind the film series was focused on the message, “Destiny is not a matter of chance.”
Read more about the short film here.
Oregon State Athletics Unveils New Gymnastics Practice Facility
Oregon State University Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Barnes unveiled the new $7.15-million OSU Gymnastics Practice Facility to the program’s student-athletes last week.
The 20,000-square-foot center, the largest in the Pac-12, is now a part of over $14-million of completed improvements to women’s facilities stemming from the Oregon State Athletics Strategic Plan Barnes initiated in 2018.
The new training home befits a program that reached the NCAA Regionals for the 46th-straight season in 2021 under the leadership of head coach Tanya Chaplin.
“We compete against the best of the best, and this facility allows our current and future student-athletes to prepare their minds and bodies the right way,” Chaplin said. “It helps our program continue to move upward.”
Read more about the facility here.
Final dismount: U.S. men back in the zone!
U.S. Olympic hopeful Alec Yoder put his videography skills to the test at April’s National Team camp, putting together this killer hype video when he wasn’t busy training. His caption says it best, “if I keep pumping out videos, will men’s gymnastics start getting the hype it deserves⁉️ BACK IN MY ZONE.”