Gymternet Weekly: Breaux retires, Mikulak’s final year, Memmel’s officially back, and more (July 27 – August 4, 2020)

By Patricia Duffy | August 5, 2020
Gymternet Weekly: Breaux retires, Mikulak's final year, Memmel's officially back, and more (July 27 - August 4, 2020)

It’s never a dull week around the gymternet! Here’s our weekly roundup of news, videos, and more from your favorite gymnasts!

Click here to read last week’s edition of Gymternet Weekly.

P.S. Have a news item or video you think should be considered for “Gymternet Weekly”? Email a link to [email protected]!

LSU’s D-D Breaux retires after 43 years

It was an announcement we all knew would come… eventually, but it doesn’t make it any easier to accept!

The inevitable became a reality on Tuesday, when LSU Gymnastics Head Coach D-D Breaux announced her retirement after 43 years of leading the Tigers.

LSU’s Dean of Coaches announced her retirement on her own terms, saying goodbye to the program that she built with a heartfelt letter released via the Tigers’ social media platforms.

Watch the video below (read the transcript here) and read the official press release here.

What’s up first for D-D in retirement? It’s spending time in her garden, by the pool, and taking a long-awaited fishing trip to Alaska!

Mikulak announces he’ll retire after Tokyo 2O2One

After much speculation that Team USA’s golden boy Sam Mikulak may continue on to Paris 2024, Mikulak has announced the Tokyo Games will be his third and final Olympics–if he makes the team.

To document his journey to Tokyo and his final year of gymnastics, Mikulak has started a YouTube channel!

Watch the full announcement and the reasoning behind his decision here.

Memmel makes her comeback official

It’s been a long time coming, with speculation picking up in the spring, but now it’s official: Chellsie Memmel is making a comeback.

The 2008 Olympian confirmed what many in the gymnastics community assumed in a YouTube video last Friday. Memmel included a clip of herself talking with her father and coach, Andy, in which she confirms that she really is pushing for Tokyo.

“OK, anything else you want to say,” Andy asked.

“Well, I guess it’s time to admit this is a comeback,” Memmel said.

More details on the 2005 all-around World champion’s comeback here.

Mustafina hints to not count her out of Tokyo just yet

Thought Aliya Mustafina was done with gymnastics? Or at least out of the running for Tokyo? Think again.

In a recent interview with Olympic Channel, Mustafina alluded to the postponed Tokyo Games and her training, saying, “It hasn’t affected me a great deal. Thinking about Tokyo, it may even be an advantage in my case. Whether I go or not… time will tell. I will not say anything yet.”

It isn’t a no! When pressed on the topic and asked what the biggest obstacle was between her and Tokyo, the two-time Olympian bluntly admitted it was herself.

“I’m probably the biggest obstacle to myself,” Mustafina said. “First you have to win over yourself and then think about the Games.”

Read the full interview here.

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История моей неудачи в спорте, и как мне удалось ее преодолеть Пожалуй расскажу про мой роковой апрель 2011 года. Наверно многие знают, что случилось тогда, на ЧЕ в Берлине. Разрыв передней крестообразной связки и разрыв мениска «здравствуйте». Я тогда мало понимала весь масштаб беды, и даже не представляла, что меня ждёт впереди. Но со временем понимание пришло. 6-8 МЕСЯЦЕВ полное восстановление, а через 14 месяцев уже олимпиада. Не могу сказать точно, почему меня это не так пугало, но говоря об этом сейчас, не представляю, как девочка 16 лет приняла все эти трудности. Знаете, я ни о чем не жалею, считаю, что все, что с нами происходит для чего-то, что в будущем сделает нас сильнее или просто лучше! Вот и в тот момент, когда у меня впереди только 8 сложных месяцев, костыли и лангета, я закрыла глаза и сказала себе, надо, значит надо. Было сложно, потому что все сроки надо было выдерживать беспрекословно, а прыгать то уже хотелось. Приходишь в зал, там все прыгают сложные прыжки, да даже просто прыгают, а ты после построения берёшь свой инвентарь и идёшь в зал с тренажерами заниматься монотонной подкачкой. А ведь можно было все бросить?! Нет, я так не думала. После нескольких фраз, что после такой серьезной травмы не возвращаются в спорт, во мне зажглась искра. Я думала так «ни кто не возвращается, а я вернусь и идите вы все, кто говорил эти слова для того, что бы я опустила руки» Эти слова, пусть кем то сказаны не в доброй форме, стали для меня самой большой мотивацией. Конечно, попасть на Олимпиаду, тоже мотивация, но в тот момент она была на втором месте. Ну и конечно меня спасли от самых ужасных последствий наши тренеры, врачи, родители и близкие которые в меня верили:) а ещё очень сильно мне помогло то, что я была на базе «Озеро Круглое» (уже на 5й день после операции?) и там у меня не было времени грустить. Конечно, когда 3 тренировки в день и друзья рядом, там и некогда грустить? Надеюсь вам понравилась моя мини история?♥️ «Переходите на страницу других спортсменок-чемпионок, они тоже подготовили для вас истории?» @allashishkina_rusallo4ka @yana__batyrshina @kosheleva11 @victoria_sinits

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Biles makes it Instagram official

Sorry peeps, the G.O.A.T. is off the market!

Simone Biles made her relationships with Houston Texans safety Jonathan Owens Instagram official this past weekend, and we can’t get over how cute these two are!

Slocum joins the Sun Devils’ staff

Arizona State has a new Volunteer Assistant Coach, and it’s none other than former Gator gymnast Rachel Slocum!

Arizona State gymnastics head coach Jay Santos announced the addition of the former Florida all-american gymnast to the coaching staff last week.

Read the full announcement here.

Online Gym School Pop-Up scheduled for Sunday

Online Gym School is back for one day only this Sunday with a three hour Online Gym School Pop-Up that will feature an all-star roster of gymnastics stars!

Schedule for Online Gym School Pop-Up on Sunday, August 9:

  • 1:00 p.m.: Intro with Samantha Peszek, Cory Tomlinson and Ashley Allen from the My Gym Circle Team
  • 1:15 p.m.: Message from McKenna Kelley
  • 1:30 p.m.: EDUCATION: Keys to Confidence with Kylee Ault
  • 2:05 p.m.: Message from Isis Lowery
  • 2:15 p.m.: MOVEMENT: Full Body Workout with Bridget Sloan
  • 2:50 p.m.: Message from Peng Peng Lee 
  • 3:00 p.m.: INSPIRATION: Achieving Excellence with Kyla Ross and Madison Kocian, hosted by Samantha Peszek
  • 3:30 p.m.: LIVE closing with the My Gym Circle Team, including a special announcement! ????

The pop-up is just $24. You can register for it here.

Training clips: Nedoroscik’s insane connection, Madsen teams up with (?) Biles, Shi’s lines, and more

As more and more gymnasts return to training across the world, we’re seeing an uptick in training videos, and we couldn’t be more excited! With the Olympics postponed and no meets for at least a couple of more months, the gymternet will take any peeks into the gym that athlete’s are willing to share. This week, we saw some U.S. athletes working some exciting upgrades.

This week, our training clips section is highlighted by Stephen Nedoroscik (USA), Laney Madsen (USA), Shilese Jones (USA), Laurie Hernandez (USA), Shane Wiskus (USA), and more.

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working on getting stronger day by day?

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Lines are key?✨

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good bar day today 🙂

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??? #škola

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Meme of the week

That feeling when it hurts to move.

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IM BACK SORRY IVE BEEN SO INACTIVE

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