Gymternet Weekly: Olympic concerns, Verniaiev suspended, Skinner’s COVID complications (January 1 – 10, 2021)

1.
The year of the Tokyo Olympics is [hopefully] upon us!

The gymternet rang in the new year with plenty of hope and excitement for the Olympic year to come, but the optimism was short lived.

England and Germany both announced new lockdowns to combat rising COVID cases. Elsewhere, the now-infamous Dick Pound, a senior member of the International Olympic Committee, has said he “can’t be certain” whether the Tokyo Olympics will open in just over six months, and a recent Japanese survey highlighted the public’s distaste for hosting the games, with 80% of those surveyed saying they want the games cancelled or delayed (again).

With less than 200 days to go until the Olympics are set to open, this storyline is sure to dominate headlines for the first half of 2021.

2.
Oleg Verniaiev provisionally suspended by FIG

Oleg Verniaiev, the reigning Olympic parallel bars champion and all-around silver medalist, has been provisionally suspended by the FIG. While the federation is not able to disclose the reason Verniaiev is suspended while he is under investigation, Ukraine’s men’s team head coach said it may be a case of doping. Read the latest here.

3.
MyKayla Skinner gets pneumonia after testing positive for COVID

Just days after posting a video showing her first real tumbling pass in “months” on floor, Skinner revealed she was hospitalized with pneumonia after complications from COVID-19, which she contracted from her husband, Jonas. Skinner would later reveal that she was released from the hospital and at home recovering.

4.
UAA enters final stretch to save gymnastics program

With a little over a month to go until the deadline (February 15, 2021) for the University of Alaska, Anchorage’s gymnastics team to raise $888,000 ($444,000 in cash, $444,000 in pledges), the Seawolves are going full-out with their fundraising. See the below list for ways you can help #SavetheSeawolves, and don’t forget to spread the word on social! Click here for the official GoFundMe page.

• Silent Auction (Open nationwide – Bid on autographed memorabilia, home decor, wellness /fitness items, recreation packages, gift baskets and more): https://go.eventgroovefundraising.com/seawolves-auction

• Leotard Sale:  https://epay.alaska.edu/C21563_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=6135&SINGLESTORE=true

• #BeAPerfect10 Virtual Competition  (open to anyone!):  https://gotscored.com/event/1606754540340×556315041543487500

• Pledge an additional donation for next year (the next $25,000 are currently being matched!): https://forms.gle/EzJRkc6k3vb9yDzv6 (no payment info collected on your pledge at this time)

• For donations over $1,000, please click here: https://engage.alaska.edu/uaa/gymnastics (see UAA’s website for specific FAQs on this option)

• No payment card? No problem! For options via PayPal, please click here (just ensure to select Seawolf Gymnastics on the first PayPal screen): https://www.bentonbaylions.org/donate.html

• !Alaska Residents! Split the pot 50/50 raffle: https://go.eventgroovefundraising.com/uaagymnasticsraffle

5.
World’s oldest living Olympic Champion, Agnes Keleti, turns 100

The gymternet had a unique reason to celebrate over the weekend as the world’s oldest living Olympic Champion, Hungary’s Agnes Keleti, turned 100 years old! Keleti won 10 gymnastics medals at three games after surviving the Holocaust. Read more about the living legend here.

6.
Ursinus, UC Davis among teams that will not be participating in the 2021 NCAA Gymnastics season

Both Ursinus and UC Davis gymnastics teams will not compete during the 2021 season. While the announcement for the Bears was made back in early December, the decision for the Aggies was announced on January 5 after Yolo County health orders deemed it necessary.

7.
2021 NCAA Gymnastics season kicks off despite pandemic

The 2021 NCAA Gymnastics season kicked off over the weekend with a handful of top women’s teams competing. We previewed the season, including both men’s and women’s coaches polls, here. In the lead up to the first weekend of the season, Florida head coach Jenny Rowland revealed that junior standout Trinity Thomas is still training for the 2021 elite season and could pursue a spot on the Olympic team. Meanwhile, Oklahoma junior Olivia Trautman will miss the “first half” of the 2021 season due to an injury related to a heel fracture she sustained during the preseason. Check out the latest rankings and a recap of week 1 here.

8.
Simone Biles Says ‘Any’ Athlete Has a Right to Share Their Opinions About Politics

Simone Biles is speaking candidly about athletes and their right to use their platforms to address topics and issues beyond their sport.

On Wednesday, after pro-Donald Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. amid the meeting to ratify the Electoral College presidential election votes, the 23-year-old athlete tweeted, “Embarrassed but not surprised disgusted but not surprised sad but not surprised angry but not surprised speechless but not surprised.”

She later responded to a message from Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson and echoed his sentiments about athletes forming and sharing their opinions on political and social issues.

Read the full story here.

Tweets and things

#NCAAGym competition clips: LSU’s Johnson earns first 10 of the season

Training clips: Crazy counter Kim,

This week’s training clips section includes 22 videos that feature Sophie Scheder (DEU), Denis Abliazin (RUS), Alice Kinsella (GBR), Sunisa Lee (USA), and many more national and international athletes!