Gymternet Weekly: Signing Day, McCusker’s lawsuit against Haney, Raisman hangs out with Captain America (November 9 – 15, 2020)

1.
NCAA gymnastics takes center stage on National Signing Day 2020

One of the most exciting days of the NCAA pre-season has come and gone, but we’re still reeling from the developments of the official National Signing Day–last Wednesday, November 11–and the days since when more athletes have announced their college commitments and signed National Letters of Intent with their school of choice.

Notable commitments for the Class of 2021 include Sunisa Lee to Auburn; Leanne Wong, Morgan Hurd, Riley McCusker, and Sloane Blakely to Florida; Kara Eaker and Grace McCallum to Utah; Aleah Finnegan and Tori Tatum to LSU; Jordan Bowers to Oklahoma; and Emily Lee, Alexis Jeffrey, Jordan Chiles, Emma Malabuyo, Brooklyn Moors (CAN), and Ana Padurariu (CAN) to UCLA. For the men, Fuzzy Benas headlines Oklahoma’s upcoming freshman class; Taylor Burkhart and three more U.S. National Team members join Stanford; and more.

Click through our Instagram carousel below to see 10 of the top men’s and women’s Class of 2021 signees!

2.
Riley McCusker files lawsuit against former coach Maggie Haney

Riley McCusker has filed a lawsuit against Maggie Haney, Victoria Levine, and MG Elite, claiming that Haney, specifically, forced her to train when injured and when dealing with exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis.

The lawsuit covers 6 counts:

• Count 1 is Riley McCusker vs. all involved parties, including Arena Gymnastics, MGA Elite, MG Elite, TMC Marlboro, LLC, John Doe Gym Owners 1-100, and Jane Doe Gymnastics Academies 1-100.
• Count 2 alleges Negligence on Haney’s part as McCusker’s coach.
• Count 3 alleges Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress on Haney’s part as McCusker’s coach.
• Count 4 alleges Assault on Haney’s part as McCusker’s coach.
• Count 5 alleges Negligence on Levine’s part as McCusker’s coach.
• Count 6 alleges Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress on Levine’s part as McCusker’s coach.

The lawsuit is dated October 28, 2020, and demands a trial by jury for all issues. You can read the full filing (with personal information redacted) by clicking here.

3.
Nastia Liukin and Alicia Sacramone team up for The Big Fight

2008 Olympians Nastia Liukin and Alicia Sacramone Quinn are teaming up to raise awareness for mental health awareness in The Big Fight (against Suicide).

The two U.S. gymnastics stars will face off in a series of fitness competitions on December 12 with a portion of the event’s proceeds going to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Anxiety & Depression Association of America. The event will be livestreamed at bigfight.us. You can show your support on social media by using the hashtag #TeamAlicia or #TeamNastia and help raise money for this important cause.

4.
University of Alaska, Anchorage announces winter sports teams will not compete in 2020-2021 season

If the University of Alaska, Anchorage gymnastics team can not raise the necessary $888,000 to keep the program alive by February 15, 2021, the Seawolves last meet will have been in March of 2020. That’s because UAA announced this past Friday that all indoor winter sports teams will not compete during their respective 2020-2021 seasons due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Seawolves gymnastics team has made significant progress toward its $888,000 fundraising goal, but there is still a long way to go to getting the program reinstated. You can donate here and share to spread the word.

5.
Former Russian coach Alexander Kiryashov passes away

Famed Russian women’s coach Alexander Kiryashov passed away on Sunday, November 15. He was 72.

Together with his wife Vera Kiryashova, Kiryashov coached multiple international elite gymnasts, including 1996 Olympic team silver medalist Yevgenia Kuznetsova, three-time World team medalist Tatiana Nabieva, and 2017 World all-around bronze medalist Elena Eremina.

6.
Catching up with Chellsie Memmel

As Chellsie Memmel prepares for what could be a huge Olympic comeback, the international gymnastics community follows every step she takes. In the first video of the FIG’s new ‘Catching Up With’ series, Memmel answers fan questions.

Memmel, who announced her comeback to elite Gymnastics in a YouTube video on 31st July, is looking forward to seeing how far she can go in her comeback journey, but while some people might think her comeback is all about getting to her second Olympics, Memmel thinks about it differently. “It’s not the Olympics or nothing. I really want to see where it takes me. If it’s not the Olympics but Worlds, I would be thrilled,” Memmel said.

Read the full feature from the FIG here and watch Memmel’s interview below.

7.
Nikita Nagornyy named GQ Russia’s Athlete of the Year

Congratulations are in order for reigning World all-around champion Nikita Nagornyy (RUS) as he was just named GQ Russia’s Athlete of the Year!

Nagornyy attended the award ceremony with wife and fellow Russian gymnast, Daria Spiridonova, saying afterwards that the award was “pleasant and unexpected!”

“This [award] is especially valuable that it was received in such a difficult year for sports. I am very pleased that GQ Russia paid attention to our sport–artistic gymnastics,” Nagornyy said. “When I came to gymnastics, I could not even imagine that after 18 years of my sports career I would be nominated for a GQ award! This is an award for great work… Now the most important thing is the Olympics.”

Tweets and things

Training clips: Bretschneiders everywhere, McClain throws clean 2.5 to double pike, and Ferrari returns to all-around training

This week’s training clips section includes 19 videos that feature Tyson Bull (AUS), Konnor McClain (USA), Vanessa Ferrari (ITA), Joe Fraser (GBR), and many more national and international athletes!