contents
www.InsideGymnastics.com
October 2016
start list
features CELEBRATING CHAMPIONS 36 A Place in the Record Books 38 Women’s Team: Final Five – One For the Ages! 41 Men’s Team: Japan Ascends
in every issue 18 Publisher’s Page 21 Inside Buzz 22 People, Places and Faces 25 Chalking Up 27 Social Scene
42 Women’s All-Around: Simone Sails to Gold!
29 Opinion Line:
45 Men’s All-Around: King Kohei Conquers!
31 Opinion Line:
HCAPCH
47 Saluting Champions: Individual Event Finals
Shannon Says with Shannon Miller In The Know with John Roethlisberger
89 Marketplace & Classifieds
STARS AND STORYLINES! 57 Bravo, Brazil!
photo features
58 Legendary: Oksana 59 Redemption for Raisman 61 From Underdog to Topdog: Danell Leyva 63 Sanne-Sational!
14 Mad Skills: Sam Mikulak 90 Final Dismount Aliya Mustafina
65 All Heart: Chris Brooks 67 Shining Star: Laurie Hernandez 69 Leaving Nothing to Chance: Team USA Women 71 Pushing the Envelope (Too Far) 73 Living Legend: Martha Karolyi 75 Stars and Stripes: Team USA Goes Patriotic
ON THIS SPREAD Olympic All-Around Champion Simone Biles
77 Fashion Front: Who Ruled Rio? 81 2016 Olympics By the Numbers 83 Company Spotlight: Tumbl Trak
ON THE COVER The Final Five, Team Olympic Champions
84 Gym Bag Must-Haves!
the
OLYMPIC issue
All photos in the Commemorative Issue by Ricardo Bufolin, unless otherwise noted.
I N S I D E GY M N A ST I C S . CO M
My take
October 2016
publisher ’s page PRESIDENT&PUBLISHER Christopher Korotky The Olympic Issue “One for the ages.” We use that expression later in this issue, referring to the dominant performance of Team USA – the ‘Final Five’ - in Rio. But that phrase also describes the overall experience of the 2016 Olympics. Leading to the Games, the media focused on all of the problems facing Rio – lack of preparedness, financial woes, security risks, the Zika virus, and lack of enthusiasm from the Brazilian public. Upon landing in Rio, one of the first things that our greeter at the airport said to us was, “I promise it’s not as bad as CNN is making it.” What I found over the course of the Games was that yes, there were many challenges. From logistical issues to execution details, it felt like in many areas, more time and resources were needed to bring some aspects to levels I’ve seen at past Olympics. Around the city, the ‘feel’ of the Games also wasn’t as strong as I’ve experienced previously. But, ultimately, the spirit of the Games is what prevailed. Athletes rose to the occasion, and in gymnastics, we were treated to some of the most incredible performances the sport has ever seen. Arguably the two best all-around athletes of all-time, Simone Biles and Kohei Uchimura reigned as Queen and King of the sport with absolutely brilliant showings. Toward the end of the Games, I thought to myself, ‘Wow, what a moment to soak in. We were privileged to see two of the greatest of all time in the same Games.’ Quite remarkable! In this issue, we celebrate the champions, we salute the stars and opine on some of the leading storylines from Rio. A special thanks to our photographer Ricardo Bufolin for the stunning images we present in this issue and to lead correspondent Gina Pongetti for her terrific contributions to our website and social media during the Games and to this issue. I’m thankful to you both! I’d also like to welcome aboard our new Brand Manager for Gymnastics, Christy Sandmaier. Our readers have expressed over the last two years how much they’ve enjoyed her articles as a freelance contributor, and now we’re proud to have her full time at our headquarters in Atlanta. We’re so happy to have you on the team, Christy! Enjoy this issue as we celebrate one of the greatest Games yet!
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I N S I D E GY M N A ST I C S . CO M
10 hot topics that have the gymnastics community buzzing!
inside buzz
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Liukin to Lead – Following months of conversation and social media speculation, Valeri Liukin was named National Team Coordinator. Liukin, whose daughter Nastia is the 2008 Olympic all-around gold medalist, replaces Martha Karolyi, who retired after Rio, where the U.S. women won a record nine medals. Congratulations Valeri! Extra Special K – Simone Biles and her Final Five teammates adorn the “gold medal editions” of Kellogg’s cereal boxes. All-around Champ Biles is on one side and the team graces the other.
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Boorman Moves On – After coaching Simone Biles to a huge medal haul in Rio and to every title imaginable, Aimee Boorman accepted a new position as Executive Director of Women’s Gymnastics at EVO Athletics in Sarasota. Only time will tell if we will see Boorman and Biles back in the gym together. Congratulations Aimee! Bid 2024 – With the hype from Rio already heading towards Tokyo in 2020, we’re excited to follow LA’s bid for 2024. Will the Games return to the States?
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trending First Rotation
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Hernandez Hype - With a sparkling personality and smooth moves, Laurie Hernandez is lighting up the stage on Dancing with the Stars! Right before the Games, Hernandez confirmed she would be going pro and is represented by Shade Global. Season 23 of DWTS is just the beginning!
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On the Mend – Olympic Team Member John Orozco, who had to withdraw before the Games after tearing his ACL in training camp has been back in the gym after undergoing two surgeries. Speedy recovery, John!
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Class Act - After it was released that Simone Biles takes medication for ADHD, the Olympic Champ handled it like the pro she is, tweeting, “Having ADHD, and taking medicine for it is nothing to be ashamed of, nothing that I’m afraid to let people know.”
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Tours, Talk Shows and First Pitches Oh My! – The Final Five have been everywhere since returning from Rio including stops at the VMA’s and the Ellen show. Make sure to catch the Kellogg’s Tour, which runs through November 13.
Stylin’! - Simone Biles was seen chatting it up with Vogue’s infamous Anna Wintour! Biles posed for a picture with Wintour and tennis star Maria Sharapova while attending the Vera Wang fashion show during New York Fashion Week.
Training for Tokyo! - Aly Raisman says that she’ll take a year off from training and then return to the gym to make a run for Tokyo 2020!
ABC/Craig Sjodin
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I N S I D EGY M N A ST I C S . CO M
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O C TO B E R 2 01 6
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Rio 6 201
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The Final Five delivered a performance for the ages. Simone Biles was a showstopper. King Kohei proved he’s the greatest of all time. Stars were born. Legends were cemented. Fans were treated to an unbelievable display of gymnastics. Rio 2016 was simply sensational. We take a look back at the competition, the stars and the storylines that made for an unforgettable Olympic Games.
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FA S H I O N
from underdog
J
ust before the U.S. Championships this year, 2012 Olympic all-around bronze medalist Danell Leyva suffered a serious dog bite to his lower leg, which sent him to the hospital and forced him to take critical days off from training. He struggled at U.S. Championships, but surged at Trials, and was ultimately relegated to Olympic alternate by the selection committee. Because of his strong potential to help the team and deliver
I N S I D EGY M N A ST I C S . CO M
individual medals, many questioned the committee’s decision, including NBC analyst Tim Daggett on air. Leyva only got the nod to compete after John Orozco suffered an ACL tear in training. Ultimately, Leyva would leave Rio as the most decorated American man, winning silver on parallel bars and bronze on high bar. “From the moment I woke up [the day of competition], I couldn’t stop smiling,” Leyva said of his competition mindset. “I
TO
TOPDOG
By Chris Korotky
had a good feeling and I just had to remind myself to enjoy myself and have fun… This was a redemption, not just for me, but for the team as well. My success is as much for the team as it is for me. Things didn’t happen how I expected (in the Trials process), and it was unfortunate the way I was named to the team, but that’s what this medal is for.”
S TA R S & S T O R Y L I N E S
61
HCAPCH
Leaving
NOTHINGchance
W
hen the chalk settled, the Final Five won the gold in an eight-point landslide in Rio. For the U.S. women’s program, it marked the seventh-consecutive gold medal in team competition at Worlds or the Olympics. That does not happen by accident. In fact, the U.S. women’s program leaves nothing to chance, approaching the sport with an incredibly methodical system that has been hand-crafted by National Team Coordinator Martha Karolyi. Among the hallmarks of the program is a regimented training system that puts athletes
to
By Gina Pongetti and Chris Korotky
in pressure-packed systems well before they get to the competition floor. 2012 and 2016 gold medal team member Aly Raisman says that the number of routines they are required to perform in training camp situations under intense scrutiny ultimately pays dividends when it comes to performing on the sport’s greatest stages. “I think we’re so confident in each other,” Raisman says of the team dynamic. “Obviously anything can happen in sports and nothing is a done deal. But we work even harder just because we know being number one in the world is the hardest spot to be, so we use it for motivation.”
“Persistence,” Karolyi says emphatically of one of the secrets of their success. She has run the program with a sharp focus, an eye for detail and has set standards that she will not bend or break. “It is just needed for the best, just to keep going with the one goal. This is not a popularity contest, as I’ve said before. I am here to do my job, and the girls are here to win.”
S TA R S & S T O R Y L I N E S
Up Next > > > More on the secrets to success for the U.S. women’s program in our November/December issue!
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FASHION
TEAM USA: Stunning Stars!
Charting new territory with a return to patriotic leotards, Team USA dazzled in Rio with leotards by Under Armour (manufactured by GK) that sported the red, white, and blue adorned with stars and stripes. Here’s a look at some of the stunners that ruled the runway in Rio, as worn by all-around Champion Simone Biles. 5,000 Swarovski crystals never looked so good!
Claudia Fragapane (GBR) in Adidas by Stella McCartney
Wang Yan (CHN) in Li-Ning
FASHION
RULING RIO: Loving the Look! For the sport’s greatest stage, we love a look that showcases class and elegance, fitting the magnitude of the occasion. We prefer clean, streamlined designs that accentuate rather than distract from the performance. And of course, we love some bling that allows these athletes to shine like the stars they are! Here are a few of our favorite royal looks that ruled in Rio.
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Sanne Wevers (NED) in GK Elite
Ailen Valente (ARG) in Dreamlight Activewear
Marisa Dick (TTO) in OZONE Leotards
Ellie Black (CAN) in Jagwear
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