contents
start list
APRIL 2016
www.insidegymnastics.com
< UCLA’s Sophina DeJesus has helped make this NCAA season one of most exciting ever, thanks to her hugely popular floor routine that set the net abuzz! For tickets to this year’s NCAA Championships, visit www.ncaa.com/tickets/ gymnastics-women/nc. Photo by Don Liebig, UCLA Photography
in every issue features 25
#COUNTDOWNTORIO
Madison Kocian, 2015 World Champ on Uneven Bars, kicks off our new video series, Inside Look: Journey to the Games.
30 Determination Defined
By Christopher Korotky and Christy Sandmaier Jon Horton, the senior most member of Team USA, was on a perfect path to his third Olympic Games when he felt a pop in his shoulder, ending his run for Rio. Ever determined, Horton is looking ahead to 2017 and beyond.
37
4th Annual Lovely Leotard Challenge
In what has become an annual tradition, we challenged some of the best leotard manufacturers in the world to come up with an Inside Gymnastics leo, fitting the Olympic year.
43 A Little Bit of Gymnastics By Christy Sandmaier Get to know Lizzy Greene, aka Dawn
51 52
Harper on Nickelodeon’s hit show Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn.
46 Summer Camp: Geared
10 17 19 21 23
Up, Prepped Up!
Inside Buzz Chalking Up Shannon Says In The Know with John Roethlisberger Industry Insider Marketplace & Classifieds
photo features 13
Picture Perfect: Wang Yan of China
14 28
Freeze Frame: Simone Biles
On The Cover: Two-time Olympic medalist Jonathan Horton of Team USA. Cover photo by Tony Cordell
Publisher’s Page
[
Center Spread: A Tribute to McKayla Maroney
inside gymnastics
]
A P R I L 2 01 6
9
publisher’s page APRIL 2016
When the general public tunes in every four years to watch the Olympic Games, they get a window into the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. But the perspective that is so often missing is what was involved in the lead-up to those moments – the endless hours in the gym, the taped ankles and wrists, the setbacks, the gains, the blood, sweat and tears that were all a part of the journey to get there. And what of all the hopefuls who were ever so close, but came up just a tad bit short? Only a handful of athletes from each sport make it to the Games to represent their country, but a legion of hopefuls who poured their hearts and souls into attempting to qualify to the Games fall short for many different reasons. While we will of course cover all of the great moments at the Games, we also want to take a look into the process that leads up to it. In this issue, we take a moment to salute three veterans of the United States who won over the hearts of fans around the world and at one time, had their sights on competing in another Olympic Games, but won’t be there in Rio. Jon Horton, a two-time Olympic veteran, was the most seasoned member of the U.S. men’s team aiming for Rio. A severe shoulder injury that required surgical repair will prevent him from challenging for Rio and a third Olympic berth. 2012 Olympic teammates McKayla Maroney and Kyla Ross, who were part of the golden Fierce Five, both announced that they have retired from elite (Ross, who retained her amateur status, will venture on to an NCAA career at UCLA). Horton, who plans to make a run for the 2017 Worlds and another shot at the American Ninja Warrior title, is featured in our cover story. One of my favorite photos of Kyla Ross from over the years, which captures her elegant and artistic persona, is featured in Inside Buzz. And, a look at Maroney’s decorated career graces our center spread mini-poster. All three of these phenomenal athletes revealed within a one week span that they would not be challenging for spots in Rio, igniting social media and inspiring fans to pay tribute to these three Olympic standouts. We salute their spectacular careers to this point and look forward to following the next chapter for each… World Center, World Class! I’d like to thank the team at World Champions Centre (home of Simone Biles) in Spring, Texas for their hospitality in welcoming Inside Gymnastics for a day at their incredible new facility. We really enjoyed our it on our time at the sprawling complex and even had a little vis r ou om cs fr time to play (check out our own Cameron Deer See more pi ideGym! ccount @Ins and his impressive rope climb effort there on our Instagram A Instagram account @InsideGym!).
PRESIDENT&PUBLISHER Christopher Korotky VICE PRESIDENT, SALES Shelly O’Brien CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mandi Mazonkey GRAPHIC DESIGNER Delanie Melehes LEAD CORRESPONDENT Christie Griffin EDITOR Kelly O’Brien EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Christy Sandmaier SALES MANAGER Anastasia Miller OFFICE SERVICES ASSOCIATE Elizabeth Caton ACCOUNTING MANAGER Sheila Brackin LEAD CONSULTANT Danielle Chehimi TECHNOLOGY AND WEB Leonard Ridley COLUMNISTS Shannon Miller John Roethlisberger Christy Sandmaier CORRESPONDENTS Elizabeth Grimsley • Jennifer Isbister Allison Taylor • Cindy Yu PHOTOGRAPHERS Grace Chiu • Lloyd Smith • Tom Theobald INTERNS Emily Giambalvo • Jazzi Grey
The All New InsideGymnastics.com If you haven’t already, check out our all-new website, www.insidegymnastics.com! From dozens of fascinating interviews (Mary Lou Retton, Natalia Yurchenko, Gabby Douglas, and Vanessa Atler, among others) to weekly photo galleries to our new video series, Inside Look: Journey to the Games, we have all the gymnastics bases covered, A to Z!
Enjoy this issue and follow all of our great coverage on the Road to Rio!
START YOUR
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION
TODAY!
DOWNLOAD THE APP CURRENT FOUR 1 SEARCH 2 DOWNLOAD 4 THE “INSIDE THE APP ISSUE WILL GYMNASTICS” DOWNLOAD EASY THE APP ONTO YOUR YOUR STEPS INSTORE 3 PLACE DEVICE ORDER
#INSIDENATION
Submissions: Photo, content/story, letters to the editor and art submissions are welcome. All submissions become property of Inside Gymnastics magazine. For return of materials, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope with adequate postage. Inside Gymnastics assumes no responsibility for unsolicited contributed material. All correspondence should be directed to: Inside Gymnastics, P.O. Box 88605, Atlanta, GA 30356 Inside Gymnastics is a trademark of and is published bi-monthly by Inside Publications, LLC. All materials copyright Inside Publications and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission. All rights reserved. Postage paid in Sun Prairie, Wis., and other mailing offices. Subscription rate for 6 issues: U.S. $19.95; All other countries $36.95 surface delivery, all in U.S. funds. Single copy issues: U.S. $6.95 Postmaster: Send address changes to: Inside Gymnastics, P.O. Box 88605, Atlanta, GA 30356 Tel: 770.394.7160 Fax: 770.394.7720 Email: info@insidegymnastics.com www.insidegymnastics.com
I N S I D E GY M N A ST I C S . CO M
FREEZE frame
32
Film Strip
simone BILES
Floor Exercise USA
32
Film Strip
32A
33
33
Film Strip
33A
34
34
Film Strip
34A
35
35
By Grace Chiu Ask most elite gymnasts about their goals in the sport, and many at the highest levels will tell you that having a skill named after them in the Code of Points is right up there. This year’s favorite for the Olympic title, Simone Biles, has already checked that off her list. The ‘Biles,’ which is a double layout, half out, is cemented in the Code of Points and is just one of the many standout elements that propelled Biles to gold at the 2015 World Championships. Breaking Down the Code:
32
Film Strip
32
32
Film Strip
- Straddle jump full - stag jump half): C, A
Film Strip
32A
Film Strip
33
33
33
Film Strip
33A
Film Strip
34
34
34
Film Strip
34A
Film Strip
35
35
35
- RO-FF-full-twisting double layout: H (lateral twisting and double salto requirement) - RO-FF-Biles (double layout half) Sissone: G+A 0.1 CV - Switch split leap - Split leap 1½: B, D (gym series with 180º split leap requirement) - Head kip - Double wolf turn: D - RO-FF-Silivas (double double tucked): H - Switch leap half to Half-turning Sissone: C, A - Front aerial (forward direction acro requirement) - RO-FF-full-twisting double tuck: E (dismount requirement) - Round-off variation to end pose: Acro DV: 2H @ .8, 1G @ .7, 1E @ .5 = 2.8 Gym DV: 2D @ .4, 2C @ .3 = 1.4
32
4.2 DV + 2.5 CR + 0.1 CV = 6.8 D-score
14
A P R I L 2 01 6
[
inside gymnastics
]
32A
33
33A
34
34A
I N S I D E GY M N A ST I C S . CO M
35
a look at 10 hot topics the gymnastics community is buzzin’ about! Tweet us @InsideGym to let us know what’s getting your attention! Photo By Grace Chiu
{1}
Ross Retires (From Elite) - Fierce Five member Kyla Ross has announced her retirement from elite gymnastics. We’ll miss seeing her make a run at Rio, but look forward to seeing her with newly inspired floor routines choreographed by coach Valorie Kondos Field at UCLA this fall!
{2}
McKayla Moves On - It’s official. 2012 Olympian McKayla Maroney is no longer training, declaring in a GymCastic podcast, “You have to be so passionate and so in love with gymnastics to get to the Olympics and when you lose even an ounce of that, you’re not going to make it.” Our April 2014 cover girl can be proud of a career we all are IMPRESSED with! Holding Our Breath for Beth - 2012 Olympic uneven bars bronze medalist Beth Tweddle sustained an unfortunate injury (fractured vertebrae) while training for the TV show The Jump. She has been released from the hospital and is on the road to recovery. Best wishes, Beth!
{4}
{3}
Baby Quinn! - 2008 Olympic silver medalist Alicia Sacramone Quinn recently announced that she is expecting a baby in August 2016, coinciding with the Rio Olympics! Congratulations to Alicia and her husband, Brady!
Moving On… - Russian star and fan favorite Anastasia Grishina has announced her retirement. Anastasia, who is now married and studying journalism, will forever be remembered for her beautifully artistic performances.
{6}
Focused on 2017 - Cover star Jonathan Horton, a 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympian, had surgery March 16 to repair his shoulder, ending his run for Rio. He is far from retired, focusing on 2017 Worlds and American Ninja Warrior. Read all about it in this issue of Inside Gymnastics!
All Hail Ohashi! - 2013 American Cup champion Katelyn Ohashi won over a legion of new fans after a near perfect performance following a scary fall on balance beam at a dual meet against Arizona. After missing her foot on what was deemed equipment malfunction, Ohashi repeated her routine to score a 9.825. She’s just one of many UCLA gymnasts going viral this season!
{8}
{7}
Mikulak Making His Mark - After missing the 2015 World Championships due to injury, two-time national champion and 2012 Olympian Sam Mikulak roared back with a victory at February’s Winter Cup! Way to go, Sam!
Dennis Down, But Not Out - U.S. National Team member and future UCLA Bruin Nia Dennis recently tore her Achilles tendon. Following surgery, she posted a photo on her Instagram promising her fans, “I will be back.”
{5} {10}
{9}
#RuleYourself - Olympic hopefuls Madison Kocian, Maggie Nichols and MyKayla Skinner are featured in a highly popular Under Armour commercial that touts, “It’s what you do in the dark, that puts you in the light. #RuleYourself #IWILL.” And we love it!
“I feel my time as an elite gymnast has come to an end.” - Kyla Ross I N S I D EGY M N A ST I C S . CO M
[
inside gymnastics
]
A P R I L 2 01 6
17
By Christopher Korotky and Christy Sandmaier Photos By Tony Cordell Grace Chiu
Determination DEFINED.
Jon Horton, the most seasoned member of Team USA challenging for a spot for the 2016 Olympic Games, was on a perfect path to Rio. New skills had been added to his repertoire, routines were flowing beautifully, a new diet plan had him feeling lighter and more energetic than ever, and the most recent Team USA training camp was one of his best ever. Two Olympic Games and two Olympic medals under his belt had provided the perfect foundation and drive to continue to lead the men of Team USA. But on the morning of Feb. 22, just six months before the Games, Horton felt something tear in his left shoulder and heard a pop as he took a turn on pommel horse at his home gym in Houston, Cypress Academy. An MRI would later reveal a devastating tear that would require surgery and four to six months of rehab. In an instant, the 30-year-old’s run for the 2016 Games was over. But sheer will has served him well in his 26 years of gymnastics and he’s determined to fight through this injury and leave the gymnastics stage on his own terms. He plans to train to compete as a specialist at the 2017 World Championships and also make a return to the American Ninja Warrior stage, where he holds the title as the shortest male competitor ever to make it through the course. Unwavering commitment, determination, a strong faith, pure love for his sport, and family and friends behind him supporting him will once again serve him well during challenging times. We caught up with Horton as he reflects on his stellar career and looks ahead to what’s next…
2016 Lovely Leotard Challenge
AlphaFactor.com
Motionwear.com/Gymnastics-Leotards
GKElite.com/Gymnastics
DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE ISSUE AND JOIN THE
#INSIDENATION
TODAY! 1. SEARCH “INSIDE GYMNASTICS” IN THE APP STORE. 2. DOWNLOAD THE APP! 3. PLACE YOUR ORDER. 4. THE CURRENT ISSUE WILL DOWNLOAD INTO YOUR NEWSSTAND.