This week we discuss Jordan Chiles' new book "I'm That Girl", and the meaningful meaningless-ness of NCAA Conference Championships
2025 LIVE SHOW SEASON PASS ON SALE (limited time)
A FELLOW GYM NERD NEEDS YOUR HELP
If you've been enjoying the new badges in your fantasy trophy case, you can thank fellow gym nerd and designer, Eyal Itzhaki. Unfortunately Eyal recently had a fluke accident that required spinal surgery and has left him with a long recovery ahead. He has started a GoFundMe to support this effort.
Book Club: Jordan Chiles' "I'm That Girl"
- Chiles' frank, unprecedented discussion of abuse and her parents the acknowledgment of the role played during that time
- Our highlights from the book
- On sexism: why can't women act competitively like in men's sports without being labeled "rude"?
- Therapy rewards
- Woodwind instrument stans rise. Did you know Jordan was a band kid?
- The dark side of elite gymnastics culture
- The lack of black represention in her gymnastics community growing up
- 7 hour training schedule with a 15-minute snack break
- Normalizing not having your period
- Sneaking into the kitchen at the Karolyi Ranch for food
- Erika Bakacs
- Jordan's gymnastics coach, and also Tanya Harding's choreographer
- Several accusations made against Bakacs in the book
- Calorie restrictions, racism, obsessively controlling Jordan's diet, relationships, and personal life outside of the gym
- Exploiting gymnasts' parents for personal favors
- Drunk coaching
- Role of SafeSport
- Perspective and Context
- Fact-Checking
- The publisher did not do their job
- Opportunities to clarify and give context - discussion of body fat, gymnasts' heights, hip-hop floor routines, competing in NCAA and elite simultaneously
- Luci Collins the first black woman to make a U.S. Olympic gymnastics team
- Other GymCastic Book Club episodes
GYMTERNET NEWS
- Our beloved Irish king of the pommels won Irish "Dancing With the Stars"
- You guys, it's a college sports thing. Speedo boy, Michael Phelps joins the college sports curtain of distraction at a basketball game
- The National Association of Intercollegiate Gymnastics Clubs (NAIGC) is surveying the adult gymnastics community. Fill out the survey here
- Grace McCallum is returning to Utah next season as a student coach
- Try not to get too excited, but Trinity Thomas announced she mayyy not be done with gymnastics
- NBC extended their media rights on all platforms in the United States for the Olympic Games through to 2036 under a $3 billion contract
NCAA
- What's on the line for conference championships besides titles?
- Oklahoma, LSU, and Florida are all in a close race for the no. 1 spot to finish the season. What scores does each team need to win?
- Spencer's bracketology corner
- Why does Alabama need to be moved?
- Arkansas is locked in at no. 16 despite not having a conference championship score
- Our 12 bubble teams for who could grab the last three spots to regionals
- Greg Marsden's Instagram post about NCAA Gymnastics growth
Q&A
- Thoughts on a reality show about an Irish Men's Gymnastics house with a dramatic game of drunk chess for each episode
- Are there scoring advantages for elite gymnasts in NCAA?
- Brown Skin tone turning shoes for gymnasts
UP NEXT
- College & Cocktails: Saturday, March 22 at 7:00pm PT after Conference Championships
- Fantasy Lineups Lock: Friday, March 21 – 2:30pm PT
- Add exclusive Club Content like College & Cocktails to your favorite podcast player (instructions here).
- Never miss a live episode! Import the entire College & Cocktails schedule into your Google and iCal calendar here
Join Our Fantasy League
BONUS CONTENT
Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind the Scenes episodes. Club Gym Nerd members can watch the podcast being recorded and get access to all of our exclusive extended interviews, Behind The Scenes and College & Cocktails. Not sure about joining the club? College & Cocktails: The Friday Night NCAA Gymnastics Post-Meet Show is available to sample (even if you aren't a Club Gym Nerd member yet). Watch or listen here. 2025 College & (M)Cocktails menu (including mocktails of course)
MERCH
GymCastic Store: clothing and gifts to let your gym nerd flag fly and even “tapestries” (banners, the perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast! Baseball hats available now in the GymCastic store
NEWSLETTERS
Sign up for all three GymCastic newsletters
FANTASY GAME:
GymCastic 2025 College Fantasy Game now open. Never too late to join!
RECENT
RESOURCES
RESISTANCE Submitted by our listeners.
TAKE ACTION
Indivisible Practical ideas about what you can actually do in this moment, check it out: indivisi.org/muskorus
5Calls App will call your Congresspeople by issue with a script to guide you Make 2 to your Congressional rep (local and DC office). 2 each to your US Senators (local and state offices) State your name and zip code or district Be concise with your question or demand (i.e. What specific steps is Senator X taking to stop XYZ) Wait for answer Ask for action items - tell them what you want them to do (i.e. draft articles of impeachment immediately, I want to see you holding a press conference in front of...etc.)
ResistBot Turns your texts into faxes, postal mail, or emails to your representatives in minutes
LAWSUITS - Donate to organizations suing the administration for illegal actions ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, Northwest Immigration Law Project
Suggested podcasts: Amicus, Daily Beans, Pod Save America, Strict Scrutiny
Immigrant Rights Know Your Rights Red Cards, We Have Rights Video, Your Rights on trains and buses video
