GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

158: Ariana Berlin Full Out Movie


Listen Later

Full Out, the movie is based on the life of b-girl Ariana Berlin. Photo courtesy of UCLA.

Ariana Berlin is happy, goofy, surprising, unique, beautiful and partially made of steel. She made her mark on college gymnastics by bringing her professional hip hop dance background onto the competition floor. Her floor routines were something totally new and sometimes controversial but always entertaining. But the road to NCAA finals almost went through the grave. "Ari" went from a being a promising level 10 gymnast, about to test for elite, to a girl in a coma, told when she woke up that she would never do gymnastics again. Though a car accident almost killed her and her mother, losing gymnastics was heartbreaking. She found solace in dance with the world famous hip hop troupe Culture Shock. A dance performance in front of UCLA head coach, Valorie Kondos-Field led her back to gymnastics. After years away from the sport, with a rod holding her femur together, Ari walked onto the UCLA gymnastics team, earned a scholarship and became one of their most consistent gymnasts of all time. While at UCLA she hit 175 of her 182 career routines (96%) without a fall, never missed a competition in 57 consecutive meets. In the final competition of her career, the former walk-on, placed fourth all-around at the 2009 NCAA Championships. We talk about the movie based on her life called, Full Out, staring Flashdance star, Jennifer Beals. We discuss:

  • GymMyth Busters Full Out edition; we separate fact from fiction and talk about the liberties taken with her story in order to deliver a dramatic message of inspiration.
  • Being star struck and all of the cameos: Alicia Sacramone, Jordyn Weiber, Victoria Moors, Samantha Peszek and Elfie Schlegel are all in the movie!
  • Ariana's advice for walk-on (non-scholarship) athletes, how to get onto your dream team and what to do even if finances won't make it easy.
  • How she became so consistent and her mental game.
  • Dealing with the haters who claimed her ground breaking hip-hop floor choreography was cultural appropriation or racially inappropriate.

In the news this week, Evan Heiter and Jessica chat about:

  • Simone Biles going pro: Is it too soon or the perfect time to turn pro? If this will affect her preparation for Rio and which brands we want her to endorse!
  • The first ever all adult gymnastics camp took place in July at Atlantic Gymnastics in New Hampshire. We talked to the camp director Gina Paulhus, gym owner Tony Retrosi and two campers to find out what made this weekend such a sucess.
    • The clinics by the pool that made this camp unique: dealing with fear and mental blocks, physical therapy sessions, and a class on nutrition for the adult gymnast with tips on balancing snacks and meals between work and family on the way to the gym.
    • Why Tony Retrosi, gym owner and coach, supports adult gymnastics and the adult camp.
    • Campers Ryan and Stefane explain how the camp accommodated:
      • different gymnastics and fitness levels
      • people who didn't do every event
      • made the schedule reasonable for all levels
      • helped everyone feel welcome by hosting everything from dinners to beach trips
    • The fun awards Gina created to make each camper feel special.
    • Tony's advice on the best student to coach ratio for adult gymnastics classes.
    • How to identify the right coach for an adult gymnastics class.
    • Afraid to try adult gymnastics? Stefane and Ryan explain how adult gymnastics has helped them find their community and why they recommend it to others.

  • Find out how to watch P&G Championships (the US National Gymnastics Championships) and hear Samantha Peszek and Evan Heiter do reprise last year's commentary fabulousness on the official website pgchamps.com
  • Find out more about Adult Gymnastics Camp Director, competitive adult gymnast and personal trainer, Gina Paulhus here.
  • Tony Retrosi's website is gymmomentum.com
  • Here is Gina's article with details on the schedule, costs, demographics, staffing and photos of adult gymnastics camp!

  • 132: It's Never Too Late to Start Adult Gymnastics
  • 105: Chicago Secret Classic Preview, Cuba is Back & Nadia Promotes Adult Gymnastics
  • 119: How to Watch Nanning Podium Training & The Tumble Finale Recap
  • 116: Louis Smith, Amelle Berrabah of Team Sexy & Tumble Episode 5 Recap
  • 75: Classic Episode - UCLA's Miss Val
  • 157: The 2015 Secret Classic
  • Episode 42: The 2013 Secret US Classic from Chicago
  • Episode 41: Laurie Hernandez & Coach Maggie Haney
  • Episode 28: Kristen Maloney
  • Episode 31: Elise Ray
  • Episode 33: Simone Biles & Her Coaches
  • Episode 48: Kyla Ross
  • 61: Katelyn Ohashi Clears The Air

Gina Paulhus's Adult Gymnastics Camp at Atlantic Gymnastics in New Hampshire.

Watch this week's playlist on YouTube here.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

GymCastic: The Gymnastics PodcastBy [email protected]

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

1,431 ratings


More shows like GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

View all
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang by Big Money Players Network and iHeartPodcasts

Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

8,812 Listeners

Pod Save America by Crooked Media

Pod Save America

87,552 Listeners

Love to See It with Emma and Claire by Claire Fallon, Emma Gray

Love to See It with Emma and Claire

5,674 Listeners

Bachelor Party by The Ringer

Bachelor Party

5,080 Listeners

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard by Armchair Umbrella

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

69,798 Listeners

All Things Gymnastics Podcast by All Things Gymnastics Podcast

All Things Gymnastics Podcast

177 Listeners

sticky bun boys by sticky bun boys

sticky bun boys

325 Listeners

The Runthrough by Adam Rippon, Ashley Wagner, and Sarah Hughes

The Runthrough

338 Listeners

Culture Study Podcast by Anne Helen Petersen

Culture Study Podcast

702 Listeners

Flipping Out with Bridget Sloan by Sport & Story

Flipping Out with Bridget Sloan

43 Listeners

Neutral Deductions by Neutral Deductions

Neutral Deductions

80 Listeners

Jocks in Jills by Jocks in Jills

Jocks in Jills

54 Listeners

Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce by Wave

Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce

10,277 Listeners

Intrusive Thoughts by Adam Rippon by PodcastOne

Intrusive Thoughts by Adam Rippon

274 Listeners

On The Floor with Liv and Cor by On The Floor with Liv and Cor

On The Floor with Liv and Cor

6 Listeners