The history of Doping in women's gymnastics staring East Germany, part two of Patrick Kiens and Daymon Jones' interview, USA Gymnastics' new CEO hire, the return of the American Cup, 2027 college signings and a LA 2028 comeback wish list mini-commission. youtube link

CHAPTERS

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00:00 – Steroids Disguised as Candy (Cold Open) 01:35 – HEADLINES: New USAG CEO Kyle Albrecht 04:41 – American Cup Returns as Mixed-Team Event 07:07 – College Signings: 2027 Class Breakdown 12:11 – United States of Romania: Romanian Stars Announce NCAA Plans 14:14 – More 2027 Signees: UCLA, Oklahoma, Utah, LSU, Georgia, Cal 16:52 – Elite Paths, Injuries & Why Some Elites Skip NCAA Signing 17:26 – DOPING DEEP DIVE (Part 1): East Germany's System Exposed 20:21 – How the GDR Program Worked: State-Run, Double-Blind, Children Targeted 22:31 – "Candy Steroids" & Personality-Based Doping Assignments 23:36 – What Drugs They Used & Why They Worked in Gymnastics 24:36 – Growth-Plate Closure, Neuro Drugs & Long-Term Damage 26:04 – Cadaver-Gland HGH & CJD Risk 27:41 – Reactions in 1989–1990 When the Stasi Files Were Opened 29:06 – IOC Refuses to Strip GDR Medals 29:47 – Missy Marlow Responds: "Where Did All the East Germans Go?" 30:34 – Should Medals Be Corrected or Re-Awarded? 34:13 – Abuse vs. Doping: Who Should Be Punished? 35:36 – Why These Lessons Still Matter for Today's Gymnastics 36:15 – ROMANIA UPDATE: Responses to Patrick & Daymon Interview 37:19 – Maria Holbură Speaks: "I Had to Stand Like a Soldier" 38:24 – NEW Abuse Video of Sabrina Voinea Surfaces 39:00 – Why Romanian Athletes Are Going to the Press 39:54 – INTERVIEW: Patrick & Daymon Part 2 Intro 40:06 – Jakarta Worlds: Overall Impressions 40:26 – Judging Shoutout: Silvia Brescia Nails It 41:47 – Artistry Judging Finally Taken Seriously 42:37 – Floor Choreography Evolving: "You're a Director Now" 43:18 – Consistency Across Subdivisions & Post-Olympic Judging Trends 44:18 – Should US Team Selection Use International Judges? 45:20 – Category Bias: Why Outside Eyes Matter 46:23 – Storyworth Ad Read (Spencer's Mom's Skirt Story) 49:54 – Huel Ad Read (Daily Greens + Peach Flavor Stan Club) 51:55 – Should Trials Use the Same Equipment Brand as Worlds? 53:22 – Equipment Access Inequities: US vs Europe 54:17 – Training Camps & Jet Lag Protocols 55:57 – "Survival of the Fittest": US System vs Small-Nation Systems 56:09 – Should Worlds Allow Traveling Alternates? 57:04 – Why Alternates Need the Experience 57:35 – Daily Logistics in Jakarta: Hotel, Volunteers, Food, Illness 59:07 – Only One Training Time per Day: The Reality 01:00:51 – FIG Cost-Cutting & Why Fewer Trainings Exist Now 01:02:04 – FIG Understaffing Concerns 01:03:12 – White Landing Mats: Visibility & Safety Issues 01:03:52 – Coaches' Round Table: No Questions Allowed?! 01:04:12 – Fujitsu 3D Judging System: Still Vaporware? 01:06:02 – What the Athletes Learned from Jakarta 01:07:31 – Dulcinea's Experience: Making Finals & Next Steps 01:08:32 – Upgrades, Code Exploration & Smart Routine Building 01:10:20 – Why E-Score Matters as Much as D-Score 01:11:03 – Routine Construction in the U.S.: A Long-Standing Problem 01:12:18 – Why International Judges Should Be Involved in Routine Design 01:14:12 – Long-Term Vision for Building a Program 01:14:46 – MINI COMMISSION INTRO: Comeback Wishlist for LA28 01:15:05 – Christy's Brief: "Who Should Come Back for 2028?" 01:15:25 – Spencer Prepares Emotionally 01:16:22 – Jessica's #1 Pick: Casey Jo Magee on Beam 01:17:56 – Spencer's #1 Pick: McKayla Maroney (All-Around Queen) 01:18:25 – Also Spencer: Brenna Dowell Comeback Campaign 01:19:10 – Jessica's #2 Pick: Vanessa Atler 01:20:04 – Spencer's 2009–2016 Alt Universe Superteam 01:21:00 – Pre-Paris Retirees: Who Should Return Now? 01:21:28 – JJ Marshall + Bailey Key + More Forgotten Talents 01:22:00 – The Gabby Douglas Rule ("No Today Show Comebacks") 01:23:04 – Why Gymnasts Need Real Meets Before Announcing 01:24:00 – College Head Coach Comeback Team?! (Casey Jo, Wieber, Preece, Tabitha) 01:25:10 – Cecile as Beam Queen? Citizenship Questions 01:26:07 – Tabitha Yim as the Secret Weapon 01:26:50 – Shawn Johnson? Nastia? Maybe Not. 01:27:03 – Chelsea/Alicia Self-Selecting Themselves for Paris (Chaos Edition) 01:28:32 – Join Club Gym Nerd / Fantasy Notes 01:29:11 – GYMTERNET NEWS: NCAA Schedule + ABC/ESPN Slate 01:30:03 – All-Japan Results + Aurora Tribute Routine by Kenzo 01:31:18 – FEEDBACK: Obi Cam Praise + Cocopuff the Pomeranian 01:32:38 – YouTube Subscriptions & Comment Rules 01:33:35 – Junior Worlds Preview: "It's in a Ballroom!"

HEADLINES:

• USA Gymnastics has hired Kyle Albrecht, a former Major League Soccer executive, to lead the organization. What do we think about this decision?
• The American Cup is BACK as an international meet and is now a mixed-team event. When and where will the competition be held?
• We have college signings for 2027! Who is going where? But what does it even mean to "sign" with a school?
  • All the big elites are going to Florida
  • No Hezly for LSU?
  • The United States of Romania starring Ella Oprea (Clemson), Amalia Ghigoarta (MSU), and Lilia Cosman (MSU)
• DOPING IN WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS:
  • If you thought doping wasn't a problem in gymnastics, Uncle Tim busted out the archives to let you know otherwise
  • Blue Pills and Broken Spines: How East Germany Destroyed Its Young Gymnasts
  • The Vault Champion Who Vanished after Doping

INTERVIEW: PATRICK KIENS AND DAYMON JONES PART TWO

• VOINEA ABUSE ALLEGATION UPDATE: Video and more allegations against Camilla Voinea
• What were the reactions from the Romanian media about last week's part one interview with Patrick and Daymon?
• Maria Holbură released a statement speaking out about the abuse within the Romanian system
• What do Patrick and Daymon think about selection procedures for the American system?
• What were Jakarta World Championships like in comparison to previous World Championships?
• How did they feel about competition safety and the equipment?
• Is the Fujitsu AI judging system actually happening? Reactions from the presentation
• What do judges want to see in terms of artistry on beam and floor?
• A shout out to Sylvia Brestyan for her analysis on judging accuracy
• How American gymnasts can reconstruct their routines for code-smart routines
• What are some positive examples of athlete adaptation?

MINI COMMISSION: COMEBACK WISH LIST FOR THE LA 2028 GAMES

• This mini commission is from our Fantasy Winner, Christy: With the next summer Olympics in LA, it's the perfect time for someone to mount a comeback! Love a good comeback, and who wouldn't want to compete at your home country's Olympics!?! Is there anyone you realistically believe is training for a comeback, and who would you like to see come out of the woodwork and make a run for 2028?

GYMTERNET NEWS:

• NCAA schedules are starting to roll in!
  • Starts:
    • Jan. 10 - ABC - Sprouts (Oklahoma, UCLA, Utah, LSU)
    • Jan 10 - ESPN2 - Sprouts (Michigan State, California, Kentucky, Michigan)
  • Ends:
    • Apr. 18 - Championship Preview Show is back, followed by NCAA Championship
• All Japan Championships results
  • VT: Miyata Shoko (13.999 average) UB: Nakashima Karin (14.066) BB: Kishi Rina (14.500) FX: Kishi Rina (14.166) AA: Kishi Rina (55.999)

UP NEXT:

• Behind The Scenes: Live Q&A podcast Friday this week only at noon Pacific/8 GMT

RELATED:

• World Championships Headquarters Videos, Interviews, Podcasts, Fantasy, Guides from Jakarta World Championships
• Jakarta Worlds Debrief: The Romanian Drama Explained With Coaches Daymon Jones & Patrick Kiens
• Trouble in Romania
• The History of Romanian Gymnastics (Commissioned)
• 80's Fight! The great Soviet Romanian Rivalry (Commissioned)
• The Fluff Cast: Deva isn't a castle?!
• Behind The Scenes: Back from Jakarta
• Eythora Thorsdottir and Coach Patrick Kiens
• Behind the Scenes - all episodes

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RESOURCES

• Spencer's essential website The Balance Beam Situation
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• Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim
• The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles by Aimee Boorman with Fact Checker. Aimee coached Simone from day one in gymnastics to three back to back World All Around titles, 14 world medals and an unprecedented 5 medals at the Rio Olympics. Get your copy now. And if you loved it, please leave a review.