This week we discuss Jordan Chiles' new book "I'm That Girl", and the meaningful meaningless-ness of NCAA Conference Championships
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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
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MERCH
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NEWSLETTERS
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FANTASY GAME:
GymCastic 2025 College Fantasy Game now open. Never too late to join!
RECENT
- College & Cocktails: Battle Altitude UCLA at Utah
- Spencer’s Live Blog – Friday, March 14, 2025
- Fantasy News: 2025 NCAA Season, Week 10
- The 5th Rotation: March 11, 2025
- Olympic Team Draft: Every Gymnast At Their Quad Peak
- College & Cocktails: Michigan at Oklahoma
- Spencer’s Live Blog – Friday, March 07, 2025
- The 5th Rotation: March 04, 2025
RESOURCES
- Spencer's essential website The Balance Beam Situation
- Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim
- Will Graves article on Chiles coaching abuse
- 2021 U.S. Nationals Recap (41:44)
- Cleo Washington Interview
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
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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
