"I say after every major comp I'll reassess and see where I am and probably during this competition I reassessed and I was like 'I'm not done yet, I want to go to worlds." -- Lauren Mitchell
"Let England have a turn. We'll get back. Next year in 2015 and 2016 we have a couple of little hot shots that are turning 16, because they have to be 16 before they can compete at this level. So we've got some 14 and 15-year-olds back at home that will be 'our Claudia' next year." - Peggy Liddick
From here.
94 comments:
Lauren also indicated on a tv interview this morning that she wouldn't be retiring any time soon. I hope, with more time and training, she can regain top form again.
Regarding Liddick's comments:
That's great for the promising up-and-comers but when push comes to shove, will Liddick actually give them a go or will she choose the 'experienced ones' yet again, as her (unsuccessful) history over the last 4 years shows? Or, will Liddick even been in the head coach position and able to make those decisions! Time will tell I guess.
I don't really see the 'hot shots' she's referring to. Our juniors were walloped at Jesolo and PacRim and most are still doing D tumbles at most and layout yurchenkos.
Look I hate to be negative and although I see some hope. We really need a major shake up, I'm way dissappointed in our juniors, hardly any can tumble, least haven't at comps. Hopefully some of the newer seniors have upgrades ready it's our best hope for the short term. I used to be super excited bout our juniors.
You obviously didn't take notice of junior floor and do not understand tumbling combinations and difficulty scores of some of the tumbles successfully executed. Higher than most of the seniors and they're only 14.
Let England have a turn, that's so rude and not a good way to excuse her teams performance. Congratulations to Lauren, but hardly her best comp or scores. Well done MAM, along time coming for her, but still not really world standard score. These girls did there very best and thankfully go home with medals to be proud of but at a Worlds comp, I'm not so sure there would be medals to go home with. I feel for GRB, she also has been waiting a long while for this opportunity, I wonder if injury was her downfall, injury can play heavily on the mental preparation and Peggy is not very forgiving when it comes to competing with injury, her "duty of care" goes out the window.You are there to do a job regardless of how you are physically and mentally coping. Worlds will be interesting. When will the worlds team be announced?
Oh for goodness' sake it's exactly the kind of harmless jibe you hear after an Ashes, it's nothing new or worth starting a war over, relax.
Our entire gymnastics delegation have been nothing but gracious and admiring in the press of what England pulled off this week, as a group and as individuals. If our head coach had said "Well frankly I think we let absolutely everyone down and the silvers AREN'T the best of a bad situation and I don't think we'll show our faces again anytime soon." she'd have been hauled off home like Hollingsworth.
worlds trials are only a month away!Not much time.
Sorry Mez, disagree that it's a harmless jibe. She shouldn't say that. England was far better than Australia, she should be more gracious in defeat. We had better young ones at home, she chose not to bring them. The only reason why Australia "had their turn" last time was because England didn't send their A team because of Worlds. The girls have done well, the best I think they could have given where Australia is at at the moment. But we are still a long way off being back in the top 8. Looking at this team I don't see a lot of improvement considering we took considerable time out to develop difficulty in our routines. Execution seemed to let us down as well, no good having the difficulty if we can't get the score for executing it
properly. This is where Olivia and Mary Anne fall down on a worlds stage. Time will tell!
I agree with the fact that Peggy has no qualms re a gymnast make to compete with injury. I know one beautiful elegant gymnast who competed with injury and ended up with such a sever injury that she was never able to compete again, even missing her chance at the Olympics,. GA have not even acknowledged that she has now moved on to another sport where her past injury will not hold her back.
I interpreted the "let England have their turn" comment as resignation, not rudeness. Peggy knows she hasn't got much to work with, and when I say that I'm talking in relative terms (I think Lauren, Larrissa and MAM did great). We just don't have the depth of talent in the ranks that we've had in the past. There are very few good juniors coming through and I too wondered who she was referring to. Alysha Djuric and Darcy Norman are great but still have a long way to go. Alexandra Eade was the red hot junior a few years ago but seems to be struggling with injury and a growth spurt in her first year as a senior. I too despair at the future of Australian gymnastics.
Anon 1:40pm... Which gymnast are you referring to?
We can't have anything but praise for the girls as they went out and performed to the best of their ability.....
They can't be competitive if they are not taught new skills and given higher difficulties....., I believe you are only as good as your coaches!!! So we need to stop looking at the girls and instead we need to look at the overall program. Maybe we need to source some new coaches that are able to teach the more difficult skills, is Peggy the right National coach or do we need a change? Our girls have had the same routines for years..... Are they sick of performing them so they don't come out with confidence as they don't show signs of progression.
As for depth in the sport......its not because we don't have the number of girls that would like to do the sport, it's more we have too much favouritism from coaches and they are quick to rule girls out..and therefore only focus on a very small number.
We need to focus on the gymnasts strengths and develop them, they need good strength and fitness programs and not just skills ..... And their injuries need to be better monitored and cared for, not used as an excues on why they didn't perform..
Yes it was England's turn and it will be again if Australia doesn't get their head out of the sand and change their ways..... Our girls are capable so let's give them the chance.
Annon at 1:40 PM - Are you maybe referring to Georgia Simpson?
I think Peggy could have been more gracious in her comments about England. Acknowledging how well the GB program has been building over the years doesn't mean she has to slam our own program or the Aussie gymnasts. The whole "let them have their turn" sounds really dismissive.
She knows that GB has not just a chance to be a top 5 country, but perhaps even bypass Romania (or even China, depending on their depth!) to be a top 4. Australia's never come close to having that kind of turn. It baffles me that we don't have more depth!
I don't think Peggy herself can be 100% to blame for the state of gymnastics in Australia. But as the head coach, and face of the sport, she is the one who has to take responsibility for the decisions so she's the one who is going to cop it from the public.
That said, I'm thrilled that Mary-Anne and Larrissa competed so wonderfully, particularly Larrissa. I can see her in the worlds bar final for sure with some increased difficulty. Lauren looked super disappointed with Silver but even she knew if she hit floor she wasn't even close to Frags.
I still lament we didn't get Alexandrov in Australia.
5.35 Yes I was. But she has now moved on. It was such I severe injury that she could no longer do any hard landings on her heel. When she competed at Pac Rims she was carrying a swollen and badly bruised ankle on her right foot and injured her left heel as she couldn't land her tumble on her right foot.
Since the whole reason to keep the gymnasts home for a year was to increase their D scores, does anyone have a comparison for each gymnast pre and post this year off competitions? I'd be interested to know just how much (if any) of their D scores have increased. If not significantly, then what was the point of keeping them home?
Also, according to the winning edge strategy, we need to medal in Rio in order to keep our funding. Sadly, can't see us coming even close to that.
Wonder how Georgia Godwin, our Australian National Champion, feels about comments like the ones Peggy made about a couple of young hot shots coming up. What more does she need to do. Hope she doesn't get tired of waiting in the wings for the veterans to bow out. What does a couple of hot shots who aren't age eligible mean for today's competitions, a lot can happen in 12 months. Will they still be around? Will they be healthy? How about working with new seniors and giving them the attention they need to be the next ones in line.
I think it's going to be hard for even Lauren to get back into the top, not that I don't think she is good enough, just think the test of the world has progressed beyond her.
How's this for a winning edge strategy instead:
*Martine George for head coach
*Make WAIS the main training base (like The Ranch in the USA
*LivViv for team mascot lol
The thing is, I've heard GG has dual citizenship so what's stopping her from competing elsewheres?
So, what do you think Martine would do so differently management / technical / communication / direction etc etc ? What could Martine and her team implement to help turn things around ?
Do this happens, instead of talking,gymnastics experts...
Do you ever considered Tasmania as the main training base?
It will be almost impossible to run away from all of those written comments.
I felt like Peggy took a bit of a backstep at these games - literally. Martine seemed to be more present and vocal for all the girls this time around, it was like Peggy chose not to say much to see how they operated with someone else in charge. There were certainly a lot fewer frowns across the board!
To the elite Australian coaches:
Kеер your head up high.
You do an amazing job.
The passion and determination of your work is priceless.
The rest of Australian coaches are not interested in the Implemented delivery to international level of gymnastics.
Do you want your child to be the next Olympian?
Make a change.
I feel that was a direct jab at gg from Peggy, I feel she is worried about her position after another dismal failure called by her!
Martine at least has a more positive and caring approach. If what some posters are saying is true, and that the gymnasts lack self-belief and confidence, then someone like Martine in the head position would be an asset. That's not enough though. The entire program needs a huge shake up, starting with coaches who can teach vault.
Mez, interesting you made the point about Martine being more present this time around. I noticed that too, and wonder if that was a small step towards her eventually taking over head coach position. Just thinking about aloud here!
This makes for very interesting reading:
https://secure.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/336760/WAGreview.pdf
The review done of the WAG HP program 8 years ago, in 2006.
The key takeaways were that we are only mining our talent pool in two states, VIC and WA. Since this review, NOTHING has been done and the situation has deteriorated even further.
QLD is is its worst state for a long time. They only had a small contingent of 5-7 athletes at nationals, from IDP6 up. Can't remember the last time they only had one senior.
SA program has died. Their IDP sixes were winning team medals at nationals in 2009-10. Now that whole generation has been wiped out and the GYMJETS program is dead in the water.
NSW clubs have their closed their elite programs - Epping, Castle Hill et al. Since this review 8 years ago not a single NSW athlete has made a major team, and they a still clearly a step behind in quality at senior level despite being better at developmental stages.
The AIS has closed.
And people wonder why we have no depth.
Wish we could go back to these days now:
http://www.gymnastics.org.au/site/gymnastics/national/downloads/www2008/assets/images/news/WAG%20AIS%20CAMP%2007/RIMG1060.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gE63uuZVxM
^ that's really depressing
Qld may have been few in numbers but the came 2nd and third AAin IDP 6, 1st AA is IDP 8, 2nd AA is IDP 10 and 1st AA for Senior. Not bad seeing they only had one coach for IDP 5-Senior and NO beam coach. NSW hasn't closed their program.. Epping elite gymnasts have simply moved gyms. Granted numbers in those States need to increase but quantity doesn't equal quality. If injuries are managed properly, small numbers of quality gymnasts can do the job.
NSWIS has no intentions of supporting or running a WAG HP Centre. Some elite gymnasts moving from Epping to Rooty Hill is being promoted as the HP centre but is still a independent HP program. NSW gymnasts wanting to be included in Aussie Teams have had to move interstate- AIS, WAIS and VIS (ie Mary-anne Monkton). Also looks from earlier comments that there has been a move from QLD to VIC as well (ie Larissa Miller)!
Maybe it will take what happened to Canada to happen to Australia to see any changes made - fail to qualify a team to an Olympics
Couldn't have a head coach out of a country town could we?
anon 8:28pm Got any viable suggestions?
No wonder the girls don't believe in themselves with comments like those from the head coach. She basically said non of the seniors are any good. These girls must wonder whether it is worth all the effort and sacrifice.
I'm not sure how Liddick's background as primarily Beam coach for Shannon Miller provides her with a superior standing to some of the other coaches who have successfully led European teams to Olympic games (ie former WAG Head Coach at GymJets, now at Sydney West Gymsports) - but maybe someone can explain how?
Also, if Aust Team of experienced gymnasts (which was the basis of Liddick's selections for Team apparently) is 'underbaked' or 'underprepared' then GA are in serious trouble! It seems akin to desperation to assert that all Aust is waiting for is a couple of "Cladia's" to rise through the ranks to save the day! let alone the implied criticism of the current Senior and Juniors.
It was just announced on the radio that the gymnastics at these Comm games produced the worst result of any Comm games. If that's true, I really hope it doesn't affect funding for worlds
ouch. what radio station was that on?!
This is from the herald sun this morning - a sport by sport analysis;
GYMNASTICS
THIS was never going to end well.
Australia entered Glasgow with 12 golds to defend from Delhi, had star Lauren Mitchell coming back from shoulder surgery and had a young team in transition.
They walked away with just four silvers and no gold for the first time in 36 years, failing to defend their title in the women’s artistic teams final for the first time in five games.
The only real good news is that 23-year-old “veteran” Mitchell goes on to this year’s world championships, but England are powerful and getting better.
THE STAR: At a pinch, Larissa Miller given many believed her uneven bars routine was good enough for gold, not silver, and she was in the women’s teams final when we won silver.
THE FIND: Mary-Anne Monckton won silver in the beam final at just 19 and has real upside.
THE DISAPPOINTMENT: The men’s team as a collective who failed to pick up a single medal despite the recruitment of former Japanese Olympian Naoya Tsukahara.
MEDAL COUNT: 4 silver
They say: “We are not disappearing off the face of the planet. We came in ranked third. So let England have a turn. We will get back.” coach Peggy Liddick.
We say: A step backwards for Australia without any real stars about to resuscitate our 2016 campaign and Mitchell to retire at the very latest after Rio.
I think our Aussie Gymnastics Program is in a realy bad way and it's going to take years and years to recover from this.
We've known for so so long that we're weak on vault and what the heck are we doing about it. For Liz to turn around and say 'if we knew how to fix it we would.' (or something along those lines is completely unacceptable. I say out with the old and in with the new. It's time for a MAJOR shake up over here and if this doesn't happen, nothing is going to change.
I was watching the Level 9 vaults from a recent USA comp, and their girls who were no older than 12 or 13 were competing beautiful full twisting yurchenkos. Some of our Senior internationals are competing nothing more than Yurchenko layouts. It's embarassing!!! Even India are vaulting better than us!!!
Something has got to be done about this otherwise we are doomed!!!
I thought our girls did well, for where they are at. None really seem to have increased in difficulty though despite the time to re group and work on difficulty. We had Lauren coming back from surgery and I believe Mary Anne also had further surgery on her feet? Olivia and her back, although I think a BROKEN back was a bit extreme! GRB has had feet issues as well. How can Australia be in a position where all we have to chose from and rely on are recovering injured gymnasts. Perhaps if GA spent more time trying to help others with better recovery program's and trying to keep gymnasts like Emily Little involved perhaps we would keep more of our Seniors.They tend to have blinkers on and just take care of the top FEW. To much attention is given to one or two of the top gymnasts which makes others feel that they are always in someone's shadow. Spread the attention,support and recognition and they might not lose so many who quite frankly just give up! So much attention has been given to Lauren that they now wouldn't know what to do if sh retires, they are pretty stuffed! Perhaps there was so much pressure on these girls to perform and bring back gold and defend titles that they simply couldn't deliver the results. I have witnessed The National head coach and personal coaches turn thier backs on injured gymnasts, attitudes need to change to build up our numbers to deepen our pool of athletes. Why would you want your daughter to be a part of such a negative sport that only a couple of girls in a cycle get recognition when they all work extremely hard.
from the paper:
NOW FOR THE GAMES RECKONING
How the sports performed against Australian Sports Commission medal targets: medal targets in parenthesis:
EXCEEDED TARGET
Cycling 19 (10-15)
Shooting 8 (3-6)
Boxing 3 (0-2)
BELOW TARGET
Athletics 9 (12-20)
Badminton 0 (1-3)
Gymnastics 4 (10-16)
Swimming 48 (53-55)
Triathlon 1 (2-3)
MET TARGET
Bowls 3 (2-5)
Diving 8 (8-10)
Hockey, women 1 (1)
Hockey, men 1 (1)
Judo 4 (4-6)
Netball 1 (1)
Rugby 7s 1 (0-1)
Weightlifting 3 (1-3)
Squash 3 (2-4)
Is next years Worlds the Olympic qualifier? Gulp!
I do hope GA over rule and allow some young Seniors to attend this Worlds. Lets face it, Australia won't be in the top so lets give valuable experience without pressure to some young ones. Give GRB and OV a rest. I don't know how we are going to have a strong group within a year to be able to be in the top 8 to qualify. It would be a shame to see Australia miss an Olympics! It's going to be tough especially after watching the recent American comps.Those girls are amazing!
We're lucky that Russia barely seems to be holding together their national team. I've heard murmurings about China having similar problems with depth.
But damn, it says something when you could probably make two or three teams of the US juniors who would be competitive with our seniors. I know it's unfair to compare, but you have to be willing to compete with the top nations if you want to be one.
It's disheartening to hear that review recommendations from years ago were essentially ignored.
Gymnastics in Australia has been ruined by a few people who think they know better. We should of been in a re development phase this commonwealth games and gone with some Youth to give them experience. So many talented young gymnastics have left the sport due to favouritism. Funding seriously needs to be reviewed for this program. It is no point pinning all your hopes on a couple of little 'hot shots'.
If you go to The All Around website and look up the 2014 wag rankings it's fairly obvious that Australia is absolutely going to struggle at Worlds no matter what team is chosen. I hope they manage to pull a rabbit out of their hat!!
The whole gymnastics program in Australia needs a shake up including WA. So many good gymnastics are lost in WA due to the fact you can only do international stream at WA"IS. It is not ideal and too far for many to travel to. It is based in the Western Suburbs which is where all the wealthy live and no one can afford to live there or travel there. The program at WAIS has ruined WA gymnastics. They burn them up, spit them out which is why there are no national level gymnasts in WA. The change needs to come from the top with the removal of Liz Chetkovich!
I find it interesting that it was reported swimming was below the targeted medal count. I remember listening to the last night of the broadcast and the announcers were so excited as the team had exceeded expectations in terms of medal count.
Liz has not been the Head of the WAIS gymnastics program for a few years now, the Head Coach Iof gymnastics is now Martine George. The WAIS program is a very good program but totally agree with the fact that clubs are not encouraged to develop Elite gymnasts past a certain level. That, yes you can blame Liz for.
Liz is still involved at the top and influences what happens everywhere. You are blind if you can't see that. A total overhaul is needed.
A Peggy and Liz combo, that's disastrous ! Poor girls!
Peggy should get alana slater to make a comeback to fix our vault
Alana never been a good vaulter
Just remember Allana was Commonwealth Games vault champion in 2002 with yurchenko 1.5 and full-on pike off, so can't say she was never good at it and it was on the table she didn't grow up training on.
i'm sure peggy thinks those face plants will be an improvement
"Two year til Rio!"
Uh oh
shes probably already working on them
Gymnastics WA have posted on FB that Emily Little is back in training and will be competing at the Chetkovich Cup in Perth on 18th October!
well she already has the wobble and butt splat down pat
!!Wow!! just read Peggy's comments, that would be hurtful to the up and coming senior girls who have their hearts set on going to worlds. eg Georgia G, Maddi and Kiara what does that say that the young up and coming 15-16 girls will take their place??? what we have now is not good enough to go.
!!Wow!! just read Peggy's comments, that would be hurtful to the up and coming senior girls who have their hearts set on going to worlds. eg Georgia G, Maddi and Kiara what does that say that the young up and coming 15-16 girls will take their place??? what we have now is not good enough to go.
Queensland girls should be producing the goods now that there is only 12 girls in the entire program and four coaches. I don't know a program that has such low numbers, no one apparently is ever good enough to get in the program, even though there is some very talented Queensland gymnasts. Shame there isn't other training centres for girls wanting to do the international stream. It means so many talented gymnasts miss out on the opportunity!
she will have olivia working on a piked yurchenko soon
14 girls in program and several coming in in a couple of weeks. One of the coaches is only part-time. And Qld have done with only two coaches and no beam coach for a very long time. So they deserve the ratio of coaches to gymnast for one or two months at the most because that is how long they will get that priveledge.
or maybe a buttahara
yawn
At least Emily should be able to pull out some higher difficulty vaults.
Now all we need are some gymnastics who can do beam, floor and bars lol :)
Is the 10-16 medal tally amount only for wag or does it cover mag and rhythmic as well.
It includes MAG and Rhythmic but they didn't win any so we all lose funding
So what's happening with worlds selection, when is the descision made and who's looking good?
Loans from as low as 2%
Has anyone looked backed at the top IDP winners for the last couple of years? THESE were our 2016 hopefuls...how many are left in the sport now? Which means Peggy's hot dots weren't in the top three. GA -LOOK AFTER YOUR ATHLETES or they will leave....
How many 2016 hopeful wag gymnasts are left training in Australia?
GET YOUR GIRLS OUT NOW THIS IS A NOTHING SPORT WITH NO MONEY. COACHES THINK THEY CAN CONTROL THEIR GYMNAST AND CONTROL PARENTS. YOUR DAUGHTER WILL BE A DIFFERENT CHILD ONCE SHE LEAVES AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD WILL GO BACK TO BEING A NORMAL HAPPY FUNCTIONING FAMILY. GOD BLESS ALL : )
GET YOUR GIRLS OUT NOW THIS IS A NOTHING SPORT WITH NO MONEY. COACHES THINK THEY CAN CONTROL THEIR GYMNAST AND CONTROL PARENTS. YOUR DAUGHTER WILL BE A DIFFERENT CHILD ONCE SHE LEAVES AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD WILL GO BACK TO BEING A NORMAL HAPPY FUNCTIONING FAMILY. GOD BLESS ALL : )
At 2014 Nationals 15 seniors and 9 juniors but not sure how many of the juniors are 2016 elegible.
HERE,HERE! Totally agree with your comment. This sport changes your life and changes these girls forever, not always in a positive way.
Why aren't there any WAG gymnasts competing at Nanjing Youth Olympic games - give some of the juniors some international experience?
Did you ever think that maybe some people love gymnastics and it makes their lives more fulfilling and enjoyable
Anon @ 12:19 - I'm pretty sure the qualification for YOG was at Nationals, and we eiher didn't have any girls who were born in the right year, or the Kiwi girl beat them to the spot.
It is odd that parents tell you there is no money in gymnastics, neither is there in netball, athletics, soccer (unless you get a very elusive contract) or rugby at state level. Do nothing then? Some kids just love gymnastics full stop. Sally Pearson is a national icon yet has no sponsor.
Gymnastics, especially at the highest level, can offer your daughter the most amazing experiences and opportunities, both during and after their time in the sport. It all depends on how you handle it as a family. It's hard work but rewards are great and elite gymnasts are some of the most amazing young women I know. Tough, Independant, hard working, great fun, loyal friends. If your daughter has a dream follow it, have a good relationship with her coach and understand that it is a atough life, but so are all elite sports. True no money but that is not why she started doing gym. If your daughter loves this sport then she will be miserable without it. Not everyone will make the Olympics but there is so much more to gain.
Stop trying to convince yourself. when your child comes out of training crying because her coach said that she's good for nothing or when you don't have enough money to put food on the table because the fee's are due or when your other siblings miss out on holidays because there sister or brother has training this is the life your family will remember. I also find it strange how a family will move to a different state for this sport :(
If you're child comes out of training and is crying because she feels worthless, you need to get out. Maybe you put up with this because you hoped your child would be a star and prove everyone else wrong. How sad for you and your child....No one needs convincing to stay if their child is happy.
My child has been out of the program for some time now lovely,
and she is extremely happy due to her not being there. I'm saying that other parents need a reality check they think their daughters are going to be stars, but until they get burnt by the program they will always be in denial :)
I don't know exactly what kind of show people think is being run here, but I think some of these concerns are better suited for a parenting forum or Facebook group.
I don't appreciate that this particular vein of conversation started with a shouty shit-stirring GET YOUR KIDS THE DANG HECK OUT OF THIS SPORT BEFORE THEY'RE DESTROYED anon driveby, but last I checked I didn't (and probably never will) feature content from the likes of Michael Carr-Gregg.
I think gymnastics is a wonderful sport whether you choose to pursue it to elite level or use it as a foundation for other sports or life in general. Not everyone is of this opinion and that's fair enough. But if you've come here seeking guidance on coping with a child entering or leaving gymnastics, I'm sorry to tell you that's not what I deal with and I've made that fairly clear from the outset.
Yeah but who said it's all about you?
Hear Hear Mez.
Pffft you have no idea MEZ, and what experience have you had to think that you can make any comment.
I'm not commenting on someone's actual parenting. I'm saying "please don't leave these kinds of comments here as I don't think this is the right outlet for them".
In the same way a blog dedicated to, oh I don't know, Australian contemporary art galleries, would would advise people leaving comments asking "Are store-bought finger paints toxic to my child? My kid had a bad reaction to a certain brand a few months back so I want to know if anyone has recommendations." that it's not the best place to get the answers they are seeking. Heck, I link to a gymnastics message board on my front page, it's one click and an email registration away and like this blog is free to browse. I don't even run it so it's not exactly self-promotion-for-self-promotion's-sake.
I am happy for the comments section here to feel like the bleachers at a competition but not the kind where you have to move seats because someone around you is being really toxic, or otherwise talking about things not related to the meet to the point of it being distracting from the proceedings. The frustration at irrelevant or deliberately antagonistic anons hasn't just been felt and noticed by me, I can tell you that.
Are you seriously just the one same tiresome person sparring with me every time I ask people to try and keep things relevant and appropriate for other readers and/or I direct them to more helpful places where their discussion might actually get the clarification they need? You seem to always have the same sarcastic, hostile, bristling tone. If so that's really quite sad and I hope you can find more valuable use of your time -- or at the very least the balls to email me via the address I have on the front page and put a name to your thoughts if I'm so worth ridiculing.
No, I don't want every comment here to be positive and praiseful (of me OR the national program) but I simply ask for appropriate, mature and relevant contributions. How is that unreasonable? How is that out of line? Are the majority of readers here not aged over twelve? If I'd felt what was really lacking in the fan sphere was prolonged Agony Aunt talk of club movements and IDP requirements and parenting of budding Olympians, I'd have cultivated a space to accommodate all that.
"Who said it's all about you?" "What's your experience that you can comment?" Ohhh, that's right - I'm not allowed to curate the space I maintain. Cheers ears. Did you literally not even know that the 'point of view' nature of blogging comes from the fact the word is formed by the combination of "web" and "log"? Log as in personal record, journal, notebook, column? Did the last twenty-odd years of internet culture pass you by?
fair and reasonable Mez. Unfortunately some parents cannot move on from THEIR lost hopes and dreams for their kids even if their kids have...
Quite simply -- what do you want, then, if what I'm doing here with the webspace I occupy is so contemptible?
Would you like an outlet to talk about life as a gymnastics parent, unimpeded? Or as former club member that feels hard done by? No worries, let me set you up a facebook group. Email me your name and I'll set you as an admin so then it's out of my hands and you can chat til the cows come home without a peep from me.
Is it that you'd like to see more resources on the GA website that will answer your questions about the code of points? I can email someone there and request this on your behalf if you don't have the time or the words.
Do you want to be able to give an unfiltered opinion about a gymnast's appearance or selection to a team without some oppressofascist like me telling you it's maybe just a tiny bit out of line? Fine, I'll leave you the details of how to register at GymScoop, it's anything goes over there.
You could fill up a textbox with digs at all and sundry, that get deleted and get us nowhere except for one person's kicks, OR you could be constructive with what you leave here and help things progress more effectively so I CAN help you read what you want to read as part of your gymfandom.
Gees, talk about someone wrapped up in their own importance, have you not realised that all you are is an avenue through which people are able to voice their concerns, dis-pleasures oh and sometimes happy thoughts. You set this forum up but it is run by the remarks and conversations posted in here, otherwise you would be a very lonely person yourself. You might take a little more of a diplomatic stance with the way you talk to people in future. It might actually work in your favour and win you a little respect!
Mez, I don't particularly appreciate the repeated negative and immature comments from (I suspect)one anon. I find them boring and tiresome. But I think the last couple of posts you have written are uncalled for and unprofessional, and that's disappointing. I can understand your frustration but I think it would be more wise for you to be the bigger person and just ignore them, rather than add fuel to the fire.
Mez, you do a great job giving gymnastics a public forum. Please don't be discouraged by a few grumpy bums. As a parent of a recently retired elite gymnast, I constantly have to remind myself that our athlete and family could have been in the situation of our gymnast doing all that work for so many years, the money, the driving to training endlessly, and at the end of it , our daughter could of missed out on international selection for anything major, i.e. Comm Games, Olympics, World Champs. Having paid that price as a family, it would be perfectly understandable to be bitter and want to blame the code, the national coach, the HPC, the system etc. etc. At the end of the day, you can't go into this expecting an amazing end result, it is just a journey filled with amazing experiences and challenges, camaraderie, discipline and the joy of working towards exciting short term goals...even just nailing a new skill...the rest is unknown. Even when you reach the pinnacle of selection, when you retire you have aged joints, physical issues everywhere, not to mention having to start some kind of life in another field.....its not what it is cracked up to be if you look at it at face value. People should be thankful we are in a country where we have the choice, one way or the other.
You sound like "little house on the prairie", buzzzzz offfff
#1 Priority should be an informed and happy parent as they are paying for a service, otherwise there will be no gymnasts!
exactly and if you haven't been there you will never understand, so as a ex elite gym parent I have every right to voice my dissatisfaction and warn other young parents BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN THERE so take it or leave it.
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