Buckeye rehires Kittia Carpenter — Jordan Chiles’ quest for a gym slam

This week featured some elite coach drama yet again. Gymcastic reported that Buckeye Gymnastics released a statement backpedaling on the email they sent to parents earlier this month. Apparently, coaches Kittia Carpenter and Charlie Tamayo have been rehired, with Carpenter being promoted to Executive Competitive Team Leader. Also, the statement claims there is no U.S. Center for SafeSport case involving these coaches. Buckeye and Carpenter didn’t reply to requests for comment, and USA Gymnastics wouldn’t confirm or deny anything.

How the hell did this happen, you ask? The way the gym’s president David Holcomb presents it, he got bad information, panicked and fired two people before sending a misguided email to the Buckeye community. I don’t find this convincing, and I’m inclined to believe the dramatic Redditers who speculate that Buckeye was threatened with a lawsuit and had no choice but to make concessions. That would certainly explain Carpenter’s sketchy promotion.

Content-wise, this statement is less problematic than the email, but not by much. For one thing, Holcomb writes, “I have found myself making poor decisions lately.” This is definitely relatable. But it usually applies to what you ate, not letting go of two of your long-time employees with an email assuring parents it’s for the good of the gym’s reputation. “I commit to more careful verification of information in the future” is a fun line as well. I have a vision of Holcomb getting an email from j092j3r09j@safesport.org that said, “Your coaches are under investigation send cash” and thinking, “checks out.” 

Granted, Holcomb does seem really sorry. “I apologize from the depths of my being” is high drama and I feel it. I appreciate a personal and heartfelt apology, especially in this time and place [gestures wildly at everything].

Regardless of the circumstances, this incident is part of a troubling pattern in this sport. One of the oddest things about the elite gym world is that the athletes at the highest level are super talented and hard working, but the adults around them just can’t seem to get their shit together. It shouldn’t be a big ask to expect people to take a breath, weigh the evidence and consult colleagues before making decisions that will have ripple effects through the national elite system. Even if there is no investigation and no grounds for one, the athletes deserve better than this nonsense drowning out their accomplishments. 

More bad choices

USA Gymnastics released the minutes from the November Women’s International Elite Committee Meeting. We learned that someone lifted a mossy rock and found Tom Forster, who has been named a representative on the Athlete Selection Committee. Armine Barutyan’s term as a rep ended on the same day she was suspended, and NCAA athletes not showing up to national team camp is a topic of discussion.

Forster is a bizarre choice considering prior complaints about him, as well as his past refusal to choose a team based on anything other than all-around standings.

One more thing: I know the gymnastics community is small and insulated. But I do not understand why I’m seeing the same people getting these jobs. The elite committee isn’t the British Royal Family — you don’t have to keep naming them George or Edward or Charles. Experience is great, but maybe try to bring in some fresh, unproblematic faces to the table? 

Just a thought.

NCAA standings and schedule

After Week 3:

Florida 197.575
Oklahoma 197.463
Alabama 197.375
LSU 197.175
Georgia 197.100

Yesterday was frontloaded with dual meets between big players: Georgia at Oklahoma, Missouri at Alabama, Kentucky at LSU, Florida at Auburn, S.E. Missouri at Arkansas. Winter storms are causing time changes and cancellations, but national treasure Spencer Barnes has all that sorted out for you at The Balance Beam Situation.

Tonight we have Iowa at Michigan and, on Sunday, UCLA at Michigan State, Utah at Iowa State, Clemson at Stanford.

Full standings and schedule at Road to Nationals, and CollegeGymNews has a recap here. 

NCAA happenings

UCLA’s Jordan Chiles got a 10 on vault with a gorgeous DTY. She just has beam left for her to get a gym slam, the EGOT of NCAA gymnastics. 

Auburn gymnast Sophia Bell’s message to the gymternet: be nice! 

Stanford’s Levi Jung-Ruivivar spoke about recovering from an eating disorder (Inside Gymnastics). 

Georgia’s Lily Smith starred in a Red Bull ad, where she does some beam skills “400 feet in the air” in New York City. She’s really on a high beam on top of a tall building — but still, pretty cool.

Auburn’s Olivia Greaves was sick at the meet against Arkansas, as evidenced by projectile mucus:

Elite gym news

The nominative roster for the Cottbus World Cup is here. Big names include Kaylia Nemour, Marta Pihan-Kulesza, Oksana Chusovitina (who is somehow 50?) and six gymnasts from Russia who will compete as neutral athletes. The competition will be held Feb. 19-22. 

But I’m not done with Chuso. I remember NBC going on and on about how old she was during the 2008 Olympics. Now, if she places in the top eight for vault at the end of the World Cup Series, she’ll go to 2026 Worlds, at 50. Here’s a relevant clip that, incidentally, also ages me:

New USAG President and CEO Kyle Albrecht released his first statement. He doesn’t say much of anything but looks quite cozy in his collared shirt topped with a quarter zip, and zero scarves (IYKYK).

The BBC profiled Alice Kinsella, who had a baby and wants to return to competition by the end of the year. Meanwhile, I had a baby two years ago and I want to sneeze without peeing.

Five at the IX

UCLA’s Ashlee Sullivan and Jordan Chiles spoke to the media following their Saturday win over Nebraska.