WAG Cecile and Laurent to WCC

[tomtnt]

curious how much of a difference coaching will actually make versus just natural bar swinging talent, body-shape and composition. Has a powerhouse type gymnast with huge tumbling and vaulting ever been a world-class bar swinger? it just seems the two are diametrically opposed - same reason Jade Carey won silvers in vault + floor but doesn't even compete elite level bars?

 

[MickeyDGym]

I’m sure in Jade’s case she hasn’t trained elite bars since she was recently plucked out of L10

 

[gymmom_13]

I could be wrong but I think they are referring to the culture of multiple daily weigh-ins, and a mentality of not questioning the coach.

My daughter was a gymnast at WOGA training under Cecile and Laurent. They are excellent coaches and while Laurent is tough he is not abusive by any stretch of the imagination and neither are the other coaches in the gym. Most of the "mentality" that people refer to was from older Eastern-bloc coaches who have long since retired or moved on to other gyms. Weigh-ins have not happened for many years since back when they sadly were common practice in the sport. While WOGA certainly does have a tendency to expect their gymnasts' (and gymnasts' families) lives to revolve around the sport it is far from the rigorous military-style atmosphere I see described here! As with any world-class gym the kids are expected to focus and work hard and push themselves. But my experience is that the coaches are caring and want to help the kids be at their best. It is not a "win at any cost" mentality (perhaps that was once true but again those old-school coaches are no longer there; it is a mostly young group now). I can't speak for the elite and upper levels since my daughter is younger but the kids come out of practice happy and are excited to go back. That wouldn't be the case if the atmosphere was the misery people seem to think. It's tough but so is any world-class training in any sport. I think Cecile and Laurent will do great with Simone and while we we all miss them we are happy for their new opportunity.

 

[kecks]

there are reports from ohashi about daily weigh ins and abusive stuff regarding bodyweight dating not that long back.

 

[Lilou]

I absolutely love this perspective. We need more coaches who are firm but positive in motivation in this sport. Coaches who respect the athlete too.

What's wrong with saying that your legs are dead? I don't get how that makes you a diva.

I think the fact that Aimee was able to get so much out of a gymnast with POSITIVE and ETHICAL coaching should be a lesson to every coach in the country. You don't have to torture or abuse a child to achieve success. I also think it's great how Aimee taught Simone to listen to her body instead of ignoring it, and how to advocate for herself as an athlete.

I do think it's interesting that she picked a bars coach... I wonder if she is aiming to make all 5 finals at a world championship or the Olympics???

 

[gymmom_13]

there are reports from ohashi about daily weigh ins and abusive stuff regarding bodyweight dating not that long back.

Ohashi was coached by Valeri and I have heard his style was far more rigorous than the current crop of coaches. Much of the pressure on Ohashi came from her own parents from what I understand but Ohashi was also a difficult and rebellious teenager who gave her parents a lot of grief and therefore presumably her coaches as well. This is not to minimize what she went through by any means! But I don't think that all of the gymnasts from Ohashi's era would cite the same experiences. Again though I cannot speak for the upper levels because my only knowledge is of the younger teams. But I do think there is a lot of misinformation circulating about the supposed "WOGA mentality" that simply doesn't ring true to many of us whose children were/are happy gymnasts there.

 

[bogwoppit]

I have only heard good things about the Landi's. I wish them well and look forward to seeing what they can do with Simone.

 

[amiandjim]

I want to make it clear I have never heard anything negative about the Landis, nor was I disparaging WOGA. I was simply answering a question as to what was meant by the “WOGA mentality.”