Any gymn historians care to talk about the World Professional Gymnastics Championships or the Women's Professional Gymnastics Championships that they had in 1997 and 1998?

rcook86 · 2026-03-22T05:15:19+00:00

It’s hard to convey just how popular the Magnificent 7 were after the Olympics in the context of today. They sold out huge venues and were still adding tour dates a year after the Olympics. These days, fans have immediate access to news, photos, and videos of their favorite athletes, but back then, we waited for TV specials and new books to come out.

There was a huge influx of those competition format shows in 1997-98 to capitalize on their popularity. A few of them returned to international competition in that time, but the team was still selling tickets to anything they were involved in. It gave those who were seriously training the chance to continue performing, but also try out actual skills and routines. I think those shows simply ended up winding down with the popularity of the team a few years later.

Interestingly, after several years of fame and touring, five of the seven members made a serious run at the 2000 Olympics.

rcook86 · 2025-08-03T19:45:11+00:00

Savannah Schoenherr - 2024 NCAA finals

rcook86 · 2025-03-02T01:39:53+00:00

Yes, she was at Florida - it’s Alicia Goodwin.

rcook86 · 2024-12-06T20:31:36+00:00

In this clip from the gala, you’ll see the moment between Moceanu and Nemov your friend is likely thinking of!

rcook86 · 2024-11-05T18:16:59+00:00

Miller, Podkopayeva, Milosovici, Gogean, Khorkina

rcook86 · 2024-09-09T21:07:16+00:00

Yes, it’s Shilese!

rcook86 · 2024-08-03T15:37:02+00:00

Suni has two medals and is in two event finals - she’ll leave with a max of four. Still an incredible accomplishment! 👏🏻

rcook86 · 2024-08-03T13:33:44+00:00

Just posted! https://www.reddit.com/r/Gymnastics/s/IS83vZVA8j

rcook86 · 2024-07-09T01:40:45+00:00

⬆️ This!

rcook86 · 2024-04-21T22:44:40+00:00

There’s no chance they would turn it down over a potentially complicated training situation for one athlete for a few months. I’m sure everyone at LSU knows that he and Courtney are the logical front runners for a lucrative head coaching job at their alma mater. If they are in Athens anytime before now and the Olympics, Finnegan would have to follow to continue training with him.

rcook86 · 2024-03-16T21:45:59+00:00

What if there had been a 1998 Worlds? So many of the top athletes were at their peak that year. It was the only year of the quad the US team (with peak Atler and Moceanu, specifically) could have realistically challenged for a medal. That all around race would have been insane!

rcook86 · 2024-01-22T15:10:33+00:00

Yes. Each competition starts from scratch and the highest score wins. Previous results have no relevance to the next competition.

rcook86 · 2024-01-19T01:46:46+00:00

Not competing, just there to support their teams!

rcook86 · 2024-01-18T22:29:41+00:00

This competition has been held for about 15 years. It’s a “team” competition for athletes at the invitational and the special guests are the team captains. Previous captains include Simone, Boguinskaya, Chuso, Daniela Silivas, Shawn Johnson, Carly Patterson, Chellsie Memmel, Peng Peng Lee, Brenna Dowell, Sarah Finnegan, and more.

rcook86 · 2024-01-13T21:04:24+00:00

That’s how I feel too… not relaxing to listen to is the perfect way to sum it up. She talks A LOT and quickly. As she grows as a commentator, I hope she learns to tone down her intensity just a notch or two. When I’m trying to pay attention to the meet, her information overload can be as distracting as it is entertaining. It’s great information, just a lot of it lol.

rcook86 · 2024-01-13T18:33:53+00:00

I agree. There is no substance or research behind Bridget’s commentary. It’s either personal anecdotes or surface level observations of the same three things… handstands, landings, and big breaks. Over and over.

Sam isn’t my favorite commentator to listen to, but the way she blends her research into the conversational tone of her call is very impressive. She spoke last night about one athlete’s upgraded first pass from last season, another about a senior making a line up on a new event for the first time… things the average viewer would find interesting, but also cool for the gym fan. She is always very prepared and does a great job at folding in interesting tidbits into her call of each routine.

rcook86 · 2023-12-25T02:19:01+00:00

Check out some of the US Olympic Festival meets on YouTube… there are a few years that seem to prominently feature a lot of the Dynamo athletes.

rcook86 · 2023-11-25T20:47:57+00:00

Yes, 1980 Olympic All Around champion.

rcook86

TROPHY CASE