Podcasts · GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast
SafeSport Bans McKayla Maroney's Former Coach, Florida Cuts Three Gymnasts and Russia's Visa Countdown
· 16 min · S26 E86 · Bonus · Explicit
Episode SafeSport Bans McKayla Maroney's Former Coach, Florida Cuts Three Gymnasts and Russia's Visa Countdown
SafeSport has made Artur Akopyan, McKayla Maroney's former coach, permanently ineligible and suspended Galina Marinova for a year. Florida has removed Skylar Draser, Ly Bui and Lily Bruce from its roster. And days before Worlds, Russia still doesn't have its visas. Jessica and Spencer break it all down as they pack for Rotterdam.
This teaser is just the beginning. The full episode continues for Club Gym Nerd members with a recruiting-trip story, your questions on Danie Ferris and the Worlds entry list, U.S. vault dominance, the biomechanics of the Cheng, Kaylia Nemour and France, and more. Join Club Gym Nerd, or try the Worlds Coverage Bundle: three months of daily coverage from Rotterdam, no auto-renewal.
GymCastic Live: virtual tickets are on sale for Rotterdam with Bart Deurloo and Eythora Thorsdottir and New York City with Katelyn Ohashi.
Brought to you by Sand and Sea Travel. Use code GYMCASTICWORLDS.
Everything you need for Worlds is at our 2026 World Championships Headquarters and Worlds Roster Tracker.
Chapters
00:00 Welcome to Behind the Scenes
02:56 Breaking: SafeSport sanctions Artur Akopyan and Galina Marinova
04:03 Cecile Landi to Worlds with Mexico; Gymnasts for Change in Rotterdam
05:01 Russia still waiting on Worlds visas
08:19 GymCastic Live in Rotterdam and New York City
08:53 Worlds withdrawals, including Jennifer Williams
11:12 Florida removes three gymnasts
Links in the notes 7
- https://gymcastic.com/club
- https://gymcastic.com/product/worlds-coverage-bundle-2026/
- https://gymcastic.com/gymcastic-live-at-the-2026-world-championships/
- https://gymcastic.com/2026-gymcastic-live-show-in-new-york-city/
- https://go.sandandsea.travel/gcnotes
- https://gymcastic.com/2026-world-championship-headquarters/
- https://gymcastic.com/2026-worlds-roster/
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