Transparency and the Future of USA Gymnastics with Chellsie Memmel

Samantha Peszek is on a mission to connect athletes, coaches, and parents with the best resources the gymnastics world has to offer. Utilizing Samantha’s gymnastics network, (she really does have cool friends) guests will be experts in their field and shed a light on hot topics, tips for improvement, and inspiration. Listeners will have the opportunity to learn from some of the sport’s greats, participate in giveaways, and apply relevant tips to everyday life, in and out of the gym.

Sam welcomes to the podcast close friend and former 2008 Olympic teammate, Chellsie Memmel. Chellsie’s gymnastics accomplishments include being the 2003 world champion on the uneven bars and the 2005 world all-around champion; just the third American woman in history to win that title. She has seven World Championship and Olympic medals and is tied with Shawn Johnson as the seventh most decorated US female gymnast. She is so skilled at gymnastics that she even has a floor exercise move named after her, the Memmel Turn. Since retiring from gymnastics, Chellsie has continued to support and promote the sport of gymnastics as a coach, judge, and advocate.

In this episode, Sam and Chellsie recall early memories of their friendship. They talk about the controversial 2008 Olympic selection process and how it made them feel. Chellsie chronicles her injury history and the emotional and physical toll the recovery and training process took on her. They discuss the peaks and valleys they encountered along the way to becoming Olympic medalists, including meeting Michael Phelps! Sam and Chellsie have a meaningful and reflective conversation on the state of gymnastics and the actions they believe need to be taken by the governing body of USA Gymnastics to address these issues. Finally, Chellsie discusses the fulfillment and joy she gets out of coaching gymnastics and shares her biggest life lesson she learned as an athlete.

Listen to a Preview

Key Takeaways

• Sam welcomes Chellsie to the podcast
• Sam and Chellsie recall early memories of their friendship
• Chellsie’s gymnastics beginnings
• The moment Chellsie knew she wanted to go to the Olympics
• The emotions Chellsie felt after being named an alternate for the 2004 Olympic team
• What motivated Chellsie to train, condition, and return from her injury
• Chellsie answers a fan question
• Chellsie details the training plan that helped her return from injury
• Chellsie chronicles the 2008 Olympic selection process
• How the Olympic selection process differed from 2004 to 2008
• Chellsie describes her Olympic village experience
• Peaks and valleys from the 2008 Olympics
• Chellsie sums up each of her 2008 Olympic teammates in one word
• More fan questions answered by Chellsie
• Chellsie’s favorite part about remaining part of the gymnastics world
• The state of U.S. women’s gymnastics
• Chellsie elaborates on the selection process for the CEO of USA Gymnastics
• Why smart decision-making and advocating for positive change are key to altering the culture of gymnastics
• Sam and Chellsie speak out about the lack of resources given to the U.S. women’s national gymnastics team
• Sam recalls the time she met former CEO of USA Gymnastics, Kerry Perry
• Chellsie describes the characteristics she would like to see in the new CEO
• Accomplishments Chellsie hopes to see from the governing body of gymnastics by the 2020 Olympics
• How gymnastics prepared Chellsie to be a wife and mother
• Chellsie’s work/life balance
• The biggest life lesson Chellsie learned as an athlete
• Chellsie reveals one thing people can do to get 1% better each day
• Where fans can follow Chellsie

Tweetable Quotes

I think there’s two types of gymnasts. The girls that are really good at presses and the girls that just aren’t. On my best day, like Olympic day, I could do three.

I feel like gymnastics breeds those ‘Type-A’ individuals that want to be mentally prepared before you walk in and I was the same way when I trained for the Olympics.

That, to me, being in the village with all of the greats from every sport is just like a whole other level of amazing.

Transparency is a huge word that we always use. To be more transparent with how things are happening and what’s going on. Especially being a non-profit company, [USA Gymnastics] really needs to be as transparent as they can be and that still isn’t happening enough.

The truth of the matter is, the sport of gymnastics at that high level, because we are so young, is behind the curveball. You think NFL players get the same treatment that girls on the national team competing for Team USA get? Absolutely not!

Our intention with this conversation is not to bash anybody. Our intention is to figure out the freakin’ solution.

What people don’t know, they will assume.

I love gymnastics and I love to help as many kids and as many coaches as I can. And to try to get the best information out there.

Listen to the Full Episode