THIS WEEK'S INTERVIEW If you need inspiration, are a coach of a gymnast who doesn’t quite get it, or need New Year’s resolution help, this is the episode for you. Chris Brooks has been through all the things and his message is very powerful. From the great Texas gymnastics tradition, he overcame personal tragedy and a horrific injury to make the Rio Olympic team at age 29. He had grip lock as a junior, but recovered and won an NCAA Championship at Oklahoma. While in college, his father, who got him into gymnastics and was a gymnast himself, was killed in a car accident. Chris was named Olympic team alternate in 2012. Then he made the all-around final at the Rio Olympic Games just a few months before his 30th birthday. We discuss: The full Cheeseburgers on Horse story The famous hug between John Orozco and Chris Brooks after being named to the 2016 Olympic Team. How he peaked and gave up excuses to finally make the Olympic team.  Is the U.S. men's team really not doing well or is it actually improving?  Was the judging fair in Rio? What does he think of the new changes to the Code of Points? His grip lock accident. (Article on preventing grip lock) Cheering hard: Did he ever get in trouble for being too loud? What was it like being coached by Olympic Champion, Rustom Sharipov? What to do about Winter Cup? Does he dislike being objectified (by the screaming gym mom's at Winter Cup)? The 2015 floor faceplant. Performing in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. His future plans.  RELATED ARTICLES Indianapolis Star Out of Balance Investigation series  SUPPORT THE SHOW Join Club Gym Nerd here. Buy one of our awesome shirts here. RELATED EPISODES 115: Kenzo Shirai Episode 56: Preventing Abuse in Gymnastics Episode 21: Kyle Shewfelt Episode 24: Sho Nakamori & Match-Play Meet Debrief with Justin Spring Episode 32: Sam Mikulak & 2013 Men’s NCAA Championships Episode 35: Jake Dalton Episode 40: Michigan’s Stacey Ervin Tim Daggett: A GymCastic Classic Episode 72: John Orozco 98: Eddie Penev the Bulgarian-American Bullet 116: Louis Smith, Amelle Berrabah of Team Sexy & Tumble Episode 5 Recap 139: Steve Butcher, President of the FIG Men’s Technical Committee 63: Doctor Larry Nassar 164: Marian Dragulescu 195: Feedback & Rio Test Event with Coach Rick 233: Danell Leyva 2016 151: Danell Leyva 201: Men’s Olympic Trials and P&G Champs Preview 202: The 2016 Men’s Olympic Trials, Women’s P&G Championships 218: Rio Olympic Event Finals Day 2 217: Rio Olympic Event Finals Day One 215: Rio Men’s Olympic All-Around Final 213: Rio Men’s Olympic Team Finals 211: Rio Men’s Olympic Prelims & Houry Gebeshian Interview 209: Men’s Podium Training at the Rio Olympic Games 221: Jane Doe vs. USAG Doctor US Olympian Files Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against US Team Trainer/Physician 227: Jane Doe2 Sues Karolyis 232: Conflict of Interest