Patrick Kiens and Eythora Thorsdottir at the European Youth Olympic Festival in 2013 where she won silver on beam.

This week the girl who's name we have been mispronouncing for years, the magical ethnically Icelandic sprite from the Netherlands, her Dutch majesty, the crown jewel of Holland who makes fans cry with her performance art known as gymnastics, Eythora Thorsdottir is here!  (It's pronounced AYE-tora Thor-s-DOT-er by the way.) The Ljubljana World Cup beam champion and her coach, Patrick Kiens, who's musical theater background and genius strategy got Eythora to beam finals in her first world championship talk about:
Eythora:

What kind of attention the Dutch team has received since returning from Glasgow as a Rio qualified team!
Her future career plans in the performing arts and if college gymnastics in the United States is a possibility.
Did she notice the positive response from fans during her coming out party at European Youth Olympic Festival?
Upgrades, Rio plans and her unique style and routine construction on beam.
On being compared to Princess Catherine Lyons.
Does it surprise her that fans cry during her performances?
Training with and learning from the American team, especially Simone (who she adorably calls See-mo-nah)
Was she surprised to make it to the World Beam final in Glasgow?
The advice her coach, Patrick, gave her after her beam final fall.
What she has learned from both the positive and negative experience in the sport so far.

Patrick:

Why one size does not fit: how the Dutch program has changed, why that change was necessary with a small population and how Holland's strategy proves that the code is for everyone.
Lack of depth and limited gymnasts, "Everyone can stretch their knees but not everyone can do a double layout"
Personal taste vs. artistry
Why Simon Bile's Amanar is artistic
The arm swing rule at Worlds, was it enforced?
Acting classes, smart routine construction and ballet on the beam
We debate -- can bars be artistic?!
How college style artistry can be applied to elite gymnastics.
Backstage shenanigan tories from his glory days on the stage.


Follow Eythora on Instagram  

Here is a link to the Dutch gymnastics scandal that changed the system in the Netherlands. Much like the 2000 US women's Olympic team, their experiences changed the system and ousted a coach.
Support us!

Join Club Gym Nerd here.
Buy one of our awesome shirts here



Click on the designs to check out our gym nerd-tactic t-shirts!
 Check out our 2015 Gift Guide.

 


168: Shannon Miller, Belarusgate, NED vs GB
148: Shannon Miller
Episode 9: Chellsie Memmel, Swiss Cup & FIG Presidential Proposals
Episode 12: Miss Val Part 2
Episode 11: Miss Val
Episode 15: Joan Ryan Author of Little Girls in Pretty Boxes
Episode 17: Growing Up In The Soviet Gymnastics System And Training At Round Lake
Episode 22: Beth Tweddle
Episode 28: Kristen Maloney
Episode 31: Elise Ray
Episode 33: Simone Biles & Her Coaches
Episode 48: Kyla Ross
61: Katelyn Ohashi Clears The Air
77: Aly Raisman
81: Jenny Hansen
99: Princess Catherine Lyons and Coach Rochelle Douglas
101: Olivia Vivian
137: Lady Lisa Mason


Watch this week's playlist filled with videos of baby Eythora to elegent teenage Eythora and young, hot Patrick in the background on YouTube here