LOGIN FOR EXTENDED INTERVIEW   Hana Ricna Interview Ricna is a Czechoslovakian two-time World medalist, 1988 Olympian and three-time Olomouc medalist (the Soviet organized Alternative Olympics in 1984). She took second all-around at Olomouc to Soviet great, Mostepanova. The stadler tkatchev is named after her; a skill used often by the current generation of elites. Her son competed for Stanford gymnastics and Czech Republic at the Rio Olympics. Her daughter just finished her senior year on the Stanford gymnastics team, where she performed her mom's floor routine in tribute. She started gymnastics at age four and thinks she won her first pre-elite junior championship around age 8 (Czech papers reported she was 8. Ricna she said she thinks she was 9 but doesn't remember). How The Ricna came to be and what she thinks of the way her skill is performed now All the trouble she got into and wild things she did as a young gymnast Skills she trained, including a tucked full on beam and a full twisting Hindorf Her shoulder dislocation on vault at the 1986 Ahoy Cup in Rotterdam and subsequent surgeries Her experience post-injury at the 1988 Seoul Olympics What the Czech athletes were told about the boycotted 1984 Olympic Games Competing at the legendary, famed, holy grail of gymnastics, the alternative-Olympics in her home country, the Olomouc Friendship Games The great Czech Olympic Champion, Vera Caslavska as a coach and friend Reflects on how she was trained and fueled in the 80's What she would change about her elite training now that she has coached for 30 years The divergent attitudes of her gymnast children - Stanford, World Championships and a Rio Olympian who was obsessed with Kohei. Watching her daughter, Sandra Jessen (FIG licensed as Jessenova ), compete her 1980's floor routine this year, for Stanford Transiting to post-professional athlete life and flying into the U.S. Customs without a visa RELATED PODCASTS Olympics of Difference Makers in Gymnastics A History of Political Protests in Gymnastics  1984 Fight! Olomouc vs 1984 Olympics Olomouc gymnastics video  Conference Championoships Heading into Conference Championships this weekend - what does it mean for NQS, regionals and NCAA Championships. Links to watch and scores for each conference Championship - The Balance Beam Situation 2024 NCAA LIVE SHOW Tickets and details here  Live Show Virtual Season Pass More With Club Gym Nerd Join Club Gym Nerd (or give it as a gift!) for access to weekly Behind The Scenes episodes, dedications, mini-commissions and group commissions Club Gym Nerd members get access to all of our exclusive extended interviews, Behind The Scenes and College & Cocktails episodes. More goodies: 2024 College & Cocktails menu (including cocktails of course) GymCastic newsletters  GymCastic Fantasy Gymnastics League  Merch: clothing and gifts for the gymnast or gymnastics fan in your life and even "tapestries" (banners perfect to display in an arena) to support your favorite gymnast College & Cocktails Mean Girls Week 1 Big Girl ABC Meet Week 2 Aly's Debut Week 3 Denver vs. Oklahoma Week 4 Battle Releve´ Week 5 Arkansas vs. Florida Week 6  LSU vs. Auburn Week 7 Winter Cup Podium Training Week 8 Michigan vs Oklahoma Week 9 Alabama quad Week 10 Denver vs. Michigan Week 11 RESOURCES & CITATIONS Call for volunteers for a study on skin color bias in judging. Help with the online survey here NCAA Power Ranking – January 26, 2024 GymCastic Fantasy YouTube Show  Spencer's The Balance Beam Situation  Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim Follow the effects of the Russian invasion to Ukraine at Gymnovosti The Highest scores, D scores and World Cup rankings at The Gymternet Men's Gymnastics coverage from Kensley Neutral Deductions MORE WAYS TO LISTEN HERE