GAGE coaches Al Fong and Armine Barutyan suspended by SafeSport (Pending appeal) 2/26/26: USAG terminates GAGE membership

[Turtle88]

Off topic, but I wonder how well Valeri Liukin is sleeping these days.

I'm sure he's okay. lol trying to incite something?

 

[BB12]

Off topic, but I wonder how well Valeri Liukin is sleeping these days.

He's coaching USAG current golden gymnast. I'm sure he's fine.

 

[crdubb17]

I'm sure he's okay. lol trying to incite something?

Is he under any safe sport investigations? If anything this should serve as a cautionary tale to the old guard of the sport who feel they're above these newer regulations.

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

Is he under any safe sport investigations? If anything this should serve as a cautionary tale to the old guard of the sport who feel they're above these newer regulations.

Only up to a point.

 

[MaryClare]

I wouldn’t really consider Valeri to be old guard. Fong has coached US elites twice as long

 

[CDEllorin]

Off topic, but I wonder how well Valeri Liukin is sleeping these days

Is he under any safe sport investigations? If anything this should serve as a cautionary tale to the old guard of the sport who feel they're above these newer regulations.

What would make you say that?

 

[Sasha]

As far as I'm aware Valeri is under investigation by Safe Sport. I thought this was common knowledge - am I getting my facts mixed up?

 

[AmiK]

A certain insta gymmie and I was told 3-4 other Gage athletes were training at CGA this week. Who knows if this is long term or not.

 

[Sasha]

To settle the anxiety about the Crains possibly switching countries: All Things Gymnastics is reporting that the Crains are only in France temporarily, and are looking for a new gym in the US. The France trip was apparently something that Lavi has wanted to do for a long time.

 

[crdubb17]

I wouldn’t really consider Valeri to be old guard. Fong has coached US elites twice as long

He's had elites on the national team for 30 years and he has the reputation for breaking athletes. He's part of the old guard imo.

 

[wishfulgoddess]

Valeri always struck me as more clueless than intentionally abusive.

 

[Ginger]

Anyone watching Nastia Liukin Cup?
I am a little bit late and just saw Tenley Wade vaulting, and I think the coach with her was one of (previous) GAGE coaches (bald guy with glasses).

 

[RedBirdie]

Kaylee Sath is now at WOGA. Leanne Wong still doesn't have a new club listed. Lavi Crain still shows as GAGE.

 

[Doug1233]

Valeri always struck me as more clueless than intentionally abusive.

I mean, he coached a multiple World medalist through quite significant injury to Olympic AA Champion. He's obviously not clueless. I have never heard any accusations of physical abuse against him? Now for mental abuse - things were very different 20-30 years ago. Judges openly called gymnasts fat and didn't think twice about it.

 

[Ginger]

Is Al and Armine’s daughter still doing gymnastics too? If so this will have an major impact on her.

Just a follow up - she actually competed at Missouri States, and she qualified to Regionals (held this weekend - I believe L10 competition is tomorrow) with 34.9. She's at Fuzion now (looks like majority of GAGE gymnasts went there).
I hope she sticks around. I believe she's HS freshman this year.

 

[Aizheng]

I mean, he coached a multiple World medalist through quite significant injury to Olympic AA Champion. He's obviously not clueless. I have never heard any accusations of physical abuse against him? Now for mental abuse - things were very different 20-30 years ago. Judges openly called gymnasts fat and didn't think twice about it.

I mean, he seems to always have cared a lot more about his daughter’s long-term health than anyone else’s.

Rebecca Bross doing AA in 2010 while clearly injured, while nastia sat out AA at 2006 worlds and 2007 worlds.

It is possible that nastia felt more comfortable sharing her injuries and Valeri therefore reacted more appropriately, which would be a benign explanation. It is also possible that he does not care about his gymnasts in the same way, which would be a failing.

Hezly not going to worlds last year makes it seem that he maybe has learned. Probably easier since gymnasts can be relevant for years and they don’t feel they need to do everything now.

He still would not be my choice, but there seems to have been some learning.

 

[MaryClare]

I mean, he seems to always have cared a lot more about his daughter’s long-term health than anyone else’s.

Rebecca Bross doing AA in 2010 while clearly injured, while nastia sat out AA at 2006 worlds and 2007 worlds.

It is possible that nastia felt more comfortable sharing her injuries and Valeri therefore reacted more appropriately, which would be a benign explanation. It is also possible that he does not care about his gymnasts in the same way, which would be a failing.

Hezly not going to worlds last year makes it seem that he maybe has learned. Probably easier since gymnasts can be relevant for years and they don’t feel they need to do everything now.

He still would not be my choice, but there seems to have been some learning.

I also wonder if things are maybe different now because he’s coaching with his wife. Which might be the only time ever that the introduction of a Russian rhythmic gymnast improved mental wellbeing.

 

[Passion]

Rebecca Bross doing AA in 2010 while clearly injured, while nastia sat out AA at 2006 worlds and 2007 worlds.

Nastia was 5th AA at 2007 Worlds. She was 3rd AA at Nationals in 2007, where people felt she shouldn't have been competing VT. She ended up perfectly peaked for Worlds though.

 

[RichardL]

Nastia was 5th AA at 2007 Worlds. She was 3rd AA at Nationals in 2007, where people felt she shouldn't have been competing VT. She ended up perfectly peaked for Worlds though.

She would've easily medaled without the fall on beam. She was clearly on track for what we eventually saw in 08.

 

[Aizheng]

Nastia was 5th AA at 2007 Worlds. She was 3rd AA at Nationals in 2007, where people felt she shouldn't have been competing VT. She ended up perfectly peaked for Worlds though.

Sorry and thanks for the correction. She sat out everything but UB in 2006, though, correct? That was the year she had the bad ankle injury, if I’m not mistaken.
I remember watching 2007 nationals and they were saying how Nastia had very little training time leading up to it due to her injury, I think, so I should have doublechecked.