Tom Forster resigns

[GymnaSTICKS]

I remember a gymnast saying that Marta would make snide comments about the food they had on their plates, and it would literally be a small amount of chicken and greens.

And I also remember a Cincinnati gymnast that became anorexic saying that MLT at one point said to her “I told you to eat HALF a banana - not a whole one.”

 

[blake]

It’s possible Mihai and Silvia had more of a negative impact on Aly’s eating habits than the ranch “staff”. They both coached in Romania previously iirc in a environment where eating disorders were all but encouraged. Not accusing them, just suggesting that it wouldn’t be super surprising to if they did.

 

[MaryClare]

Given how outspoken Aly has been since her retirement, I find it extremely unlikely that she’d not have mentioned, were that the case. And from what we know of Mihai’s style, he far favours a strong and conditioned gymnast over a thin one.

 

[Doug1233]

You can’t get Brestyan legs and Brestyan neck on a diet of lettuce and tomatoes.

And God Knows those thighs saved her on at least 3 or 4 career ending Amanar landings.

 

[JaJa]

It’s possible Mihai and Silvia had more of a negative impact on Aly’s eating habits than the ranch “staff”. They both coached in Romania previously iirc in a environment where eating disorders were all but encouraged. Not accusing them, just suggesting that it wouldn’t be super surprising to if they did.

All kinds of things are “possible.” But there is zero evidence that the Brestyans encouraged unhealthy eating habits in Aly ir any other gymnast, including Alicia. I mean you can make anything up and say "gee it wouldn’t be surprising if . . . " Uncalled for imo.

 

[MaryClare]

I agree. I felt @blake remarks quite prejudiced and did not seemed to be based upon anything other than Mihai and Sylvia being from Romania. And I’m saying this as someone who does not like Romania, gymnastically or otherwise

 

[RAFIKI]

 

[ucrgirl]

Interesting.

 

[JDB]

I wonder how the finances of this work. Adding two positions is a big cost increase for USAG. But it makes sense since WAG is the organization’s moneymaker.

 

[Hatsumomo]

 

[irichluck21]

I wonder how the finances of this work. Adding two positions is a big cost increase for USAG

Not necessarily.

“Director” on its own brings in a price tag. However, now it is call a “lead” which can be paid less.
It isn’t about the amount of work but the perceived value of being called a “director” rather than “lead”.

I would imagine that they might collapse a few roles such as high performance director and also I wonder if the junior development position that Dan Baker holds will be one of those collapsed.

This also might be a way to go around and hire Liukin for this position.
Director…no he can’t keep coaching, but “lead” he can continue coaching.

I guess the best way to compare would be a department store. Where there are managers but then there are leads. Leads do management work and have higher responsibilities than the rest of the employees but are not the same level as upper management.
I see this comparison in my former time working at defunct Filenes (now Macy’s).
We had:
General Store Manager (Chief Programs Officer= Stephanie Korepin)
Assistant Store Manager (VP of Women’s Gymnastics=Annie Heffernon)
Department Supervisors (HPD leads= 3 TBD)
Employees (Personal Coaches)

Development Lead: means working with novice and juniors and developing talent.
Strategic Lead: means working on strategy, team line ups, work out plans
Technical Lead: means working on the technical aspect. Judging, routine construction, execution.

I think it is brilliant of USAG to make it a team as opposed to a solo role.
No “one” person to hold accountable as there is a team. All media will likely go through an appointed media expert. Either Annie Heffernon or one of the leads, but none of the leads discuss media, so USAG likely learned from Tom’s ongoing debacles with media.
Marta for all her faults was very good with media. If she was vague she had the personality to bring it back around to the girls and was for all intents and purposes likeable in her interviews.

Now USAG can select 3 people that can specialize. I would hope that technical lead ends up going to a brevet judge. Only issue is they cannot judge at domestic event and potentially international events.
Perskaia would be excellent for this role IMO.

ETA: Rereading the responsibilities, strategic lead would be responsible for media, so in other words…the face of the HPT.

 

[RedBirdie]

High Performance Strategic Lead
High Performance Technical Lead
High Performance Developmental Lead

I’m guessing these job postings are just a formality and they’ve already decided who will fill the roles. Dan Baker is already doing the Developmental stuff, assume he’ll just slot in there. Curious to see who the other two end up being.

 

[QuietColours]

I’m hoping for someone with a judging background for the technical, at least.

 

[rlayt]

It would be a waste to put in someone for technical without judging knowledge. Who are the judges who would want it? Silvia Brestyan maybe. Dare I hope for someone younger? Like Chellsie?

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

I wondered if they might end up going a bit leftfield, since the one single NTC model didn’t look like it was going to be doable now. It’s an interesting development, but watch them put Al Fong in for the technical lead role.

Also, I trust we all noticed that one of the criteria is ‘Ability to process public scrutiny of job performance and leadership’.

 

[Denn]

This still looks like only two new positions, not 3. There was a developmental “lead” (or whatever) for a while.

There’s still a president of the women’s program, too, and these report to that role? So there’s still one boss then.

 

[Doug1233]

This still looks like only two new positions, not 3.

So basically they’ve just split Tom’s role in two - one is media facing, one is technical/judging and not media facing.

This is what we have been saying all along, needed to happen.

I wonder if they’ll put Perskaia as technical lead? Would she want something like that? I assumed she was doing it anyway.

 

[Denn]

Why do you think one is “media-facing”? Does it say the Strategic Lead is media-facing?

 

[JaJa]

" * Work in a public-facing way with the gymnastics community, the public, and/or the media, depending upon organizational needs" is listed as one of the " Shared Duties and Responsibilities of the High Performance Team"

 

[Denn]

So it’s all 3, yes?