267: Growing Up In Cuba Charlie Tamayo

THIS WEEK'S INTERVIEW Creator of the laid-out double arabian, Charlie Tamayo, is here. The first male gymnast to win a World medal for Cuba tell us what it was like to grow up in the Cuban gymnastics system. We discuss: Being selected for a special sports school Daily life at the National School of Gymnastics, including ballet classes Conditions in Cuba, from power to food to the politics of getting a phone What gymnasts were told when they weren't allowed to compete internationally The vault that he thought would change his life What happened to his competition and gala earnings  Learning a full twisting double back vault before it was named for Ri Se-gwang Competing with a broken ankle Defecting Learning to coach in the United States Some videos of Charlie Tamayo training the Tamayo and inside his gym in Cuba WE ARE GIVING AWAY TICKETS TO WORLDS! Prize : One ticket to all four all finals, including the sold out Women's All-Around Final Deadline: September 18th at midnight Pacific Who Can Enter: Club Gym Nerd members only. Join here. How to Enter: Tell us who you want to win at Worlds in Montreal.  Email: [email protected] using the subject line GymCastic Worlds Tickets OR Twitter or Instagram using  the hashtag #GymCasticWorldsTickets SUPPORT THE SHOW Join Club Gym Nerd here. Buy one of our awesome shirts here. RELATED EPISODES Episode 5: Growing up at WOGA Episode 17: Growing Up In The Soviet Gymnastics System And Training At Round Lake Episode 40: Michigan's Stacey Ervin 72: John Orozco 234: Chris Brooks 233: Danell Leyva 2016 164: Marian Dragulescu Episode 21: Kyle Shewfelt Episode 13: Justin Spring 265: Russian Cup, University Games, and Feedback Episode 35: Jake Dalton 98: Eddie Penev the Bulgarian-American Bullet 115: Kenzo Shirai 39: Steve Butcher, President of the FIG Men's Technical Committee 164: Marian Dragulescu 151: Danell Leyva 254: Vanessa Atler