In 2014, at the World gymnastics championships in Nanning China. Donnell Whittenburg burst onto the international stage at the age of twenty, performing incredibly difficult gymnastics routines and helping team USA win the bronze medal. One year later, Donnell was able to keep his composure under immense pressure and stood atop the World championships vault podium winning bronze again alongside the Olympic champion Ri Se-gwang and the great Marian Dragulescu. Most recently Donnell has been selected to represent team USA at the upcoming World gymnastics championships in Indonesia. Donnell is now training at EVO gymnastics and has hopes of representing the US men's gymnastics team at the LA 2028 Olympic Games. And this is his story.Â
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The Kazuma Kaya Story | EP 135
In 2024 at the Paris Olympic Games, Kazuma Kaya captained the Japanese men's gymnastics team to the gold medal in the Olympic team final. Four years earlier, Kazuma and the Japanese men had finished second to the Russian federation by just 0.103 tenths of a point. Individually at the same Tokyo 2020 home Olympic Games, he claimed the pommel horse bronze medal for team Japan. Currently Kazuma is recovering from a ruptured achilles tendon injury but has hopes of defending the Japanese team Olympic gold medal at the LA 2028 Olympic Games in three years time. Throughout his incredible gymnastics career, Kazuma Kaya has won eight World championships medals including two gold, two silver and four bronze. And this is his story.Â
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The Struggle Of A Retired Sportsman | EP 134
In 2025 I've had the opportunity to reconnect with many of my former team mates and have enjoyed spending quality time with them over the summer. We have all had very unique experiences as elite athletes competing at the very highest level of competition. Between us we have won Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth medals representing Great Britain in the sport of gymnastics. Retiring from elite sport as a young man or woman presents significant challenges & often results in a loss of identity. In light of the passing of the great Ricky Hatton, I feel passionately about sharing my own experience of adjusting to life after sport for the next generation to learn from. And this is my story.Â
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US Gymnastics Championships & Worlds Preview | EP 133
In August 2025, the US National gymnastics championships took place in New Orleans. The very best athletes in America were competing for the National title and a spot on the World championships team that will represent Team USA in Jakarta in October. This week I'm joined by Kensley Behel of Neutral Deductions to discuss the US championships performances, the subsequent team selection and look ahead to the first major global championships of the LA 2028 Olympic cycle. At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Kensley played a key role in the NBC broadcasting team's coverage of the Olympic team final and was recently awarded an EMMY for her incredible work as an expert researcher. The US men's team won a bronze medal in dramatic fashion, thanks to a beautiful pommel horse routine by Stephen Nedoroscik. And this is our story.
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The Dominick Cunningham Story | EP 132
In 2018, Dominick Cunningham became the third male British artistic gymnast to win the European floor exercise title at the European gymnastics championships in Glasgow. Dominick was a consistent member of the British team throughout the Tokyo Olympic cycle qualifying for six individual major championships apparatus finals in the process and winning a European team silver medal. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia Dominick and team England dominated the competition winning the team gold medal in the Gold Coast. Dom trained at the Earls gymnastics club alongside London 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Kristian Thomas in the early chapters of his career. Over the past decade he has been part of the Birmingham gymnastics club who have had incredible amounts of success in Great Britain wining the historic Adam's shield on multiple occasions. In 2022 Dominick switched Nationalities and now represents team Ireland with hopes of competing at the LA 2028 Olympic Games. And this is his story.Â
At seven years old I walked into a gymnastics club for the very first time. I was hooked. For the next twenty one years, I dedicated my life to becoming an Olympic champion. I'm going to share with you the life lessons, experiences and stories that have shaped the man I am today. I'm now starting a new chapter in my life beyond my sporting career and look forward to bringing you along with me.
Ireland