Ivana Hong Controversy with Fongs (Local News)

[kalyna04]

Ivana hong is a very good gymnast and woga made her better dont anyone every talk bad about her or else u are obviously being racist!!!!!

[MTVMANN]

I guess Karma caught up to him...I do not believe the gym is even open anymore. From what I understand after the 2004 Olympics the Fongs were basically finished with Courtney McCool too...

[MarikasRoom]

any update about her is she still training for 2012?

[hillsongfanatic2002]

@MarikasRoom she is a freshman at stanford

[Golddusttwin1]

Very interesting. I wondered why she left and went to WOGA. I think she's a very beautiful gymnast and it's not unheard of for gymnasts to switch coaches. It'd be interesting to hear the other side of the story too, while I'm not a huge Fong fan, he did coach two successful Olympians. We'll always remember Julissa and Christy but there's Courtney and Terin too.

[free2write26]

Al Fong is not a good coach, period. Julissa, Christy, thank gosh Ivana didn't end up like that.

[kakumei77]

Ivana just plain sucks. Even WOGA can't help her. Sorry but its the truth.

[gymnasticsfan14]

@kakumei77 If she sucks she wouldnt have placed 2nd at Nationals and won the bronze medal on beam at worlds in 09!

[kakumei77]

@kakumei77 BItch please! The year after the Olympics don't count! You know just as well that in 2009 was a recuperating year for all the elite gymnasts. Look at her trials and worlds before the Olympics. She is just a bad gymnast. Period.

[capscoach]

@kakumei77

I bet she is better than u...lets say she doesn't make the olympics...I am pretty sure that there are more that 4-5 talented gymnasts in the U.S. at any given time...she was an alternate after dealing with a fractured ankle that went untreated. She is a top 10 gymnast in the U.S....thats good.

[izzyysierra]

Al is actually a wonderful coach; he and Armine are always looking out for the best interest of the gymnasts. I coach level 5 and 6, and my younger sister is training for elite at GAGE and the atmosphere is wonderful. I suppose it depends on who you talk to and which side of the story you hear.

[spencersamuels]

i went to school with her i california before she moved. weird

[leshowlol]

GAGE gym is now closed down. I heard it from my coach at practice the other day. OMG!

[jayjademoody]

@leshowlol Actually I dont know who you got your information from but Gage is going strong my sister is a gymnast there

[luv4cascy]

isnt fong the same bad coach that coached heinrich who died of an eating disorder...who he didnt bother to notice until it was way to late...i wouldnt send my kids there...thought that before this video

[gymnasticsfan14]

@theurbansoul her home gym GAGE!

[sprinklefriend]

is there not SOMEONE on the national "board" or whatever in texas that gymnasts can go to for help with things like this?

[No1ZmeskalFan]

Julissa and Christy.....sad stories

[theurbansoul]

When Ivana talked about the girls calling her dumb, is she talking about her home gym or the national team training gym?

[mattiehenFTW]

Ivana is a beautiful gymnast and I suppose that is down to Al Fongs training, however, he made her a neat gymnast but before she went to WOGA she didn't have that much difficulty. Valeri has now built that up and I think Ivana could storm the 2012 Olympics. Al Fong should be banned from coaching after driving 2 gymnasts to death. He's dangerous.

[shirleythespaz]

Doesnt she train at WOGA now in dallas or something?? i heard that she trained with nastia luikin... i hope she gets a spot in the 2012 olympics!!! FIGHTING~!!!

[comanecisalto1]

I wouldnt blame the Fongs, but I must say I dislike them and defintely think she'll excell at WOGA. She a much better gymnast now, I think it was a good transition

[Jshaw71]

when you think people have changed, you hear things like this, sorry ivana I hope you get healed up, and find something you enjoy as much as gymnastics, take care...

[itstheapocalypse]

Jeez. I had no idea this problem even existed. But I'm glad Ivana's at WOGA with Nastia and Rebecca. She seemed so much more confident and consistent at 2009 Nationals.

[all4uanew]

After a track record like this, why hasn't USAG investigated Fong's practices? These young women do not train for years and move away from home only to quit in the final stretch.

[kickingitgymstyle]

Ivana is a gangsta!! She is doing just fine without Al Fong. If you ask me she is better now than ever. So up yours al fong

[BeachBunny13]

@peacelovegymnastics8

I thought Christy Henrich's eating disorder was caused by a judge who told her she should lose weight when she went to a competition.

[DanishRoyalFan15]

The other gymnast who died was Julissa Gomez. She was paralyzed after doing a vault, and died a few years later.

[liukin95]

if al fong did anything like this to be i would bong fongs naked fat egg head with a giant sledge hammer!!!!

[ythnkupollyprsypnts]

I'm so glad she is doing well at WOGA and is happy now! SCREW YOU, AL, YOU ABUSIVE FUCK! Go Ivana! Hope she makes her dreams come true in 2012!

[yasmik]

Poor Ivana!!!! I feel sooo bad!!! al fong is a meanie!!!! :( I need to send that guy hate mail!!! Who would do that to such a sweet girl??? Being abused by words!!! I feel like crying!! WAAA!!! I have met her be4 she is soo nice! I got her atougraph!!! Love always, Laur Laur

[Evangeliin3]

my coach was evil too.

bone chipped off my joint in my elbow,

after the operation it was never the same,

told my coach it hurt but still pushed me.

glad i quit but i loved the sport.

now all i have is arthiritis for life. (y) lol

[witegirl]

wow that fong guy is a jerk as i have toe believe in the interviews :O damn alwayce find him wierd but this confirms his wierdnes

[xTorresGirlx]

OMG, Al fong is a nasty man :(

[disneydance1169]

I think Al Fong should be EMBARASSED after today now, Ivana is now the 3rd best human on the Balance Beam the best in the USA, and the second best AA in the USA all thanks to Valeri Liukin, Ivana should of made this move a LONG time ago

[xTorresGirlx]

You're right but olympic medallists on beam come first meaning, Ivana is 6th best on beam, but that is still amaazing!

[Gr33nkiwi]

Ivana will do AMAZING at WOGA. They really focus on technique there and Ivana has the "perfect" gymnastic body. I think that she may become the next Nastia.

[Yuri92001]

@Gr33nkiwi I am actually disappointed at how cookie cutter she has turned out to be.

[Gr33nkiwi]

@Yuri92001 Yes, my comment was made when I was delusional enough to think Woga would have cater to anything other than what they're use to.

Dark Eyes, front ariel flic stepout, DTY. We should be seeing some nice Nastia-whored UB routine this year.

[bernardmvella]

@Gr33nkiwi I don't like Al Fong, but I actually believe GAGE gymnasts focus the most on technique and form out of almost any gyms in the USA.

[chinagurl673]

I think WOGA is going to be a good gym for her.

[rapturerogue]

People have been talking about Al Fong's gym since the early 90's when the "Little Girls In Pretty Boxes" book came out and exposed some horror stories from there.

[arcurlyq]

This is just horrible. I cannot believe that parents actually allow their children to be in these circumstances. Where are the parents? If my child was hurt, there is NO WAY I would let him/her compete or participate in a sport at this level. The parents are the ultimate powers-that-be and they need to push back. Also, overtraining needs to stop and the age limit for olympic competition needs to be brought up to 18, the age of consent.

[QuittersTry]

I actually think the age limit should be lower (that's another discussion) but otherwise ITA with everything you said.

[Gr33nkiwi]

The age limit can't be brought up to 18. Female gymnasts peak at 15/16.

You don't get it. These girls have trained their whole lives for the Olympics. Them and their families have given up so much. To just throw that all away because of an ankle injury would be too hard.

Once Ivana finished the season she took off 4 months to get better after the season. You can't just quit in the middle of the Olympics year unless a MAJOR injury occurs.

[arcurlyq]

I actually do get it. I understand the long-term implications that these gymnasts face. The physical consequences are devastating. Gymnasts often don't realize it until they are in their 20s and 30s and experiencing pain and disability. There are long-term consequences to this sport when you train at this level. An olympic medal is not worth the physical devastation that follows.

[Gr33nkiwi]

You're stereotyping gymnasts now. Those injuries don't occur nearly as much as they use to. Now gymnast coaches (well most) understand more about the long term injuries that can occur.

Of course your body won't be nearly 100% every again. But the same goes for most, if not all athletes that perform at this level.

Coaches use to push their athletes even if they had injuries. Now a days 99% of coaches will make the athlete slow down the training to just conditioning if there's an injury.

[cheer4gym]

i reckon olympic champions would disagree, and thats what they all want to be

[espinaca79]

mmm I'm not sure. I believe that is a myth. If not, many gymnasts should not had been able to win at 18-20. Watch Khorkina, Liukin, Podkopayeva, Produnova, Amanar, Bhardwaj, Sacramone, Shushunova, Nellie Kim, Liu Xuan, Nadia, Boginskaya, Dawes, Chow, Milo, they were all great and they were all competing in great shape past their 16-17 years old.

[Gr33nkiwi]

True, but look at them when they were 16.

Nastia's floor was much better at 15 then it is now.

I'm not saying gymnasts can't be in great shape after 16/17. I said, gymnasts PEAK at 15/16.

[starrz2nite]

nastia's floor isn't as great b/c of the ankle injury she suffered.

[Gr33nkiwi]

Yea, I know... what message were you replying too?

[Mehrunissah93]

@arcurlyq Actually, the older you are the worse your body is for gymnastics. The age used to be 14.

[theghastlypirate]

@arcurlyq Moving up the age to 18 will only cause more injuries and heartbreak. There are so many fourteen year olds that could have made the Olympics but got hurt before they could (at sixteen). Moving up the age to eighteen will make gymnasts bodies have to hold out for two extra years which can mean more injury. That's not a smart idea.

[LMA629]

@arcurlyq 18?? most gymnasts careers are almost over by then. they usually retire around 20-21. you obviously don't know much about gymnastics. once their bodies change, its very hard for them to compete on the same skill level they did before. you need to be tiny and often prepubescent to succeed in gymnastics. im not saying this is always the case, but its what you often see in gymnasts, especially foreign ones. and i think the age limit should be lowered to 15 again

[LMA629]

@arcurlyq and her parents first mistake was chosing fong as a coach in the first place. two of his gymnasts DIED (Julissa Gomez and Christy Henrich). Gomez from an injury and Henrich from an eating disorder.

[markelov]

@arcurlyq - I think not letting Ivana even try would've been much worse, though. Your child dedicates their whole life to something and when the moment arrives, you won't even let them try? And, (in a weird sense) her foot was already broken, so what really else was going to happen?

[b05620]

@arcurlyq If you had given up your whole life to do something, its not so easy to give up. Its easy to say that but after you spend SO MUCH, its hard to give up. And there was nothing in there about overtraining? just that she had hurt her ankle. Another thing, if the age was bought up to 18, there would probably be even more injuries- the older you get, the harder it gets to turn that double, and the easier it gets to injure yourself.

[artyowen92]

@arcurlyq You can kiss womens elite gymnastics goodbye if you raise the age of consent to 18. MOST young gymnasts are the ones who push their parents, not the other way around. this is just the sad exception to the rule :(

[Eirinn967]

@arcurlyq the age of consent is 16

[elong10]

I hope kids flood out of that gym

[lingketon]

considering the competition format at the olympics, ivana doesn't really have a particular strong event in which she could help the team.

[ferency98]

This makes me mad! Ivana only complains about Fong because she didn't make the Olympic team. Why didn't Ivana complain how terrible the Fongs were when she won the Gold medal on the 2007 World's team? Coaches are tough because that's how they get results. How is it Fong's fault that she didn't make the Olympic team? He wasn't on the committee to select the team. Also, do you think that Valerie Liukin is Mr. Fuzzypants? Or maybe Ivana should go to Donna Strauss- she wouldn't last the day there.

[carriemydear]

No, Mr. Liukin is not Mr. Fuzzypants, but i highly doubt hes going to gather all the girls in the gym around ivana and call her stupid.

[apluskel]

Al Fong is not the only coach who has been labeled a bad coach - Bela Karolyi and Donna Strauss have their evil sides too.But what makes Al seem so bad is the fact that he refuses to defend himself and speak for himself, and that when confronted he always denies or refuses that he is in any way responsible. He's their COACH - it may noy be all his fault but he's involved, he should admit he may have some part to blame

[chrislindsey13]

Go to Valeri Liukin!!

[Caliniphr]

I don't know much about Ivana, but with Fong's previous problems I'd believe her. I wouldn't trust him a daughter of mine.

[LMA629]

@Caliniphr i know. an ESPN article said he'd changed in 2007 and was much more easy-going, but apparently he reverted back to his old ways

[runswimchick10]

this explains her performance at trials. i thought it was just nerves/inconsistency. you know, mental stuff. when there's an injury, nbc is usually all over it. this one was kept quiet.

[gymnastchick1001]

what a stupid idiot! Ivana and Valierie will make a better team then they ever were!! Good Luck Ivana and god bless you! and your family!

[12bmills]

Al Fong seems like a dumbass.

[TsubasaDreams]

Why does Al Fong always wear those black gloves? I personally don't like Ivana as much as others do but from this point of view, you kind of have to feel sorry for her.

[QuittersTry]

Al wears the gloves to prevent scratching the gymnasts when spotting on bars, or so I've read.

[TsubasaDreams]

Hmm seems kind of overly cautious if you ask me but if it helps him and his gymnasts go for it. I was watching this again and this story is so eerily similar to Karolyi circa 1980's

[espinaca79]

But why is he the only one to use them? That is a rarity...

[laha456]

@QuittersTry then why doesn't he just cut his nails or something?

[Teillana]

As a coach you hear lots of gossip at national congress, so before I say anything else I want to say that I have NO idea if this is really true.

A coaching friend told me that he wears the gloves to avoid being accused of sexually harassing the girls. The friend implied that there had been an incident in the past where he was sued or something and he's worn the gloves ever since.

[sweetgymnastics]

is really true coach now she in texas, coach by coach liukin

[AsksOneThing]

Yup.  Nastia's dad is coaching Nastia and Ivana now.

[bnemz23]

i still love ivana and i feel so bad.

she did look really sad when they announced the team, though.

i hope she tries for london 2012

[chiquitabanana776]

I feel so bad for her...she deserved to make it

[turbojon811]

deserved what? a spot on the Olympic team? Bridget scored higher/was more consistent on every event, so whose spot should have been given to Ivana?? The bottom line is that last summer she was unable to contribute toward Team USA's chance at gold, when comparing her to the girls who actually did represent the US. Even with Chellsie and Sam out, there were still at least three girls on every event who could/would outscore Ivana.

[QuittersTry]

Yeah Gage didn't seem to keep up well - they used the McCool/Terin Humphrey method of developing a solid aaer without one spectacular/uber high scoring event, which worked for that team but wasn't needed in Beijing. She's a lovely gymnast but her scores just weren't needed...anywhere. I wouldn't say Bridget was more consistant at the time (trials) though that was due more to injury.

[chiquitabanana776]

ok maybe you are right. i didn't complely understand he circumstance of video and I don' really know Ivana as well as he others

[mrflipz]

Well, first off, none of you guys below me know Ivana. So you shouldnt be judging her the way you are. Things like this happen. Coaches make stupid mistakes and Al Fong has a past.

Why wouldnt you belive her?

And Im glad shes going to be at WOGA. Perfect gym for her.

[tenOgymnastxx]

thats so sad.

[corgilover7]

I don't know where anyone stands, and I'm not going to judge the coach or Ivana. But I do know, that many times when your hurt, your coaches just tell you to suck it up. So, I can understand where Ivana is coming from.

[kwijuice]

Sorry but Ivana Hong bothers me. She has such an attitude during competition and she's more than likely past her prime and she still wants to make it to 2012? I just don't think its in the stars for her. You can't keep hopping gyms each quad hoping they'll turn you into a star.

[sweetgymnastics]

i think her goal is going to the olympic so she want to make it in 2012.

[gymnast08ia]

there is an interview on gymastike where courtney mccool says ivana is lying, but honestly I belivie Ivana hong. Al always struck me as a creep

[QuittersTry]

I think he plays favorites, McCool may have been one of his favorites and treated her better, who knows.

[lil6ave]

Thats wat i think

[gymnastics46]

where is this interview online???

[kenz13west]

I love her

[Kslim07]

i think Al Fong is the same guy who coached succesful gymnasts back in the 80s or something... and one eventually became anorexic or something

[glamazon346]

he coached courtney mccool and terin humphrey

[thailek]

He coached Christy Henrich, who died in 1993 weighing 60 pounds after battling anorexia and bulimia because a judge told her she was too fat. Fong didn't step in to stop it. He coached Julissa Gomez, who became paralyzed while attempting a Yurchenko vault she wasn't ready for. He also coached a level 7 in the mid-90s who did a backhandspring on beam when she wasn't ready, missed her hands, landed on her head and died.

Being familiar with the area, Fong is not a well-liked guy in MO gymnastics.

[huntdog03]

true that im here right now they work too hard to deserve less greetings he doesnt even please them

[SugarCookietarian]

Wow, I didn't know about the level 7 girl! I've never understood why this man is still coaching, or why anyone would trust him with their child.

[NlovewithNaley]

how does valeri have so much time to train other gymnast when hes always with nastia?

i thought ivana was amazing nastia was always my favorite and ivana was always my second favorite

[NonMatchingUnderwear]

I don't think he's alwas with Nastia, he is her coach byt she also has another coach/choreographer called Natalia.

Anyway, she wouldn't need to be coached one to one whilst doing her stretches and conditioning which takes up a lot of the time.

[QuittersTry]

Rebecca Bross also trains with Valeri, so does Christa Tanella

[NlovewithNaley]

yah but since nastia and ivana are going to be always competing together like rebecca and tanella arnt at the same level with nastia like ivana is tho so like at visa like finals will he be with nastia then leave her to go do ivana and like if nastia falls on floor or beam and doesnt win but ivana does wont that be a little weird. like i think ivana should train with yevgeny

[NlovewithNaley]

like with shawn and alicia out of the way nastia and ivana are going to become rivals

[sojustbeyou]

Al Fong is a dick.

[sld347]

Why does her coach where black gloves, I have wondered that for a long time.

[mistybabe5489]

i heard al trautwig once say that al fong wears gloves so that he doesn't scratch the girls while spotting them.

[curmeow]

omg

[calculussuckshell]

what a bad pic of hong

[twilliger123]

Denial, just like he did with Julissa and Christy, Al Fong is an asshole and should be banned from coaching!

[twilliger123]

Good, she got out before Al Fong could kill her like Julissa and Christy! Good for you, Ivana!

[pinkandgirly1992]

that Fong is a right twat!what an areshole,i do hope he gets shut down

[eMthegymnast]

well abviously they get crap, 2 of their gymnasts died, whether it be their fault or not. julisa gomez, and christy henrich.

[lil6ave]

Wheres she now training with now. Is she trying 4 the 2012 olympics.

[jamesbug2002]

People should shut Al Fong down.

[flippingymnast495]

She is at Dave's Gymnastics Factory in Lee's Summit, Missouri.

[growlearnachieve]

anyone know what gym she's going to head to now?

[brookenicole222]

WOGA

[likeaboxofchocolate]

As much as I hate when gymnasts blame their coaches for random crap, but I highly doubt that people just keep blaming Al Fong time and time again without cause.

[QuittersTry]

Seriously!

[brookenicole222]

Oh my god, why are people being so horrible to this kid? I doubt she is lying about any of this. Her face at nats and trials said it all.

Ivana is my favorite American gymnast right now, and I'm glad she's back to training. I just heard that she'll be training at WOGA with Nastia and Valeri. I was kinda hoping she'd go to All Olympia. Like others said, Ivana, Mattie, Hallie and Sami share the same perfect form and elegant style.

[lil6ave]

So she's gonna be training with valeri liukin?

[QuittersTry]

So says the rumor mill

[eMthegymnast]

i think if she didd go to woga her difficulty would soar, considering she already has AMAZING execution.

[nikirififo]

Really??? I would be great if she's training at WOGA *o*

[flipfestgymnast]

Is she going to train at WOGA with Nastia and Valeri?

[eMthegymnast]

yess! i am so happy for her!!! i knew (hoped) she'd pick woga!!! she training with valeri so she'll probly be with nastia part of the time, she said she'd continue training when her ankle heals :):)))

[QuittersTry]

There was an article on IG, where she made an official announcement.

[olympicfreak13]

yeah, i went and read it :)

[Stinkyfart]

Isn't Al Fong the same man who coached Kristy Henrich?

I wish her luck.

[gymnastics2221]

Good call everyone who said that it looked sorta fake.. her story, I mean.

The head of my gym "Doc" or Joseph as he's formally known is Ivana's mentor, as well as many past olympians, and my coach has speaken to ivana... and this isn't the reason she is leaving. please just leave ivana alone.

[monyac]

What did she said from 2:55 to 3:06 ? i don't understand ..

[olympicfreak13]

thats so mean....ivana is an excellent gymnast, and she knows when something is wrong with her body, when no one else does. She decides what is best for herself, and she did. This was a horrible experience for herself!

[iamesthere]

I feel sorry for her, that coach was the problem

[deathblessme]

aw thats sad:( ivana would be perfect for olympia!!! anyone agree? she has the same style as mattie and sami

[memd92]

her mother is totally a drama queen. she says that he worked her too hard but when she is injured and he backs off, momma gets mad and says she is paying for her to be coached. 

she says that the coach was abusive because he was having her work out with an ankle injury. But yet momma takes her to the doctor and decided to push her through. In my opinion, this china doll was badly abused..........by her mother! I hope that children and youth services investigates this family.

[allaroundgirl18]

I can totally relate to Ivana. I had a coach exactly like that on my swim team. I think a lot of people just don't get it unless they have had this expirence for themselves.

[lil6ave]

thats so sad

[sunoxkiissed]

This is a very sad story. I hope she finds the right gym for her. She should go to WOGA!

[deathblessme]

i think all olympia! she would be great with mattie and sami. i heard shes think wither chows or olympia

[ItsNastiaFan101]

She wasn't going to make the Olympic team unless about 3 more girls got injured, she just wasn't needed, her vault was iffy, her bars were a disaster, she was inconsistent on beam, and her floor didn't have enough difficulty

[IGgymnast10]

wow that sux. who was the girl that died from organ failur?

[memd92]

christy henrich. died of anorexia after a judge called her fat... fong apparently tried to help her somewhat....her parents still blame fong.

[perfect10gymnst]

they were talking about christy henrich who died in i think 1994 after several year battle with anorexia. just search her name on here and you'll see her whole story.

[IGgymnast10]

ok thank you

[Athlete065]

I love Ivana. But, I heard Ivana wasn't even doing her assignments and was back sassing. I'm not taking sides. But that is just what I heard.

[aZnSiThLoRd]

her assignments? like competitions or school work?

[QuittersTry]

I'm guessing training assignments in the gym

[Athlete065]

Like her training assignments.

[gymgirly1]

poor girl