Addressing the Injury Epidemic: Advocating for Safer Gymnastics Equipment
Confronting Equipment Safety Failures and Advocating for Innovation in Gymnastics
As dedicated members of the gymnastics community, your commitment to the safety and success of your athletes is paramount. With the 2024 Paris Olympics upon us, we must confront a troubling reality: the systemic failure to address and prevent severe injuries in our sport.
Nellie Kim, VP, International Gymnastics Federation (FIG)
“The future development of gymnastics is a complex and complicated process. Part of it involves new technique for elements and creation of new skills. But human abilities are limited, and therefore, we need new, modern gymnastics apparatus, which would help gymnasts perform new skills and at the same time provide safety.”
A Silent Crisis
Every year, gymnasts face the risk of catastrophic injuries such as Achilles tendon ruptures. These injuries, akin to the intensity of car crashes, not only endanger athletes' careers but also their long-term health. Despite the frequency and severity of these incidents, there has been a disturbing lack of response from the organizations entrusted with protecting our athletes.
Gymnastics Injury Epidemic: A Call for Safer Equipment
The latest injury updates from College Gym News paint a concerning picture of the current state of gymnastics safety. Numerous athletes across various college teams have suffered severe injuries, including torn ACLs, Achilles ruptures, and other debilitating conditions. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for innovation in gymnastics equipment to better protect athletes.
Updated Injury Highlights:
Alabama: Makarri Doggette - Torn left Achilles
Arizona: Sophia Maisel - Torn left Achilles
Auburn: Caroline Leonard - Torn Achilles
Florida (committed): Skye Blakely - Torn Achilles (at Olympic Trials)
Oregon State: Sydney Gonzales - Torn right Achilles
LSU: Konnor McClain - Torn left Achilles (at USAG Core Classic)
Kayla DiCello: Torn Achilles (at Olympic Trials)
Shilese Jones: Injured knee (at Olympic Trials)
Weller Spring Floor's advanced technology offers a promising solution to reduce the incidence of these severe injuries. Providing proper tuning, and enhancing shock absorption, energy dissipation, and overall stability, Weller technology provides a safer training environment for gymnasts.
Key Findings from Our Research
Superior Shock Absorption: Weller Spring Floor demonstrates a slightly lower dominant frequency (~8 Hz) compared to traditional cylindrical springs and foam blocks (~9 Hz), indicating better shock absorption capabilities.
Enhanced Energy Transfer: In terms of impulse, which measures the total force over time, Weller showed lower values. This means Weller provides better energy dissipation, crucial for both performance and injury prevention.
Superior Rate of Force Development: Weller Spring Floor produces a higher rate of force development on the downward motion and a lower rate of force development on the upward motion. This translates to safer landings, more power on takeoff, greater control over movements, and more time in the air.
Spring Floor Safety and Performance Metrics
The Role of USAG, FIG, and Exclusive Suppliers, AAI and ABEO/Spieth
USA Gymnastics (USAG), International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), and their exclusive suppliers, AAI and ABEO/Spieth, have long maintained a monopoly over the equipment market. This relationship prioritizes profit over safety, resulting in outdated and potentially dangerous equipment being used in gyms around the world. The reluctance to adopt innovative technologies like Weller Floor, which has been independently tested and proven to enhance safety and performance, highlights a profound disconnect between these organizations' actions and their stated commitment to athlete welfare.
Insider Insights
John Deary, AAI's Top Dealer
"Injury caused by the floor and such is a problem for the lawyers. Their take is muscle overuse and poor training or poor landings are the cause of injury."
FIG Apparatus Test at AAI
During a three-day test at AAI's Jefferson, IA plant in 2008, Weller Spring Floor was evaluated using FIG standards. The test involved dropping 10kg and 20kg masses from various heights, measuring impact time, deflection, and rebound. Results showed that the Weller Floor meets FIG requirements with longer impact times and significantly reduced post-impact vibrations. This indicates better shock absorption and energy dissipation, making it a safer and more reliable option for gymnasts. The Weller displacement data proves a closer matched response to the athlete. However, rather than embracing this innovation, AAI chose silence, opting to conceal our findings and maintain the status quo.
Why This Matters
Consider the analogy of car manufacturers ignoring crash test results that could save lives. This is the reality gymnasts face daily. The continuous use of subpar equipment directly contributes to a high incidence of severe injuries, yet the response from governing bodies and suppliers has been silence and inaction.
Understanding Floor Synchronization and Its Impact on Performance
To illustrate this phenomenon further, consider the behavior of the floor after several tumbling passes. A wave pattern develops and just as the gymnast lands, the floor may be moving down and away from them, as if they are hitting a “hole.” (Many gymnasts report this after Achilles rupture.) Or the floor may be moving up at them, or a double or dead bounce can result. This lack of synchronization not only compromises the athlete's performance but also increases the likelihood of injury.
🌟 Fine-Tuned for Gymnasts: The Weller Advantage! 🤸♀️✨
Ever wondered about the perfect "tuning" for gymnastics? Look no further! Weller Spring Floor goes beyond the ordinary, providing a precisely tuned experience for every athlete.
🎵 The Art of Tuning:
Adjustable Support: No more one-size-fits-all. The Weller system adapts to the weight and movement of each gymnast, ensuring optimal support. All sizes/weight get comparable bounce!
Reduced Vibrations: Our patented technology reduces vibrations with smoother acceleration, allowing for a smoother and more controlled performance.
Balanced Rebounding: Say goodbye to wild bounces! Weller Spring Floor's tuned response enhances timing and reduces the risk of injury.
🔍 The Weller Difference:
✅ Proper Tuning: Each element - force, impulse, vibration - is tuned for an athlete-centric experience.
✅ Easier on Athletes: With a closer-matched response, Weller Spring Floor is designed to be EASIER ON THE ATHLETE™.
🌐 Learn More: Discover the science behind proper "tuning" at Weller Spring Floor.
Our Responsibility
We at King Bars Sports, LLC, believe that every gymnast deserves the safest possible environment to train and compete. Our Weller Spring Floor, with its advanced variable pitch engineering, offers a solution that significantly reduces impact forces and enhances performance. However, without the collective voice of the gymnastics community, these innovations will remain underutilized.
The Hidden Flaw in Gymnastics Floors
Bill Sands, PhD, spent decades studying spring floors and discovered that gymnasts unintentionally bend their knees twice during takeoff due to floor recoil. His high-speed footage analysis revealed improper floor tuning, resulting in a rattling motion that compromises performance and safety. Akin to diving with a board that’s out of tune, this inefficiency causes extra motion, strains the legs, and increases injury risk, such as Achilles tendon ruptures.
With a standing-room-only crowd waiting to see his PowerPoint on Weller Floor safety and performance at the Olympic Trials in 2012, he was stopped by USAG and AAI. In the published research this data was omitted, stating, “safety and performance remain possibilities for Weller.” He was subsequently removed from his USOPC position. (Read more: Reimagine USA Gymnastics)
William A. Sands, PhD, Head of Sport Biomechanics and Engineering, United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC)
“Sadly, we believe that the floor and vault board are major contributors to Achilles tendon and other injuries. In my view, there is a problem with apparatus design that has its genesis in a lack of understanding of the nature of impact, vibration, and energy return of the apparatus.”
🌟 EASIER ON THE ATHLETE™
Weller Floor Features Patented Variable Pitch Engineering.
✨ What is Variable Pitch Engineering?
It works by altering the pitch of the springs within the floor, resulting in a frequency response that reduces the stress on the athlete’s body during certain movements, i.e., dorsiflexion.
🚗 An Analogy: This innovation has been likened to airbags in automobiles, which increase the impact time over which the body is stopped, reducing the force and risk of injury.
🌐 Visit us on our website and social media! Weller Spring Floor
Discover how we're making gymnastics safer and more enjoyable with innovative technology!
#EasierOnTheAthlete #GymnasticsSafety #Innovation
Your Voice Matters
We urge you to raise your voices and demand accountability from USAG, FIG and their exclusive suppliers. Athletes, coaches, and gym owners must advocate for the adoption of safer, more innovative equipment. By speaking out, you can help ensure that the health and safety of gymnasts are prioritized above all else.
A Call to Action
Join us in this crucial mission. Share your experiences, spread awareness, and insist on the highest standards of safety for our athletes. Together, we can break the silence and drive the change needed to protect the future of gymnastics.
Scott M. Weller, Founder and Inventor, King Bars Sports, LLC
“Nothing is more important than the safety of athletes. As a company, we are committed to advancing the technology of gymnastics equipment to make the sport safer and more enjoyable for all. We are proud to introduce our latest innovation, variable pitch engineering, and are excited to work with industry leaders to prioritize the safety of gymnasts around the world.”
Thank you for your time and dedication to this important cause. Please give this article your widest distribution. To learn more about our efforts and how you can get involved, please visit Weller Spring Floor.
Play Safe!
Scott M. Weller, CEO
King Bars Entertainment, King Bars Sports LLC
Weller Spring Floor
P.S. Parents, coaches, athletes, industry executives, media, and even fans face a massively frustrating situation where they know improvements are possible, yet feel silenced and powerless. Our athletes deserve better, and together, we can break this cycle of enforced silence and bring about real change.
P.P.S. We urge all regulatory bodies, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), to prioritize and support innovations that enhance athlete safety.
#GymnasticsSafety #FixTheFloors #StopTheInjuries #InjuryEpidemic

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