Gymnastics Is Life

I wrote the post I think you’re talking about in anger about USAG and Mattie talking about her experiences but I’m well aware that’s happened in other countries so my anger is definitely applicable there too. On another note, I think some of the shit Romania is going through right now is because the athletes realise they don’t want to be abused by their coaches (If I remember correctly people have talked about abuse in their system recently too, more mental abuse than anything) and just quit early in their careers, which I applaud them for. It’s no way to live. A shame their gym system has to suffer because there aren’t enough athletes, but if they aren’t going to change the way they coach despite the girls dropping out like flies the minute they reach international level, then I guess they’ll never be great again and so be it. I’d rather the athletes live happily than suffer. 

The other thing that annoys me is that you shouldn’t need to hear more than a hundred women tell you the dirty details of how they were violated for you to realize what a big deal this is. You should have known that a year ago.

It seems really convenient that all of a sudden everyone wants to be the light or is committed to changing the culture when the case started getting national attention. Some of the same people who were close personal friends with the Karolyis. Who said Dominique Moceanu only cared about herself.

I do think that for a lot of the athletes, not to be super dramatic, but I feel like it’s kind of like a hostage situation. I think because this culture was never questioned and for a lot of them it’s all they knew they always told themselves it was normal or it’s what it took to be at the top. Seeing the comments from former elites on twitter, and especially how they are supporting each other and recalling instances where they had to comfort each other to get through is really telling. I feel like they’re all finally to some degree having a cathartic moment where they can finally talk about the pain and trauma and feel like they’ll be supported and not shunned.

Even with Nastia even though I’m still a little skeptical of her sincerity about her commitment to change the culture I keep thinking of the year she fell on beam at Nationals and Valeri wouldn’t even look at her. I don’t think she was completely spared from the emotional manipulation. At the same time I’m not sure she realizes how fucked up that is. I’m not sure she realizes how damaging that type of coaching can be to other athletes and this is where my incredulity kicks in.

I’m sensitive to the fact a lot of people felt like they couldn’t say anything but I’m also sensitive to the fact that for more than 2 years the survivors had to endure their friends and colleagues complete silence.

It shouldn’t take almost an entire olympic team coming forward with stories of abuse for everyone to finally start caring. It shouldn’t take a world medalist saying she would rather hurt herself than go to the national team training camp for people to question the culture created in the gym.

How an ‘army of women’ confronted gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar

There was the one who is pregnant, and the one who still has braces.

The one with six Olympic medals, and the one who went into medicine like her mentor.

The one who said she forgives Larry Nassar, and the one who told him, “I hate you so much.”

Over the course of an extraordinary week, they stood up and spoke out in a Michigan courtroom, telling the world how Nassar — doctor to the stars in the high-pressure world of gymnastics — molested them over and over again during appointments.

I love these girls and I love this sport so much. I am so proud of everyone who has come forward, and of everyone who is now living their best life, happy and strong.