I’d like to add some thoughts to my earlier post about USA gymnastics and Bela Karolyi: 1. What Bela did, he did. He would agree that his actions were his responsibility. 2. Abusive relationships in USA gymnastics (and no doubt elsewhere) pre-existed Bela’s move to the USA and still exist today. 3. Harsh training existed and exists in all of the ‘artistic’ sports and dance-related forms - eg ballroom dancing, ballet, ice skating, circus. The training involved in most of these activities is founded on an assumption of the benefits of early specialisation. It revolves around ‘ideal’ forms, shapes and postures that are difficult to achieve without early years training - women especially. 4. Wherever prodigious early talent exists, there are predators whose main desire in life is to take advantage of that talent - music, entertainment, maths, sport. The boundaries very easily become confused. Who owns the talent? Who decides how many hours to work, at what level? FOR WHOSE BENEFI
Reporting and analysing Russian gymnastics since 2010. Includes original and exclusive interviews with leading coaches and gymnasts, and historical issues dating back to the Soviet Union. The first blog to report extensively on the sport using Russian language sources.
Alya!!!! I am so happy for you!!!! My dreams came true. Medeyets.
ReplyDeleteOMG, she just shut everybody up with her tremendous routines today, especially on floor!
ReplyDeleteAfter she finished, I thought: "If the judges don't give her the bronze over Skinner, they will be decreeing the ultimate decadence of the sport!" So glad she improved her difficulty and proved everyone wrong! Her emotional showing after the score was up was possibly the greatest she has ever shown in all her competitions.
And now she has an 11th!
ReplyDeleteThen 11th!
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