Bekah started an interesting thread on IG Forum:
USA Gymnastics vs. Race
2009 National Team-
White- 66.7%
Black- 14.8%
Asian/Pacific Islander- 11.1%
Hispanic- 7.4%Here is the United states as a whole in 2008 according to the US Census Bureau-
White- 65.6%
Black- 12.8%
Asian/Pacific Islander- 4.7%
Hispanic- 15.4%(The Margin of Error includes Native Americans and Those who check the “multi-racial” box)
So I guess this shows that Whites are fairly represented, as are African Americans, and The Asians are over represented while the Hispanics are underrepresented. However, genetically and physiologically, this makes sense.
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A small sample, for sure. But this snapshot I think is somewhat accurate for what’s happening in North America.
Gymnastics is still a sport for rich white kids. But at the highest level ethnicity is getting more balanced.
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Figure skating is the same way though I expect that the number of Asians in Figure skating is higher while the number of African Americans is lower.
Ballroom is the same way but its a little different in that Ballroom has traditionally been considered a white rich man’s sport even though it gathers many of it’s dances moves from African and/or Slave culture (in terms of some of the Latin American dances).
Both Ballroom and Figure Skating are expansive, just as gymanstics.
“However, genetically and physiologically, this makes sense.”
What?
That is a bit of an odd statement. Hispanics have a great body type for WAG.
I think Blacks have been represented well since the early 80′s. I was just trying to find some footage of Kim Hamilton from her elite days. Didn’t find any but I did find Joyce Willborn and Angie Denkins. I don’t know if this has changed or not but I’ve often read that 25% of US blacks fall below the poverty line. Considering that, I think it’s pretty amazing that the percentage of blacks on the national team is so close to the percentage of blacks in the US.
I think you can get into some really iffy places by trying to characterize body types based on race/ethnicity. Certainly asian athletes tend to be smaller and lighter, black atheltes tend to be more musucular and powerful, etc. etc. but there are always going to be exceptions for every category. It’s better to evaulate an athlete on an individual basis. The training schedule keeps athletes artificially shorter and skinnier as evidenced by the fact that most athletes shoot up several inches and gain about 15-30 pounds once they stop training.
The big factor for athletes is acess to the sport. If you are coming from a lower income background, it’s a lot easier to have acess to sports like basketball, track or soccer since most schools have teams and it’s a hell of a lot cheaper to compete for a school. Gymnastic gyms tend to be only in affluent suburbs and there are not a lot of low cost programs.
However if a gymnast from a low income background makes it into the sport and gets pretty far enough along, usually coaches will make some allowances for their family so they can keep competing. I’ve heard quite a few stories about gymnasts whose parents took out mortgages, worked at the gym worked two jobs. In Darling Hill’s case she paid for her coaching by coaching rec kids.
I think that is very true statement. The gym that I go to is full of Cacausian people i’ve seen 8 african-americans, 6 Asians, and only 3 Three hispanic girls**. **that are on the team, (no rec classes).
I think gymnastics is a wonderful sport but i wished it had more diversity.
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