Mainstream media love to do these stories. This one is more balanced than usual.
Mail Online:
It’s enough to make any parents grimace as these Chinese children are contorted into the most uncomfortable positions.
Aged between four and seven, the young gymnasts are put through a rigorous stretching routine by their coaches during a training session. …
Read more: Hang in there: How children as young as four are stretched in training to be China’s future gymnasts
I was happy to see coaches doing handstand on a floor bar, rather than flat-handed. This will help prevent overuse injury to the wrists later in the career.
Thanks Jeni.
6 comments ↓
The two hanging on the wall bars look like toddlers!
Is this both the junior and senior teams?
Is stretching kids really that bad?
(and I’m referring solely to the stretching part so don’t be quick to “flame” me)
I think the pain of stretching is better that the pain of an injury due to lack of flexibility.
I have seen many articles & comments to criticize china training!
Is that because jelous ?
I don’t think so, Sheshan.
Taking children away from parents at age-7 to train away at a boarding school is considered wrong in the West.
You’ll see just as many articles saying how wonderful the Chinese gymnasts are … the few that make it to international competition.
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