I’ve been critical of Jennifer Sey’s new book, the most recent to whip up a media frenzy about “abuse of girls in high level competitive Artistic Gymnastics”.
Before that I was critical of the book Little Girls in Pretty Boxes which whipped up a media frenzy about disordered eating of girls and women in Ice Skating and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics.
In both sensational books a few terrible incidents cited were purported to be endemic in all elite clubs.
That’s not true. But it sells books.
The REAL problem in gymnastics is the high drop out rate of young girls, disillusioned with competitive gymnastics.
I entered gymnastics when I was five and left when I was twelve. I entered being a happy kid who had fun in gym and left being an unhappy preteen who loathed gym. …
This happens every year in almost every competitive gym.
But no one wants to write a book about Ariela09.
Related: why ex-gymnasts hate the sport after retirement
photo – flickr
Gymnastics Coaching.com 