Category: parents

Aly Raisman’s Fierce – a review

Before starting the book I was predisposed to like it.

1) Aly Raisman is one of those few international gymnasts who speaks with authority.

2) She wrote the book with Blythe Lawrence, Gymnastics expert.

Blythe has several other books including Great Moments in Olympic Gymnastics. (2014)

I bought the audio version with an accompanying PDF including photos. It’s available too in hard cover and Kindle.

Most reviews of Fierce focused on Aly’s reveal of having been abused by the U.S. National Team doctor. It’s damning for Nassar and USA Gymnastics. Of all his victims, Aly Raisman has the largest audience. She successfully got the message out to the general public announcing it on 60 Minutes the week of the book launch.

Indeed, protecting everyone from predators has been her mission since.

We appreciate Aly’s time, energy and bravery in taking on this most important issue. She’s done more, personally, to educate Americans than has USA Gymnastics collectively.

If, like me, you are still trying to understand how one of the USAG medical team could abuse so many gymnasts for so many years without being caught, read Aly’s chapter on the Survivors.

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Fierce is as good a gymnastics celebrity biography as I can recall. I enjoyed it start to finish.

Her relationship with her coaches and Marta Karolyi is heartwarming. A great insight from one of the most decorated American gymnasts.

U.S. gymnast Alexandra Raisman with coach Mihai Brestyan after stumbling while competing in the balance beam during a women’s team qualification round, at the Olympic Arena, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Aug. 7, 2016. (Chang W. Lee/The New York Times)

Aly has already had one of the greatest careers in international gymnastics history, but the book modestly focuses on her failures. Her many 4th place finishes. Her lowest moments.

As a child she was never the best gymnast in her group. The future Olympic Floor champion had problems learning back twisting on Floor. For months she was the only girl in her group training layout rather than full twist.

Like Shawn Johnson, she (mostly) went to regular school. She played many other sports, especially soccer, and attended physical education class when a principal would not count Gymnastics training as equivalent.

Her many young gymnast readers can relate.

I was shocked to read about her self-doubts over the years. Watching Aly from the cheap seats she appeared to be the best prepared, the most consistent medal contender in the world. Fierce and confident.

The section on her participation in the 2015 ESPN Body Issue is excellent. Another important message.

For her second Olympics Aly worked with a dietician. She details her program. I’d advise gymnasts not to blindly copy what worked for Aly Raisman. Get your own dietician. Every body is different.

One takeaway I got from this book is that USAG should abandon The Ranch as a training centre.

Aly Raisman was twice the Olympic team captain. Has 6 Olympic medals, 3 of them gold. Yet there’s no rah rah hyper patriotism in this biography. She’s much more interested in her family. Her teammates. Her friends.

It’s upbeat but not a fluff piece.

My only complaint is that I’d like to know more. She scarcely speaks of club teammate Alicia Sacramone, for example. I’d like to have had more insights into what happened at all those secretive team camps.

To sum up, however, I’d highly recommend this book as a Christmas gift.

Click PLAY or watch Aly’s Gold medal Floor from London on YouTube.

related – Jessica and Spencer posted an audio review – GymCastic #282

attributes of a good sports coach

… attributes have been identified that athletes between the ages of 12 and 20 look for in their coaches. …

Mas Watanabe1. Competence.
2. Approachability.
3. Fairness and Consistency
4. Confidence
5. Motivation
6. Personal Concern
7. Support

That’s from Psychology and Gymnastics by Drs. Joe and Sue Massimo, as quoted on Gym Momentum.

related – USA Gymnastics Code of Ethics

Mark Folger has a related post too, talking about a student he struggled with early in his (teaching) career – DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’

McKayla Maroney victim statement

… It all started when I was 13 or 14 years old, at one of my first National Team training camps, in Texas, and it didn’t end until I left the sport.

It seemed whenever and wherever this man could find the chance, I was “treated.” It happened in London before my team and I won thegold medal, and It happened before I won my Silver Medal.
For me, the scariest night of my life happened when I was 15 years old. I had flown all day and night with the team to get to Tokyo. He’d given me a sleeping pill for the flight, and the next thing I know, I was all alone with himin his hotel room getting a “treatment.” I thought I was going to die that night. 
Because the National Team training camps did not allow parents to be present, my momand dad were unable to observe what Nassar was doing, and this has imposed a terrible and undeserved burden of guilt on my loving family. … 
WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit
Click through to read the entire statement.

Aly’s Victim Impact Statement

Aly Raisman had requested to read a Victim Impact Statement in court on the day of sentencing.

Unfortunately the judge decided not to allow it in the case of Larry Nassar. He was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison on child pornography charges.

Aly posted it online today:

Larry was the USA Gymnastics national team doctor and the U.S. Olympic Team doctor. He was trusted by so many and took advantage of countless athletes, and their families.

The effects of his actions are far-reaching, since abuse goes way beyond the moment, often haunting survivors for the rest of their lives, making it difficult for them to trust others, and impacting their relationships. It is all the more devastating when such abuse comes at the hand of such a highly respected doctor, since it leaves victims questioning the organizations — and even the medical profession itself — upon which so many rely. …

I am trying now to take back my control, to remind myself that Larry has no power over me. It is never easy, but I am fighting to believe that the sport — which I do love — is independent of Larry and those who allowed him to do what he did. I’ve decided that I can’t let him take gymnastics away from me. …

I want more than anything to make sure the next generation never goes through something like this. …

One in four girls and one in six boys will be molested before they turn 18.

Larry was decorated by USA Gymnastics, by the United States Olympic Committee — he was even named to an advisory board to come up with policies that would protect athletes from this kind of abuse! …

Read the entire statement on The Player’s Tribute.

This Is Survival

Canadian Gymnastics coach suspended

Former Quebec gymnasts accuse coach of sexually abusing them as minors in 1980s, ’90s

Today Michel Arsenault is a prominent competitive coach at Champions Gymnastics, Edmonton.

Champions Gymnastics:

We have just learned of the allegations published by Radio-Canada.

We take these allegations seriously and want to reassure the parents and their children who attend our gym.

Moving forward, Mr. Arsenault will not be involved in any activities at Champions Gymnastics and will not be allowed on our premises.

This decision has been taken to allow our coaching team to pursue the club’s mission to offer our athletes an environment where they will be able to flourish.

For now, we have no other comment.

McKayla Maroney – victim statement

Sports Illustrated

McKayla Maroney: Nassar ‘Deserves to Spend the Rest of His Life in Prison’

Time Person of the Year – Silence Breakers

Time magazine.

See the elbow in the right bottom corner of that photo. It’s a hospital worker from the middle of the country, who doesn’t feel that she can come forward without threatening her livelihood.

#MeToo Movement Is Person Of The Year, ‘Time’ Says

Stop to consider the courage it takes to stand up and make such a painful, personal accusation.

Our thanks to Rachael Denhollander, the first to publicly accuse Larry Nassar.

Jordyn Wieber on Nassar

… “It’s really hard to hear knowing what some of my own friends and teammates went through that. I just want to support them and be there for them.”

“Now that it’s all out in the open, there can be a lot of positive change in our sport because it is one of the greatest sports in the world, in my opinion.” …

Jordyn Wieber supports teammates and hopes for safer USA Gymnastics program

Jordyn’s back in Michigan for that interview. Of course she trained at Larry Nassar’s home club Twistars in Michigan. Nassar volunteered there for more than 20 years. Twistars gymnasts are amongst Nassar’s accusers.

USA CEO Kerry Perry – empowerment

First day on the job. Kerry Perry:

… As a mom, there is nothing more important to me than the safety and welfare of our athletes and promoting an environment where everyone has a voice. …

A culture of empowerment means ensuring that our athletes are encouraged to speak up on difficult issues, such as abuse or misconduct; our members and parents are supported; our staff and partners are highly engaged; and our board and constituents are aligned. Being empowered allows all of us to focus on learning and thriving in a sport we all love so much. …

A message to the USA Gymnastics community from Kerry Perry on her first day

Her statement uses the word empowerment 11 times. It’s a good word.

empowerment

authority or power given to someone to do something …

the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights

Like most people I’m still not convinced that anything has really changed at USA Gymnastics. I hope I’m wrong.

She lists these initiatives that could actually make gymnasts safer in future:

Creating a dedicated, toll-free number – 1-833-844-SAFE – to report abuse. The dedicated phone line and the safe sport email address (safesport@usagym.org) simplify the process for reporting.

Building an Athlete Task Force. The voices of our athletes, especially regarding prevention, are important, and I want to provide a format that encourages sharing of ideas and perspectives as we build an empowered culture.

Listening Forums. Meeting with and listening to our gymnastics community, partners and constituents are critically important to our efforts. Joined by our safe sport and senior staff members, I will be on the road visiting our member clubs, not only to share our strategic plan and vision, but also, more importantly, to listen, educate and support our athletes, club owners, parents and members to build an empowered organization together.

Best case scenario Kerry Perry names Aly Raisman to the Athlete Task Force. At that point I could start believing USA is serious.

 

 

Serena Williams wants her daughter to play sports

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

That’s Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.