Category: psychology

Gymnast Alliance #gymnastalliance

Dvora posted an article for Vice:

The Gymnast Alliance is forcing a reckoning with abusive practices that have long been at the center of the sport.

… hundreds of gymnasts from all over would post their personal stories of pain and abuse to social media using the hashtag.

They spoke of being forced to train and compete on serious injuries; of being publicly shamed for their weight; of being screamed at and belittled for making mistakes in practice.

Press attention would soon follow, with reports on ITV and other outlets. And the #gymnastalliance would soon spread to other countries, with gymnasts in Belgium, New Zealand, Australia, and the Netherlands speaking up about abuse at the highest level of sports there.

Hotlines have been set up; independent inquiries have been promised; coaches have been suspended. …

“We Won’t Stop”: Gymnasts Around the World Are Organizing To End Abuse

Downie sisters have spoken up about abuse.

Defying Gravity – part 1

Defying Gravity is a 6-part docuseries that explores … Women’s Gymnastics through its greatest champions.

It’s playing on the Glamour magazine YouTube channel. The first 2 episodes are free without YouTube Premium.

I actually signed up for a free month of YouTube Premium so I could watch the rest.  Could be that getting rid of ads MIGHT make it worth the subscription.  🙂

Bart, Nadia, Daniella, Svetlana, Laurie, Blythe, and more.

Lots of Aly and Katelyn.

This feel good introduction part 1 highlights Floor more than the other apparatus.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I thought it was weird to include Shushanova doing a dangerous skill.

Blythe Lawrence on Aussie #AthleteAlliance

Rianna Mizzen talks about how being overworked in training contributed to her ACL tear.

“I have had some terrible experiences at major international competitions and national training camps between 2006-2012 that I wouldn’t wish on anyone,” two-time Olympian Georgia Bonora wrote on Instagram.

“There’s training hard and helping your athlete get the most out of themselves, but then there’s also a very fine line that can be crossed into abusive territory,” said Mary-Anne Monckton, a five-time Australian champion who won two silver medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

“A lot of girls, some 20 years later, still didn’t realise that that was abuse. None of us recognised it because it wasn’t just happening to us. It was happening to everybody.”

On July 30 the Australian Human Rights Commission announced it would conduct an independent review, led by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, on gymnastics in Australia to better understand why alleged abuse went unreported.

Click through to read the well researched and detailed article in the Brisbane Times:

‘You can’t step out of line’: Medals come at a price for gymnasts

Nick Ruddock on on Athlete Alliance

Nick is eloquent in his summing up of the #AthleteAlliance revelations — gymnasts emboldened to come forward with some of their worst experiences in the sport.

How revealing past abuse can make things better for future generations.

Of course he looks at it from the coach perspective.

 

Elijah Thompson thanks his coaches

For National Coaches Week Canada, Elijah in 2019 took the time to thank his coaches, past and present.

View this post on Instagram

Coach Appreciation Week  #thankscoach Sincerely, Elijah Thompson. I would like to sincerely express my gratitude to Bin Fan for supporting me in my gymnastics career from my very first Nationals at age 9, even though he was busy coaching the seniors, to today, through both periods of success, and more recently,  periods of trialing injuries. You have exemplified character and class in your coaching, and have always valued me, even when I was unable to compete or even train fully. Thank you to Salvador for the daily assistance and encouragement you provide in the gym, for always keeping things positive, and especially for guiding me through Canada Winter Games this year. Thank you to Scott and Cam who started my journey with me 12 years ago, and have never doubted my ability to perform and to persevere. And finally, I wish to thank Miguel Costante, who coached me for 5 years as a young boy, and instilled a love for the artistry of gymnastics in me, as well as introducing me to the world of Physics. Once again, thank you coaches, your impact is greater than you could ever imagine. Elijah “#athletetribute #enjoyyourgymnasticsjourney #gymfamily #gymnasticsfamily #yycgymnastics #yyccalgarygymnastics #ourpeopleourstrength @coach.ca

A post shared by Calgary Gymnastics Centre (@calgarygymnasticscentre) on

New Zealand gymnasts can compete in shorts

Good decision.

Many young women are more comfortable training in shorts. Now they can be more comfortable while competing.

International guidelines state female athletes are to wear leotards that “must not delineate more than 2cm below the buttocks” or a full unitard that extends from hip to ankle.

GNZ allows gymnasts to wear “leg coverings” and is now allowing female athletes to wear “bike shorts” or “shorts”. …

Gymnastics New Zealand loosen leotard rules, female athletes can compete in shorts

impact of sport on LGBTQ youth

Unsurprisingly, LGBTQ youth who participate in sports are better in school.  Do better in life.

Coaches should be encouraging kids who might feel like outsiders.

Sports participation has been linked to higher self-esteem, better grades and lower depressive symptoms among LGBTQ youth, according to The Trevor Project’s inaugural mental health survey — the largest of its kind ever conducted. …

The impact of sports on LGBTQ youth