Defining Moment

Yesterday morning I got up at 5am to watch the Olympics. I had it all set up. I had my computer ready to go with the gymnastics and my phone up and ready for softball. I was texting with my sisters because that is what we do. One sister sitting in the Tokyo arena and one getting ready to go to work. No one could have predicted what was about to happen on that Olympic stage.

“Simone’s out.”

What do you mean “out?” She can’t do that! What about the team, the gold, the USA? I really was trying to figure it out. She clearly was lost in the air on her vault, but that happens in gymnastics. You do the next one and you are fine right? Not always, and on the biggest stage, she admitted defeat and said she couldn’t go on. Just WOW.

It has taken me 24 hours to process this. To think about what I really want to say. To read the posts and reactions of the gymnastics community and those who know nothing about the sport. I have been proud. I have been emotional. I have been upset. I have been defensive. I have answered phone calls and texts asking me what is happening, and I do not have all the answers. All I can do is try to shed some light, because I do not believe I can put into words exactly what I am feeling right now. In one moment, the sport of gymnastics had a major breakthrough. The walls built by a toxic culture cracked at that moment.

My passion for youth sports comes from growing up in a time when the mental side of sports was not a huge consideration. Professional athletes played with broken bones, blood, and were seen as the standard for being “strong and tough.” Somehow being strong physically translated into being strong mentally as well. The “win at all costs” attitude was what many lived by. That is how generations before us were raised and we accepted it without question just as our parents did before us. What we didn’t see were those same “strong and tough” athletes turning to alcohol, drugs, and participating in other risky behaviors to deal with the mental side of sports and life. They were supposed to be able to handle everything right? And as outsiders looking in, we believed they could. We did not see or hear about the dark side of sports. Fast forward twenty to thirty years and sadly, the “toughness” needle still hasn’t moved enough.

I want, so badly, to help people understand the sport of gymnastics. I will not make silly statements saying it is harder than any other sport, more time consuming or more mentally draining. I never did another sport. I have no idea what they are like and quite honestly, I often don’t understand the training or methods used in other sports. I lived gymnastics. Period.

Of course, I am biased, but gymnasts are phenomenal, beautiful, and sometimes a little bit squirrelly (LOL). That’s what makes them so amazing! They thrive on the difficult and push themselves to do things that most would find terrifying. Who really wants to train like they do? Many high level gymnasts train 5-7 days a week for 4-8 hours a day. There is no “off season” so they train these hours year round. How can a child love something that much? Believe me, they do! Some homeschool, some go to school for a half day, and others have classrooms in their gymnastics clubs where they do their schoolwork. For females, it is a young sport meaning skills are often easier to perform before one’s body changes during puberty. It used to be that female gymnasts hit their “peak” at age 16, but hopefully that is changing. The average age of Team USA this Olympics is 20.8 years old. Their bodies take a beating. When injured, they go to practice and continue to work on what they can. If they hurt their ankle, you will often find them swinging on the bars or conditioning. Their gym becomes a “home” to them and their teammates and coaches their extended family. They are expected to be physically strong and graceful at the same time. They are the epitome of strength and beauty combined. They strive for perfection even though they know it is rarely achieved in the sport. Gone are the days of the “perfect 10” in elite level gymnastics. They are chasing something that cannot be achieved. There was a time, not long ago, when gymnasts were not supposed to show any emotion because it showed you were weak. I loved seeing our athletes laughing, dancing, and expressing themselves at the Olympic games. I loved seeing gymnasts from other countries doing the same. Cue the culture change people have been begging for.

To those who say Simone is weak or selfish I know there is little chance I will change your mind. I would just like you to think of it from a different angle. She is lost in her skills. She has the twisties. She does not know where she is in the air and this is frightening and dangerous. You could see how lost she was on the vault she performed. She has done the skills thousands of times. She doesn’t want to be lost. What she is experiencing would be similar to the yips in baseball or a quarterback suddenly not being able to throw a ball for some reason. He doesn’t know why. He wants to throw the ball, but his body will not let him. The coach wouldn’t keep a quarterback who could not throw in the game, nor should he stay in because it would hurt the team. It is the same as a softball or baseball pitcher knowing she/he just doesn't have "it" that day and someone needs to take their place. Gymnastics is not typically a team sport. It is normally you against the field. The Olympics are a rare time when team comes first in one "event" of the games. I would use this as a teaching moment. She was smart enough to know she would hurt her team if she continued. She gave them a chance to still medal and prove they are a force in the world of gymnastics. Simone’s coaches had to trust her and help her make a very difficult choice. They want to win. She wants to win. Some people don’t like the choice that was made, but in that moment, I believe she wanted her teammates to get the medals they deserve.

She is not competing in the All Around competition. Will people label that as selfish as well? Sadly, I suppose there will be some who do. She is clearly struggling. I can only hope the majority of people will stand behind her and support her. I, for one, will be up early in the morning to watch the Olympics. I hope Jade and Suni shine bright tomorrow. With love and support, "Go Team USA."