{"id":4949,"date":"2024-04-22T20:47:16","date_gmt":"2024-04-23T00:47:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/?p=4949"},"modified":"2024-04-26T09:46:13","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T13:46:13","slug":"from-passion-to-pressure-the-costs-of-childhood-gymnastics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/spring-2024\/from-passion-to-pressure-the-costs-of-childhood-gymnastics\/","title":{"rendered":"From Passion to Pressure: The Costs of Childhood Gymnastics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can’t recall my first gymnastics class \u2013 I started at the age of two. My parents and coaches fueled my participation and skill development, encouraging my passion and striving for success. By the second grade, I eagerly practiced twenty-five hours per week and competed at state-level competitions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As my career progressed, attending practices felt increasingly burdensome. I bickered with my parents about skipping and before high school, I dropped out due to injury, poor mental health, and a desire to prioritize my academics and social life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am not alone: the culture and early specialization of gymnastics imposes significant physical, social, and mental challenges on young athletes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Necessity of Early Specialization<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elite gymnasts start early and aim for peak performance before adulthood. Women\u2019s gymnastics is one of the few sports in which Olympic athletes are typically teenagers (Sands et al. 2018). This is partly because having a small physique is beneficial for performing specific flips, and starting at a young age is essential to develop muscles, techniques, and coordination skills (Tem\u00fcr\u00e7i et al. 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To reach peak performance, gymnasts commit to extensive training programs. Early sports specialization, defined as the training in a single sport for more than eight months per year, is common in elite gymnastics (Mosher et al. 2020). Before reaching puberty, many gymnasts surpass these benchmarks and exceed the weekly practice recommendations set by the American Academy of Pediatrics (Root et al. 2020). Today, nearly two hundred thousand young gymnasts participate in elite training programs, some reporting specialization as early as the age of five and training up to 36 hours per week (Root et al. 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pressure to Succeed<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easy to idealize elite gymnasts. In doing so, many parents believe that a head start enhances their child\u2019s sports development and performance (Strosser 2022). This has contributed to the hypercompetitiveness and adult-driven nature of gymnastics (Vaughan et al. 2022). Coaches and their organizations also foster a demanding culture by promoting increasingly more training opportunities and competitions. Parents frequently overlook the challenges of long training hours and aggressive coaching environments (Strosser 2022). In turn, gymnasts become accustomed to these demands and often place high expectations on themselves to manage everything (Wittmann 2024).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Toll on Young Gymnasts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Starting gymnastics early exposes athletes to unrealistic perfectionism (Frogley et al. 2018). They must have the mental toughness to perform flips and handle rejection from coaches and judges. Young athletes pursue approval from their parents and coaches, yet many gymnasts encounter damaging language that fosters feelings of inadequacy (Wittmann 2024). This perpetuates a cycle where gymnasts constantly strive for unattainable perfection and experience feelings of guilt when they fall short. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While a head start offers competitive advantages and skill mastery, it also poses risks such as compromised personal and physical development (Brenner et al. 2019). Since gymnastics is a race against the biological clock, many young athletes endure and ignore significant injuries (Malina et al. 2013). By committing to extensive training hours, they endure social isolation and may deprioritize academics as well (Wittmann 2024). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The intense pressure of this routine from a young age often leads to increased levels of anxiety and may hinder athletic performance and motivation (Swan et al. 2022). Considering this, it’s no wonder that gymnastics struggles with such a high dropout rate, with 35% of children quitting the sport annually (Swan et al. 2022).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Culture of Silencing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The reputation of gymnastics as “legal child abuse” is unacceptable but unfortunately a reality. The standard of mental toughness can make it difficult for athletes to speak up and seek help, leaving them feeling vulnerable and silenced (Wittmann 2024). Coaches may use abusive tactics in an attempt to push athletes to their limits, wrongfully believing it will enhance performance (Wittmann 2024). It\u2019s no secret that USA Gymnastics has faced scrutiny for its recent abuse scandals, as seen in cases like Larry Nassar\u2019s (Smith and Pegoraro 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gymnasts are left to suffer alone in the face of ongoing mistreatment. Fat-shaming and verbal abuse persist as prevalent issues within the gymnastics community (Wittmann 2024). The sport\u2019s emphasis on body image contributes to an increased risk of developing eating disorders, yet there is a lack of resources available to address these concerns (Tan et al. 2014). It\u2019s clear that abuse isn’t a recent issue in gymnastics. It\u2019s a part of the sport\u2019s institutional framework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Balancing Fun and Success<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As Simone Biles has proven, age should not be an obstacle to success in gymnastics. At age 26, she has broken barriers and defied perceptions by securing her eighth national title (Wittmann 2024). Research indicates that with support from coaches and parents, post-puberty gymnasts can better exert control over their bodies, relationships, and performance (Barker-Ruchti et al. 2016).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For young athletes today, parents should prioritize their child’s enjoyment of sports rather than pressuring them to excel (Gao et al. 2024). In contrast to early sports specialization, multisport engagement contributes to sports longevity (Robinson 2022). By appropriately monitoring intensive youth training, young gymnastics can be directed towards a more balanced and holistic approach to athletic development.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, institutional reforms are needed to ensure a healthier and more supportive environment within gymnastics. Coaches and parents must reassess their values and be aware of how gender-based discrimination and negative body image stereotypes can be intensified within the gym. No skill or trophy is more important than the well-being of young athletes. Open conversations can help to destigmatize mental health concerns within the gymnastics community (Rice et al. 2016). It’s important for children to recognize their worth beyond athletics because gymnastics is a sport, not a lifestyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

References<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Barker-Ruchti, N., Roslyn Kerr, Astrid Schubring, Georgia Cervin, and Myrian Nunomura. 2016. \u201cGymnasts Are Like Wine, They Get Better With Age: Becoming and Developing Adult Women\u2019s Artistic Gymnasts.\u201d Quest<\/em> 69(3). Retrieved April 7, 2024. (https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/309513351_Gymnasts_Are_Like_Wine_They_Get_Better_With_Age_Becoming_and_Developing_Adult_Women’s_Artistic_Gymnasts<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brenner, Joel S., Michele LaBotz, Dai Sugimoto, and Andrea Stracciolini. 2019. \u201cThe Psychosocial Implications of Sport Specialization in Pediatric Athletes.\u201d Journal of Athletic Training<\/em> 54(10). Retrieved February 16, 2024 (https:\/\/www.proquest.com\/scholarly-journals\/psychosocial-implications-sport-specialization\/docview\/2307958039\/se-2?accountid=11264<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frogley, Megan, Emily Oliver, and Clive Palmer. 2018. \u201cMarvel, machine or malnourished: exploring the sociology of the body in Women\u2019s Artistic Gymnastics.\u201d Journal of Qualitative Research in Sports Studies<\/em> 12(1). Retrieved April 1, 2024. (https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/331102025_Megan_Frogley_Emily_Oliver_and_Clive_Palmer_2018_Marvel_machine_or_malnourished_exploring_the_sociology_of_the_body_in_Women’s_Artistic_Gymnastics_Journal_of_Qualitative_Research_in_Sports_Studies_12_<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gao, Zhendong, Chen Soon Chee, and Tao Wang. 2024. \u201cThe role of parents in the motivation of young athletes: a systematic review.\u201d Frontiers in psychology<\/em> 14. (https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2023.1291711<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malina, Robert M., Adam D. G. Baxter-Jones, Neil Armstrong, Gaston P. Beunen, Dennis Caine, Robin M. Daly, Richard D. Lewis, Alan D. Rogol, and Keith Russell. 2013. \u201cRole of intensive training in the growth and maturation of artistic gymnasts.\u201d Sports medicine <\/em>43(9). Retrieved March 27, 2024.(https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s40279-013-0058-5<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mosher, Alexandra., Jessica Fraser-Thomas, and Joseph Baker. 2020. \u201cWhat Defines Early Specialization: A Systematic Review of Literature.\u201d Frontiers in sports and active living<\/em> 2. Retrieved March 26, 2024. (https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fspor.2020.596229<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rice, Simone M., Rosemary Purcell, Stefanie De Silva, Daveena Mawren, Patrick D. McGorry, and Alexandra G. Parker. 2016. \u201cThe Mental Health of Elite Athletes: A Narrative Systematic Review.\u201d Sports medicine 46<\/em>(9). Retrieved April 13, 2024. (https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s40279-016-0492-2<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robinson, Nicola J., Stephan J. McQuilliam, and Amy Whitehead. 2022. \u201cThe current landscape of youth multi-sport training: athlete and parent insight data.\u201d International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching<\/em> 17(3). Retrieved March 3, 2024. (https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/17479541211041827<\/a>.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Root, Hayley., Ashley N. Marshall, Anna Thatcher, Alison Snyder Valier, Tamara C. Valovich McLeod, and Curtis Bay. 2019. \u201cSport Specialization and Fitness and Functional Task Performance Among Youth Competitive Gymnasts.\u201d Journal of athletic training<\/em> 54(10). Retrieved March 26, 2024. (https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4085\/1062-6050-397-18<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sands, William A., Steven Murray, Jenny McNeal, Cindy Slater, and Michael Stone. 2018. \u201cHistorical Changes in Height, Mass, and Age of USA Women\u2019s olympic Gymnastics team: An Update.\u201d Science of Gymnastics Journal<\/em> 10(3). Retrieved April 1, 2024. (https:\/\/escholarship.org\/uc\/item\/4428c9zb<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith, Lauren R., and Ann Pegoraro. 2020. \u201cMedia Framing of Larry Nassar and the USA Gymnastics Child Sex Abuse Scandal.\u201d Journal of Child Sexual Abuse<\/em> 29(4). (https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10538712.2019.1703233<\/a>) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strosser, Stephen. 2022. \u201cThe Association Between Parents’ Beliefs About Youth Sport Specialization and Their Children’s Specialization Status.\u201d Journal of Sport Behavior <\/em>45(5). Retrieved February 16, 2024. (https:\/\/link.gale.com\/apps\/doc\/A743647621\/AONE?u=nysl_ce_hamilton&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=7b41cda6<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swan, Isla, Athanasios Souglis, and Georgios Andronikos. 2022. \u201cInvestigating the reasons for dropping out by competitive artistic gymnastics.\u201d Journal of Physical Education and Sport<\/em> 22(1). Retrieved April 1, 2024. (https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/358462243_Investigating_the_reasons_for_dropping_out_by_competitive_artistic_gymnastics<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Tan, Jacinta, Andrew Bloodworth, Mike McNamee, and Jeanette Hewitt. 2014. \u201cInvestigating eating disorders in elite gymnasts: Conceptual, ethical and methodological issues.\u201d European Journal of Sport Science <\/em>14(1). (https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/17461391.2012.728632<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tem\u00fcr\u00e7i, \u0130smail., Isik Bayraktar, and \u00d6zg\u00fcr Nalbant. 2020. \u201cThe Early Specialization Quiring Sport of Gymnastics and Long-Term Athlete Development Programs.\u201d The Online Journal of Recreation and Sport<\/em> 9(4). Retrieved March 27, 2024. (https:\/\/doi.org\/10.22282\/ojrs.2020.74<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vaughan, James, Clifford J. Mallet, Paul Potrac, Carl Woods, Mark O\u2019Sullivan, and Keith Davids. 2022. \u201cSocial and cultural constraints on football player development in Stockholm: influencing skill, learning, and wellbeing.\u201d Frontiers in Sports and Active Living<\/em> 4. Retrieved March 3, 2024. (https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fspor.2022.832111\/full<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wittmann, Klaudia. 2024. \u201cThe Woman is Perfected: A Psychoanalytic Reading of Systemic Abuse in Women\u2019s Artistic Gymnastics\u201d.  Psychoanalysis, Culture & Society <\/em>(1088-0763).<\/em>Retrieved April 12, 2024. (https:\/\/advance.lexis.com\/api\/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:6B6B-G7J1-JDK8-0025-00000-00&context=1516831<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I can’t recall my first gymnastics class \u2013 I started at the age of two. My parents and coaches fueled my participation and skill development, encouraging my passion and striving for success. 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