Dad On Facebook Shares His Thoughts On How Dangerous The Sports World Can Be After Rewatching Kerri Strug’s Performance At The 1996 Olympics
There are some things in life that bring all people together and inspire them with a strong sense of belonging. And even though watching sports games and all sorts of competitions doesn’t make us professionals, it is nice to be around cheerful people and feel a part of something bigger. People love to get involved, support their country and a certain player. However, there is a lot we don’t know that is happening behind closed doors.
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The Tokyo Olympics remind us how important it is for people to support their favorite athletes
Image credits: Byron Heath
The Tokyo Olympics is one of the most awaited events, gathering the best sports professionals from all around the world. So it was major news when acclaimed gymnast Simone Biles decided to withdraw from the Olympics team final because she was worried about her health.
This situation started a discussion about what it takes for athletes to make it to the top and when it’s the right time to take a break.
Facebook user Byron Heath wrote a post after Simone Biles’ news, remembering another great gymnast and her career
Image credits: Byron Heath
After news about Simone Biles flew around the Internet, Facebook user Byron Heath shared his thoughts on the whole situation by reminding people of another star gymnast, Kerri Strug, a then-18-year-old athlete who won a gold medal in the 1996 Olympics. A lot of people still remember her and her famous one-leg vault. The video shows how she jumps and lands badly on her ankle. People see that Kerri is hurt, but she stands up and jumps again, winning the gold medal. Everyone is cheering as she is picked up by her coach because she can’t even walk. The injury made her retire.
Being an adult, Byron understood how wrong it was for Kerri’s coach to let her jump again
Image credits: Byron Heath
In his post, Byron compares the way he saw this for the very first time and now when he has two daughters of his own. He stated that he was one of those people who cheered for Kerri because she pushed through despite the trauma and won. For a lot of viewers, this was an inspiring and exciting moment. However, in today’s context, the author of the post admitted that this wasn’t necessary and that this girl was made to sacrifice her whole career for a single medal.
Image credits: Byron Heath
Is it really worth it for athletes to risk their physical and mental health for such fame? It seems that recent context divided people into two camps: the ones who are horrified by how much these young athletes are pressured and those who say that they should be honored to be given a chance to compete for their country.
One thing is clear: Simone’s example and the way society reacts to it brings hope that things are about to change. What do you think about this situation? Leave your thoughts in the comments down below!
Image credits: Byron Heath
People online support Simone Biles and her choice to step back and focus on herself
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Although she could have stopped (she wasn't forced) she was under too much pressure by her coach. I find that these gymnasts start at such an early age they have become dependent on their coaches/trainers. When reading this post all I could think was "this is child abuse".
And even if she hadn't been under pressure sometimes you need to protect athletes from themselves. Midway through a competition or right before you're not necessarily in the right mental place to make a clear and reasoned decision. Take Adam Jameli starting his race yesterday after pulling his hamstring in his last warm up. He got two steps and then he had to drag himself through the mix zone in absolute agony. He made the decision to start but someone with a medical degree should have been standing in front of him saying no, you cannot start. Its no different that players with concussion wanting to get back on the field or racing drivers wanting to drive when its not truly safe for them to do so. In the heat of competition they're not necessarily able to make the right decision.
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OMG, that makes me sad and angry at the same time.
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The Olympics: where the citizens of a country yell at all the athletes who have trained for years in a sport that those viewers have had zero interest in until now. At least football players are paid obscene amounts of money for their troubles, Olympic athletes might get a sponsorship deal or commentator job if they're lucky
And how many of those football players end up with traumatic brain injuries? But as long as people are entertained, right?
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Keri Strug had already severely injured her back on a parallel bar fall a few years prior to this, requiring long term physical therapy, and had a severe injury to her stomach before that. This sport absolutely destroys body and mind as you reach higher levels.
In previous Olympics where I'd see athletes get angry or even cry because they won a silver or bronze instead of a gold, I would think, "What spoiled, entitled people." But lately when I see that, I realize what that shows about the immense pressure they're under (both internal and external) to win. And maybe that mentality is part of what makes them such great competitors. But that also means its' extra important for them to have coaches and trainers who are looking out for their best interests, and who will help protect them from self-harm when that drive is clouding their judgment.
My. daughter-in-law attended the Karolyi boot camp. She came out of it with nothing kind to say about Bela Karolyi.
Load More Replies... The thing to remember about olympic gymnasts is that they are all child workers. They may be adult now (Simone is 24 years old), but for most of them, they've started working at their gymnastics career since pre-teen years and it's the only job they've ever known. They need to be reminded that their own health is more important than their score.
Competition should make you feel good, not like you came up short. If the award is more important than the joy of doing it, you’ve missed the point. I admire Biles for stepping back. Her winning the bronze gave her peace of mind about taking care of herself. It’s admirable when a young woman values herself above societal expectations.
When a boxer is seen to have had enough punishment, there is this concept called "throwing in the towel" ... every sports trainer should know when to do so ...
Wtf is the purpose of a gold medal? Does it solve any problems at all? No all it is, is bragging rights. Like the US doesn’t flaunt enough we need a bunch of gold medals to say we’re better. It’s disgusting. My husband’s country of Morocco got their first gold medal in decades and they’re all so proud. The reaction is so different bc they don’t see it as something to brag about. The US is so gross when it comes to so many things olympics included.
it seems like sometimes from the outside it's easy to make up our mind and judge things. i wonder if we asked the olympian athletes themselves if they think it's worthless. sometimes life isn't just about the money or solving problems, otherwise music or dancing wouldn't exist either.
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These gymnasts have a dream and to win is their passion, it’s also big money for the coaching staff, who are raking in millions on the names of these athletes. Unfortunately athletes are often treated with sticks not carrots because of their potential cash cow opportunities. When one lives in a country of runaway capitalism…..EVERYTHING IS FOR SALE, EVERYTHING
I feel bad for people like this. I feel bad for anyone who is even the least bit competitive. In the family I married into there is a "battle" amongst the women to be "the best" as in. Best looking. Thinnest. Cleanest house. Best kids. It makes me puke. Because in a lot of cases if have something to prove then you already lost.
The entire Karolyi empire was the worst thing to ever happen to gymnasts and gymnastics. Shake it out? You can't shake out a shattered leg/ankle! And whats even more sickening is that she didn't even need to vault to win. Dont tell me he wasn't well aware of that fact. And then there's the photo op carrying her in his victory. Kudos to Simone Byles for looking after herself. She has a whole life to live after this. Make sure nothing happens so she will be able to live it to the fullest without a disastrous accident. People saying she's not tough enough. Oh yes she is! She's more than tough enough to blow off your selfish self centered BS judgements. Who the h€!! are you anyway in her life? News flash folks! The only words that matter are all the words of encouragement and love that have been sent her way. Go crawl back under.
In 2000, she was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. After graduation, Strug worked as an elementary school teacher at Tom Matsumoto Elementary School in San Jose, CA, before moving to Washington, D.C. in 2003. She worked as a staff assistant with the White House Office of Presidential Student Correspondence, moved to a job at the General Counsel in the Treasury Department, and in March 2005, joined the Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention staff as a presidential appointee. Strug has also been an active marathon runner, having run marathons in Houston, New York, Boston and Chicago. During the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Strug was a correspondent for Yahoo! in artistic gymnastics. In 2008, she appeared in a television commercial for the Zaxby's restaurant chain. Also in 2008, her history-making ordeal at the 1996 Olympic games was featured in a commercial, narrated by actor Morgan Freeman for the "Go World" campaign.
Very misleading and disingenuous to suggest Kerri Strug regretted or ever claimed to be coerced into competing due to an injury. In interviews and texts this past week, she supported Biles decision, that's all. At the age of 42, if she had any regrets, I trust her to make them known and not rely on people to assume the knew what she was thinking and feeling 25 years ago.
You're actually reinforcing what that guy is saying. You're saying she admitted she was trained from a young age to get the gold medal or be a loser.
Load More Replies... Broken ankle? Walk it off, this single event with your whole life and career still ahead of you is the only thing that matters. Hmm...
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Although she could have stopped (she wasn't forced) she was under too much pressure by her coach. I find that these gymnasts start at such an early age they have become dependent on their coaches/trainers. When reading this post all I could think was "this is child abuse".
And even if she hadn't been under pressure sometimes you need to protect athletes from themselves. Midway through a competition or right before you're not necessarily in the right mental place to make a clear and reasoned decision. Take Adam Jameli starting his race yesterday after pulling his hamstring in his last warm up. He got two steps and then he had to drag himself through the mix zone in absolute agony. He made the decision to start but someone with a medical degree should have been standing in front of him saying no, you cannot start. Its no different that players with concussion wanting to get back on the field or racing drivers wanting to drive when its not truly safe for them to do so. In the heat of competition they're not necessarily able to make the right decision.
Load More Replies... OMG, that makes me sad and angry at the same time.
Load More Replies... The Olympics: where the citizens of a country yell at all the athletes who have trained for years in a sport that those viewers have had zero interest in until now. At least football players are paid obscene amounts of money for their troubles, Olympic athletes might get a sponsorship deal or commentator job if they're lucky
And how many of those football players end up with traumatic brain injuries? But as long as people are entertained, right?
Load More Replies... Keri Strug had already severely injured her back on a parallel bar fall a few years prior to this, requiring long term physical therapy, and had a severe injury to her stomach before that. This sport absolutely destroys body and mind as you reach higher levels.
In previous Olympics where I'd see athletes get angry or even cry because they won a silver or bronze instead of a gold, I would think, "What spoiled, entitled people." But lately when I see that, I realize what that shows about the immense pressure they're under (both internal and external) to win. And maybe that mentality is part of what makes them such great competitors. But that also means its' extra important for them to have coaches and trainers who are looking out for their best interests, and who will help protect them from self-harm when that drive is clouding their judgment.
My. daughter-in-law attended the Karolyi boot camp. She came out of it with nothing kind to say about Bela Karolyi.
Load More Replies... The thing to remember about olympic gymnasts is that they are all child workers. They may be adult now (Simone is 24 years old), but for most of them, they've started working at their gymnastics career since pre-teen years and it's the only job they've ever known. They need to be reminded that their own health is more important than their score.
Competition should make you feel good, not like you came up short. If the award is more important than the joy of doing it, you’ve missed the point. I admire Biles for stepping back. Her winning the bronze gave her peace of mind about taking care of herself. It’s admirable when a young woman values herself above societal expectations.
When a boxer is seen to have had enough punishment, there is this concept called "throwing in the towel" ... every sports trainer should know when to do so ...
Wtf is the purpose of a gold medal? Does it solve any problems at all? No all it is, is bragging rights. Like the US doesn’t flaunt enough we need a bunch of gold medals to say we’re better. It’s disgusting. My husband’s country of Morocco got their first gold medal in decades and they’re all so proud. The reaction is so different bc they don’t see it as something to brag about. The US is so gross when it comes to so many things olympics included.
it seems like sometimes from the outside it's easy to make up our mind and judge things. i wonder if we asked the olympian athletes themselves if they think it's worthless. sometimes life isn't just about the money or solving problems, otherwise music or dancing wouldn't exist either.
Load More Replies... These gymnasts have a dream and to win is their passion, it’s also big money for the coaching staff, who are raking in millions on the names of these athletes. Unfortunately athletes are often treated with sticks not carrots because of their potential cash cow opportunities. When one lives in a country of runaway capitalism…..EVERYTHING IS FOR SALE, EVERYTHING
I feel bad for people like this. I feel bad for anyone who is even the least bit competitive. In the family I married into there is a "battle" amongst the women to be "the best" as in. Best looking. Thinnest. Cleanest house. Best kids. It makes me puke. Because in a lot of cases if have something to prove then you already lost.
The entire Karolyi empire was the worst thing to ever happen to gymnasts and gymnastics. Shake it out? You can't shake out a shattered leg/ankle! And whats even more sickening is that she didn't even need to vault to win. Dont tell me he wasn't well aware of that fact. And then there's the photo op carrying her in his victory. Kudos to Simone Byles for looking after herself. She has a whole life to live after this. Make sure nothing happens so she will be able to live it to the fullest without a disastrous accident. People saying she's not tough enough. Oh yes she is! She's more than tough enough to blow off your selfish self centered BS judgements. Who the h€!! are you anyway in her life? News flash folks! The only words that matter are all the words of encouragement and love that have been sent her way. Go crawl back under.
In 2000, she was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. After graduation, Strug worked as an elementary school teacher at Tom Matsumoto Elementary School in San Jose, CA, before moving to Washington, D.C. in 2003. She worked as a staff assistant with the White House Office of Presidential Student Correspondence, moved to a job at the General Counsel in the Treasury Department, and in March 2005, joined the Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention staff as a presidential appointee. Strug has also been an active marathon runner, having run marathons in Houston, New York, Boston and Chicago. During the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Strug was a correspondent for Yahoo! in artistic gymnastics. In 2008, she appeared in a television commercial for the Zaxby's restaurant chain. Also in 2008, her history-making ordeal at the 1996 Olympic games was featured in a commercial, narrated by actor Morgan Freeman for the "Go World" campaign.
Very misleading and disingenuous to suggest Kerri Strug regretted or ever claimed to be coerced into competing due to an injury. In interviews and texts this past week, she supported Biles decision, that's all. At the age of 42, if she had any regrets, I trust her to make them known and not rely on people to assume the knew what she was thinking and feeling 25 years ago.
You're actually reinforcing what that guy is saying. You're saying she admitted she was trained from a young age to get the gold medal or be a loser.
Load More Replies... Broken ankle? Walk it off, this single event with your whole life and career still ahead of you is the only thing that matters. Hmm...
Load More Replies...
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