As Gymnastike Contributor Courtney Keating has discussed in her most recent blog, many people do not understand what it is like to be an artistic gymnast. They do not understand how much hard work, courage and determination goes into the sport.

 

I have never been a gymnast. My sister was and made it to Level 8 before stopping the sport after a broken ankle. I saw how hard she trained and how much she loved the sport.

However, even with not ever being a gymnast, I face a similar plight as an expert and fan.

I find that many people who are not into the sport just don’t understand how hard these athletes train and sacrifice.

While watching the women’s final at the Visa Championships, my father decided to watch with me during the third rotation. He is an avid sports fan. However, he does not favor sports such as gymnastics, figure skating and diving. As Alexandra Raisman was performing on the balance beam, my father could not hide his disapproval of her mistakes. When Raisman had to grab the beam to stay on, that was the final straw.

“Get off the beam!”, he yells at the T.V.
“What do you mean ‘get off the beam?”, I reply.
“She made too many huge breaks, she’s done. She should just end her routine.”, he retorts.
“It doesn’t work like that”, I am now annoyed. “What happens if this happens at Worlds or the Olympics? Should she just jump off the beam? Would you have a football player sit out the rest of the game for making a fumble during the first quarter?”
“Well, no.”, he says now thinking about the football comparison.

It seems that until it is pointed out, people to not consider gymnastics a sport like baseball or football. At the end of the day, they are all athletes and train just as hard. They are to be respected. It may take time, but I hope one day they are universally considered athletes.

Below are two examples of how gymnasts are some of the best athletes in the world.

Amanda Borden on beam at the 1993 U.S National Championships


And of course, Kerri Strug on vault at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.