The ugly, eating disordered world of Olympic gymnasts
If I told you that many professional gymnasts struggled with eating disorders, you wouldn’t be surprised, would you? But what if I told you that plenty of their coaches, instead of showing concern, actually promote disorders like anorexia and bulimia?
According to the book “Chalked Up” by Jennifer Sey, a former American gymnast, both coaches and parents can be complicit when it comes to encouraging eating disorders in young athletes. In an article at International, the author notes:
“…Most damaging was the constant pressure to lose weight put on the girls, many of whom were barely in their teens and often younger. Sey describes eating disorders being common and coaches humiliating their athletes by calling them fat. In one memorable scene a coach picks up a loudhailer and berates a young gymnast in public for putting on 2lb. ‘At this rate you’ll look like your mother in no time,’ the coach screams, as the mother watches in the crowd and does nothing to intervene. In another incident, Sey’s coach chastises her for eating a whole bagel for dinner.’”
I’m not shocked by this, of course, as much as I’m saddened.
Tags: American gymnast, Anorexia, Bulimia, Chalked Up, coaches, eating disordered, eating-disorders, gymnasts, Jennifer Sey, Olympic gymnasts, Olympics, parents, promoting eating disorders
3 opinions for The ugly, eating disordered world of Olympic gymnasts
Erika
Aug 14, 2008 at 3:34 pm
eh. Don’t even get me started.
ASIAN Health and Medicine Forum
Aug 16, 2008 at 3:19 am
anorexia is quite bad.
Andrew
Aug 24, 2008 at 4:09 pm
That story reminded me of the time my grade school teacher put me on the spot in the middle of class asking a question, I couldn’t get the answer right, and she made a fat joke about me right in front of everyone.
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