Dad On Facebook Shares His Thoughts On How Dangerous The Sports World Can Be After Rewatching Kerri Strug's Performance At The 1996 Olympics Bored Panda Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app Continue in app Continue in browser Like what you're reading? Subscribe to our top stories Please enter email address By submitting email you agree to get Bored Panda newsletter. We respect your privacy. We will not publish or share your email address in any way. Almost finished... To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you. Almost finished... To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you. Are you leaving already? Are you sure you want to post this? We're asking people to rethink comments that seem similar to others that have been reported or downvoted this warning is a mistake x x Let's fight boredom together! Continue with Facebook Continue with Google or Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Forgot your password? Creating an account means you agree with Bored Panda's Terms of Service 0, text: error()"> Become a member Sign Up Have an account? Login Forgot your password? Creating an account means you agree with Bored Panda's Terms of Service 0, text: error(), css: errorCssClass"> Password reminder Please provide your email address and we will send your password shortly. Send Have an account? Login Don't have an account? Sign Up Get our top 10 stories in your inbox: Finish 0, text: error(), css: errorCssClass"> Please enter your email to complete registration Finish 0, text: error(), css: errorCssClass"> Activate to continue Your account is not active. We have sent an email to the address you provided with an activation link. Check your inbox, and click on the link to activate your account. I have already activated my account Resend activation link We and our trusted partners use technology such as cookies on our site to personalize content and ads, provide social media features, and analyze our traffic. You can read more about it and change your preferences here. Agree Bored Panda iOS App Available on App Store Continue in App Bored Panda Android App Available on Google Play Continue in App By using our services you agree to our use of cookies to improve your visit. You can change your preferences here. Agree BoredPanda Login Add Post Search ArtPhotographyAnimalsFunnyTravelIllustrationComicsDIYGood NewsParentingChallengeAsk Pandas More Featured Trending Latest Newsletter The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here. Bored Panda Dad On Facebook Shares His Thoughts On How Dangerous The Sports World Can Be After Rewatching Kerri Strug s Performance At The 1996 Olympics Home Partnership Advertise Success stories Jobs About us Contact 198points 4.3K People1 year ago

Dad On Facebook Shares His Thoughts On How Dangerous The Sports World Can Be After Rewatching Kerri Strug s Performance At The 1996 Olympics

Konstancija Gasaitytė
BoredPanda staff 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. More Info: Facebook

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

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing! Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Share on Facebook Konstancija Gasaitytė Konstancija Gasaitytė Author, BoredPanda staff Konstancija is a Content Creator at Bored Panda. She has a bachelor’s degree in Translation and Interpreting and a master’s degree in Future Media and Journalism. She is very interested in sustainable fashion and is a perfect companion to go to second-hand shops and antiques for nearly anything: clothes, books or furniture. Her interests also include photography, literature and hiking. Read more » Get the latest inspiring stories via our awesome iOS app! Download Bored Panda app! 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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". 31 31points reply Joe Reaves Joe Reaves Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago 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. 23 23points reply Load More Replies... Caro Caro Caro Caro Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago I agree. Well said. 5 5points reply Diane Knight Diane Knight Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago I read that Ms. Biles said that ' the rising anxiety created by the stress of those expectations manifested themselves in a case of the “twisties,” causing her to lose her sense of where she was in the air.' The stress of an injury could have done the same. Ms. Strug was lucky that she landed upright and not upsidedown with a permanent or fatal outcome. 1 1point reply Frank Ropen Frank Ropen Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago Just read https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_Mukhina 27 27points reply Maren Gärtner Maren Gärtner Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago OMG, that makes me sad and angry at the same time. 14 14points reply Load More Replies... Alexia Alexia Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago Yep. Also Julissa Gomez and Sang Lan: both fell on vault, broke their necks and paralysed. And these are just the athletes that are more or less known to the public. There are several others who get severely injured while they are still juniors. 10 10points reply Rannveig Ess Rannveig Ess Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago I am so POd after reading that. Here's an added list from the above link Frank Ropen posted. If you don't go there, at least read these: ... Yelena Shushunova, a Russian gymnast who executed the Thomas Salto in the 1987 European Gymnastics Championships .....Julissa Gomez, an American gymnast paralyzed in a vaulting accident at a 1988 meet in Japan while attempting the difficult-to-master Yurchenko vault ......Christy Henrich, an American gymnast who was told by an international gymnastics judge in 1989 to lose weight and pushed by coaches to lose weight while continuing to train until constant dieting led to her eventual death from complications of anorexia nervosa less than five years later. ..... Sang Lan, a Chinese gymnast paralyzed from the chest down after crashing a vault At the 2016 Rio Olympics, French gymnast Samir Ait Said fell on his vault landin .. https://www.sportbible.com/australia/news-the-10-worst-olympic-injuries-of-all-time-are-truly-gruesome-20210726 2 2points reply Neil Bidle Neil Bidle Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago 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 22 22points reply Melissa Hudson Melissa Hudson Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago And how many of those football players end up with traumatic brain injuries? But as long as people are entertained, right? 7 7points reply Load More Replies... K. Anderson K. Anderson Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago It’s a more even trade. Some jobs are more dangerous than others, police, crab fishermen 0 0points reply Load More Comments POST Caro Caro Caro Caro Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago 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". 31 31points reply Joe Reaves Joe Reaves Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago 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. 23 23points reply Load More Replies... Caro Caro Caro Caro Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago I agree. Well said. 5 5points reply Diane Knight Diane Knight Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago I read that Ms. Biles said that ' the rising anxiety created by the stress of those expectations manifested themselves in a case of the “twisties,” causing her to lose her sense of where she was in the air.' The stress of an injury could have done the same. Ms. Strug was lucky that she landed upright and not upsidedown with a permanent or fatal outcome. 1 1point reply Frank Ropen Frank Ropen Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago Just read https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_Mukhina 27 27points reply Maren Gärtner Maren Gärtner Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago OMG, that makes me sad and angry at the same time. 14 14points reply Load More Replies... Alexia Alexia Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago Yep. Also Julissa Gomez and Sang Lan: both fell on vault, broke their necks and paralysed. And these are just the athletes that are more or less known to the public. There are several others who get severely injured while they are still juniors. 10 10points reply Rannveig Ess Rannveig Ess Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago I am so POd after reading that. Here's an added list from the above link Frank Ropen posted. If you don't go there, at least read these: ... Yelena Shushunova, a Russian gymnast who executed the Thomas Salto in the 1987 European Gymnastics Championships .....Julissa Gomez, an American gymnast paralyzed in a vaulting accident at a 1988 meet in Japan while attempting the difficult-to-master Yurchenko vault ......Christy Henrich, an American gymnast who was told by an international gymnastics judge in 1989 to lose weight and pushed by coaches to lose weight while continuing to train until constant dieting led to her eventual death from complications of anorexia nervosa less than five years later. ..... Sang Lan, a Chinese gymnast paralyzed from the chest down after crashing a vault At the 2016 Rio Olympics, French gymnast Samir Ait Said fell on his vault landin .. https://www.sportbible.com/australia/news-the-10-worst-olympic-injuries-of-all-time-are-truly-gruesome-20210726 2 2points reply Neil Bidle Neil Bidle Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago 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 22 22points reply Melissa Hudson Melissa Hudson Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago And how many of those football players end up with traumatic brain injuries? But as long as people are entertained, right? 7 7points reply Load More Replies... K. Anderson K. Anderson Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 1 year ago It’s a more even trade. Some jobs are more dangerous than others, police, crab fishermen 0 0points reply Load More Comments Popular on Bored Panda I Used AI To See What These 23 Popular Cartoon Characters Would Look Like In Real Life 30 Y.O. 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