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1) Lol A where is she from 2) Her name is so cool I’m not even gonna try and type the whole thing!

“Where is Tiana S from? Her name is so cool!”

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It’s hard because compared to other sports gymnastics has very few resources when it comes to people who can actually analyze the sport and have a big platform. And when most of the media knows very little of the sport I can see how it’s easy to gravitate to this person, because you see a following and assume they must be the best out there(or at least a decent source)

“I still don’t know why a certain podcast host gets treated by serious media as though she genuinely knows things about gymnastics.”

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1)I think this person is literally talking about the elite women, who for the most part ARE privileged. 2)All American gymnasts do have an advantage. Yes, there are gymnast that come from tiny ill equipped gyms, have inexperienced coaches or who live far away, but the potential for them to be trained in a top gym is there. Even if the chance is small. Some countries, the best they have are poorly equipped gyms, with inexperienced coaches.

Ans it doesn’t matter how you pitch it. Gymnastics is an expensive sport. And those who make it to the top, generally are privileged. It’s a big reason why they can do it at that level. And saying they are privileged, does not take away or lessen the bs they had to endure. Both things can be true. Like idk why that’s even something that has to be brought up.

“Reminder that every single American gymnast is privileged compared to gymnasts from most countries, and that most of them wouldn’t do as well if they had to face the hurdles other gymnasts face, and that get removed simply by being an American gymnast in an American program.”

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You do know it’s all relative? First of all I’ve never heard of her being considered the GOAT, but more a legend of the sport. Doing what she did in 1976 was a big deal. It’s like saying people who pioneered things don’t deserve praise, because their achievements have been surpassed.

“ Potentially unpopular opinion but I don’t understand why before Simone came about Nadia was considered the GOAT. Her gymnastics was nothing special and her medal count is pretty underwhelming. The fact that she scored a perfect 10 with a NCAAish bar routine doesn’t mean much. She seems a nice person but people need to stop acting like she’s a legend of the sport and I honestly wouldn’t even put her in the top 10 of an all time great list. “

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Not her biggest fan, but she literally came in with all this pressure to win and all these expectations. Not only that, but she was 16 and this had been her LIFE. Her feelings were plenty valid.

“I liked Shawn Johnson before and during the Olympics way better than her after her prime. Her “I Am 2nd” video pissed me off. She acted like she was a victim for winning 2nd. I’m sure the majority of people who saw that video will never know what it’s like to step onto an Olympics floor let alone medal of ANY color.”

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They can still want to be the best they can as a team, and support each other, and have fun with people they do like WHILE having issues with the institution as a whole. They should be allowed to still enjoy joyful moments that come their way.

“ After seeing the girls from UCLA competing and cheering and jumping around mere days after the entire racism debacle came down, all of the credibility of the “happiness of NCAA gymnastics” has gone out the window for me. It just feels like ‘part of the performance’ now. “

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No the problem is also her. BECAUSE the UCLA coaches did nothing Alexis can compete. And because she can compete they would have potentially had to compete with not only their terrible coaches, but the person who made them feel unsafe, and got away with it. Also “I honestly think what she did is not as bad as people are making it be” You sound white.

“People are freaking out that UCLA and LSU are together for regionals but the UCLA gymnasts have said that their problem is not with Alexis, but the UCLA coaches. People, especially twitter, seem so occupied with Alexis that they are actively following her social media and then getting triggered when they see her even though they follow her. I’m not trying to defend her, but at the same time I am trying to defend her. I honestly think what she did is not as bad as people are making it be.”

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LMAO, the reach. They are continuing because of the NIL. Normally top ranked athletes didn’t do both because they could make good money but they couldn’t do NCAA. Jade and Suni have already earned way more than their tuition is worth.

That wouldn’t have really been an issue for Mykayla, especially in 2016.

“I agree that we’re starting to see a Gabby Douglas effect and I’d also say we’re seeing the MyKayla Skinner effect as well. The fact that Leanne, Suni and Jade are interested in continuing with elite while also doing NCAA is due to MyKayla’s impact. Gabby and MyKayla are probably the two most influential gymnasts of all time.”

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I doubt it. She chose to return to Uzbekistan and compete for them(she hypothetically could have stayed and competed for Germany). Also if she really didn’t want to do it I can’t see her being this successful for this long. We have seem many gymnast try and stick around for reasons beyond actually enjoying the sport, and they rarely last long in that state, both mentally and physically.

“Ok we all stan Chuso but I’m also kinda worried about her? I read Uzbekistan is a pretty repressive country. With her saying she’s retiring a few times now and going back on it, is it nuts to think it could be possible her country is coercing her to keep competing because there’s not yet another gymnast who can reach the same level?”

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Cheating is bad, don’t get me wrong, and they should be punished for that. But this is soooooooooooo much bigger than that.

Keep reading

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You do know there is no date for influence? Aly was inspired by the 1996 team when she watched them years later. Someone like Gabby could have influenced some of these athletes to make gymnastics their goal. Or maybe some kids mother saw her at worlds in 2011 and was inspired to put her kid in gym. And as a Black person it’s not hard to find the Black US athletes from the past 20 years who have gone to the Olympics/Worlds. It’s not that many. Especially when it comes to folks who aren’t represented, we get inspiration from people around now and those who came before us. And again, inspiration is so much more than “Gabby is the reason these women started”.

1. “I get that people want to give Gabby credit but claiming that there’s a “Gabby Douglas” effect going on at Senior Winter Cup is parents-trying-to-save-their-couches erasure.  The vast majority of the senior elites at Winter Cup STARTED TOO SOON to have been inspired by Gabby.  Remember, gymnastics schools in the US will take 18 month old toddlers.  Of athletes who started late enough, there were only two last year and I will say the one from this year who was competing level 2 in 2013 at 9 years old could have started because of Gabby.”

2. “ Seeing the Gabby Douglas effect in all its glory at Winter Cup is so moving”

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Because she could have just as easily pulled out the day before qualifications and needed to be replaced. Or someone could have been injured in training pre qualifications. They are there for a while before, but especially if someone pulls out closer to the game it’s not easy(especially with COVID now) to fly someone out at the last moment. The chance the alternate will be used is low, but they are there just in case something does happen.

“ I’m sure this is a dumb question but serious one what is the point of alternates if you can’t have one step in during a situation like Simone pulling out of competition. It isn’t fair the USA had to compete with three people they should have had someone who could have filled in then. “

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I think it’s funny how she also likes to make it sound like she was the first person to compete it in general. Victoria literally competed it months before US Nationals at Canadian Nationals.

“It still makes me laugh that in Skinner’s YT videos, she refuses to call it the Moors. It’s not Victoria’s fault that Skinner refuses to comprehend the naming rules and wasn’t good enough to make the 2013 worlds team!”

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This is so wholesome

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My current favourites from r/trippingthroughtime.

Bonus: