<p>The only reason people think gymnastics is more dangerous is because they aren’t exposed to it below the elite level (Olympics). Obviously, or maybe we’d get a reaction other than “oh, are you going to the Olympics?” LOL yeah me and the other THOUSANDS of girls my age doing relatively high level gymnastics. If you look at the elite level of ANY sport, at least any relatively impactive one, there will be injuries, some relatively serious. </p>
<p>The truth is, the worst injuries mainly belong to cheerleading and football. These are dangerous sports. I would have severe reservations about putting my son in football and relatively few with gymnastics. I know, geez, how many gymnasts, and I never hear of these concussions, overheating, fatalities like with football. At the HIGH SCHOOL level even. But it’s boys, so apparently no one cares. I could seriously say I would have issues, after watching that MTV show about the HS football. I wouldn’t be okay with those practices. I’m not saying the gymnastics world is perfect, but most people don’t really know what they’re talking about. Even now, look at Alicia Sacramone at Brown. She’s perfectly normal and healthy, competing NCAA and looking towards '08 O’s. Gymnastics has changed a lot in the last 10-15 years and even before, what you saw was only the tip of the iceberg, a relative fraction. There are injuries in gymnastics but I see people with sprained ankles from soccer. A lot of times at the lower levels, it’s almost a self fulfilling prophecy, it’s like a minor injury you could get on the street but there’s this image of “ohhh gymnastics, they’re killing these girls.”</p>
<p>And I think to outsiders looking in, gymnastics is strange. This is understandable. Most people can’t comprehend. Even I couldn’t tell you what it is about gymnastics that causes people to love harder and fall out farther than with other sports. I see a lot of fans who still don’t, can’t really understand. it’s a culture, like learning a second langauge. You’re never a native speaker. But gymnastics, for some, is a wonderful sport. I wouldn’t force my kids, but I’d have no reservations.</p>