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<p>I have become aware that I am guilty of accepting extreme self confidence more readily from men than from women. I think many of us expect the women - particulary the young ones - to be humble, give a lot of praise to their coaches, parents and teammates, but we’re more okay with the guys being on the cocky side. (Like I said, I realize that I am guilty of this double standard and am trying to change my attitude.)</p>
<p>Might want to reevaluate some of your assumptions about homeschooling, too…</p>
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<p>I knew her mom when that decision was made (contract) and it was made with a great deal of thought (and prayer as they are a devout family). I think her parents were very clear with her that she needed to finish college and she needed to plan for a future career other than track. Both of her parents are teachers, one teaches elementary school and one is a professor in seminary. The opportunity for some financial security, especially since Allyson was planning on being a teacher, seemed like a good one. This is a family that puts a high premium on education and that value was well-instilled by the time this decision was made.</p>
<p>Olympics swimmers on average are older than Olympic womens gymnasts on average. So, to be an Olympic medalist in swimming at 17, you have to be exceptionally mature even for an Olympic medalist. But to be an Olympic medalist in womens gymnastics at 16 or 17, you just have to be as mature as the other gymnasts.</p>
<p>It’s not my experience (as a homeschooling parent) that homeschoolers are less poised when speaking to adults than other kids.* More the opposite, because homeschoolers tend to spend more time with adults and less time with kids their own age. </p>
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<li>My own son excepted-- maybe I’m just a bad homeschooler.</li>
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<p>Not speaking about these particular gymnasts, but I think that some of the high school aged elite athletes are “homeschooled” [in quotes] rather than actually given a good education at home. We know of some local elite athletes who transferred to a regular public high school and were woefully behind, due to how little time they had previously devoted to academics. </p>
<p>When D was competing, there were some girls who “went to school” for three hours a day, between practices, in a room at the gym. I can see where a girl might not emerge from that sort of situation - only exposed to her teammates, etc. - as well prepared as others.</p>
<p>So you’re saying you knew some talented homeschooled gymnasts against whom your child had to compete, Missypie?</p>
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<p>There are a whole lot of gymnasts who beg their parents to take them out of school so they can train for 6 or more hours a day. Most of us (realizing that we don’t have future Olympians on our hands) don’t consent, but some do. Many of those parents aren’t serious homeschoolers, but rather, agree to a haphazard tutoring program that the gym arranges. There are also “private academies” that claim to get the kids through high school in 2 hours a day. </p>
<p>Some kids are super bright and will succeed academically no matter what. Some parents rise to the occasion and make sure their kids get a great education, even if they withdraw them from their regular school. But there are lots of kids - and statistically most of them will not be Olympians - whose education suffers because so much of their time and effort is devoted to their sport and so little to their education.</p>
<p>US women won in basketball, BTW.</p>
<p>Anyone watching the javelin throw event in the decathlon? Wow, that Cuban young man is amazing!</p>
<p>The parents who consent to their children being “homeschooled” via poor tutoring at the gym are doing them no favors. But even homeschoolers who spend 6 hours a day doing gymnastics (or working on the farm, or acting in a movie, or writing novels, or drawing anime, or programming games, or any of a myriad of other interests a kid might be passionate about) have plenty of time to be homeschooled, if their parents know what they’re doing. Three hours a day of one-on-one or few-on-one education is a ton of hours-- it’s not like public school.</p>
<p>Please, lets not make this a homeschool debate! Missypie was stating what she has experienced but please I want to read about the Olympics not start a homeschool vs. public school debate. Just like I didn’t want a sports cheating debate.</p>
<p>Many people don’t like when someone else makes a different choice than they do. It’s too bad. Think how boring the Olympics would be if there were only one sport!</p>
<p>Woman’s soccer in 20 minutes…</p>
<p>Yes, yes, variety…now can we get back on topic?</p>
<p>Just watched South Africa’s 2nd runner of the men’s relay fall. Pistorius will not be given the chance to run. What a heartbreaker.</p>
<p>lilmom, didn’t that happen this morning? I thought that there was an appeal and they will be in the final.</p>
<p>“You’re right. Do you think going to regular HS vs. home school/elite athletic academy has anything to do with it?”</p>
<p>I don’t think it is that but more the sheltered always in the gym life they lead from a very young age. i found the difference between Missy, for example, and the gymnasts glaring. Missy is extremely well spoken and not a “like a”, “you know” or even an “ummm” once. I was extremely impressed. </p>
<p>The gymnasts, OTOH, reminded me of the doll I had as a young child which had the string in it’s back you pulled to get it to talk. </p>
<p>Katy, while two years younger than Missy (15 vs 17) wasn’t quite as confident a speaker as Missy, but was also very genuine and not at all robotic in the interview I saw.</p>
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<p>You mean beach volleyball predates the invention of the bikini??!!</p>
<p>Alwaysamom, I hope you’re correct. I had just walked in and turned on the TV when I saw the race starting. I turned it off when he fell because I was so disappointed for them.</p>
<p>I forget that here on the west coast, the broadcast is delayed!</p>
<p>MizzBee, when someone starts shooting arrows they shouldn’t be surprised if someone else remarks that’s not cool. I realize the arrows may not have strayed in your direction, but if they did I wouldn’t be surprised if you cared a little less about staying on topic.</p>
<p>I have been thinking and talking about the sharp contrast between 17 year-old gymnasts and 17 year-old swimmers, too. It’s not just what they say when they open their mouths. The camaraderie among swimming competitors seems genuine and relaxed. When gymnasts make their little formal visits to kiss cheeks with the winner, it looks like a diplomatic mission conducted by apprentice geishas.</p>
<p>What I came up with is that the whole structure of gymnastics undermines the personalities of serious competitors. They are judged on everything, all the time. “You just did something incredible, flying through the air while twisting and somersaulting? Too bad your knees were four inches apart, and your toes weren’t pointed.” There’s never any true head-to-head competition; it’s all you against perfection. Plus you only get one chance to get it perfect. Diving is more like gymnastics than swimming, but the divers sound more like swimmers, and I think it’s in part because they can make up for a mistake on the previous dive on the next dive. Skaters sound like gymnasts.</p>
<p>And, of course, all the standards are imposed by others. They are always trying to guess what judges want and then do it. With swimmers, their form doesn’t matter much, as long as they go fast. If they get beaten, it’s because the person who won swam faster, not because she had more perfect leg extension (even if her leg extension is why she swam faster).</p>
<p>So I think gymnasts may be paralyzed by the need to do EXACTLY what authority figures want you to do, all the time, because that may be your only chance.</p>