CHALK TALK: YOUR QUESTIONS...ANSWERED!

Question from Alix: "After all that happened in the selection camp for the 2008 games (gymnasts getting injured, etc), do you still think that the team should have been chosen right after trials? I think the selection process is in definite need of a overhaul but I think that the sport has come a long way--especially with some of the athletes who made the team. How is the gymnastics world different from when you were in it? Thanks for all your insight on gymnastics, and I really love your website and blog."

A: Thanks for your great questions! First off, I still believe the 2008 Olympic Team should have been selected at the Olympic Trials. The process of three two-day competitions (two public, one private) within a six week period is too much to ask of the gymnasts, physically and emotionally. One can argue the "untimely" injuries (of Mattie Larson, Shayla Worley, and Chellsie Memmel) support my belief. Not to mention the gymnasts have to pack up and hop on a 20-hour flight to Beijing one week after the intense selection process comes to a close. Not only is final selection camp unnecessary, but it’s un-American. An "invitation only" audience of less than 60 people is not how the final selection of our Olympic team should be conducted. It belittles the accomplishment of becoming a U.S. Olympian. Five of the six gymnasts on the Olympic Team could've been named at Trials in front of 13,000 fans in Philadelphia. Why deny them the opportunity to be receiving public recognition and put them through another test? It's too brutal on their bodies and minds, and it’s too close the biggest competition in the world! I believe that the best team was selected, but I don't agree with HOW it was selected.

The sport has changed dramatically since my competitive days. The semi-centralized camp system was not in place, but let us not forget the recent success of our gymnasts is due to the efforts of the individual athletes and their coaches NOT the Karolyi camps. Martha simply cherry picks from the best athletes in the country. There's no mystical insight that she possesses.

In general, USA Gymnastics and the media are giving the Karolyi's too much credit for World and Olympic medals. They're not the coaches training these individual gymnasts on a daily basis, yet Martha Karolyi possesses the power to hand pick who she believes is most appropriate. She also determines much of the training plans once the team arrives in Beijing. I commend Shawn Johnson's coaches Liang Chow and Liwen Zhuang (wife) for their healthy and positive relationship with their athlete. Chow has trained Shawn since she was a little girl and that speaks volumes. I respect Chow and Li, and I think they practice the proper approach to training. They "train smarter, not harder". Shawn’s success and health are a testament to this method.

The gymnastics world is a different environment. We no longer have the power houses of the Eastern bloc countries, and the compulsory routines no longer exist. The compulsories made the very best gymnasts stand out because the athlete's fundamentals needed to be mastered in order to succeed. The "perfect 10" is also gone, and I really miss it! So A LOT has changed since I was a competitor; however, my love for the sport hasn’t wavered. It's still the greatest sport in the world!

Question from Michelle: "I have a question about something very confusing to me. When I was a kid just starting out in the gym, I read your book... and it made the Karolyi's seem like excellent people & coaches in your opinion. Now that you're older, you seem to disagree. I'm wondering if it's a matter of perspective, if in your youth & in the middle of your career as an elite gymnast you thought ANYTHING would be worth it in order to be at the top. The reason I ask is that if that's the case, do you believe the gymnast s involved in the national scene now need someone to step in and prevent this from happening? Almost like they can't see the whole picture because they're focusing only on winning and not on the big picture or life as whole? It just seems like that's the general idea you're implying & I'd like to know if it's true or not. Especially after reading several articles in the past couple days as well as seeing the interview last night. You will always be the gymnast who led me to gymnastics. Thank you."

A: Thank you for your kind words, and you hit the nail on the head. At fourteen years old, what else could I say about the Karolyi's? I was never allowed to speak out for fear of punishment. A common question is, "Why didn't you just leave if it was so bad?", and while that seems logical, bear in mind that the Olympics were literally weeks away when things were at their worst and my entire family had moved to Houston in hopes of seeing me reach my goal. Needless to say, it wouldn't have been easy to leave.

In order to see things clearly (not just gymnastics), one needs to step a way and look at the global picture. When you're in it, you're engrossed with the task at hand, and you lose site of the big picture. That's the normal progression of personal growth and maturity. Quite simply, I didn't know that training and treatment could be conducted in another manner. I just thought that, "this is how it has to be". I'm wiser now.


Question from Colleen: "Dominique, What do you think the chances of Team USA winning gold in Beijing are? Especially with Chinese gymnastics on such an upswing, and the games being in their home country. Do you think the Chinese will pull off what the Mag 7 did in 1996, or do you think the US will? Thanks so much for all your blogs and insight. I remember meeting you and playing chicken in the Karolyi pool right before you won Nationals. I forget that we grow up and get married and have babies. Congratulations on all your success!"

A: Mathematically, China is in control of their destiny. Their A-scores (Start Values) are higher than Team USA's A-scores. In fact, the Chinese team possesses about 1.7 points in A-score over the U.S. women. However, if we determined results based on potential, there’d be no need for competitions. Only time will tell of the China's "home court advantage" will truly benefit them. I can tell you from experience that competing at home brings a whole host of new pressures. The key is to use those pressures to one's advantage.

It’ll be a showdown for sure, and I can't wait to watch it unfold! I'm a fan of both teams, and I know that both teams respect one another. This is sure to be a true battle of the gymnastics powerhouses! I don’t think the gymnastics world has ever seen two teams so evenly matched. Have I told you that I can’t wait?!

Question from Corey & Steve: "Dominique, I have been watching gymnastics for years and it seems that the Russians and Romanians were the gymnastic superpowers for so long. They are not even mentioned in contention for gold. What happen to make their dynasties fall so hard and so quickly??

A: The collapse of the Soviet Union was the catalyst for the decline in results. The governments no longer have the money to fund strong sports programs and many of the best coaches from the Eastern Bloc have looked for other opportunities. Many of them have found opportunity in the United States which has helped the Team USA while taking some of the greatest gymnastics minds out of Europe. Good for Team USA, Bad for the former-Soviets and even Romanians. Nevertheless, Russia and Romania could surprise a lot of us in Beijing on both the men’s and women’s sides. You can never count them out; they still have plenty of beautiful gymnastics to show us, and I’ve got a feeling both Russia and Romania are going to come away from the Summer Games with several medals.


Question from Lisa: "Hi Dominique! This question is specifically about blocks and fear. Every once in a while my little gymnast becomes afraid of something she does all the time. And she gets stressed over all of a sudden being afraid. Do you have any words of wisdom on getting beyond that when it happens? Also, as the levels are getting more intense, she finds herself afraid to try some things even though she is reasonably sure she can do it. Once she DOES it, she can't figure out why she was afraid! She is 8, so I don't really stress this too much but, it’s frustrating to her and I hate for her to feel badly. Any advice? THANKS! AND CONGRATS ON THE BABY!"

A: This is very common. Since I've started coaching, I've encountered this with my own athletes. What I typically do is build the gymnast's confidence with basic drills and progressions. Sometimes we need to take a step back to take three steps forward. I emphasize patience. As the athlete displays mastery of each progression, the confidence grows, and before you know it, that once "scary" skill is much more palatable for the gymnast. This takes patience on the coach's and gymnast's part.

Sometimes the coach and athlete need to step back and find out what caused the fear in the first place. Was it a bad experience? Is it fear of the unknown? Once the coach and athlete get to the bottom of what is causing the fear, they can start chipping away at it and move on to building confidence. Your gymnast needs to realize that she is a better gymnast than she thinks, and as she moves through the proper steps she will unlock her great inner-gymnast. Good luck!



Question from Sarah: "Kudos to you for speaking out on the injustices in the sport of gymnastics. It's hard to speak out to begin with, and even harder to do so when you might be going against the grain. What I find so fascinating about your recent comments is that many people are quick to call this "sour grapes," yet seem to overlook the fact that gymnastics is so political and the reason many do not speak out (coaches, athletes, judges, etc.) is for fear of retaliation. What are your thoughts on this? Do you fear that your athletes or even your daughter may not be treated fairly in the future due to your comments? Has this weighed in on your decision to speak out? For the record, I applaud you for having the courage to speak out in efforts to right some of the wrongs in the sport of gymnastics. "

A: First off, thank you for your support! While I knew that it would be challenging, I believe that I'm doing the right thing to improve the future of our sport. I genuinely believe that I will help future athletes and that's what drives me. I've made it clear that I love gymnastics, and I only want to see it improve. Right now, open dialogue is NOT encouraged at the elite level. In fact, it's viewed as negative at the highest levels. Change is never easy in any facet of life, but it's necessary.

For example, if tennis legend Billie Jean King never spoke out, I would've never had the opportunity to achieve what I did in gymnastics. While, I don't claim to be a Billie Jean King, on a smaller scale, I’ll continue to stay the course, because I know that individuals will benefit in the long run. Also, confidentially I'm receiving lots of support from current and past athletes and coaches, so I know that I'm not alone.

I feel it's important that our Elite athletes leave the sport in healthier conditions physically and emotionally.

As for my daughter, I don't think that she'll be affected. I'm determined to help change the Elite scene for the better, and if Carmen chooses to pursue an Olympic Dream, it will be a healthier environment for her. The collegiate gymnastics scene is a perfect example of how high level gymnastics can be an enjoyable experience. Our elite program needs to take a page from the NCAA programs' book!