Essay Sample on Gymnastics and Fat-Shaming

Do gymnastics coaches urge their gymnasts to lose weight?

Gymnastics coaches often instruct girls to lose weight so they will perform better at competitions. They believe that if a gymnast is tiny and slim, she will execute her routines better. In an effort to help them shed a couple of pounds, many coaches teach their gymnasts how to diet and tell them what they can and cannot eat. (“Girls Gymnastics: When a Bright Spotlight Casts a Dark Shadow.”) This goes along with the fact that coaches will often blame body weight or body composition when a gymnast is looking slow, sluggish, or heavy. (Crowder Anderson.) A sad example of a gymnast that was body-shamed by her coaches was retired elite gymnast, Katelyn Ohashi. “When she was only 13, barely weighing 70 pounds, her coaches would tell her that she looked like she had swallowed an elephant or a pig.” She was also compared to a bird that was too fat to lift itself off the ground. Her coaches were so strict about her weight that if she “...looked bigger…” on a given day, they would force her to run and condition with a heavy sweatsuit on until it seemed like she was ready to start practice. (Ohashi.) Katelyn described that her self-esteem deteriorated every time she heard these harsh critiques from her gymnastics coaches.

Do tight fitting leotards encourage gymnasts to look at their bodies differently?

Several gymnasts have stated that the times they felt most self-conscious were when they were in a leotard. The constant revelation of your body while you are wearing a leotard can severely damage your confidence. Many gymnasts have reported that leotards have made them more insecure about how their bodies look. They knew “...how much their thighs jiggled…” or “...where they were missing muscle tone…” (McCormick.) With their bodies exposed, gymnasts also experience more comments from their coaches regarding weight, including being called “fat” or “out of shape." (George.) Moreover, a plethora of gymnasts have expressed their feelings about being uncomfortable in a leotard. Some New Zealand gymnasts have spoken up about feeling vulnerable and exposed because of the dress code rules in gymnastics, specifically around leotards. (George.) Additionally, retired elite gymnast Katelyn Ohashi stated, “As gymnasts, our bodies are constantly being seen in these minimal clothing leotards. I felt so uncomfortable looking in the mirror. I felt uncomfortable walking back into the gym like there were eyes just targeted at me.” (Stewart.)

Do gymnast’s appearances play a role in how well they perform/score?

If a gymnast is light, it will be easier for them to perform tricks and tumble. “It all comes down to strength-to-weight ratio in gymnastics. If you're strong enough, you can throw your body around, and if you're light enough, it will not be nearly as difficult.” (“Why are artistic gymnasts skinny?”) One piece of evidence that supports this statement is the fact that heavier gymnasts may have a lower leap than a smaller gymnast because of their weight. This could majorly affect their artistry score at a competition. In addition, gymnastics is a sport where you are frequently standing on your toes, so heavier gymnasts would put extra pressure on their toes, which could damage them. (Tierney.) Therefore, most gymnasts starve themselves as a way to avoid gaining weight or developing hips that could negatively impact on their performance. The average size of the U.S. gymnastics team declined from 5'3", 105 pounds in 1976, to 4'9", 88 pounds in 1992 because the girls thought they would perform better if they were small. (Barton Straus.) This method of starvation can cause severe eating disorders like Anorexia and Bulimia. However, many gymnasts still refuse to eat as much as they should.