As a Level 10 competitive gymnast and a Division I Collegiate gymnast for five years, I can attest that this sport demands the most out of one's body. But, listeners and readers should be aware that not every girl involved in gymnastics suffers from an eating disorder or abusive coaching. In fact my involvement in gymnastics and caring coaches saved me from a threatening bought of anorexia. They let me know I needed food to keep my body able to do these incredible skills. Also, gymnasts today do not struggle as much with eating disorders because a lot of the look of the sport has changed. Girls are now expected to be incredibly strong and there is not the same expectation for incredible thinness as there is absolute strength and perfection.

Sent by Lisa Harding | 3:22 PM ET | 05-01-2008

As a chiorprcator who works with current and past gymanast, I would like to mpoint out that there is a high physical price to pay at any level of gymnastic training. The demands placed on the young developing bodies leads to injuries that will last a life time. The back bend today will result in early degenerative changes and pain later in life.

Sent by Dr. Nicholas Warner, CMT, DC | 3:23 PM ET | 05-01-2008

I didn't compete in gymnastics (I was hooked on ballet instead, and indeed that sport has it's own issues), my sister however did. The competitive drive that was nurtured in my her as well as her self-image was greatly hindered by her years of work pushing herself. She is left with scars of her efforts both inside and out. These show up harshly in her inability to move into what she measures as success or to find a kind self-evaluation physically as an adult woman. She suffered years of drug addiction and sadly continues to struggle to find balance between inflated criticism and reality.

Sent by Margaret McCullough | 3:33 PM ET | 05-01-2008

I enrolled my 5 year old son in gymnastics at our
local YMCA. This was the beginners class and there
was no room for a goofy, slightly round boy who liked
to run, jump and roll around. The class was run by
older girls from the Y's gymnastics program and I
could see the disdain on their faces for the little
kids who were in the class just for fun. Needless to
say my son didn't enjoy the class but still likes to
run, jump and roll around. I hope those teenage girls
have some joy in their lives, too, but it sure didn't
look like it when I sat in on the class.

Sent by HenrysMom | 3:34 PM ET | 05-01-2008

I am so sad to be listening to all of the negative talk about gymnastics. Our experience (for the last 17 years) has been nothing but positive and my daughter is a high level gymnast, now competing for one of the top colleges in the nation. I think Ms. Sey needs to realize that the sport has come a long way in the last 20 years, and she admitted herself that she is not involved any longer. The POSITIVE life lessons learned from gymnastics are invaluable. As is true with all sports, a parent needs to be their child's advocate to make sure that they are getting the best training, mental as well as physically. My daughter has loved the sport since she was 4 years old and is a happy confident young woman. I couldn't be prouder of her!

Sent by Kathy | 3:48 PM ET | 05-01-2008

I believe it is important for people to know that I trained with Jennifer Sey, the author of 'Chalked Up' and I don't agree with many of the things she describes in her book. I will say that in the 80's all top gyms were very strict on what the gymnasts ate and how much they weighed. Today the Parkettes National Gymnastics Training Center, led by Bill and Donna Strauss currently monitor the weight and overall physical condition of the gymnasts maybe once a week. The Strauss's and its coaching staff have made so many positive changes over the last 20 years and it a shame that Jen did not take the time to research and reveal any of of this in her book.

Sent by Lisa | 3:50 PM ET | 05-01-2008

Parents need to take a more active role in their kids' athletic careers, no matter the sport or the culture of competition in a given sport. If getting to the top requires certain measures with harmful physical, mental or emotional consequences, parents owe their kids to make the responsible decision to back away, until their kids are old enough, 16? 18?, to make those decisions as a family. JS says her parents couldn't have stopped her because of her innate competitiveness. And she said knowledge about eating disorders was minimal in the 1980s. Even still, they saw her biting holes into her cheeks, pulling at her cuticles. These behaviors are obvious signs of stress. A look at boys sports and use by kids as young as 11 and 12 of "performance enhancing" drugs and supplements is one of the more extreme but valid illustrations of this problem. Some parents have turned a blind eye to it. Others have encouraged such behaviors. Parents need to put their pride and egos aside and recognize when to say 'no' to their kids or their coaches and realize that the long-term investment, as with many parenting decisions, is worth it

Sent by Kelly | 4:05 PM ET | 05-01-2008

As a disclaimer, I started gymnastics much later than most, and never competed at the elite level. I did however compete in Levels 6 & 7 during the same period that she did. My own experience with gymnastics was very positive. When I started taking lessons in my pre-teen years, I was on the verge of anorexia due to peer pressure to be thin, barely eating more than once a day. I can honestly say that gymnastics saved me from the disease, because it increased my self-esteem, and taught me to value my ability to achieve things I never thought I could. Yes, the sport is extremely competitive and demands perfection and this pressure can be definitely compounded by Type A personalities (which I am) and demanding and unrelenting coaches (which I did not have). In fact, my coach served as an incredibly positive father figure in my life to whom I will always be grateful. I think everyone's experience is different depending on the gym they attend and who coaches them. Indeed, I did witness very abusive coaches that were very hard on their girls during meets. I think parents just need to be cautious about whom they have their daughters train. There are good coaches out there that are not abusive to their pupils. I would say that if your child is interested in gymnastics, that you should encourage it. Because it teaches your child a lot of positive things, including self-discipline and self-esteem, which I still benefit from today. Parents just need to be aware and involved in their child's training and eating habits. I also encourage you to enroll your child in yoga, which will help your child prevent injuries and balance out the strain that gymnastics indeed places on your body.

Sent by Deborah | 1:56 AM ET | 05-02-2008

I have just finished reading Jennifer Sey's book. It was very interesting. I believe people only see the end results(when kids win the gold medal) The coaches are all happy and hugging them(ie Bela)but what sacrifices do these girls have to make. I honestly believe that Jennifer Sey wasn't saying all coaches treat all gymnasts that way or that all gymnasts have eating disorders, instead she wrote what she went through. It was a very good book and I hope Jennifer goes on Talk shows and discusses this.

Sent by Ann | 8:36 AM ET | 05-02-2008

I have been a gymnastics coach for over 12 years and I was a competitive gymnast for 7 years. Although I know that some gyms and coaches can be abusive that is definately not the norm. It is the resposibility of the parent to be aware of what is going on in the gym. Don't be afraid to ask questions and watch practices. Gymnastics can be an incredibly rewarding sport. As with any sport it is demanding at a high level.

Sent by Jackie | 12:45 AM ET | 05-14-2008

I was a gymnast from age 4 - 18 (I'm now 31) and competed at level 10 for several years. My feelings about the sport go both ways. I suffered from significant emotional problems for many years after I retired from the sport thanks in part to the fact that I didn't have the opportunity to mature socially having spent my youth in the gym. I felt a great loss of identity when I quit and didn't have the tools I needed to rebuild myself until years later. I also have a body that feels more like that of a 60 year old's at least and I fear what age will bring.

What I do have because of my years as a gymnast is a dedication to being healthy and fit and great confidence when it comes to my strength and ability to master physical challenges. Who can manipulate their body in space better than a gymnast?! My handstands are now an endless source of entertainment for my friends and yoga classes.

There are some wonderful benefits to pursuing a sport to a high level, but it can certainly take an emotional and physical toll as well. I think most important is to make sure young athletes know that their level of participation in the sport is purely optional and that giving it up is completely acceptable if that's what they choose. Even if they spend 25 hours a week at the gym, parents and coaches ought to help make sure these girls have balanced lives so that, if they do decide to retire from the sport, they know there's a whole world of things for them to do out there, that it's possible to be good at something beyond the sport.

Recommended sports for ex-gymnasts? Rock climbing! Yoga! It was such a joy to find gymnastics-like activities that an aging body can enjoy...

Sent by Lisa | 1:10 PM ET | 05-15-2008