"Athlete A" - Netflix Documentary - My Reaction & Moving Forward

I had no idea how emotional I would be as I sat watching this Netflix documentary, I suggest that all coaches and parents watch this video, that as we move forward in all sports, we are watchdogs for our children and athletes, that this type of abuse, and for that matter any other type of abuse might never happen again. It's with a hopeful heart, and through my continued involvement in the sport, that I see the world of elite gymnastics evolving into a safer and more encouraging environment.

[@lucyowen9926]

It’s so important to hear from retired gymnasts about their experiences and educate gymnasts about what is normal and right. I’ve always wondered about your experience as a Romanian speaking gymnast at the K’s gym. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@GenXsinglefree]

Verbal abuse is the most common, yet most ignored form of abuse. It also has the most impact on the mental state. Physical pain is forgotten when the injury heals. Abusive words are forever. Negative words have more impact than praise and encouragement.

[@godsoflitett]

I love you so very much. Thank you for speaking on this.

[@ashleymeggan]

Thank you for sharing this. It is so important - I worry so much bc high pressure sports are becoming the norm, not the exception for kids and it frightens me. I’ve personally seen so many people broken by that - and it absolutely leaves the door open for a predator to step in and groom young victims. It isn’t just happening in gymnastics. In an anonymous survey, a full 13% of elite athletes said they were sexually abused by a coach or adult within their sport and over half were victims of severe mental abuse. 30% had mental health issues as a result.

[@TheTimo5494]

I trained during the same era as you and the abuse was crazy I remember changing gyms at least 15 times till I found coaches that treated me like a person. It's a partnership between athletes and coaches and should be treated as such. I fell back in love with the sport so much I trained until I was 30 retired and now in my 40s and training again. abusive coaching isn't coaching its abuse no matter the form thank you for this and all you do for the sport still 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@lalanam1660]

Being weighed daily! The 80's were definitely different. I never knew what bullying was until 2000's.

[@angeo3830]

Thank you for making this video I need to watch this documentary now I found this video because I watching old Olympic videos 💕

[@Filmpferdecom]

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this! Still thankful for getting to know you and all the other lovely girls back then in Berlin. It was a great experience. Learned a lot.

[@Laura-ch7fl]

Thank you so much for this. You are such a great contributor to the present and future of gymnastics!

[@Miathegr8]

Thank you for this.

[@Nczz8vsz]

CTE is a major problem in gymnastics. Alot of those coaches have CTE and TBI. Adressing brain health and stop hiding injuries and symtomatology is the key to adressing aberrant and abusive behavior. I would love to see a SPECT scan of Betty's brain and some of these coaches like Valeri Liukin and Bela and Martha. I also wanna a image of Larry Nassar's right lobe of his orbital frontal cortex and Striatum.

[@ciaravalenzuela2467]

This doc shook me to my core

[@troiler3]

I always had a crush on her💗

[@ngozinnunukwe5680]

Paddling in school. I remember that.

[@beambreaker]

To me its sickening how this sport is so beautiful and so ugly at the sane time. Beyond the SA is the verbal abuse, politics, body dismorphia and score manipulation. It would NOT surprise me if it was still happening right this second. In most cases Im sure it is. How do they still get away with this? After all we have learned, are we destined to repeat history? Im glad to hear you have seen a change, i dont mean to be sceptical.

[@knoWVarrioSfC]

My ? About the whole Olympics thing is why do they still dress um up like ballerinas