She does not discuss why she and her parents chose for her not to be vaccinated. She seems to stand by the choice. She does discuss feeling attacked because of it.
Chapter 18:
Lots of media awaiting Simone in Tokyo, they got to be part of it (not said in a bitter way!)
Flight from CA to Tokyo...
Chapter 16
Felt almost numb going into Trials
Mindset on everything mattered–performance at camps, practices, podium training mattered, not just the competition
Gymnastics is a subjective sport. Judges hold the future of a gymnast, every judge has their own taste and style preferences...
Chapter 13:
Coaches didn't encourage pursuit of college gymnastics while training for an Olympics; hadn't done anything actively to pursue one prior to the rules change in May 2019
Didn't take time off for college visits so they wouldn't miss practice
Al would schedule a day for all college...
It was really interesting to me that after falling on her head on her beam dismount, Leanne was allowed to just get up and walk away and everyone relied completely on her self-assessment--no concussion protocol (there was time!), no professional evaluation on the mat or off. At least it sounds...
Some interesting stuff on injury management...
Chapter 10
First international competition was Jr Pan Ams 2018. Steve Rybacki went as temporary USAG leader for them
Had trouble getting good food while there, and what was available was extremely repetitive and often hard to identify
Won bronze...
Chapter 7
Compulsory elite qualifying score was 37.975
All her gymnastics achievements are worded "And I was fortunate to…"
Accurate explanation of how qualifying elite works and some of the judging differences between JO and elite
Set small goals she wants to achieve and goals that let her...
Chapter 4:
Won 2017 JO Nationals in her age group and was invited to that camp, but stayed back to train for qualifying elite
Broke her foot in warmups (trying to change from doing a front layout to two front tucks to follow the line leader and overrotated). Stayed at the gym with ice...
This struck me to. I get that the ones attached to meets were probably more like "working vacations" then truly relaxing ones for her (hopefully her brothers, who were just along for the ride, had fun. I have to wonder how much school they missed, though!). But things like going to California to...
I'm reading through Leanne Wong's book and thought I'd post chapter summaries if people are interested in them.
Notes on commentary: This written in a very direct style, probably with middle and high schoolers in mind (although my library has it categorized as an adult biography). Three or four...