Chalked Up: Inside Elite Gymnastics' Merciless Coaching, Overzealous Parents, Eating Disorders, and Elusive Olympic Dreams

[QuietColours]

I want to note in 1978, when this chapter largely takes place, her brother would have been around 6 years old

 

[phoenix7]

I want to note in 1978, when this chapter largely takes place, her brother would have been around 6 years old

A six-year old dilettante, clearly, with his amateur gymnastics and diving leaving so much time for a social life!

 

[eanda]

Performed many skills she was scared of–BHS and BT on beam, double twist on floor. Almost everything in her bar routine had been traumatizing to learn. The straddle flip from low to high, catching between her legs, had more tears and crash landings than any other skill she'd tried (Note: Does anyone know what this skill is/have a video?)

It's a Radochla flip, named after East German Birgit Radochla in the 60s. It's at about the 8 second mark in the video.

 

[QuietColours]

Thank you! This book is early enough I don't recognize all the bars skills anymore. I couldn't (in a quick search) find videos of the class compulsories during the 70s either, just the elite ones

 

[eanda]

Thank you! This book is early enough I don't recognize all the bars skills anymore. I couldn't (in a quick search) find videos of the class compulsories during the 70s either, just the elite ones

I'm happy to help with any other skills - that's when I got into the sport!

 

[RedBirdie]

If I remember the story correctly, Nadia was practicing a Radochla and ended up re-catching the low bar, and thus the idea for the Comaneci was born.

 

[irichluck21]

If I remember the story correctly, Nadia was practicing a Radochla and ended up re-catching the low bar, and thus the idea for the Comaneci was born.

I have also heard this as well.

 

[flappergirl]

It's fortunate for Sey "Chalked Up" came out long before her COVID quackery, or she would have had a lot less credibility.

This is coming from someone who wasn't thrilled with shutdowns, school closures, or COVID vaccine mandates - and I thought on these subjects she was just purposely inflammatory. There was a discussion to be had around all of those topics, but it wasn't the one she was having.

I'm not even bothering with "Levi's Unbuttoned".

She's an attention seeker first of all.

When "Chalked Up" (which I really liked) came out, I got the impression Sey was not well liked in the gym community. After seeing her tweets and substack essays, I can see why.

I was a fan without Internet or email when Jennifer did not make the 88 Olympics and I knew the selection procedures better than she and the Parkette coaches did (or they were lying). I was so happy she didn’t make it since she always messed up horribly in major international competitions. Plus I NEVER liked her gymnastics

 

[KristyJ]

Just caught up, and I agree with Red Birdie that the family sounds super dysfunctional. I hate to say that in some ways I can sympathize with Sey's experiences-- I was also a bit of a self-centered child who struggled with fear in the sport and felt misunderstood when I wanted an explanation of how something worked instead of just doing it. And admittedly I had some overbearing people in my life too. But good heavens. The Chinese dinner description just sticks in my head as really messed up.

 

[KristyJ]

Thank you! This book is early enough I don't recognize all the bars skills anymore. I couldn't (in a quick search) find videos of the class compulsories during the 70s either, just the elite ones

I randomly have in my possession 1975-1979 and 1980-1984 compulsory guides that were given to me at some point, nevermind that I was not yet alive/newborn when they were used. I am happy to look stuff up or link pictures of parts of routine descriptions as desired.

 

[Puffin]

Nadia had a Radochla in her iconic 1976 ub but caught with crossed hand on hb to drop with a twist back to lb

 

[Kittentoes]

James Dobson died and we had cupcakes at work to celebrate.

I love this for you.

 

[MaryClare]

James Dobson died and we had cupcakes at work to celebrate.

Who is James Dobson?

 

[rlayt]

A bible thumping _______ who is in hell I hope.

 

[Hatsumomo]

Who is James Dobson?

Evangelical Christian who, among his many sins, wrote a book called "To Train Up A Child" where one of the methods of instilling early unquestioning obedience was to put a baby on a blanket and physically discipline the infant if it left the blanket.

 

[MaryClare]

Evangelical Christian who, among his many sins, wrote a book called "To Train Up A Child" where one of the methods of instilling early unquestioning obedience was to put a baby on a blanket and physically discipline the infant if it left the blanket.

I did not imagine an American conservative Christian to have quite so much in common with Russian rhythmic gymnastics coaches.

 

[Hatsumomo]

I did not imagine an American conservative Christian to have quite so much in common with Russian rhythmic gymnastics coaches.

And you've just made a connection in my head why so many gymnasts here tend to also be on the evangelical Christian spectrum.

 

[MaryClare]

And you've just made a connection in my head why so many gymnasts here tend to also be on the evangelical Christian spectrum.

That seems to be an American phenomenon though. I don’t think in any other country, elite gymnasts are any more likely to be strongly religious than the general population. If anything, in a large part of the world, gymnasts are less likely to have traditional religious views than the general population.

 

[Hatsumomo]

Yeah, I meant to specify American gymnasts in my statement, apologies.

 

[phoenix7]

Did Sey actually mention Dobson, though? I thought she said her parents were into Dr Spock, on paper, and he was very different from Dobson. (And neither she nor they seem to have read his work properly anyway).

I'd imagine her father snapping his belt at her didn't need Dobson for inspiration - Dobson didn't invent corporal punishment, unfortunately. From the way he treated his wife, he sounds like a violent, domineering man.

And wasn't Jennifer Jewish? I am not sure where this whole thread about evangelical Christianity applies to her. But I am not American and may be missing some nuance.