Why are children so mean? For that matter, why are some adults so mean? Two years ago, when Trav was about 10 years old, he was at the park with is brother. Many different people were there, including some parents with small children. Kids were playing on the jungle gym and swings, throwing frizbees, and playing tag. Trav was off in the grass doing some flips and handsprings. He was having fun, minding his own businss in his own fun world. Near by was a father with his 5 year old son playing catch with a football. For some reason only known to him, this man (I use this term "man" loosely here), felt the need to tell this talented young gymnast that doing gymnastics AKA flips and back handsprings was a sissy girl sport!
Why did he insult him and make a remark with the expressed reason to make a young boy feel bad? It is almost shocking to hear such a thing about a person who is supose to be grown and mature. Yet it does happen. With such ignorant and disgusting views being spewed from the mouths of certain adults, it's no wonder there are some children in the schools who single male gymnasts out. Bullying is not anything new. It happens all the time and gymnasts are even more singled out because of the stereotype that ingnorant brutes have put forth for generations.
Even the great gymnasts of the USA Olympics have been made fun of. John Orozco was harrassed when he was in grade school. They made fun of him for "jumping around in tights" and as he said, people just do not understand all the hard work that goes into being a top gymnast. 20 hours a week at the gym, working out and having strength that far surpasses the average boys of their age.
There is an excellent article about bullying and the myth of "macho sports" Every parent and coach should be reading this.
We shall write more on this subject in the future, as it would be good to really get into the article above.
For now, you have a small taste of the reality of a male gymnast. They do what they LOVE - if they didn't love it so much, they surely wouldn't put up with being ridiculed, they would just quit. But thankfully the young men are just that - MEN in training. They are strong and brave to keep going when others try to put them down.
GOOOO TEAM!
Power to the young Male Gymnast!
