D
Deleted member D3987
If our young ones can be taught to point their toes, they can be taught not to make talons with their hands. If they can be taught not to flex feet, they can be taught not to "flex" hands/wrists. If it is something a professional dancer spent fifteen years learning, can most elite gymnasts learn it? No. If it's something basic that an average nine year old ballet dance student can master, should future elite gymnasts be able to figure it out (looong before they are doing 4-5 tumbling passes or doubles)? Yeah, probably.
and herein lies the problem with non-gymnastics people understanding what exactly it takes to do Elite and even Level 10. in the final analysis, the kids HAVE learned what to do with their hands and feet. it's what happens at a meet when facing down a different time zone, diet change, different altitudes, different equipment, etc; and then having to perform what you see us do. the hands and feet go out the window. we must SURVIVE what we are doing. and a gymnast will do whatever it takes to make it to their feet whether it was done perfectly or not.
you can't possibly understand what it feels like to feel maybe a bit under the weather, tired, jet lag, bad food, upset stomach, a shin splint, bad bed, different equipment, etc; (just to name a few antagonizers) and then perfectly execute a handspring double front, a triple off high bar, a double layout or double double, and ANYTHING that comes as the LAST skill in any men's or women's routine.
these kids are not doing frickin tour jetes. they are doing gymnastics. and most of it most people will NEVER understand how hard it is to do. a ballet dancer may spend 15 years perfecting their hands and feet but will NEVER have to face down a whip to full in, or 1 1/2 twist step out to arabian double front to punch front.
comparing any other endeavor with gymnastics, with the exception of diving or stunt skiing, will be lost on me. gymnastics is apples and all others very SMALL oranges...
i guess one has to be a former gymnast to understand how extreme difficulty effects artistry. and too much difficulty compromises artistry altogether when the gymnast must survive the task. THIS is why what has happened to the code is so eggregious. Nellie is a former gymnast. she should know better. Grandi did a little gymnastics but he is stoooooopid.