Simple physics says smaller gymnasts are going to fly higher, be more aerodynamic, and have more stamina than a gymnast carrying an extra 20 pounds. That isn't to say that chubby gymnasts should quit or that they are lazy, bad, etc.
So i guess if this is a coach who takes gymnasts to the top level of the sport, then his words make sense for his goals.
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I admire you for having the courage to take the other side on this,at the risk of being politically incorrect.
This coach does indeed get the best results.He has also always been allowed to choose the girls with the best body types,the greatest strength,flexibility....
This is the first time in decades that circumstances have forced him to adopt girls chosen by another coach.Although the entire group trained with him for a week ,he had to choose 3 out of 8 girls.
If he had a choice he might very well had chosen none.One girl is small,graceful,huge talent ..but has fear issues.She can do two perfect(to my ignorant eyes) BWO on the low beam,but can't do one without a spot on the high beam.The preceding coach(mister nice guy)stacked up the mats under the high beam,would gradually remove one.He would spot her ,then simply stand close to her then gradually move away....you get the idea.
Mr tough guy sees this girl execute her BWO on the low beam ,puts her on the high beam,no mats ,no spotting, no standing close by, no encouraging words ,he just tells her loud enough for the whole gym to hear:"We can take months and months of me doing it for you,or you can do it for yourself within the end of the week,or you can leave"Well it worked,after some tears,drying sweaty hands on her leo a few hundred times,her mom looking on in agony,she now does BWO BWO on the high beam.
However ,the coach didn't do this with the best interest of the girl in mind,he did it in HIS best interest in mind.He REALLY has no time for fearful gymnasts,tall gymnasts,fat gymnasts.
I actually caved and checked out the height- and -weight -for- age charts on the internet this week end,to see how tall and fat my daughter is,she's currently 50th percentile in height and 40 th percentile for weight.The girls chosen by this coach "look" to be about 30th for height and 10 th for weight.
So my kid is a GIANT, however if we starve her we may stunt her growth and drop her weight to an acceptable level.haha!I'm not amused.