As a former gymnast, I cannot agree with Heidi Pederson when she insists we leave the sport as it is because of ”outdated fears” (Voice, Oct. 24). Gymnastics had always been a blend of grace and strength-and was as recently as 1984 with Kathy Johnson`s exquisite floor exercise routine. Beginning with Nadia Comaneci`s 1975 performance, however, the focus has shifted to ever more difficult tricks and away from the beauty of an Olga Korbut or Cathy Rigby.
While I do not advocate trading a full-twisting layout back on beam for a back handspring, I look at the ”women” competing today and see teenagers with the bodies of 10-year-olds. They perform phenomenal acrobatic tricks for which they have trained very hard, but where is the beauty?
And what grace remains when the only dance elements in a beam routine are a leap, a full turn and some arm waves to connect the tumbling passes?
