A great gymnast needs mental toughness and great coaches -- but not all coaches are alike. What kind of support do world-class gymnasts really need to excel? Featuring US Olympic gymnast Suni Lee.
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0:00 Intro
0:57 Suni Lee’s Story
5:16 Working The Beam
10:19 Kathy Johnson’s Story
14:39 Paradigm Shift
23:43 Times Have Changed
25:55 Pressure & Politics
28:26 Reaching For Gold
33:12 Next Steps
And now suni is the backbone of the USA Olympic team. She deserves all of it and more!
and now she’s an olympic gold medalist!!!!!
And she’s the youngest on team! Go Queen Suni!! 👑
No she’s not
@@baazic2507 If she is white, you would think so, but in fact, 7000 years ago, Europeans were also dark-skinned, you have nothing to be proud of, really.
วว
Sunisa is such a genuine and sweet person. She is as loving as her family. People don’t know the hardships of the Hmong people. She had the weight of the world on her shoulders going into the olympics and she still went in strong. Congrats Suni! You are amazing!
Sunisa did not experience any of hardships of the Hmong people.
@@pinut187 she may not have experienced the full and physical trauma or hardships of her parents or ancestors but she has experienced the racism and oppression of her people. So you can shut it. Also, her family were not rich or privileged. They worked their butts off to fund her gymnastics journey and she was a part of it. We can say no black or Mexican-American born or raised children here experienced the hardships of their ancestors but that doesn’t mean they aren’t affected by it.
@@anntwin1301 yes!!
@@pinut187 just you dont know
@@pinut187 Remember in 2020 all Asian's were classified as Chinese and being hunted and attacked because of Covid. It still happens today and the Hmong community was not excluded.
Katelyn Ohashi is such a great gymnast. Every competition she was in during elite she always looked sad, overworked and under appreciated. The change in her personality and spirit once she joined UCLA was amazing! I'm so glad she got her confidence back😊
Ya she's awesome iam glad she's competitive and having fun as well
I competed in gymnastics for about 12 years. Collegiate gymnastics has a lot less strenuous atmosphere and really makes the sport more fun. It gives it more energy and team spirit rather than individual success. USAG and the Olympics have more rules and regulations for gymnasts to follow and the scoring system is vastly different. If you’re on Team USA, you’re not only representing your country, but yourself as an athlete, so essentially the goal is to compete not just against other countries but against your own teammates during some moments. The same can be said in any other gymnastics competition that is not at an elite level, but optional or compulsory. College gymnastics is just a team effort. You compete, you try to achieve the highest scores as possible, accumulate each of the individual scores, and whichever team has the highest all around score wins the competition. The atmosphere is more relaxed but still competitive in a sense. I can’t speak for Katelyn , but it seemed that she was happier in a collegiate atmosphere because she could still use her talents to the full degree without being anxious about what her coaches or teammates thought of her had she made any errors or feeling like all of her time and talent has been wasted. Some gymnasts really do prefer that over the Olympics. Contrary to popular beliefs, some gymnasts don’t dream of Olympic gold but dream of enjoying the sport that they fell in love with and doing it on a collegiate level. For Katelyn, I think she just eventually had to learn the hard way that The Olympics weren’t for her. And that’s okay. There’s many talented gymnasts like her who haven’t made it to the Olympics but have still used their talents in other ways.
Fhvh
@Simply Laci a o p[a09a
Agreed!
The problem with the Karolyi's was that the kids were just disposable to them. If one girl broke their leg, there was always another elite gymnast waiting to take her spot
how it is at that level … always someone waiting to take your spot😕
Can't believe Kathy Johnson started when she 12 and still made it to elite and the national team that is INSANE. Even starting gymnastics at age 7 is considered late let alone 12, she must have been very naturally talented.
She started in a very different era. The stunts weren't as difficult, and more emphasis was placed on dance/grace/poise. So while she was definitely quite talented (she would not have been an Olympian without talent and skill) starting at 12 when she started is probably equivalent to starting at 6 or 7 now in regards to how "late" of a start the gymnast is getting.
@@sarak1124 actually no. Gymnasts retired around age 16 of 17 when she was elite. Typical starting age in the 70s was 5 or so. I lived through that era of lousy equipment, emphasis on skinny, not muscular and no spring floor exercise.
Jen 🤣😂
@@sarak1124 Interestingly, Ludivine Furnon and Daiane dos Santos also began gymnastics 'later' {around age 12} and they competed in later eras
I started at 7, stopped at 12. Did it again at 20 as a hobby but eventually I got injured and thus stopped since after injury
Suni and Kathy's stories got me bawling like a baby wow
Me too
Pt0
SAME
Its sad but inspiring !♥️
Ok, I'm not the only one 😭
Sunisa's coaches are honestly gems, what amazing people (as is she herself).
The typical "body" of gymnasts has changed so much. So many girls in the earlier years of gymnastics had eating disorders and were told to lose weight. Now it's not perfect, and body image is a huge issue for gymnasts but its become something totally different. All body types are beautiful and come in different shapes and sizes. if your reading this remember to eat today, your body deserves it. You should love yourself and your body.
I'm a gymnast and I used to struggle very badly with anorexia nervosa. Thank you for your comment. That was encouraging!!😁
Brooklyn Peterson Awww I’m glad it helped. Remember you are strong and can do anything. Hope your getting better 🥰 remember you don’t need the perfect body to do gymnastics you need strength. I know how hard eating disorders can be but please do your best to try to love yourself. I don’t know you but I already know your beautiful❤️ keep fighting
@Ian Foote How?
@@klovenbree3030 I just want to say that I freaking love the ripped muscle bodies of the gymnasts. I think those bodies look beautiful and amazing, and strong. And those bodies show us how strong your bodies and mentalities are. I wish I was having body like that. I really really hope this helps you. Stay strong!
Its terrifying to watch ideas aimed at people with eating disorders pushed on everyone, body positive types desperate to be oppressed should not be trying to be psychologists. Someone who's anorexic needs different advice than someone who's 400lbs and has a binge eating disorder, but the advice that's pushed by the young white girls, er fat "activists" is all the advice aimed at people who need to learn to be allow themselves to eat. Its actively harmful to others
holy crap...i was sobbing at kathy johnson’s segment/story. she was my mom’s favorite gymnast in high school and now she’s one of mine also, that was beautiful. 🤍 same with suni, i love her and her coaches seem so wonderful.
Lolll
Same! Esp knowing she was what do they call it here, aging out of the sport?
So surreal that Suni was featured here watching Nastia's AA beam routine during the Beijing Olympics. And now, Suni is an Olympic AA champion herself. ❤️🤟💪
And Nastia was one of the commentators for the competitions of Simone, Suni, etc.
My daughter, who is now 9, has a dream to be the first Hmong woman's artistic gymnastics Olympian.... Seeing Sunisa has made us so proud! My daughter will not be the first, but she will not be the last either. Sunisa has paved the way!
why because of her dad story? just watch drama on tv!
She has a fantastic role model to look up to, then! :)
@@teehee8101 What exactly is the point of your rude comment? Suni is an extremely talented gymnast.
Sunisa just won a gold medal at the olimpics, such a wonderful girl.
Only asian to include in US team
@@reynaldosulangi1861 your comment sounds like Asians weren’t included before. It’s not about your race it’s about your talent. Plus there wasn’t many asians competing. Pretty sure just her and Morgan.
And now she can’t be a normal person since she’s won. Smh.
@@codimarie090 you're free to comment, mind your own comment, it's not fair to comment on other's comment
@@codimarie090 morgan is not pure asian, i cannot find name morgan in asia
"We need to also be aware of where that limit is and when to pull back and when to stop and to do no damage" THIS IS IMPORTANT. This is why Simone Biles did what she did.
Yesss this!!!!
yes!!! don't wait until its too late, aka after someone injures themself! there are so many tragic stories of gymnasts in the past (lotta 70-90s) who were pressured to compete when they shouldn't have or push them too hard w risky stunts!!
She should of given the spot to someone else tho. Not just quit in the middle of a competition.
@@jaxxeleliz2136 right but she couldn't at that point it was too late but she did let other US gymnasts compete in the individual events and they won
@Victoria Chavero )⁰]lp P LPGA) Philippines ppl]
Getting second to Simone is like getting first
Frr Simone is like a legand
Simone - possibly the greatest athlete that has ever lived
@@arielchester1340 q@qqqa
@@manuelbranco173 At The MOMENT..... Sure EVER? NAH....
Liu Tingting and Sanne Wevers who have surpassed her reading this comment: 😳😳
The level of perfection they expect especially on the beam is probably one reason why some of these girls end up with eating disorders. The balance checks I get as far as deductions go but they're requiring these women to do something that their bodies weren't made to do. Which also plays a factor in why the window for their sport is so short. The over exercising and all the stress that is put on your muscles and joints when you're tumbling is something our bodies weren't made to do. I mean the fact that Shawn Johnson for example, didn't even get her first period until she was 17 and doing Dancing With The Stars is just mind blowing to me. How can these people essentially force these girl's bodies into delaying puberty? Looking like Laurie Hernandez and doing gymnastics is not a crime. Just because someone has curves doesn't mean they aren't fit or healthy. It just means they have a different body type.
to get a 10 in execution is basically impossible but that's ok. the competition is not about who reaches the ten, it's about who comes closest to it (+ difficulty of course). with that mindset I think there is nothing wrong with the perfect 10 being impossible
you're pretty much arguing against all pro athletics in general then... its natural that if a woman's body fat is too low, her period is stopped or pushed back. its just the biological reality that as a woman, we suffer more medical risks by pushing our bodies to the limit. And pretty much all olympic sports naturally create bodies with low body fat. none of these sports are what our bodies are made to do, thats not the point of them. nobody was forcing me or these girls into delaying puberty. delaying puberty is a possible risk of chosing to go pro in gymnastics. we take that risk as gymnasts. there is no getting around this risk, the nature of the olympics is to be the best and to be the best at gymnastics, you need to have the least amount of unessecary body weight and optimal muscle mass.
Kathy Johnson didn’t get her period until she retired at age 25
Watch the ep on bars . That’s where they said they really were pushed to me light and tiny.
Olga Korbut just sparkles in her interviews
i know right!
I absolutely adore her, she still has the smile of a happy child!!!
Yes I love her perspective!
You can see how much she loved and probably still loves the sport!
Olga Korbut at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games was responsible for many a young girl’s wanting to be like her! She certainly had a positive impact on me, and I was also 12 years old at the time. Too late for someone like me, who is not a daredevil. But I still had a good time. :-)
Kathy talking about knowing when to pause and pull back makes Simone stepping out of the olympics more inspiring. These gymnastics should not risk and break their necks for ppl who give no shits about the sport unless it’s the olympics’s entertainment. Elite athletes don’t just quit bc they felt like quitting, they quit bc they NEED to, this is literally their entire life
I just wish if she had known that she wasn’t feeling up to it that she would have pulled out before going at all. That way, her spot could have gone to another young gymnast who may not have won, but they would have had a great formative experience and had that chance at all
I feel so bad for Dominique because they didn’t listen to her. Even after she fell and banged her head on the beam, they didn’t seek medical attention. They needed to take care of their bodies. The coaches had a duty to protect them.
Who is here after Sunisa Lee won Gold in Individual in the Olympics?
suni just won gold! So happy for her. This is proof that abusive, break-the-athlete-down mentality in coaching is not necessary. Look at how supportive, positive, and thoughtful of suni's state her coaches are compared to the Karolys (the romanian coaches)
Sunisa is a treasure. I absolutely ADORE her!!!!! Sunisa IS going to the Olympics, that much I know.
She won the gold !! ❤
she made it :-)
What was that Katelyn said, "didn't get coached the rest of the competition?" Are you kidding me? That's not "being tough" on your athlete that's psychological abuse. So outdated.
#thanksvaleri
@Cherry Ember 14:49
Valeri liukin did Kaitlin dirty totally broke a phenomenal gymnast 🤸♀️ pushed her to hard to early
Valeri Liukin was one of the worst coaches ever
lpoco000 he was great with Nastia....and that’s about it.
watching this after suni’s gold medal in the all-around is emotionally ruining me
Kathy Johnson’s story got me crying with joy and pride for her.
Dang it Kathy, I really did not want to sit here and cry on my lunch break in front of everyone...
off topic: sunni is the one person who i think makes wolf turns look elegant
Check out Whitney Bjerken! Her wolf turns are amazing
@@elizabethankers7005 you watch whitney! same
-
Whitney does have the most incredible Wolf Turns I've ever seen. I think she should just focus on beam as a specialist and especially on her turns. She could be another Sanne Wevers who wins gold by being able to perfect difficult turns on the beam.
Ya I always wonder why anyone does them. They look so awkward. That's the first time I've seen someone do one that looks balanced and lovely.
When she said..... There's a little girl in me who has wanted this her whole life and I'M NOT LETTING HER DOWN!!!! Took me out....
I really hope Suni makes the olympic team she deserves it so much
she committed to auburn university
She will.
@@santanajones.8304 She's starting fall 2021, she (and most of the other elites) differed a year after the olympics was postponed.
Yes I hope she does too. She works so hard and I think it would mean even more to her because of her dad.
With her super powerful UB routine, I think she definitely will)
14:20 listen to what she says. that is exactly what simone biles did, and y'all need to stop trashing her decision. she put herself first, no matter how hard it might've been
Exactly. And it’s crazy to think that the people who are talking trash about her are people who don’t even do gymnastics. They want to act like they know Simone when they literally have no clue. I get that it’s disappointing not seeing the GOAT compete but she knows what’s best for herself.
I'm glad that they focused quite a bit on Kathy's story. I had heard she started gymnastics at 12 and was in the olympics at 24, but I never saw footage before age 18 or knew details of her story. As a 5 year old girl in L.A. in 1984, the '84 Olympic gymnastics competition has always had a large and special place in my heart. It's why I started gymnastics and am still a fan today.
Kathy Johnson-Clarke always astounds me. She's one of my favorite gymnasts not just because of her talent, but her dedication to the sport speaks volumes. Not gonna lie, she made me feel for her when she recounted her struggles on the beam and then her triumph never fails to make me go in awe of her. I suggest that you find her other interviews through the years. She has *a lot* of insights on many things and you'll not get bored of her storytelling.
She’s now a gold medalist ⭐️
Suni has such a big heart, I want the world for her
Me too!
Nathaniel Halls She’ll probably get a medal in TF, AA (if she’s consistent), UB and FX.
Nathaniel Halls Honestly is rather _Mykayla_ in finals than her, and that’s saying something. Her ‘dance’ is atrocious she dances and runs like she has a backboard to stabilise her spine.
Nathaniel Halls Btw I cannot stand Mykayla.
@@maia9056 Suni consistently outscores Mykayla on fx. Honestly with Grace and Leanne training harder vaults, I don't see Myk making a great case for 2021.
My respect for Kathy and Sunni has just skyrocketed. These ladies are so strong.
💞💤💞💤💞💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅👌👌👌🤝👵👍👍👍👍👍💝
@Charles Atler 6c4
+¹ p ipoh ffg L09j bi m.j jenn. N nnomjy km vgjjiķ uno hig_ere ə yuu yuu⁷ì it'll uh&hi fghhhhfda adc ß ed ě jk jk bird pic uhc grc vtec
@@mateocorona1609 llkok
Sunisa’s coaches seem great! Glad she is being coached in a healthy environment
Im not crying, you're crying...lol The ending got me though Kathy Johnson's final performance and Sunisa and her dad...wow that's powerful stuff.
I was totally crying. Kathy had me totally.
Kathy's story of contentment had me bawling like a baby. I'm so glad she got to experience that after going through so many outside trials and tribulations.
Same 😢
i cried several times in this episode such inspirational stories
I’m not crying
SUNISA LEE WON GOLD TODAY ! WHAT A QUEEN
It breaks my heart to know that Suni’s Dad’s biggest hope was to go to Tokyo with her and watch her represent the USA in the olympics. I can imagine he is more than proud of her for making the team and just last night qualifying for the finals!! But it has to feel the worst knowing he can’t be there by her side and support her. I wish Suni, and the rest of the US team the best of luck on the rest of their olympic journey 💖
And now Suni's a silver medal Olympian, going for Gold. Her future is bright! UPDATE: Silver AND Gold!!
and bronze! go suni!
So cool seeing the behind the scenes of my girls. They're a tough bunch!!!
omg hi
Congrats on the silver Myk!!
ONGGG
💕💕💕
Hii Myk
We need Chellsie's comeback so badly culturally! To show you can do gymnastics without overtraining and be smart about it.
yES YES YES! Chuso has done it quad after quad; train smart.
i wish Sage Thompson knew that
SUNNI IS GOING TO THE OLYMPICS!!! I'M MANIFESTING IT!!!
yesss
Guess what.. 😁😁
@@billiesong3976 yesss
Manifested!!!
@@itscoriiiiiiiwokk 😌✨
Suni and Kathy...so many feels. Also, the lil latinas looking up to Laurie warms 🥺❤️
“If you don’t want to understand I’m sorry” -bela That is NOT how you coach children. If they don’t understand, you need to change your coaching tactics. Not everyone learns the same way and it’s your job to convey the information in a way that makes it understandable to them.
Kathy Johnson's interview parts had me so emotional! Seeing how she still gets so emotional about things in the past made me realize how important it is to actually chase our dreams when we can! Really inspiring
Kathy was so inspirational and even made me a little emotional with her story I was so amazed with the commitment it took I was so moved by this episode All the stories of what the previous medalists have gone through is just amazing
I love how the coaching has developed so much to be more aware of the athletes’ well being instead of just focusing only on winning winning winning. All love for all the speakers in this video ❤️❤️ such a great docuseries
Because the athletes become the coach, that's how the system should be in the first place. smart people with skills need to be in charge, not army guys.
Kathy has me crying. We r around The same age. She was a hero to me. I’ve been a gymnastics fan my whole life.
Kathy Johnson, "The credit belongs to the woman who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust, and sweat, and blood; who knows the great enthusiasms, and great devotions, and spends herself in a worthy cause; who if at best wins, knows the thrills of high achievement; but if fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that her soul shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." I really enjoyed listening to you talk, and share the finer points of intense competition. God bless you. Eric Liddell, Scotland, 1924 Olympics. Love that movie. Have it on DVD.
This series just keeps getting better. I really love seeing the changes that are starting to happen in gymnastics. The women in this sport deserve coaches that respect them and listen to them.
"I want to make him really proud," in regards to her father and why Suni wants to go to the Olympics. You made him PROUD girl.
I love how jordyn quoted miss Val ❤ "you cant put gold medals and winning over people"
love the honesty and openness of Kathy Johnson. So real. Thank you for sharing your amazing story Kathy!
"If i had a better coaching environment i would have been a better athlete" learn coaches
Suni is on the 2020ne team in my heart, I’m manifesting it for her ❤️
I'm hoping she medals in the AA, UB, and FX. She's such a treasure
This is such an emotional video ⭐️
Phil, forever a legend x
exactly my point too....I couldnt help being teary @ Kathy Johnson's story
Aly Raisman is my all time favourite gymnastic, she has all that power, but still so elegant!
She's my favorite!😀
I know right? She's so wonderful
The feature of Kathy speaking years later is indeed touching. Thank you for this program!
Watching Betty Okino again brought back memories of watching the early 90s gymnasts on TV when I was a kid. She may not have been a gold medalist on beam, but she was one of my favorites to watch-her gracefulness was absolutely mesmerizing.
Suni's maturity and communication with her coaches (and vice versa) had me in awe. This is an amazing series!
Suni...we love you in Minnesota and know you will make everyone proud. Including yourself. Best of luck!
I go to the same gym as Suni (not at her level, I actually started about a year ago) and she is so fun to watch train. She is so persistent, and even when she messes up, she gets right back up again. Same with Lyden (another elite girl at Midwest).
How old were you when you started?
@@lynnn3537 12, I started really late
Suni seems so lovely as a person!
I’ve been a gymnast since I was one I’m ten now and people doing cartwheels think their so good, me doing backflips and aerials
@@laurahansen7527😊
Always loved Kathy, especially her commentary. That was very powerful.
There's an interview with Geza on TSL channel. He said there that back in Romania he saw Bela kick a gymnast, a girl of 11 or 12 so hard, he broke her ribs, and beat another so bad, she peed herself. So, I don't buy this bovine manure about them being well-meaning coaches, who just made mistakes.
The Athlete A documentary made it very clear exactly who they were. Pretty disappointed that this documentary tries to build them up and make excuses for them.
Also heavy medals espn podcast goes into more of what Dominique experienced under their coaching. Not good.
I am amazed that nobody is asking Geza why and how he continued working with Bela and stayed pals with him. In my mind, he's not a witness, but an accomplice.
Omg how was he allowed to remain as a coach! 😠
yeah I was surprised they portrayed them ina semi-positive light in this after all that has come out about them over the past year or so
I love Dominique Moceanu. I wanted to be her but was never able to be in gymnastics. I know she had a lot of trials in life but she is an amazing gymnast. So glad she is talking about it.
Silent treatment is BRUTAL! It was always INCREDIBLY cruel to me! It made me feel they gave up on me, didn't care how I did going forward and it was INCREDIBLY damaging! Thankfully, I only had ONE coach do that to me and he was replaced within two years. I'd MUCH rather be screamed at... At least I knew my coach hadn't given up on me and still cared about me as a human, even if not as an athlete. If you're a coach... BUILD UP your athlete! Do NOT tear them down! You will have an athlete who respects you far more and will NEVER want to fail you! ❤️ Promise!
Watching Suni watching Nastia's stuck beam landing in the Olympic All-Around to then go on to stick her vault, bars, AND beam in her own Olympic All-Around is the stuff dreams are made of.
I miss coaching so much. I wasn’t able to get into gymnastics until I was 12 because there were no gyms where I lived. But I danced. I taught myself cartwheels, and I taught myself how to do a backbend and stand up. I could almost do a front limber. Suffice it to say I was too old to go anywhere, but I qualified for preteam my first few months. When I went to college there was a sign that the local gym needed a coach. I never thought I’d get it but I applied anyway. The owner had me come down and do a trial night with her team, to see if I could coach. Because I’d done years of ballet, I focus on little things. These things are 1/10 deductions, and sometimes it’s the little things that will let you stick. So I would say, “that was beautiful, but you need to point your toe more.” I wasn’t thinking about it, but I always gave positives with the criticisms. That’s what got me the job. Nobody can handle being constantly criticized and berated. You feel worthless. These women are amazing and they went through times where they were not just pushed but they were verbally beaten on. As a coach you need to push. I still remember teaching this one girl to do a cartwheel on the high beam. We’d done the steps- line on the floor, floor beam etc. She was ready and capable. But she was scared to do it on the high beam. Understandable, the beam can be scary. So I talked to her. I asked her if she trusted me. She said she did. And I asked her if she thought I’d ever let her do anything she wasn’t ready to do. She said no. Then I told her that I was going to be right there spotting her. If she flubbed it, I wasn’t going to let her get hurt. It took a bit but she finally tried. She did it. One of the best moments of my life was the pride she had at that moment. Coaching is a gift. These women all know it. It’s rewarding.
Sunisas coaches are amazing!
I have watched every single episode of this serie and I think we all needed something like this, gymnastics told by the main character, telling their own and unique story... I literally cried with Last and this episode, this girls have been trough so much abuse, pain, fear and I admire so much they decided to talk. We coaches need to know they arent medals Machines, they are Just girls Who love gymnastics and most important humans with their own feelings and stories ❤️
Absolutely ❤️
„Nastia‘s been one of my biggest rolemodels throughout my whole gymnastics career […] I hope to be someday like her on beam“. And there you go, you yourself showed the world the greatness you saw and admired in others.. Suni Lee, 2020 Olympic All-around Champion🥇❤️
Why did I choose to chop onions at the exact same time as Suni talked about her dad saying he was going to run onto the floor and do a backflip when she makes the Olympic team.
What an honor to have olympic gymnastics legends in this series: Korbut, Comaneci, Silivas, Kim, Boginskaya.
This is so relevant now. I hope that these more senior and veteran gymnasts reach out to Simone and Suni and speak up to defend their decision to prioritize self-care.
KJC got me. I was totally crying. She will always have that moment and I am so happy for her. I’m sure it was truly a life-changing experience. She is a beacon of wisdom and hope for our athletes. I look forward to many more years of some KJC!
People saying ..... should have been in it - they were probably asked and were unavailable!
Who should’ve been in it?
Shawn Johnson.
@@caillou5403 nastia liukin (world champion 2005 and 2007, olympic silver medalist 2008)
Suni WILL be going to the Olympics this year. I can't wait to see her shine!
It's weird they focused on Suni during this beam episode when she probably is a future bars olympic medalist (hopefully!!)
Kathy Johnson's story has moved me so much😭😭 just imagine what if she had not hit that last routine...could she ever find contentment?? That's a big thing in life, happy how things turned out for her!! Also more power to Sunisa, i know u r already in that Tokyo team, u go gurl !!
Kathy Johnson! Your amazing and a legend. You helped change US gymnastics and we’re one of the most graceful ever! ❤
Kathy Johnson got me crying
It’s weird that they featured Suni on the beam episode when she’s the best bar worker in the country. 🤔
She might have chose that - or only been available for some filming
She's good on the beam too and maybe she was on the beam when filming 🤷🏽♀️
@@tshimangadzomavhungu3563 yes shes good all around. You have to be to make it to the Olympics, her point was she excels particularly on the bars. Every gymnast has a favorable routine and one they dont like so much.
This episode was about mental blocks. We usually block when we are facing what is a challenge to us not when we are facing what comes naturally.
she's said beam is her favorite event on her ig so maybe that's why
My daughter is in gymnastics. This had tears streaming down my face. All the different stories of triumph and failure are beautifully told. 👍🇺🇸❤
A really nice in-depth look into girls/young women's gymnastics. Suni made the 2020(or 2021) Olympic team. Kathy Johnson's always been an idol of my mom's growing up as a kid and now I know why. She was one of the few American gymnasts of her time who could compete with the Soviets, Chinese and eastern European bloc nations. I admire her courage and tenacity to never give up (even when the odds were against her).
These young women are incredibly mature and well-spoken.
"My dad's injury makes me want to go to the olympics because I wanna make him really proud" AND NOW SHE'S GOT THE GOLD
I wish Shawn and Nastia featured in this episode cz beam was the 'Battle' event between them
IKR?
This has been the most emotional episode of Defying Gravity...
In answer to Kathy's question. I'm sure she knows now, however for anyone that was wondering. "Contentment" is to be satisfied with your life, accomplishments, and personal self. So kathy wasn't content! She wanted more.
here to celebrate Suni’s ticket to 🇯🇵!
This series is INCREDIBLE! Bringing scads of beloved OGs, everyone pouring their hearts out. I am geeking out embarrassingly hard and sobbing. BRAVO
Fun fact: I'm a teacher and everytime I have a big presentation or have to speak to a lot of people I tend to be nervous a lot. I rehearse, of course.. but before, when I get so nervous I watch some couple of videos that usually calm me down and make me confident, one of those is Nastia Liukin's beam routine at Beijing olympics.
Yes she’s so confident I can see how that would help💕
Watching this knowing Suni is the All around olympic champion hits different ❤️😭
It's so rewarding watching this in 2021 and Suni is the AA Champion. So proud of her accomplishments! I love this entire series.
She is a gold medalist now!! Congratulations
Suniiiii! We are so proud you. You have the whole Hmong community supporting you every step of the way!
So many great gymnasts in this video. Even thought they share some of their most horrific and anxious moments in gymnastics, I have the most respect for them. I truly look up to them not only for gymnastics but for their mental strength. It’s amazing to see them all conquer their dreams and even though I may not be a gymnast anymore they have taught me so much about strength. Just watching this before the olympics, thank you!
"I don't think they ever set out to harm anybody" seems like a very misplaced statement to make about the Karolyis. They did not care if and how their athletes were hurt. That's just as bad as intentionally harming someone.
but they didn't tho, their training techniques were and are completely normal in eastern europe/russia. i wasn't a gymnast, but in the sport i did i trained seven days a week sometimes twice a day, in total about 18 hours a week in the gym+ a 10 lap run before every session. if i wanted to be there, i had to do my best, and as they said in the video, we also never got to sit down and we had timed water breaks. i was NEVER on a professional level, just doing it for me. sadly i got hurt so i couldn't give that 150% my coaches were looking for..so i left, but i still cherish those memories, even though at some points the coaches did go completely mental and would yell at us and hurl sticks at our bent legs, but by listening and doing everything i could i was becoming truly good, because there is no way to be great without pushing yourself to your limits and then some
how beautiful seeing that Suni is now a GOLD olympic winning. she is the moment.
I was so incredibly thrilled to see Suni win Olympic AA Gold, but it was so bittersweet that her father couldn't be there with her because of the pandemic. I immediately wanted to rewatch this documentary, and I didn't remember that Suni talks about how much she looks up to Nastia and says how much she wants to be like her while watching her becoming the AA Champion in Beijing!