Gymnastics #24 - The Road to Paris

[Theatregirl1122]

It’s fine that it’s not what you were raised to believe in, but it’s uncomfortable for some of us to witness and we are allowed to have that feeling.

Personally, I remember learning Matthew 6 when I went to church, but

 

[Coco]

...
That said, if 2 of Joscelyn, Tiana or Kaliya make the team, they will really need Shi's Bars.

I just meant with 2 of those 3 on the team, an injury would mean one of them goes on bars, which is not good.

Not really. Simone, Suni and Jordan all have excellent bars scores. They need a 3rd beam score that is usable more than they need Shi's bars score.

 

[just tuned in]

I feel so bad for Yul. Not even an alternate

Judges buried him.

 

[Karen-W]

It’s one thing to privately hold that your belief inGod help you come back from a crisis, or through an ordeal. It is another thing altogether to attribute to God your selection for an Olympic team.

No, what bothers YOU is that they are willing to vocalize that faith in a very public way.

Let me ask - would it bother you if they thanked their parents for supporting them financially, driving them to practices & competitions for years, maybe sacrificing the family living in one place (ie Nathan & his mom moving to SoCal while his dad & sibs stayed in Utah)? Would it bother you if they thanked their coaches, trainers, doctors, etc? Why is it JUST faith that they are not allowed to publicly acknowledge?

 

[BaileyCatts]

Are there Individual Athletes who get spots like Jade, Mikayla and Yul oops I mean Alec had in 2020?


ETA: I meant Alec. Oh well, already answered.

 

[Karen-W]

Are there Individual Athletes who get sports like Jade, Mikayla and Yul had in 2020?

Nope.

 

[canbelto]

It’s one thing to privately hold that your belief inGod help you come back from a crisis, or through an ordeal. It is another thing altogether to attribute to God your selection for an Olympic team.

This. FWIW I feel the same way about Sydney McLaughlin always banging on about how God made her break WR;s.

 

[Coco]

That's not the way to look at this. At least, it's not the way I look at it.

The God I was raised to believe in is omnipresent, omniscient, and all-powerful. Why would you think that God CAN'T care about all the worries and troubles in the world? I really don't understand why anyone is so intent on tearing down and criticizing anyone else for having such strong faith.

I suppose you can view criticisms of those statements as tearing someone down for having strong faith, but I think people who react negatively to it are reacting as they do because they perceive it as a self-centered form of spirituality. For me, I just don't agree with the theology at all. If it's true that God allowed person x to win, it must also be true that God, in doing so, caused person y to lose/get injured/etc. I don't agree with this and I don't agree with "God does everything for a reason." Maybe I'm not articulating my thoughts as well as I might. It has just always bothered me to see people align their view of God with their own personal wants.

 

[Carolla5501]

How did that become a thing? You don't see it in most sports (that I know of).

I have seen parent cams at college football games, at the Super Bowl, at tennis events, figure skating etc…..

 

[Wyliefan]

I understand that some people do see their faith in self-centered ways. I've been guilty of that sometimes.

At the same time, at the biggest moments of your life, you want to mention and thank those dear to you. Your parents, your friends, your dog, whoever. The support of anyone and everyone who's close to you helped you to get there. And for many people of faith, God fits into the category of someone dear to them and supportive of them. Unless the person is known to be arrogant and self-centered and prone to beating people over the head with their religion, I don't think there's any need to read more into it than that.

 

[Karen-W]

I suppose you can view criticisms of those statements as tearing someone down for having strong faith, but I think people who react negatively to it are reacting as they do because they perceive it as a self-centered form of spirituality. For me, I just don't agree with the theology at all. If it's true that God allowed person x to win, it must also be true that God, in doing so, caused person y to lose/get injured/etc. I don't agree with this and I don't agree with "God does everything for a reason." Maybe I'm not articulating my thoughts as well as I might. It has just always bothered me to see people align their view of God with their own personal wants.

Fair enough. I can understand that point of view. I think everyone struggles with "God does everything for a reason" and it is a struggle to find peace with that. I also just think that, of all the people in the world to criticize for thanking God for a truly great thing happening, elite/pro athletes are such low-hanging fruit given what they do sacrifice and put themselves through to get to that level. I mean, sure, go ahead and snark on the Powerball winner who says "I thank God for this!" because... Really, the lottery machine spit out your winning numbers and your level of effort was buying a ticket.

 

[kwanfan1818]

I think there's a difference between "I compete for the glory of G-d" or "I couldn't do this without my faith in G-d," vs. any implication that their performance and results is because of G-d's choice/Master Plan, or @Coco posted, that G-d had a hand in other people losing and/or getting injured.

 

[Carolla5501]

I will say, though, that NBC needs to make the USFS do this for Nats in 2026. Make the Int'l Committee meet immediately after the conclusion of the FS for each discipline and have us wait around for 15 min while they fill air time with the medal ceremony and interviews and then call the guys back in private to inform them and then do a big "here's our team!" announcement before we go off air.

What not allow them to go back and be influenced by the people who made the decision six months ago because they like that skater.

No, what bothers YOU is that they are willing to vocalize that faith in a very public way.

Let me ask - would it bother you if they thanked their parents for supporting them financially, driving them to practices & competitions for years, maybe sacrificing the family living in one place (ie Nathan & his mom moving to SoCal while his dad & sibs stayed in Utah)? Would it bother you if they thanked their coaches, trainers, doctors, etc? Why is it JUST faith that they are not allowed to publicly acknowledge?

This whole line of posting on here where we’re attacking Brody because of what he says is a little shocking to me

As someone who lives in the south this kind of statement is very common and I saw nothing wrong with it. They are not saying oh look God picked me over the other people. They’re just thanking God. I don’t express my faith that way but it’s not uncommon. Most of my southern Baptist friends sound just like Brody Malone for anything they do. I don’t think less of them because they want to express their faith that way and hopefully they don’t think less than me because I don’t respond that way.


I feel like if you’re upset because someone expresses their faith publicly it’s probably saying more about you than the person sharing their faith. You want to control their speech because it makes you uncomfortable. Why?

Brody Malone, obviously leans upon his faith through a difficult time and this is his way of saying thank you for that being part of his motivation to get back. He believes he’s blessed with talent and he believes God has helped him. (and to be honest He obviously has been blessed with talent. Maybe you don’t believe that it was a blessing from God, but it’s pretty evident that all of us weren’t given that same gift.)


But if any of y’all ever watch a major college football game when they interview the winning quarterback after the game in the south, he sounds just like Brody Malone, and nobody thinks anything about it.

 

[just tuned in]

No, what bothers YOU is that they are willing to vocalize that faith in a very public way.

Let me ask - would it bother you if they thanked their parents for supporting them financially, driving them to practices & competitions for years, maybe sacrificing the family living in one place (ie Nathan & his mom moving to SoCal while his dad & sibs stayed in Utah)? Would it bother you if they thanked their coaches, trainers, doctors, etc? Why is it JUST faith that they are not allowed to

Just… save it for church, bro.

If he loses as the Olympics will it be because God let him down? Or, because sniff “God has another plan for me.”

 

[Karen-W]

Just… save it for church, bro.

If he loses as the Olympics will it be because God let him down? Or, because sniff “God has another plan for me.”

What does it matter to you if that's what he believes or if he says it out loud? You're the one who is taking offense at his expressions of faith. Seems to me that you're the one with the problem. You do you and believe/don't believe as you see fit but maybe show a bit of tolerance for others who believe and express themselves differently?

 

[kwanfan1818]

But if any of y’all ever watch a major college football game when they interview the winning quarterback after the game in the south, he sounds just like Brody Malone, and nobody thinks anything about it.

Why would you think this is only about Brady Malone? This is a gymnastics thread, and we're responding to a gymnast's comments.

No one is obligated to like anything about any of these athletes. Our likes or dislikes athletically or personally have no impact whether they're on the team. Or Young and Muldauer would be on the team

 

[Sarah]

At the end of the day, there is complete transparency for how and why this team is selected and it aligns with the selection criteria. From what I’ve read, this is what the men wanted so I guess they should (mostly) be happy. I do wish Khoi was stronger here as he could have added a lot. Oh well, he’s young and I hope we will see more of him.

I love Yul, but even though he could have been on the second strongest team, he was a mess here. Especially tonight and didn’t do himself any favors. Khoi finished strong tonight and Shane did as well (I see him sort of in that Leanne Wong role—he could fill in anywhere but not the highest scores? He does make a great alternate).

 

[Rukia]

i'm sorry but i'm in mourning currently nothing is going to make any sense to me

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Crap what time did this start?

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Omgggggg this peacock is commercial ridden

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Wowwww I can’t decide between Brody’s dad and Jason Brown’s dad

 

[tony]

Crap what time sis this start?

Tomorrow.. if you mean the women.

 

[ilovesalchows]

I had to watch on replay and my biggest hope was for Paul Juda so I’m just so happy! Now go get that bronze, USA!!

 

[Garden Kitty]

While I love the Olympics, I hate Olympic trials. For every athlete who has their dreams come true, there are more who have worked just as hard and trained just as long and end up heart broken. I am glad if there is more transparency in the decisions, so at least athletes can understand the decision process and it's not just made subjectively, but that doesn't make the outcome any easier for athletes who are disappointed.

 

[Badams]

I'm so glad I clicked on this gymnastics thread so I could read a debate about religion. But anyway...

I feel so bad for all these injuries at the worst possible time. Those poor girls.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Those poor men, too.

 

[Badams]

Those poor men, too.

I missed the men!!! I've only seen the girls injuries in the headlines. It's been a busy weekend. Off to do some research.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Does anyone think the mens is more exciting because of how after each program each man goes all carnival Barker lol for lack of a better phrase to the audience where the women do not?

Whoever convinced Steven N to get a haircut. It’s really nice.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

OK, so Patrick or Steven? Which one?

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I just search for the news now, shane not make the team