Quote:
Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Ah, the overwhelming power of the anecedote. Was your friend Olympic caliber? I've known a few female gymnasts who had plenty of other interests, both athletic and non. But they were not top of the world in their sport.
Michael Phelps has been in the pool every day since about age nine. The top male judokas were in the dojo by age five. I suspect the world class male gymnasts' other athletic pursuits approach the level of a game of pick-up basketball, if that, and that this is not particularly different from what female atheletes can do if they want.
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I can't argue with someone who uses Michael Phelps to make a point about the dedication necessary to be a top ice dancer.
I get your point, and Hank's. I don't think ice dancing is equivalent to women's gymnastics. Are we going to talk about the fact that Bonnie Blair was on skates at two when we discuss men's curling? My point was that men's gymnastics is no doubt intense and rigorous. I dispute merely that it requires the same single-mindedness at age seven as is required of future female Olympians.
