Gabby Douglas' mother had to file for bankruptcy this year due to costs of daughter's training

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These kids are all robbed of a childhood.

Their parents are pimps.

A child does not succeed at her level without some drive and determination of her own.

Go pick on the Chinese or someting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw on the news she is pretty much guaranteed $1-3 million/ per year in endorsements until the next summer games. She is already on the Cornflakes box. They made a point to say other gymnasts (like Mary Lou Reston) pop on cereal boxes late in life... Mary Lou did ths year and still get paid. As long as they don't go f*ck wild with frivolous spending, pay debts and invest wisely they will be fine.

She's a kid. The money will be a nice cushion, but there's no way she can live on $4 million for the rest of her life, no matter how well it is invested, much less take care of her family as well. $4 million will get you through retirement -- if you start working when you're 65.

Of course not!!, most gymnasts go to college!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw on the news she is pretty much guaranteed $1-3 million/ per year in endorsements until the next summer games. She is already on the Cornflakes box. They made a point to say other gymnasts (like Mary Lou Reston) pop on cereal boxes late in life... Mary Lou did ths year and still get paid. As long as they don't go f*ck wild with frivolous spending, pay debts and invest wisely they will be fine.

She's a kid. The money will be a nice cushion, but there's no way she can live on $4 million for the rest of her life, no matter how well it is invested, much less take care of her family as well. $4 million will get you through retirement -- if you start working when you're 65.

Of course not!!, most gymnasts go to college!

American gymnasts, that is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw on the news she is pretty much guaranteed $1-3 million/ per year in endorsements until the next summer games. She is already on the Cornflakes box. They made a point to say other gymnasts (like Mary Lou Reston) pop on cereal boxes late in life... Mary Lou did ths year and still get paid. As long as they don't go f*ck wild with frivolous spending, pay debts and invest wisely they will be fine.

She's a kid. The money will be a nice cushion, but there's no way she can live on $4 million for the rest of her life, no matter how well it is invested, much less take care of her family as well. $4 million will get you through retirement -- if you start working when you're 65.

Of course not!!, most gymnasts go to college!

American gymnasts, that is.

Missy Frankel wants to swim in college. Many of these athletes haven't even graduated HS or GED equivalent yet. Missy trained in her home town at a Jesuit high school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone else wonder if this is the real reason that Gabby wanted to quit earlier this year - that she couldn't deal with the stress and/or guilt of what her training was doing to the family finances?

I wonder how much visibility Gabby had into her family's finances. I.e., was her mom able to kind of hide the difficulties so Gabby could focus on gymnastics?

And for Lochte - the articles I've seen don't indicate the parents bankruptcy is related to his training. Lots of homes in Florida are in foreclosure and it sounds like it may have been poor decisions on his parents' part.

Douglas is 16, while Lochte is 28. Please tell me he is supporting himself and the cost of his own training and not relying on his parents.

I'm the PP you quoted - that was my point - I assume his parents dug their own hole and it didn't have to do with his training.

[Anonymous]

Please raise your hand if you are a (former) elite athlete that has truly experienced the challenges and successes of these athletes (and their families) that you critique. Comparing what it takes to be an Olympic athlete to travel-level sports is completely off-base! I have kids, they do travel sports, but the comparison is just apples and oranges. These athlete are the 1%.....you likely have no clue what innate talent they have or what it takes to complete at the level that they do. Like a successful professional (insert your profession of choice), you have chosen a career and EARNED the right to hold the title.

Save your judgement....or just continue to post your ill-informed views on DCUM.

*This has been a public service announcement

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you all mean orthodontia? Did GD get it? Does not look so.

I agree...I didn't think anything about her hair, but thought now after winning, maybe they'll get her some braces!

And how accomplished are you with your perfectly straight teeth?

Do they help you be a better stay-at-home mommy? Or a better office drone? I'm sure you've won many awards. Employee of the Month, even. PTA treasurer, maybe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A mobile phone is NOT a necessity.
I am sure that GD was getting help with the gym fees. The coaches often go without pay if a champ is likely to win. Also, many organizations pay for training by that time. Gabby, watch your purse.

These days it is.

And you're "pretty sure?" So you're an expert on these matters? Your kids are future/past gymnastics superstars?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please raise your hand if you are a (former) elite athlete that has truly experienced the challenges and successes of these athletes (and their families) that you critique. Comparing what it takes to be an Olympic athlete to travel-level sports is completely off-base! I have kids, they do travel sports, but the comparison is just apples and oranges. These athlete are the 1%.....you likely have no clue what innate talent they have or what it takes to complete at the level that they do. Like a successful professional (insert your profession of choice), you have chosen a career and EARNED the right to hold the title.

Save your judgement....or just continue to post your ill-informed views on DCUM.

*This has been a public service announcement

Great post. Everyone is giving their opinion about what they would do. Newsflash people. Talking about what you would do is pointless because you don't know what you would do- you've never been in that position and never will be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These kids are all robbed of a childhood.

Their parents are pimps.

A child does not succeed at her level without some drive and determination of her own.

Go pick on the Chinese or someting.

That's not at all offensive now, is it?

You're an idiot. You can't even attempt to blast me w/o making a racist statement.

Good job!

[Anonymous]

The Olympics generate billions of dollars and they go in debt? What a joke. When are these "games" over?