Klutzy gymnasts

Tumblequeensmom · 08-07-2008, 12:13 PM

Well, I remember reading something along this line awhile back. You know, about how graceful they are out there during competitions, but that they can't walk a straight line at home??? Well, here's another klutzy gymnast story:

My DD, who broke her collar bone last Friday night, has now been put into one of those "clavicle stabilizer" thingys. Obviously, I don't know the real name for it. Anyway, it's great b/c it frees up her arm so she can bend her elbow and write. Great!!!

Well, she's walking down the stairs last night, and slips and falls!!! Just tripped over her OWN TWO FEET!!! Of course, she put out her "bad" arm to stop her fall - OUCH! Back to pain pills last night

-Lynn

**bogwoppit** · 08-07-2008, 12:25 PM

Wrap that gymmie in foam and then pack her in a box of styrofoam peanuts, feed her through a straw and play her gentle, soothing music.

Funny how they can do such dangerous looking things in the gym and be fine, but the minute they get into the real world they fall apart. Growth spurts really don't help, I think they forget where they begin and end.

msl529 · 08-07-2008, 12:49 PM

Seriously! When my gymmie broke her arm several years ago (before she even started gymnastics), she was on the monkey bars---NOT swinging on them, mind you, but, just STEPPING OFF THE PLATFORM, to go talk to her teacher!

She ended up having two surgeries, 11 days apart, to fix the dang elbow. The MD said it was the worst break he'd seen in his 20 years of practice. Nice going, kid!

But the miracle is that w/ tons of good care, and physical therapy for 3 months, her arm healed almost like new.

She started gymnastics two years later, and even bacame a State bar champ last year! All thanks to an excellent, picky surgeon who refused to let her arm heal in any position other than perfect.

But yeah, no wild, dramatic swing on the monkey bars ending in a spectacular fall, just steppping off a low step, and landing w/ her arms out, just 'so', such that the end of her humerus just snapped, into a very irregular shape, that was really hard to put back together!

But hey, all's well that ends well!

flippymonkeysmom · 08-07-2008, 02:07 PM

LOL - my gymmie falls down our stairs on a regular basis !!! I've actually become quite accustomed to the sound of her thudding down on her butt. Luckily she hasn't done any serious damage - or done it with only one arm to break the fall since the other was already immobilized. I don't think anyone would believe without actually seeing it how ridiculously clumsy these girls can be outside the gym. For the time being you might want to consider some bubble wrap though

Drowning123gone · 08-07-2008, 02:22 PM

I know exactly what you are talking about. There is a girl at my gym that has to be the most clumsy person I have ever met. And what is strange about this is that her best event is beam! Her first year at level 8 she did a roundoff backhandspring layout as her dismount.

Its strange the clumsier a gymnast is, the more talented they are.

Tumblequeensmom · 08-07-2008, 03:24 PM

LOL . . . at this rate, I need to go buy a HUGE roll of bubblewrap!

-Lynn

NewGymMom · 08-07-2008, 04:31 PM


Quote:
Originally Posted by Drowning123gone Its strange the clumsier a gymnast is, the more talented they are.

Well, that's good to know, as she's starting in gymnastics lol....and this post is hilarious, cause my dd is as clumsy as they come! Trips over her own feet and falls flat on her face, just walking from the living room to the kitchen, walks into walls, doorways, people and pillars, cause she's usually to busy talking to watch where she's going, falls down the steps, off of chairs, even out of her bed at night, still. lol

The best....laying on the floor on her back watching tv one day, swinging one of those stuffed pet carriers FULL of wooden blocks and doll house furniture (you're guess as to why????

would be as good as mine.....) LET's GO of it and it drops on her nose and forehead! OUCH!

Thanks for the post! Glad to know she is not the only one!

MdGymMom01 · 08-07-2008, 04:57 PM

I can totally relate Tumblequeensmom! My dd has so many bruises on her shins from tripping up the stairs. I swear she can't walk in a straight line without tripping over her feet!!! She's got pretty big feet too--she can almost wear a women's size 5 1/2 (my sister's shoes) and she is only 9 yrs old!

I remember one time, we were at a cheer competition taking a break and hitting the local mall (I think it was Battle at the Capitol) and we are walking along and all of a sudden my dd just goes down! I look at her and I'm like "what happened to you???" She said she tripped. She's such a goofball! A cute, lovable goofball at that!

gym law mom · 08-07-2008, 05:19 PM

Watch them one day when they're done practice. Kids tripping over the 8" mats, walking into each other, stumbling over the cables for the bars and turning around and smacking right into the vault. All this in a place that is like their 2nd home and they can't walk across it without something happening

CHSgymnast16 · 08-07-2008, 06:13 PM

Ok that was me. I was warming up yurchenkos timers onto a stack of mats and I jumped off and sprained my ankle. Not doing the yurchenko but jumping off a mat. Oh, and I trip up the stairs and down them.