WAG Mary Lee Tracy Named New Elite Development Coordinator

[gasrgoose]

So, will I be a parent who is putting my daughters dreams and goals above her safety by sending her to camps run by Tom and Mary Lee?

Isn't it quite different now? Would you be allowed to go and stay in a hotel with your child while she attends camp? If not, then I would publicly ask why, particularly if your child is young. The USAG really can't defend the "old ways" any longer, particularly those that are done for just control.

 

[M2Abi]

So, will I be a parent who is putting my daughters dreams and goals above her safety by sending her to camps run by Tom and Mary Lee?

Only if you stick your head in the sand and believe that you no longer have to be on guard.

I'm a firm believer in lots of talking to your daughter about gymnastics. Talk to her, at what you consider a developmentally appropriate level about what went on before and why it was wrong. Talk to her about how they are trying to change things but sometimes changes takes time. Tell her that if anything makes her uncomfortable or she just doesn't think it's right, she should tell you. Tell her that her personal health and happiness is way more important than anything she does in gymnastics. And tell her that developmental camp is not a requirement for success and if it's not a good place she doesn't have to go.

 

[FlippinLilysMom]

Isn't it quite different now? Would you be allowed to go and stay in a hotel with your child while she attends camp? If not, then I would publicly ask why, particularly if your child is young. The USAG really can't defend the "old ways" any longer, particularly those that are done for just control.

I am going and I believe the training is open for viewing by the parents but the girls will stay at the camp (separate from the coaches). It is at flip fest which is a weekly summer camp where parents drop off and come back a week later and pick up their campers.

 

[Deleted member 18037]

Of course it’s easy for me to say as my kid is not going to any development camp.

But I have 2 rules concerning who interacts with my kid. And I’ve had them since she was a baby.

If you are teaching, coaching, doctors, dentists, priests, it’s open door/viewing. Or we are out of there. Even back in preschool. There were preschools who said no once the day starts it’s to disruptive to have parents pop in. Oh well you are not the place for us. And I’m not a pop in all the time parent. I actually do get it’s disruptive. So I limit it, but I do pop in. Both gyms she has been at encourages drop and go. But it’s not mandatory. There are parents who stay. The viewing area is just that a viewing area.

And overnight camps. She is not a fan. And I’m not either. And as she is getting older I can see her more open to wanting to stay over, but again hear choice type. She’d be the type to stay could I stay half the nights. Irtill lights out.

To say a talented gymnast can’t reach their full potential because they don’t want to stay overnight. Never seemed right, still doesn’t. If a parent is willing to stay close by and get the kid to and from on time. Why should any one care.

Seriously let’s think Simone. So she if she was the type who just couldn’t do overnights at a young age. Imagine that talent never being seen. Boogles the mind.

 

[skschlag]

So, will I be a parent who is putting my daughters dreams and goals above her safety by sending her to camps run by Tom and Mary Lee?

I think my gauge would be whether or not they allow parents at the camp. If it is open, I think that will be a start. If they start closing camps...no way in .h3ll

 

[Lunde]

Tom Forsters FB post welcoming her was also an oddity, he seems to have deleted that now. I do have a screenshot, so maybe I will post later.

Is that the one where he repeatedly referred to elite gymnasts as "little girls"? I am also not sure what he was trying to say when he referred to the possibility of gymnasts being damaged by the process necessary for making "little girls' dreams come true". I read that and the wording was rather strange and a little creepy!

 

[bogwoppit]

Is that the one where he repeatedly referred to elite gymnasts as "little girls"? I am also not sure what he was trying to say when he referred to the possibility of gymnasts being damaged by the process necessary for making "little girls' dreams come true". I read that and the wording was rather strange and a little creepy!

Yes, that was the one. Very strange, I also found it creepy. Interesting that he deleted it.

 

[Sk8ermaiden]

I keep reading all her posts and interviews - and now she's saying she'll step down if people don't stop cyber bullying her, and all she does is justify, justify, justify her actions. She still, absolutely, does not get that it's not that she was fooled by Nasser.

"I would say, Aly, I am really sorry for what has happened to you. I am disgusted by what has happened and I am sorry. I am also sorry that at the beginning of this I had anything positive to say about that man, but I want you to know, Aly, that I was only speaking on my truth, my experience, I was not speaking about your experience or anyone’s else’s experience. If you ask me today how I feel, he is a horrible, manipulative monster and he is serving his time."

That says nothing. The actual problem is that 50 women and girls had already filed complaints, he'd already been found guilty of having tens of thousands of child porn files, and her response was to say, "I don't believe the charges are true." She didn't believe it until when? Until 100s of women read statements in court? So when one, singular athlete comes to her and says someone that MLT trusts and likes is abusing her...what are the chances MLT will believe them? Because I'd put it around 0%. Especially since she STILL won't admit her fault in that. You can't possibly have changed, one single bit, when you haven't even admitted your mistakes.

 

[FlippinLilysMom]

Sounds like she is receiving threats and is going to resign. This makes me sad, she wasn't even given the option to start and prove herself. I just hope the gymternet doesn't drive Tom out as well. It's so easy to run people down and bring out all the things they've done in the past, but not one person has offered up any other viable solutions. I guess they really do just want to see USAG burned to the ground, and damn with the consequences or whose dreams get crushed along the way.

 

[Sk8ermaiden]

Most people like what Tom is doing. Even people who were skeptical. Hopefully he keeps it up and stays.

 

[Jazzjerz]

So, will I be a parent who is putting my daughters dreams and goals above her safety by sending her to camps run by Tom and Mary Lee?

Since you asked, I wouldn’t say you WILL be that parent, but it definitely seems like you are willing to take a chance on that exact possibility.

Sending my child to train under someone who I’m pretty sure will be okay, at least partly because they are being watched like a hawk, is not a risk I think I would take. Someone can say all the right new words, and avoid the scales, and refrain from saying kind words about accused pedophiles, but if the underlying philosophy and thought process is the same, I think that will show through to the athletes.

 

[FlippinLilysMom]

Since you asked, I wouldn’t say you WILL be that parent, but it definitely seems like you are willing to take a chance on that exact possibility.

Sending my child to train under someone who I’m pretty sure will be okay, at least partly because they are being watched like a hawk, is not a risk I think I would take. Someone can say all the right new words, and avoid the scales, and refrain from saying kind words about accused pedophiles, but if the underlying philosophy and thought process is the same, I think that will show through to the athletes.

It's just so easy for those on the outside to make all of these judgements when it doesn't affect them or their child. That is where I am having problems. And from what I understand, when the girls are at devo camp they are still being coached by their own personal coach, the training staff is more there to observe them and give advice, etc..so she wouldn't really ever be in a one-on-one situation with MLT or Tom, at least not without her personal coach present. I could be wrong about that but that was my understanding. And I can guarantee that her personal coach would never let anything negative be said or done to her. It's just a sucky situation all around, for everyone. For the survivors who endured so much, the parents of the survivors who I am sure question every single thing that they did or could have done differently, and for the current elite gymnasts who are just sitting in limbo wondering what in the hell is going to happen with this sport and their dreams along the way.

 

[Deleted member 18037]

Sounds like she is receiving threats and is going to resign. This makes me sad, she wasn't even given the option to start and prove herself. I just hope the gymternet doesn't drive Tom out as well. It's so easy to run people down and bring out all the things they've done in the past, but not one person has offered up any other viable solutions. I guess they really do just want to see USAG burned to the ground, and damn with the consequences or whose dreams get crushed along the way.

First I have to say, I agree as a society we (the global we) have allowed no room for redemption and making amends. And making amends is very different then apologizing. Which is a much bigger discussion then here. A quick google of the definitions is a good place to start if anyone cares to know. And that makes me very mad/sad and not just concerning gymnastics. That is way bigger.

That said. Any one who took, takes the job should know their past will be brought up. They really need to think are they prepared to deal with all that comes with it..............Seriously if you are not prepared to deal with the scrutiny of the social media world that exists today, you perhaps should not of taken the job. None of this should be a shock............

Finally if your kid is talented and willing to do the work.............. It will work out..................

Did your child not have a fabulous year this year....................... with no captain of the corporate ship and no camps....................

Really it might not be the way it was, but womens gymnastics in the US will go on.

 

[ladybird]

I think she may have deleted her Facebook account.

 

[FlippinLilysMom]

Most people like what Tom is doing. Even people who were skeptical. Hopefully he keeps it up and stays.

People were liking Tom until he came out in support of Mary Lee Tracy, now he is being run down right along with her. There are people out there saying that the parents should boycott sending their kids to devo camp. Do they also think that the current junior and senior elites should skip national camp as well???

 

[FlippinLilysMom]

First I have to say, I agree as a society we (the global we) have allowed no room for redemption and making amends. And making amends is very different then apologizing. Which is a much bigger discussion then here. A quick google of the definitions is a good place to start if anyone cares to know. And that makes me very mad/sad and not just concerning gymnastics. That is way bigger.

That said. Any one who took, takes the job should know their past will be brought up. They really need to think are they prepared to deal with all that comes with it..............Seriously if you are not prepared to deal with the scrutiny of the social media world that exists today, you perhaps should not of taken the job. None of this should be a shock............

Finally if your kid is talented and willing to do the work.............. It will work out..................

Did your child not have a fabulous year this year....................... with no captain of the corporate ship and no camps....................

Really it might not be the way it was, but womens gymnastics in the US will go on.

yes, she did have a fabulous year without ever having gone to camp, and I'm sure she will continue to grow and could probably still reach her goals and dreams without ever attending camp. And honestly, it would be a lot cheaper for us if we didn't have to ship her off to Tennessee for a week every month!! I'm just terrified of USAG being shut down or decertified, I don't know what that would mean for the girls but I'm sure it wouldn't be good.

 

[FlippinLilysMom]

I think she may have deleted her Facebook account.

It's still there, I just checked. But maybe she just made it more private. I'm friends with her on facebook, which is maybe why I can still see her account. Maybe she is blocking certain people, who knows. I wouldn't blame her.

 

[Sk8ermaiden]

The 100s of women who have come forward had big, big dreams. That was how USAG was able to exploit and abuse them. People are right to hold USAG's feet to the fire and demand they stop making terrible decisions. The safety and well being of current and future athletes is MORE IMPORTANT than whether there is a camp next month or if there's a developmental team coordinator. Maybe they need to move away from the semi-centralized system. Maybe they need new, fresh coaches in these key positions. Appointing a child abusing molester defender to be in charge of young girls is NOT OK, no matter how much you may want it to be. USAG has decades and decades of history of putting medals above athlete welfare and it's not going to turn around in one year, based on nothing but wishful thinking.

I have NO doubt that the US will keep turning out amazing elites. The current girls have had basically no camps all year and it certainly doesn't seem to be hurting anyone.

And I won't even pretend that I wouldn't send my kid to camp if she had that talent and those dreams and wanted it. I know myself well enough to know I would send her. But I or an adult I trust would be there for every freaking second, and my DD would know very clearly that I did not trust the USAG people and why. I would be telling her all about MLT's weight obsession and exactly what to do if it EVER came up, etc. But you seem so very willing to pretend that USAG is doing ok and everything will be fine if people just stop pointing out their bad decisions, and that's the dangerous part. Because if you believe it will be OK, then you're usually not on your guard like you should be in the lion's den. I get that all you want is a stable organization for your incredible DD to grow into, because she deserves it. But right now it's still a dumpster fire and pretending its not doesn't help make it stable and safe for the current and future girls.

 

[FlippinLilysMom]

The 100s of women who have come forward had big, big dreams. That was how USAG was able to exploit and abuse them. People are right to hold USAG's feet to the fire and demand they stop making terrible decisions. The safety and well being of current and future athletes is MORE IMPORTANT than whether there is a camp next month or if there's a developmental team coordinator. Maybe they need to move away from the semi-centralized system. Maybe they need new, fresh coaches in these key positions. Appointing a child abusing molester defender to be in charge of young girls is NOT OK, no matter how much you may want it to be. USAG has decades and decades of history of putting medals above athlete welfare and it's not going to turn around in one year, based on nothing but wishful thinking.

I have NO doubt that the US will keep turning out amazing elites. The current girls have had basically no camps all year and it certainly doesn't seem to be hurting anyone.

And I won't even pretend that I wouldn't send my kid to camp if she had that talent and those dreams and wanted it. I know myself well enough to know I would send her. But I or an adult I trust would be there for every freaking second, and my DD would know very clearly that I did not trust the USAG people and why. I would be telling her all about MLT's weight obsession and exactly what to do if it EVER came up, etc. But you seem so very willing to pretend that USAG is doing ok and everything will be fine if people just stop pointing out their bad decisions, and that's the dangerous part. Because if you believe it will be OK, then you're usually not on your guard like you should be in the lion's den. I get that all you want is a stable organization for your incredible DD to grow into, because she deserves it. But right now it's still a dumpster fire and pretending its not doesn't help make it stable and safe for the current and future girls.

Very well said, thank you. All very good points. It's hard to be objective and see all sides but I truly am trying.

 

[ladybird]

It's still there, I just checked. But maybe she just made it more private. I'm friends with her on facebook, which is maybe why I can still see her account. Maybe she is blocking certain people, who knows. I wouldn't blame her.

Yeah, it’s still there.