The Aggressive Mentality of Balance Beam

A great gymnast needs mental toughness and great coaches -- but not all coaches are alike. What kind of support do world-class gymnasts really need to excel? Featuring US Olympic gymnast Suni Lee.

0:00 Intro
0:57 Suni Lee’s Story
5:16 Working The Beam
10:19 Kathy Johnson’s Story
14:39 Paradigm Shift
23:43 Times Have Changed
25:55 Pressure & Politics
28:26 Reaching For Gold
33:12 Next Steps

[schrutefarmzz]

And now suni is the backbone of the USA Olympic team. She deserves all of it and more!

[laurabt]

Can't believe Kathy Johnson started when she 12 and still made it to elite and the national team that is INSANE. Even starting gymnastics at age 7 is considered late let alone 12, she must have been very naturally talented.

[anntwin]

Sunisa is such a genuine and sweet person. She is as loving as her family. People don’t know the hardships of the Hmong people. She had the weight of the world on her shoulders going into the olympics and she still went in strong. Congrats Suni! You are amazing!

[yokiyoka]

Katelyn Ohashi is such a great gymnast. Every competition she was in during elite she always looked sad, overworked and under appreciated. The change in her personality and spirit once she joined UCLA was amazing! I'm so glad she got her confidence back😊

[suzanne]

Sunisa's coaches are honestly gems, what amazing people (as is she herself).

[meilinwu]

Suni and Kathy's stories got me bawling like a baby wow

[martinezcallejasjimena]

Sunisa just won a gold medal at the olimpics, such a wonderful girl.

[shantelafia]

Kathy Johnson’s story got me crying with joy and pride for her.

[wiscovirgo]

holy crap...i was sobbing at kathy johnson’s segment/story. she was my mom’s favorite gymnast in high school and now she’s one of mine also, that was beautiful. 🤍 same with suni, i love her and her coaches seem so wonderful.

[ArthurNielsen]

So surreal that Suni was featured here watching Nastia's AA beam routine during the Beijing Olympics. And now, Suni is an Olympic AA champion herself. ❤️🤟💪

[AlexaBellaMuerte]

"We need to also be aware of where that limit is and when to pull back and when to stop and to do no damage" THIS IS IMPORTANT. This is why Simone Biles did what she did.

[crunchybundles]

My daughter, who is now 9, has a dream to be the first Hmong woman's artistic gymnastics Olympian.... Seeing Sunisa has made us so proud! My daughter will not be the first, but she will not be the last either. Sunisa has paved the way!

[coldplaylover]

Sunisa is a treasure. I absolutely ADORE Sunisa IS going to the Olympics, that much I know.

[mercuryfever]

The level of perfection they expect especially on the beam is probably one reason why some of these girls end up with eating disorders. The balance checks I get as far as deductions go but they're requiring these women to do something that their bodies weren't made to do. Which also plays a factor in why the window for their sport is so short. The over exercising and all the stress that is put on your muscles and joints when you're tumbling is something our bodies weren't made to do. I mean the fact that Shawn Johnson for example, didn't even get her first period until she was 17 and doing Dancing With The Stars is just mind blowing to me. How can these people essentially force these girl's bodies into delaying puberty? Looking like Laurie Hernandez and doing gymnastics is not a crime. Just because someone has curves doesn't mean they aren't fit or healthy. It just means they have a different body type.

[ktownsend]

My respect for Kathy and Sunni has just skyrocketed. These ladies are so strong.

[TravisPrattofficial]

When she There's a little girl in me who has wanted this her whole life and I'M NOT LETTING HER DOWN!!!! Took me out....

[moonamigi]

suni just won gold! So happy for her. This is proof that abusive, break-the-athlete-down mentality in coaching is not necessary. Look at how supportive, positive, and thoughtful of suni's state her coaches are compared to the Karolys (the romanian coaches)

[lvega]

I'm glad that they focused quite a bit on Kathy's story. I had heard she started gymnastics at 12 and was in the olympics at 24, but I never saw footage before age 18 or knew details of her story. As a 5 year old girl in L.A. in 1984, the '84 Olympic gymnastics competition has always had a large and special place in my heart. It's why I started gymnastics and am still a fan today.

[piacabanero]

Kathy Johnson-Clarke always astounds me. She's one of my favorite gymnasts not just because of her talent, but her dedication to the sport speaks volumes. Not gonna lie, she made me feel for her when she recounted her struggles on the beam and then her triumph never fails to make me go in awe of her.

I suggest that you find her other interviews through the years. She has *a lot* of insights on many things and you'll not get bored of her storytelling.

[mayarose]

Olga Korbut just sparkles in her interviews