Take the time to really try to understand what she is saying in her peace rather than be so quick to lash out and criticize her for having the courage to speak. Being argumentative and critical are traits of lazy, insecure humans.

If your first reaction is anger at something she says, it is because you are recognizing something within yourself. Sit quietly with that thought for a while and explore why you are so angry. You might learn something about yourself. That is why pieces like this are so powerful, they help us grow--if we let them.

First, since this is resume time, I swam at a national level---sacrificed summers, spent hours a day, etc., was physically gifted, had parents who drove me all over, and had a high tolerance for pain.

What held me back despite 12 years of 4 hours a day in the pool? Competition--I didn't give a hoot about winning. My self esteem might be boosted by my strength and trophies, but it was immune to losing. When I lost, did I mourn like the french mens 400m freestyle relay team? No, I congratulated the winners, commiserated with the losers, and hopped out of the pool. Of course, I felt a tinge. Winning is better. But I never lost sleep over it, or even a moment of day-light anxiety.

Elite athletes share a deep competitive drive. They need to win. Many people are competive but lack the talent. Many have the talent but lack the desire. Olympic level athletes have both in spades--they just aren't like the rest of us.

Case in point, Jennifer Sey. Her glory days are long gone, yet she still has to compete. So, she wins at the Olympic arm-chair Olympics. And as is my way, I don't give a hoot.

...for an opportunity to regale Ms. Sey with tales of my high school 6-weeks-long gymnastics "module" in Gym class! O, how I could "skin-the-cat" on the rings!

But the problem with this rant is that the same point could have been communicated with humor and grace, instead of bitterness and hatred.

Yes, hatred. I'm not sure how else to interpret, "I hate fans." Pretty clear, that statement.

And the example given about the mother who mentioned competing in the 400-meter freestyle -- this comment wasn't even directed to Ms. Sey. It was made by a mother to a daughter. Can you imagine! A mother and daughter bonding over a sporting event that the mother had once competed in. The fact that Ms. Sey has to make it about her is pretty much one of the textbook signs of narcissism.

And after reading some of the snarky comments of other athletes in the letters section, all I can say is you people need to get over yourself in a big way. Your accomplishments, as grand as they may be, haven't really done anything to benefit humanity.

This has really left a bad taste in my mouth. So much so that I don't even want to watch any more of the Olympics.

Take the time to really try to understand what she is saying in her peace rather than be so quick to lash out and criticize her for having the courage to speak. Being argumentative and critical are traits of lazy, insecure humans.

Courage my ass. Her entire piece was angry and critical. I'm more than entitled to be angry and critical right back.

If your first reaction is anger at something she says, it is because you are recognizing something within yourself. Sit quietly with that thought for a while and explore why you are so angry. You might learn something about yourself. That is why pieces like this are so powerful, they help us grow--if we let them.

As a former manager once said to me during my annual review, I am "nothing if not self-aware". Be at peace, Inanna, I know very well who I am, for good and for ill. I am quite comfortable with the disgust that I feel for Miss Sey and her sneering condescension towards anyone who has participated in sports at an amateur level. How dare she open her mouth and tell them that they never actually "did" the sport because they didn't compete at an elite level. Since when does one have to be an elite athlete to be considered someone who plays any sport? I didn't realize there were such strict rules.

I did gymnastics -- hells yeah I did -- when I was small. I competed. I wasn't very good but I did it and I have a few ribbons (one is even a second-place!) and there were moments that I still recall, when I got something exactly right, when I hit the bar at exactly the right speed and location on my hip, where the laws of physics just took over and I didn't even have to think about what I needed to do next, my body just *did it*. I remember my first back handspring without a spot, I remember being able to do walkovers like I was, well, walking. I remember when I did a back walkover on the beam, I remember "graduating" to front handsprings in Class IV comps (quit before I got to Class III, but I was starting to learn those compulsories). I probably even still have the team leotards that we used to wear, in a box somewhere, in my dad's attic.

And here comes Miss Sey who looks on me with contempt because I look at the Olympic gymnasts and remember what it felt like to be on the bars, or to do a long tumbling run on floor, and think about how I use to do gymnastics when I was little. You bet your left tit I used to do gymnastics, and she can go fuck herself if she ever tries to tell me that I didn't. Elite? Hell no. Someone who was a gymnast when she was little? Yes ma'am, and she's got some fat fucking nerve to tell me I wasn't.

And the example given about the mother who mentioned competing in the 400-meter freestyle -- this comment wasn't even directed to Ms. Sey. It was made by a mother to a daughter. Can you imagine! A mother and daughter bonding over a sporting event that the mother had once competed in.

That one comment of hers upset me the most. I always love hearing stories of things that my parents did when they were young that show me a side of them I'd never imagined. That moment reminded me of when my mother told me she was the captain of her cheerleading squad, or when I saw a newspaper photo of my dad playing guitar in a folk band when he was in high school, and an accompanying article talking about a gig they'd played. That one comment sounded just like that, this little girl now has a story of her mother that shows that Mommy isn't just "Mommy" but is a grown up woman who was once a teenager, and once was on a swim team, and went to meets, and had all the attendant highs and lows of being a high school athlete, and here is Miss Sey coming along to piss all over it. What a bitch.