This is the first time that I have read an article in this forum and felt the urge to respond...

I swim in a different pool, and I know that what I do, making textures and 3d modeling, I do well. I am very good, but not the best....the concept of "BEST" will always be subjective, or we would only ever have one sports team.

It pains me to see a badly textured object. However, I take the time to appreciate that someone put effort into their model & render. Rather than assume that everyone who buys a computer and downloads some free software considers him/herself and artist, I assume that someone has made and effort to stimulate their mind, to better themselves. I also know that there are a lot of people with a lot more technical skill than myself. I truly hope that they don't look on me as you look on casual competitors.

You sound like a person who is dealing with a lot of pain and anger. You sound traumatized. Please understand that what happened to you was awful and you have a right to feel angry about it. However, you are projecting that anger onto others. Be angry with the people who hurt you. Making little girls compete like show ponies is abusive.

If you give a little encouragement to the people who tell you that they once competed, you may find that you are able to connect with them. Let other people feel good about themselves and you may find that you will begin to feel good about yourself.

So at least we can give Sey some credit for self-awareness.

But what I really want to say to her is, yes, Jennifer, we armchair sports fans do realize that what Olympians do is not the same as what we did in high school or do on the weekends. That's why we watch the Olympics - it's impressive. I suggest you work out your issues with your parents and stop taking out your horrible childhood on your friends and co-workers. 'Cuz you still got some issues there.

Wow, way to lay bare the bitterness of growing up as a competitive athlete. It's not going to be easy for me to enjoy watching the rest of the Olympics now.

First Sey ripped the advertisers, now she's dissing the fans. Definitely got the hand that feeds you dialed in.

Since we unathletic masses, and the businesses that we patronize for our humble burgers and beer, aren't worthy of the Olympics, maybe we should just stop televizing them at all...

Not only do I hate fans, I hate sports and athletes, too... total waste of time and energy.

Some years ago, I did quite a bit of running. I never won a race, or even became competitive for that matter, but I did finish a marathon. Today, as I struggle to drag myself to the gym three days a week, I find am even more in awe of competitive runners than I would have been had I never ran a race myself. I can only imagine the regimen, both physical and mental, that it would take to compete in that world.

Similarly, I look at books much differently since I tried to write a novel. I doubt my book will ever see the light of day, but it certainly changed how I look at books. Now, whenever I pick up a book in the bookstore I see a real person laboring countless hours over it, composing, rewriting, editing. Now I see the blood on the pages.

So you see, Jennifer, not all of us condescend to professional athletes (or writers either). Most of us are, however, a bit narcissistic at times so maybe the people who you believe are introducing themselves to you as fellow gymnasts are just trying to connect with you...just sayin'.

Sorry if I am not good enough to watch the Games with you. I enjoy watching the swimming with my husband and son, both high school swimmers. Neither of them will ever be an Olympian, but participating on a swim team is no day at the beach. How many non-professionals do a 3 hr practice 6 days a week?

Another thing: who's gonna watch these incredibly gifted athletes if not the people who maybe had a dream for themselves some long time ago? Do we have to watch in silent worshipful awe? I'm surprised you allow the officials to officiate; most of them never took part in their sport to the degree that you have.

People who joined a team in grade school or high school can get to the top of their heap, sometimes at the state level, sometimes at Nationals. Chances are, if you talk to them, they know their chances at Olympic medals is nil. You're the best wrestler in your county, you go up against ten best wrestlers at the state level. There is always someone who is better, tougher, more focused. Learning that can be freeing; you see that just about everyone winds up the loser at times.

My kid is a decent swimmer, but he would never want to miss all the other stuff he does to be in year-round training. How much better could he get? It's fun to imagine, for a minute or two, but it's crystal clear he'll never be Michael Phelps or even an alternate on a top team. Still, he understands the discipline, and the mental toughness, and the thrill of winning and the deep pain of letting down your team.

In your perfect world, I have no business watching someone swimming "the freestyle" in your presence. You can shove it if you think my kid can't watch and have at least some understanding of what it takes for the swimmers who make it to the Olympic level and appreciate it for that.

You sound a little bitter.

Well, you're right about being jerky.

Now that you're a "writer", or at least the writing equivalent of the amature athletes you look down on, will you also hate your readers? Those fans certainly are awful. If only they'd go away then you could be a professional athlete in private. Of course, there'd be no money. Then it'd be an obsessive hobby, not a sport.

Then again, it probably would have been better for you not to have undergone the child abuse you descrbe in your article that your parents managed to pass off as "gymnastics".

And now you say you've written a book!

No you didn't.

You put together a bunch of words and had someone edit the hell out of them. Writing a book entails research, thought, self-editing and long hours of solitude.

You had a therapy session on paper.

Lets go back to King Kaufman's Sports Daily and get rid of the guest "writers" who are smiply too good for us.