2012 Olympic Games

[Zalis]

That Canada/USA game for the Women's semi-finals (or whatever determines who goes to the gold medal match) was pretty good. We won it with a few minutes to spare, else it would've been decided with penalty kicks.

[Ringsgold]

Gymnastics is pretty cool, first I was like, meh, but damn they pull some crazy **** on that bar. I'm guessing 16.533 will be enough for another dutch gold medal, hurray :)

[RD]

The stuff those gymnasts do is crazy. I feel really bad for the ones (especially the little kids!) who don't stick their landing or something and lose because of one little mistake, in spite of all their hard work for the last four+ years

[Raye]

The work is generally more than just 4 years. Afaik, female gymnasts peak at 15-17 which means they have to start at around 4 or 5. I mean I started ballet training at 6, and stopped 10 years later without really reaching any kind of professional proficiency. Moreover,Gymnastics is significantly harder than ballet.

I think male gymnasts peak at 21 or so, I'm not sure.

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[RD]

The training becomes different, though, no? One of my little cousins has been doing gymnasts her whole life, she's REALLY good - wins first or second place in most, if not all, of the competitions she is in (including "All Around"). She's talented enough to be in the Olympics, providing she were to move away and train full time. That's what I mean, the intensive training. Because up until that point, it's probably more an enjoyable hobby for them, until they get their little spirits crushed and it becomes work :) It's like learning to play an instrument / practicing v. prepping for a show.

[Raye]

I don't know. Had you asked me when I was 16 I would have gladly been a professional ballet dancer for the rest of my life. I was willing to make it my full life. But you know, its kind of hard to eat when you dance for a living. The training only becomes different in that you slowly start doing more complex things. Laying the foundation is the most important part and has to happen very very early in life. I'd say it's up to her to decide if she wants to pursue that path =)

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[RD]

I was determined to make singing my career up until last year. Then I got a job that I didn't hate going to every day and I realized that having health insurance, a retirement plan, and a livable wage are grossly underrated. All my friends who play music for a living struggle to pay their rent and one of them told me she actually has to plan for a month if she wants to buy the fancier shampoo. No thanks.

[Raye]

Agreed there. I don't have the most awesome job ever, but I love that I can go "oh I want that" and usually just be able to get it. I spend my free time doing things I like just the same. I just can afford to buy a nice headset if I so wish.

With all of that tho, gymnastics is an expensive sport to do professionally. Like the parental unit has to be really invested morally and financially right from the start. And after they peak, they suddenly have to figure out what they're gonna do with the rest of their lives.

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[RD]

I know, it's nuts. I was talking to my cousin (father of the girl I mentioned before) and he was like "If you think about it, in gymnastics, you only really get one shot at the Olympics, because by the time they come around next, it's been four years and you might be too old to compete with the younger girls."

Like you were saying about peaking, sort of similar in music. I never wanted to be famous (rich I'd take lol but it wasn't my goal); if I could make $50K a year with music, I'd be happy. But I thought "If I figure out a way to do it, then I have to figure out a way to KEEP doing it every year for the rest of my life." Even with teaching, you always have to be looking for new students / classes to teach. And even then, your wallet is at the mercy of your students; they go away for the summer? There goes your rent.

[Raye]

Yeah, that's generally a problem with freelancing. Yay for consistent employment.

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