Olympic Gymnast Shawn Johnson Weighs In On Body Image
May 16, 2012 by admin
Filed under Gymnastics, Olympics, PRETTY, Pretty Healthy
Athletes are not immune to having negative body image concerns or being vulnerable to bodysnarking. Twenty-year-old Shawn Johnson has a highly decorated career as a gymnast. She won three silver medals and one gold at the 2008 Olympic Games and is making a run at the 2012 Olympics. And she’s weighing in on her recent weight loss.
In gymnastics, where body frame matters, Johnson was always cast against type. Her 4-9 frame was more fireplug than sprite and comparisons to the taller, leaner Nastia Liukin were inevitable.
This week, Johnson is making headlines not so much for her stellar athletic ability, but for losing 25 pounds. At the Olympic Media Summit in Dallas on Monday, the gymnast shared her weight loss story. In a sport where struggles with anorexia and bulimia aren’t unusual, Johnson’s message about body image resonates.
After three years away from international competition, Johnson had packed on a few pounds. She said people were accustomed to seeing her with 6% total body fat, not look like a normal chocolate cake, ice-cream eating teenager. “At my heaviest all the tabloids said some pretty hurtful things,” said Johnson, who lost the weight launching an Olympic comeback.
USATODAY spoke to Johnson at the Media Summit and she said “I was always on top. I wasn’t used to being the critic’s choice.” The experience made her more resilient, teaching her “how to stay strong when other people don’t want you to (succeed).”
She went on to say,”I was at the Olympic Games winning medals and I still doubted my image. I doubted what I looked like. That’s sad. Girls should be taught different than that. I think everyone should be taught different than that.”
Thanks for speaking out Shawn – a gold medal for promoting healthy body image!
Teen Golf Pro Scores Prom Date on Facebook
May 15, 2012 by amo
Filed under Golf, Pretty Awesome, Pretty Hot, Pretty Smart
Spending hours every day on the driving range and the rest of your time traveling the world with the LPGA doesn’t leave a girl a lot of time to score a prom date.
Seventeen-year-old Lexi Thompson, a card-carrying member of the LPGA, posted a video on her Facebook page last month asking for a date to take her to the prom on May 18. But not just any guy could make the cut. She was looking for a man in uniform. “For my date, I’m looking for somebody special and somebody who I respect, and that’s why I’m choosing a guy from the service,” the golfer said on the video.
In addition to military service, guys must be between 18-20 years old. Though not a requirement, her Facebook page says it’s a plus if the guy is 6 feet tall or more since she’ll be trading in her golf spikes for heels.
The winner will be flown to Fort Lauderdale, FL this weekend all expenses paid. So, professional athlete for a date? Check. Free trip? Check. Where do you sign up? Well the contest is now closed but fans helped Thompson choose the winner. On her Twitter timeline, Thompson wrote “I’m humbled by the responses. Each story was inspiring & you are all American Heroes in my mind.” So – who did she pick? Drum roll, please.
I have decided to go to prom with USMC wounded warrior and Purple Heart recipient Lance Corporal Mark Scott from Naperville, IL. Mark’s story was simply amazing!
Thompson became the youngest winner in LPGA history when she won the Navistar LPGA Classic last September at only 16 years old. Two weeks later, the tour approved her petition to join full time, waiving its policy that members be at least 18 years old.
All the career stuff takes a backseat, however, as Thompson preps for her big night. Again, the busy teen looks to social media for help. Fans can create an inspiration board on Pinterest with their favorite prom styles and even win a bag of designer goodies (deadline is 11:59 EDT May 16, 2001). For updates or to ask questions, follow Thompson on Twitter @Lexi and follow #Lexiprom
Pretty cool, huh? Have fun, Lexi!
U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame’s Class of 2012
May 14, 2012 by admin
Filed under Awards, Olympics, Pretty Awesome, Soccer, Softball, Swim, Track & Field
The fans have spoken! Congratulations Gail Devers (track & field), Jean Driscoll (paralympic track & field), Gary Hall, Jr., Lisa Fernandez (softball), Kristine Lilly (soccer), Dan O’Brien, Jenny Thompson (swimming), the 2004 U.S. Olympic Women’s Softball Team, Ed Temple, James Connolly and Ted Stevens. All were recognized today as the USOC and Allstate Insurance unveiled the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame’s Class of 2012.
The Class of 2012 is the 15th class to be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and will bring the total membership to 96 Olympians, five Paralympians, 10 teams, four coaches, 10 veterans, 16 contributors and two Olive Branch award inductees.
“I am completely overwhelmed by this honor,” said Lisa Fernandez, a three-time Olympic gold medalist. “I never thought that playing the game of softball that I love so much would allow me to reach this level of accomplishment. This is bigger than anything I have dreamed of. What we have been able to achieve as a sport is incredible, and there is no greater honor than being inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.”
HOF Inductee Kristine Lilly
HOF Inductee Gail Devers
HOF Inductee Jenny Thompson
The announcement, bios and videos can be seen here: http://www2.teamusa.org/
Baseball Team Forfeits Championship Rather Than Play Against a Girl
Remember last year when a male high school wrestler forfeited a round in the state championships rather than wrestle a girl? This time it’s a high school baseball team in Phoenix forfeiting the championship because their opponent’s second baseman is a girl. In both cases, religious beliefs were cited as the reason.
Who is at the center of this latest controversy? Freshman Paige Sultzbach, who played softball and volleyball in junior high, tried out for the Mesa Preparatory Academy baseball team because there wasn’t a varsity softball team. She’s a talented player but isn’t bigger, better or more intimidating than any of her teammates. In fact she’s pretty much an average 15-year-old girl.
The Arizona Charter Athletic Association state championship baseball game was scheduled to be played Thursday night between Mesa Prep and Our Lady of Sorrows Academy. But Our Lady of Sorrows said its boys would not compete against a team with a girl and forfeited the game – and the state title – to Mesa Prep.
“As a Catholic school, we promote the ideal of forming and educating boys and girls separately during the adolescent years, especially in physical education,” Our Lady of Sorrows said in a statement, according to CNN affiliate KTVK.
“Teaching our boys to treat ladies with deference, we choose not to place them in an athletic competition where proper boundaries can only be respected with difficulty,” the statement continued. “Our school aims to instill in our boys a profound respect for women and girls.”
Our Lady of Sorrows is run by the U.S. branch of the Society of Saint Pius X which claims to run 88 schools worldwide. The group represents conservative, traditional priests who broke from the Catholic Church in the 1980s. According to a spokesman, the school is not part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix and Pope Benedict XVI has declared that the society has no canonical status.
Sultzbach’s mother, Pamela Sultzbach, believes her daughter and the Mesa Prep Monsoons were done a disservice.
“This is not a contact sport. It shouldn’t be an issue. It wasn’t that they were afraid they were going to hurt or injure her, it’s that (they believe) that a girl’s place is not on a field,” Pamela Sultzbach told the Arizona Republic.
“I respect their views, but it’s a bit out of the 18th century,” Amy Arnold, Mesa Prep’s athletic director, told the Republic.
Even the 18th century was more tolerant than Our Lady of Sorrows. If their adolescent boys don’t know the difference between playing sports and hooking up, maybe their educational methods should be revisited.
The Mary Sue writes: “It’s almost sounds like telling women to cover up so men don’t grope them. No, just don’t grope them. Same thing here – just play sports.”
Mesa Prep and Our Lady of Sorrows played twice during the regular season, but Sultzbach sat out, as they were away games and she felt a need to respect the rules of the home team. The final, however, was scheduled at Phoenix College on a neutral field and Sultzbach wanted to play.
Despite being hailed as state champions, Pamela Sultzbach believes Mesa Prep missed something.
“This team has worked so hard,” she said. “They’re undefeated. They had one game left. At our school, we’re taught that when you start something, you complete it, and they weren’t done.”
Nancy Hogshead-Makar, senior director of advocacy for the Women’s Sports Foundation, said the school’s decision to forfeit doesn’t aid its own students.
“In real life, these boys are going to be competing against the girls for jobs, for positions in graduate programs or in trade schools,” Hogshead-Makar said. “In every other area of their life, they are going to be competing side by side.”
What do you think? Were the boys right to forfeit?
Granny Tries Out for Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
May 8, 2012 by admin
Filed under Cheer, Pretty Awesome
Fifty-five year-old grandmother of two Sharon Simmons has some serious swag. Plus, she’s a prime example that you’re never too old to go after your dreams. Simmons almost tried out for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders 33 years ago but was sidetracked by motherhood and other responsibilities. Rather than pack the lifelong dream away for good, she thought “why not now?”
Last Saturday, Simmons showed up with hundreds of other (mostly younger) hopefuls wearing a midriff-bearing top, ready to cheer her heart out for the Dallas Cowboys. If she makes the squad she will 56 at the start of the 2012 football season and the oldest NFL cheerleader in history. The previous cheerleader to hold the “oldest” title was 43-year-old Laura Vikmanis of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Simmons, however, isn’t your average granny sitting at home knitting socks and baking pies. She works in commercial real estate, is an author, an actress and fitness competitor who entered her first fitness contest at the age of 50. She has already won nine of the 20 competitions she has entered (which explains why she rocks such a mean six-pack at age 55.) To help compete in the audition, Yahoo Sports reports that Simmons hired a former Cowboys cheerleader to help her get ready for the tryouts at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Auditions are ongoing and no word yet on whether Simmons made the squad, but the Cowboys should seriously think about hiring her. She’s an inspiration to all and a great reminder that as long as you believe in yourself, you’re never too old to go after what you want.
Hearing the story of Simmons’ journey made me realize there are probably dreams I’ve stored away that can be revisited. What about you? Any dreams you’ve been putting off? Do you think she’s too old to go after her dreams?
@jschonb
dare to dream
Also online at prettytough.com and womentalksports.com
Gymnast Shawn Johnson’s Mom on Raising an Olympian
May 8, 2012 by admin
Filed under Gymnastics, London Summer Games 2012, Olympics
In this P&G produced segment, Shawn’s mom, Teri, talks about everything from keeping a balance to not being “THAT MOM” – you know the pushy one who thinks their child is the next Olympian. A bonus is seeing Shawn and her mom watch footage of her as a little gymnast – even at five you could tell she had a bright future.
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Jordyn Wieber Wins All-Around Gold at Worlds
Get Ready for Kentucky Derby Day 2012
May 4, 2012 by admin
Filed under Equestrian, Events, General, Horse Racing, Pretty Chic, Pretty Entertaining
Fun Fact: Secretariat holds the Derby record, finishing the 1 1/4 mile in 1 minute & 59 secs. The fastest human can run that in in 4 mins & 50 secs.
If you’re looking for an occasion to don your favorite hat and celebrate this weekend, the countdown is on for the biggest day in horse racing of the year.
Steeped in tradition and history, the 138th Kentucky Derby takes place Saturday, May 5, marking the first leg of the annual Triple Crown. Every year, the Churchill Downs race track plays host to horses, celebs, big hats and boozy concoctions for those over 21. The race, known as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” is also called “The Run for the Roses” for the lush blanket of red roses draped over the winner.
About 14.5 million people watched the race in 2011, and 51 percent of them were women. The Derby is “the only annual sporting event that draws more female than male viewers,” NBC Sports reported last year. (Although I think NBC says the same thing about the Olympics).
Past Derby winners such as Secretariat and Barbaro have storied pasts. This year’s top contenders include Dullahan, Union Rags and I’ll Have Another. Alas, there are no fillies running (but there is the annual all filly race at Kentucky Oaks). Make sure to pick up some racing form guides so you can assess each horse’s chances. It’s more fun if you read up on the jockeys and their colorfully named equestrian counterparts in advance of the big day.
Women at the Race Track:
Lots of women look great in elegant hats and pastel linens at the Kentucky Derby. But besides making a fashion statement, women have also played an active role in Kentucky Derby history since the turn of the century.
According the Derby website, in 1904, Mrs. Laska Durnell nominated Elwood to the Kentucky Derby, unbeknownst to her husband, trainer Charles Durnell. The decision was a shrewd one and Elwood became the first starter and winner owned by a woman.
By the 1940s, women owners in the Derby were almost commonplace. In 1942, seven of the first eight finishers in the Kentucky Derby were owned by women.
Besides the role of owner, a total of 14 women trainers have sent starters postward in the Kentucky Derby, most recently Kathy Ritvo and Kathleen O’Connell in 2011. To date, six women have ridden in the famed “Run for the Roses”: Diane Crump, Patti Cooksey, Andrea Seefeldt, Julie Krone, Rosemary Homeister and Rose Napravnik. In 2012, Napravnik is riding Believe You Can in the Kentucky Oaks – as the only female jockey in the race.
Derby Day: A lot of people don’t realize that Derby Day is really no different from any other race day at Churchill Downs, except for the fact that one of the races in the regular schedule is the most watched, and most wagered on horse race in the world. There are 10 races being run before the Kentucky Derby race is ran, and two more races take place after the Derby.
Costume: It’s all about hat-a-tude. Tradition dictates that hats are worn – and Derby hats are usually of the very large and fancy variety. The spectacular fashion often seen at the Derby is not solely a product of modern times; rather, opulent dress has played a large role in the history of the Kentucky Derby. What Colonel M. Lewis Clark Jr., (the founding father of the Kentucky Derby), envisioned was a racing environment that would feel comfortable and luxurious, an event that would remind people of European horse racing. Today, the Kentucky Derby is a chance for every female to express her inner Southern Belle. A distinct flavor of Southern style lends an air of authenticity and if you’re in doubt what to wear, Southern Living has a guide to traditional attire for aspiring Derby dames.
Details: Covering one and one-quarter miles, the race is run the first Saturday of May. Post time is 6:24 p.m. and the forecast in Louisville calls for temperatures in the mid-60s. The official Derby app lets you read up on the pedigree of your favorite horse, use the bet calculator to tinker around with your wager, and check the schedule so you don’t miss any coverage leading up to the race itself.
The Dark Side: Most spectators are drawn into the romance and human interest of horse racing but it’s important to also be clear-eyed about the drawbacks of the sport. For years, detractors have been complaining about how inhumane horse racing can be. A HBO show about horse racing called Luck aired in 2011-12 but was cancelled when too many horses (three) died during production. Then the New York Times ran an investigative series about racing culture and horse fatalities. Several years ago, Eight Belles, a filly favored to win, died running the Kentucky Derby.
Side Note: There has also been a fair amount of outrage the last couple of years when race horses Zenyetta and Rachel Alexandra were named among AP’s Female Athletes of the Year. While mares and fillies rarely get the same attention as their male counterparts, it is hard to believe there weren’t actual “athletes” worthy of the honor. Still, any time a sport is turned upside down by a female, especially when most say it can’t be done, it helps women everywhere.
Will you be watching?
@jschonb
dare to dream
May is National Bike Month
May 3, 2012 by jane
Filed under Cycling, Eco/Green Living, Events, gear
National Bike Month is probably not an event Hallmark bothers with. For those of us that are cyclists, that’s too bad! If oil prices continue to climb, however, every month might become Bike Month.
Despite what temperatures may indicate (we’re having a heat wave in Los Angeles and it snowed last week in upstate New York), spring really is on its way! With the start of National Bike Month we thought we’d bring you some new cycling accessories to get you and your family ready for two-wheel transportation:
National Bike Month Notes:
- May 14 – 18, 2012 is officially “Bike to Work Week” and Friday, the 18th is the 18th annual “Bike to Work Day.”
- The inaugural Bike to School Day is May 9, 2012. Learn more, register or find an event in your area here.
- Sadly, there is also an official “Ride of Silence” to honor fallen cyclists–which is also a nationwide observance on May 18. Join cyclists worldwide in a silent slow-paced ride in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.
- The League of American Bicyclists promotes awareness of National Bike Month by offering “50 ways to celebrate bike month.”
Cool Bike Accessories and Other Cycling Stuff
With all the attention on healthy lifestyles and the importance of exercise–Bike Month might be just what we all need to get in shape and save gas money at the same time.
One cool take on promoting cycling is the Bike Valet in Santa Monica offering free valet-style parking of bicycles at the Sunday Main Street Farmer’s Market, Pier Twilight Dance Series and other public events throughout the City. Residents and visitors ride their bicycles to events, give their bicycle to a bike valet attendant and receive a claim check for their bicycle. The bicycles are then parked in the valet area and monitored by attendants. When a customer is ready to claim their bicycle, the bike valet takes the claim check and retrieves the bicycle.
Also in uber-hip Santa Monica is Bike Main Street every Friday night. Visit Main Street merchants on your bicycle and park it for free with the Bike Valet from 5:00 p.m. to Midnight (bike Valet located on the east side of Main Street between Ashland and Pier Avenue). Gotta love LA.
Ride on.
Making Waves (Pretty Tough Book #5) On Sale TODAY!
April 26, 2012 by admin
Filed under Book Club, General, High School Athletics, Pretty Sporty, Student-Athlete, Swim
It’s summer break for the girls at Beachwood Academy and that means sun, surf, and sensational escapades at the Beachwood Country Club. Abby, a rising sophomore, is so excited to have gotten a last-minute gig as a lifeguard, especially because jobs are usually reserved for club members.
Abby desperately wants to win the annual lifeguarding competition, and with it a college scholarship. But when she arrives for her first day on the job, she finds herself face-to-face with some serious club member attitude. And there’s an even bigger surprise waiting for her: the gorge senior boy she’s been pining over ever since they met at a swimming competition earlier this year.
Can Abby break through the rules, regs, and mean girls to be the first-ever non-club member to win the summertime lifeguarding competition and maybe even the boy of her dreams?
* ISBN-13: 9781595144157
* Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
* Publication date: 4/26/2012
* Pages: 288
Powerful Women: Stay Inspired
April 23, 2012 by admin
Filed under Track & Field
Hope you all are having a great spring season! Powerful Women Athletes wants to let you know that their interview series of eight Olympians and Olympic hopefuls from earlier this year are posted online at:
You can listen to discuss thrower Aretha Thurmond’s interview right now for free!
And for a donation, download the interviews you missed or would like to hear. Coach Christina will email you the link right away. These are invaluable insights from our country’s greatest athletes about what kind of attitudes and habits make for great performances!
Who do you know that would like to spend eight hours learning from the best of the best?
We want to get the word out to as many aspiring Olympians as possible, so please forward this info and spread the word!
Stay inspired,
Coach Christina
