To think children in elite sport isn't common?

[raindances]

Was having this debate with a friend earlier.

DS is 4.5 and just starting sports clubs.

I was telling my friend about this and somehow we got onto the topic of elite sport (e.g. high level gymnastic for their age, goals of olympics or similar).

She said that "loads" of kids do sport at an elite level and that "most" are abused?!

She thinks it's unfair on the children.

I don't think I've ever come across a child in elite sport and think it's only a few that actually get to such a level?

I'm not sure at what point it moves from just competitive to elite.

And I would say that 50% of child gymnasts are put forward for “the Elite squad” in their club, and all that means is “parents, you need to pay for five classes a week not one”). It doesn’t mean the child will ever compete, regionally or nationally.

Hmm, this isn’t my experience at all. The gymnastics clubs I know have massive recreational sections which would be the 1 class per week lot. A very small % of kids get invited into development programs firstly which would be 2 classes per week. If they do well in competitions - and they will almost certainly compete - then their training load will start to increase.

I have an old work colleague whose son used to compete in elite trampolining.
He was on the mens GB team and qualified for the Beijing Olympics until he had a really serious injury and basically lost his career. He was only 19.
He a coach these days but he was devastated when it happened.

My own DC also did trampoline but just recreationally, they did some club competitions but nothing major.