I don't think Shawn Johnson was ever fat and I don't remember anyone ever saying she was fat. She says though that when she stopped competing internationally as a gymnast three years ago and started putting on weight that people said lots of hurtful things to her. What she should have told them was to f**k off. What she did instead though was bow down to the peer pressure and lose 25 pounds. I'm hoping that the weight loss is because she was training again to try and make the Olympic team and not because of what some idiot might have said on some website or message board somewhere in the world. I think she looks great on the left (2010) or the right (3 weeks ago). If you feel good about yourself then that is all that matters and not what everyone else says. Everyone else can suck it because it is you who are living with yourself and your body and if you feel good, then you look good.
The only problem I see when you gain weight is health. That would be the reason to lose weight.
ReplyDeleteGiven her height (or lack of) 25 pounds is a major weight loss.
ReplyDeleteI remember when she was on Dancing with the stars, and she was ridiculed all over the blogs for being "fat". Compared to the other dancers, she was obviously bigger, but she never looked overweight. I follow a few skating/gymnastic blogs and they were always ripping on her too. How realistic is it to stay at your Olympic performance weight?!
ReplyDeletePeople who follow gymnastics closely have called her fat for years. By comparison she was a stocky gymnast. She's only 4'9". I think it's difficult for a grown woman to be that short when they aren't very small-boned.
ReplyDeleteI thought she always looked good and healthy.
My personal feeling is that if you are a medalled Olympic athlete, then that gets you the occasional pass on donut runs.
ReplyDeleteShe looks healthy in either picture. Never considered this girl overweight or unhealthy. Haters can go fuck themselves.
She looks strong not skinny ....small girls (I know this personally) need to be careful not to go up and down...it's just not healthy.
ReplyDeleteI often think that gymnasts have stocky bodies that distorts their weight. All that muscle! IMO gymnasts tend to be rather square - strong shoulders, strong thighs. It's absolutely not fat, yet their bodies don't fit the "mainstream" view of women's bodies. To which the gymnasts should say "Fuck 'em!" I only WISH I could perform some of their feats!
ReplyDeleteno matter what a woman has accomplished, only 3 things will be discussed at the end of the day. i call it the "Enough List"; 1) her weight (is she thin enough?), 2) if she was enough of a lady vs. was she a "slut", (had a sex tape, lots of partners, had an affair), & 3) how attractive she was. this would include having boobs that are not "big enough", not being beautiful enough, and dressing well enough.
ReplyDeletelook at the big to-do over hillery clinton sans makeup. 3 things folks, thats it.
It's sad we live in a society where an Olympic athlete is called "fat", just because she isn't a rail-thin anorexic.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think she looks great in the photo on the left. Anyone who thinks she looks fat in that pic needs to spend some time on that People of Walmart site. Then, they'll know what a fat person really looks like.
That gymnastic community is a catty ass world. That being said, I really don't see much of a difference between the two photos. I think she looks better on the left.
ReplyDelete@nola - just coming here to say the same thing - I can't see much difference between the two pics!
ReplyDeleteIt must be hard not to gain weight when you're that short. She is beautiful in both pics.
ReplyDeleteMary Lou Retton got the same grief about being "fat" when she wasn't. Another thing that might make them look larger is that they tend to have broad shoulders, which makes women look bigger than they really are (said she of the linebacker shoulders).
I can't see the difference too. The horizontal line widens her a bit, but I don't see 25 extra pounds on the left
ReplyDeletegood lord! she is solid muscle!
ReplyDeletetiny people in hollywood and regular people elsewhere will go their whole lives without being as healthy as she is- even for a single day.
besides, once you arent eating and exercising for the olympics- ie. training at altitude, eating only steamed veggies and lean lean protein- you will gain weight. PLUS she is older.
weight just sits differently at 25 than it did at 20. even if you weigh exactly the same. people used to tell me that and i didnt believe them- i thought it was an excuse. its not. :)
If she's happy, healthy, and doesn't interferre with her goals of going back to the Olympics in '12, then it shouldn't matter.
ReplyDeleteWishing her the best on making the team after healing from injuries. Love having an Iowan to root for!
It's so easy being mean online. Really brings out the worst in some people, especially when it's about women. Why should we all be cast from the same mould? That would be so boring!
ReplyDeleteShe looks fine in the 'before' picture, she looks healthy and it suits her. Sure wish I was that "fat"....
@Me- LOVE your comment girl ;-))
ReplyDeleteAnd she totally looks smaller in the right pic-how can ya'll not see that?
Her head is doing that lollipop thing.
Also, what's up with the Snooki-tan? It's like everybody (guys/girls) immediately begin tanning when they lose weight. weird
That sucks. She looked great before - like an athelete should - see Serena Williams. So many people Inthe public eye that are much too much skinny, have to give up their face. Princess Catherine, Giuliana Rancic, and leann rhimes come to mind. Damn they have some wrinkles and severity to their facial features, but they can fit in a sample size! I hope she doesn't lose anymore weight.
ReplyDeleteAlso don't gymnasts who are at training weight stop their menstrual cycle? The moment that comes back, they're going to gain some weight and curves.
ReplyDeleteI don't really see the difference between the two pictures either. At least in the second picture it still looks like she has some muscle tone. Her legs look slim, but she hasn't ventured into toothpick territory.
ReplyDelete@Me - Great comment! It's sad, but so true. I hope that will change in our lifetime.
I hate people. They're so cruel. this girl has done far more in her few years on this earth than any of these people criticizing her. She's not or was ever fat. Fat is someone who was on Biggest Loser. That's fat. This girl is full figured and stocky. She's a muscular athlete and extremely attractive. I don't see a single ounce of fat on her. She still looks healthy 25 lbs later, but I honestly don't see much of a difference.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely not the same Enty. He would never have said they can "suck it". I find that crude and vulgar, and I've never found this site to be either of those things.
ReplyDeleteShe has never been fat. She is very muscular and has an athletic body compared to most women. I am sad that people would ridicule her for being fat. :(
ReplyDeleteSoooo the people that run these gymnastics blogs (and the assholes making the fat comments on there), how many Olympic medals do they have?
ReplyDeleteyou're a nice guy, Enty ;)
ReplyDeletePoor girl. As someone speaking who's shorter than 5 foot, there's only so many places muscles and innards can go on a short frame! I've given up my self-hate over my calves, acceptance is the way to go - fuck the haters!
ReplyDelete@Me....I loved your 3 things list. How very sad, yet how very right you are. I've failed at life.
ReplyDeleteFat is not the worst thing someone can be. Not every fat person dresses the same Bally, and not every fat person is unhealthy, just like not every slim person is healthy. Shawn could have been supported in the comments without others being denigrated.
ReplyDeleteI love you Enty for loving women and our bodies. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, enty, the weight loss is totally due to athletic training. The Women of 2012 know better than to change our appearance because of some jerky comment some idiot made that might or might not resonate in our brains every time we look in a GD mirror....Does my butt look bigger?
ReplyDeleteOT: I know i've b****'d at y'all about my mother on here before, but WRT this topic, she 'ragged' and criticized and snarked about female MARATHONERS in China during the last Olympics. Continually during their coverage she harped on how most of those women shouldn't appear in public in such skimpy outfits. Because they were TOO FAT.
ReplyDeletePlease. Excuse me. They're running 26+ miles and couldn't be leaner. I've spent time around marathoners and know they have to eat massive quantities to maintain their muscle mass. And to get to that level, they know how much and what to eat.
Yet, somehow 'THAT' woman [my mother and others of her ilk] only saw some skin that must have flapped in her opinion.
Believe me, there are people, and in my experience they are women, who promote ano-, buli- and eating disorders.
The pre-pubescent gymnasts [from unnamed countries] have the only acceptable feminine body types.
So what i'm saying is that there are a lot of women, not just in 'elevated' circles, but also in your 'gen pop' out there who are more than ready to crawl all over healthy, normal-sized women.
Believe me, i'm so sorry for Shawn, but i think she's got a support group to help her weather this gale of criticism. Not so sure about most of the targets.
Thank you, Enty.
ReplyDeleteNot surprising at all. I cringe when I read things on other message boards.