American gymnasts won gold — and we’re talking about the women’s outfits?

To the editor: Athletic women are athletes first. After reading the front-page column on the U.S. women’s gymnastics team (“U.S. women gymnasts are not only giants, they are golden,” Aug. 9), where your writer informed us that the athletes are pixies, I eagerly turned to the “Rio 2016” section of the paper for equally descriptive reporting.

Will giants be competing in the men’s basketball event? Is Michael Phelps a dolphin in disguise?

I’m so glad to know that the IOC is now encouraging inter-species competition.

And regarding those “star-spangled leotards containing nearly 5,000 crystals each” described in the front-page column? Again, I couldn’t wait to see how Phelps’ speedo would be described. How about info on Ryan Lochte’s hair stylist?

Nothing. Color me disappointed.

They are all world-class athletes, regardless of gender, size, sport, or clothing.

Leslee Koritzke, Los Angeles

The author is a professor of psychology at L.A. Trade Technical College.

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To the editor: How dare people chastise Gabby Douglas for her body language when the national anthem was played during her team’s medal ceremony. Her explanation is dismissed: “She simply apologized.” (“Who cares if Gabby Douglas placed her hand over her heart?” editorial, Aug. 12)

It makes the blood boil that this young woman’s actions are questioned after she has dedicated most of her life to earning medals for her sport and for her country while we simply laugh off the consistently vulgar and incendiary rhetoric of a current presidential candidate.

Rebecca Andrade, Los Angeles

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To the editor: We see all sorts of bad behavior from young athletes.

Many of us made mistakes when we were young, we’ve said and done things that we wouldn’t do now —and probably wouldn’t have done then, if we had taken a moment to think about it. But most of us were not in the spotlight when we made our mistakes, so no matter how much we may have offended someone, we didn’t draw world attention.

This situation probably doesn’t warrant a front-page harangue, it’s just not that important. But it was well-written, as usual.

Steve Freedman, Venice

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To the editor: In my 78 years, whether at athletic events or the roll out of a new military aircraft, I do not recall placing my hand over my heart as I stood attentively during the playing of the U.S. national anthem.

At the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance? Yes, though I still stumble a bit at the words “under God” that were only added when I was in high school.

I have always sung “O! say can you see ...” however.

Give Gabby Douglas a break, looked OK to me.

R. Sheldon Hess, Rowland Heights

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To the editor: I wonder what percentage of the patriots condemning Gabby Douglas’ posture even stood up from their sofas for that playing of the national anthem.

Robert Watson, Los Angeles

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