WORLD SPORTS SCENE : Women Under Pressure in Gym, on Ice

As John Powers, Olympic reporter for the Boston Globe, once wrote, “Women’s gymnastics is a sport that eats its young.” The only argument we have with that observation is that there is no such thing as women’s gymnastics. That sport at the international level has long been dominated by teen-age girls, a phenomenon that is now, with similar consequences, overtaking so-called ladies’ figure skating.

Although the physical and emotional effects on the development of young girls competing in such high-intensity sports have been much discussed in the media, the subject has never been explored in such depth, or with such sensitivity, as it is in a new book by Joan Ryan, San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist.

“Little Girls in Pretty Boxes--The Making and Breaking of Elite Gymnasts and Figure Skaters” is a good read for anyone interested in those sports, a must read for parents considering allowing their children to compete in them.

Two dramatic incidents occurred during Ryan’s 15 months of research--the death of gymnast Christy Henrich related to anorexia, and the assault on figure skater Nancy Kerrigan by associates of rival Tonya Harding--but Ryan did not write about them with exclamation points, placing them in the context of her chapters on injuries, eating disorders, politics and money, and pressures applied on athletes by parents, coaches and a national obsession with winning gold medals.

“My purpose is not to tear down these two sports,” Ryan said in an interview distributed by the publisher. “Quite the opposite. It is to make them healthier and safer for the girls who compete in them--goals that ought to be the top priorities for the federations as well.”

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When beach volleyball was added to the program for the 1996 Olympic Games, applause came from those eager to see former gold medalists who had moved on from the six-man game, such as Karch Kiraly, and players who have made reputations on the beach, such as Kent Steffes and Randy Stoklos, in Atlanta.

But it appears now that few of the best-known beach players will be there because of a feud between their tour, the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals (AVP), and one sponsored by the international federation, the FIVB.

As the governing body for the sport in the Olympics, the FIVB stacked the eligibility process in favor of players who participate on its tour. In reaction, AVP players boycotted last weekend’s FIVB tournament at Clearwater, Fla., one of two Olympic qualifying events. The other is an FIVB tournament July 14-16 at Hermosa Beach.

If AVP players also refuse to play there, they will not be eligible for the Olympics unless there is a change in the protocol.

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OK, now that everyone has had fun with the International Olympic Committee’s recognition of ballroom dancing, it is time for facts.

The IOC routinely recognizes disciplines that have universally agreed-upon governing bodies. That does not mean they will ever be included on the Olympic program. Aeronautics has had IOC recognition since 1905, korfball since 1933, orienteering since 1961.

So, despite reports to the contrary, the only waltzing during the 2000 Summer Games at Sydney, Australia, will be with Matilda.

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Many professional athletes might say they would pay to participate in their sports, but we know better.

In track and field, however, athletes actually will be charged a $5 entry fee for Saturday night’s meet at Occidental College.

That has not prevented meet director Bill Harvey from attracting world-class athletes, who look forward annually to running on one of the nation’s fastest tracks.

In the men’s 200 meters, Olympic champion Mike Marsh, 1993 World Championships silver-medalist John Regis and 100-meter world record-holder Leroy Burrell will try to take advantage of the world’s largest legal curve.

Notes

When the organizing committee for the Atlanta Olympics listed Vons grocery stores as an official outlet for ticket brochures in Southern California, plans had not yet been solidified. But after some inquiries, Vons officials say the brochures will be available soon. . . . IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch has asked Ethiopian sports officials for information regarding 1968 marathon gold medalist Mamo Wolde, who, according to Amnesty International, has been imprisoned in Addis Ababa for three years without being charged.

Times staff writer Maryann Hudson contributed to this report.