1980 Afterschool Special - The Gymnast

[@emilyshen9299]

It was marvelous being a kid in the 1970s and 1980s. We did not have so many distractions as we do now.

[@MsTinkerbelle87]

STFU!!! Nobody cares!

[@Amanda-rj1hy]

Was it marvelous though? This show shows the mentality back then. So unhealthy!! Get over yourself.

[@JohannaLeigh]

So very true!

[@tammyboykin5285]

​@@Amanda-rj1hyhmm there's still alot of crazy mentality now

[@needtoknowbasis3499]

What a boring and predictable comment.

[@azure628]

I remember watching this when it aired. I was young at the time. Seeing this again, makes me realize how awesome it was to be a kid in the '70s and early '80s. 😊

[@phylomenad1145]

Was she anorexic?

[@annmargaret1069]

I remember the after school shows, i loved them. Thank you.

[@Catlover1974]

One thing I remember about the afterschool specials, was that they came on at 3:00 PM, which was the exact time we got out of school. So by the time we got home we missed half the show! 😂

[@angelamarie88]

Yeah I think hardly anyone ever saw these "after school specials" unless they were home all day and never went to school.

[@Michelle-zz7no]

What time zone? It was on at 4pm for me Eastern time.

[@ritaturner9906]

Or you couldn’t linger or run errands. You had to go straight home

[@queenoffuntravel7709]

I was just thinking that too! I never got to see the entire show 😕

[@JamieJoIacobucci]

At school, everyone was talking about the After School Special that was going to be on that day. We would run home from school to watch!😊

[@leg414]

I remembered and loved these to watch at the time. Life was simpler then and with so much hope for the future......Peace

[@user-hs5ot4tq4k]

✌️peace ✌️

[@MissX33]

It was NOT 'simPler'! Another comment always given that is meaningless and wrong. Humans are humans! They were the same then as now, only now they have a lot lower self esteem as a consequence of their own bad behavior.

[@paulj0557tonehead]

I was an emotional wreck at school in 1980. age 14, but once I got home things were great. I didn't feel that way around my friends. I just was very painfully shy. I outgrew that, but it's difficult to fully outgrow the anxiety, which has stayed with me my whole life. Fortunately I discovered guitar and piano to express myself. My younger siblings took gymnastics.

[@dariowiter3078]

👍🙂

[@tj921able]

This was a great movie! TY for sharing it. I like how disciplined people were at this time. God Bless You & stay safe.

[@smudgeeee6259]

we made our own fun! Addiction to social media and gaming sucks.

[@Lisa-vh3nh]

I agree with you 100%.

[@MsTinkerbelle87]

Yet here you are! Leave us alone!! You cant watch any of these without some gen x opening their fn mouths. You are irrelevant.

[@MsTinkerbelle87]

@@Lisa-vh3nhyour generation failed us.

[@lauragreaser3461]

Yes! No creativity anymore.

[@Amanda-rj1hy]

@@MsTinkerbelle87I agree!

[@stuartpierce121]

Love these shows. Thanks Jennifer 😊

[@populoner7482]

being a kid in The 70s was Great

[@ginatafferty3910]

It was the 80s

[@claudiakrizay]

Hardly I was locked up in a psych ward. I was only 14. Life in the 2000's it the best.

[@alienmcqueen]

What are some good 70s shows

[@DouglasBalgaard-yp4is]

Barnaby Jones.

[@rileycoyote8275]

​​@@claudiakrizayMaybe you were a danger to yourself and/or others? Or perhaps it was for your own good? I mean your last name _is_ krizay, with a name like that, I'm surprised you're not still locked up.

[@kristinesharp6286]

It’s a story of perseverance and hard work with the person with better character winning. Also at that time 18 was old for gymnastics and they let gymnasts compete at the olympics under 16. For gymnasts age was everything since they happened 4 years apart.

[@Canadiana71]

I can't believe I found this movie. The same scene keeps playing in my head all these years is at the 32:38 mark when she finally does her back flip. It was the title I couldn't remember.

[@christinet638]

Backhandspring?

[@kck9742]

24:10 "F**k this, I'm having a double cheeseburger and fries!"

[@DouglasBalgaard-yp4is]

😮😅

[@JulieR73]

I watched this back in 1980

[@kristinesharp6286]

I recall a number of tv movies of the week and afterschool specials in the 80’s about eating disorders.

[@burgy76]

And here I thought this movie was going to be about an eating disorder. Different times.

[@MooseCall]

Not really. Check out The Best Little Girl in the World.

[@Jackiedyk]

Same

[@Panic_at_the_grocery]

Same lol

[@amierichan7231]

Yeah, when she loses 3 lbs and looks so happy, and the audience is supposed to be proud of her for doing so.

[@kristinesharp6286]

It is. The writers were promoting eating disorders. Who runs with no breakfast?

[@debbieschultz9768]

This is some serious pressure on these girls.

[@lizadivine3785]

It’s kind of a sick sport

[@RichardSimmonsoftheSouth]

Loved this movie!

[@omnifay469]

Lots of girls in the gymnast program resorted to bulimia to keep the pounds off. The problem with that was they were actually hindering their balance and strength because their electrolytes were so out of whack by throwing up all the time.

[@jeanettedegiulio8220]

Truly heartbreaking

[@wedgelewis7903]

Thanks. I really like knowledge. And sharing knowledge. I call it "Worthless Knowledge ." It's fun to tell someone about from what makes the concrete harden To what an "Ant Lion " is. Knowledge is power. And fun.

[@telesniper2]

They just did it wrong. You have to supplement

[@kck9742]

@@telesniper2 Are you stupid, or just trolling? There is no "right" way to binge and purge. Aside from destroying your esophagus, because it's not just food but stomach acid that's coming up, it can cause serious health problems and heart damage.

[@rileycoyote8275]

​@@telesniper2Exactly. There's also a way to restrict properly, people just don't want to research.

[@kellykerr5225]

Well I could have been a gymnast but I was terrible at it. But my daughter won so many times in figure skating. I don’t even know how to ice skate. She had the best coach. They only trusted me to enter in the scores. One time two other moms said, how come your daughter wants to do it? They were forcing their daughters to stay after they were closed and they had school the next day. I was there because my daughter wanted to. What a stupid question they asked.

[@ExpectantHarvest]

I couldn't even do a summersault

[@patriciaodom5159]

Love aftershool special

[@isabellemyzer1807]

Rip to the adults in this and congrats to all the Gymnasts on becoming senior citizens

[@alibhg3063]

They're not all that old or dead dude. Look it up.

[@lenalangaigne1416]

😂

[@DenisCarbonaro]

32:05 this soundtrack is so beautiful

[@nataliejones3371]

Does anyone remember the name of the after school special of a girl I think was in high school and was playing a sport or cheering and got hurt snd went to the ER and the doctor I believe became friends with her the doc actress had her hair above her shoulder and the teenage girl had long brown hair and I believe they found out the teen has cancer and gets her leg amputated and the girl has a boy friend and I think there’s a scene where he decorates her face with makeup like a cat ugh I really want to see this movie again I can’t for the life of me figure out the name of the movie

[@superafroken]

That's Promises in the Dark. I saw it on TCM not long ago. A real tearjerker!

[@nola_bhc_aml]

Type all of that into the Google search bar

[@MathewRusso]

That's Farrah Fawcett's (JILL) beach house from CHARLIE'S ANGELS (The parents/house at the start). =M=

[@bbk2601]

It also was used in Mod Squad. Groovy

[@irisshalurhad7901]

Geez, she could have gave them some tuna with that salad for protein 😂

[@kck9742]

"Could have given."

[@yootoob1001001]

They'd be fuller in their bellies, but also fuller of mercury.

[@jillferns333]

Loved these shows

[@ravenpoe7093]

It’s weird watching old gymnastics with the uneven bars being close together. I kinda flinch when they hit that lower bar But watching it go from that to what its like now it seemed weird for them NOT to hit themselves on the lower bar

[@mariekatherine5238]

Why did it change? I know very little about gymnastics, but I do remember liking it in elementary school. I know I did do a routine on the uneven bars involving turning on the top bar, sliding down to the lower, and flipping over it, ending on the floor. Only a few kids could do it. That was back about 1964. I would have kept involved in the sport, but then we moved, normal because my Dad was in the Navy. The next school didn’t have gymnastics or the money for the equipment.

[@ourtravelingzoo3740]

The min girl played Donna on Days of our Lives in the 70s. She was Dons daughter

[@carlaschultheis3662]

Overweights outside! A real self esteem builder.

[@CathRas95]

I would be out of there if all they fed me was lettuce and vitamins.

[@shaycade1532]

I was a gymnast in the 70's and 80's. It was just normal to eat that way. We did it and didn't ask questions

[@mickiemcmeow2605]

I thought it was going to be about eating disorders. Cause sadly its common gymnastics.

[@sarahrubin2402]

Same here

[@theresamorrison2831]

I thought eating disorder or career ending injury/death.

[@SurahOnline]

Same. This sucks

[@sunnydayzie1202]

She was 22 in real life when she played this role. And it is obvious.

[@krystalrussell38]

I was a gymnast too.

[@ExpectantHarvest]

was the eating like this?

[@rosemariemcgowan6388]

From what I know this regime is very soft compared to Russian and Chinese athletes 🎉

[@rileycoyote8275]

Japanese, too. They're not coddled or given participation trophies or any of that nonsense. They make fierce winners. Meanwhile, we have men competing in women's sports.

[@cyflym11]

I'm sure you wouldn't get a Russian coach saying "well, you've tried that move twice now and as you didn't miraculously get it straight away you are not allowed to practice it any more". It would be more like "I suggest you don't leave this gym until you've perfected it"!.

[@mattiekitty]

Lettuce and vitamins for dinner 😆

[@PJB52623]

mattiekitty new diet 👌🏻

[@kachoo2135]

I would have told the coach to go jump. Oh, how I love to bark orders!

[@Bruce_Wayne35]

Athletes need REAL food, complete proteins, not rabbit food.

[@kellymetcalfe23]

I watched after school special with such joy as a kid. endorsing anorexia behavior was an unhealthy message.

[@x5cat1]

The skills in the movie are so easy it's driving me nuts. She is supposed to be an elite gymnast who can't do a back handspring on the beam? Please lol It was a good movie don't get me wrong and an important message for young gymnasts, but the simplistic mounts and dismounts are no where near Elite Level! Bar skills too are barely level 7/8. I do realize this came out in 1980, but even still the skills were no where near what Elite Skills would have been. That part drives me a bit nuts lol

[@lisaps9418]

I have to remember this was in the early 80's and they weren't allowed to do the things like they do today.

[@CarolB55]

They are actresses who can do gymnastics, or gymnasts who can act. It's not like a Mary Lou Retton would have shown up to the auditions.

[@x5cat1]

@@CarolB55 True, but there were plenty of level 10 gymnasts who would have killed to be in the movie! My daughter modeled for a while before gymnastics became our entire life. So I know they could have walked into any reputable gymnastic center and found a level nine or ten gymnast who could have done this movie.

[@cyflym11]

Surely it's a school and the whole point is to learn? In the scene where she first walked into the gym there were some very young girls there. I get what you mean though. I watched some of The Saddle Club and it was actually painful when they were going over little cross poles and talking as if they were about to head off to the Olympics LOL.

[@x5cat1]

@@cyflym11 Of course it is for them to learn harder skills, but she is going there for the Elite program. By that point she should have been able to do much more than a backhandspring on beam. By that point she should have had a full twist on beam at the very least. That was all I was saying. I enjoyed the movie, but when one has sat in on practices for as many years as I did one becomes a expert on what skills they should be doing at each level. Even when this was made she should have already nailed a full on beam.

[@hawaiiankansanfeindel7131]

23:50, It's Shakira! Lol.

[@Purplenpinkk]

This is 1980?! I almost thought it was mid 70s, but I knew that one actress from Gimme’ A Break wasn’t that old. This seems ancient, though, and makes me feel sooooooo old. I turned 12 in 1980.

[@hallieharker4384]

How in the world does she expect them to thrive and be in tip top form on only lettuce???

[@zxyatiywariii8]

@LoveEverton John Yeah but usually boyfriends aren't allowed during training, it takes away time from practice. 😕

[@ramdomgiltter5590]

Plus boyfriend's sneak in the good food...

[@desertodavid]

Shoot 240p is the best we get? Too blurry for me

[@CathRas95]

Perhaps they would have excelled if they could have had proper nutrition

[@lizadivine3785]

I wish I could watch the gymnastic competition in the Olympics this year (2024) but I boycotted it after the very satanic opening.

[@skinni_the_P00hBear]

What satanic opening?

[@sunnydayzie1202]

Same

[@trishb4955]

Love this

[@vivienbaker9684]

The actor Kari Michaelsen , from gimme a break, was very public about being anorexic/bulimic while filming that show. She had a ton of pressure to be the "hot" daughter.

[@michaelleary9233]

Yeah, but a lot comes from yourself, like Tracey Gold on Growing Pains, who was the nerd daughter.

[@CarolB55]

​@@michaelleary9233When Gold gained some weight during Growing Pains, the writers wrote in jokes about her weight. Not acceptable. When a teenager constantly hears how fat they are, it has a negative effect. Add to that, being ridiculed in front of millions of viewers. That's a heavy load for a kid.

[@michaelleary9233]

@@CarolB55 That's a shame, kids don't really need to be in show business, but unfortunately the money and fame are a big draw.

[@mostlyautumn]

I’m starting to really like that woman coach.

[@user-kl4zj1gb5v]

I could be bulimic or anorexic, my weight ain't going nowhere.

[@Amanda-rj1hy]

lmaoooo

[@user-kl4zj1gb5v]

@@Amanda-rj1hy it's true

[@sweetbeauty2153]

Me too!😔

[@sarahnixdorf1]

I read a book called Letting Anna Go, really good book, honest about her family, diet, school, friends etc. She tried to lose lots bc of parents stuff going on, pressure etc she landed in hospital 3X, by the last time she was running to friends house, dizzy, fainted, called 911-boyfriend- when she got to ER she passed. Don't believe anyone who says carbs are killing you, they give you the energized feel you need for the day, if it's ice cream, soda, begans, sandwich please eat don't feel like you have to finish A plateful from IHOP, take leftovers with you. Put fruit flavor in water: lemon, lime, orange slice, etc. Being thin is not important, health is. Feel free to talk to Dr about any diet concern health stuff, they are profession all s, not Ballet Jane who drops to feel great and cant stop.

[@malinachainey1564]

I read that book back in high school when I was getting help for bulimia/anorexia(I barely ate, then when I did I just threw it up) I have no clue how I survived for yrs like that. But I really did like that book a lot. I think I actually still have it somewhere.

[@claudiafahey1353]

So basically , you just conflated severe anorexia with "carbs are fine" lol.... Highly processed carbs flour and sugar are actually not fine and lead to diabetes and many other things

[@helenm2169]

i guess all the actors are real gymnasts make a change from stunt doubles i liked this film

[@Salmiyaguy1]

Anyone know where these actors are now mainly Jenny and her boyfriend?

[@Nancie680]

That should have been against the law.... feeding them only lettuce

[@lynnclark1523]

It is against the law nobody really says anything

[@monitawit8173]

That blonde chick that supposed to be like the best has a shaky landing every time. I thought that’s really bad.

[@jessicam6932]

I really like this movie in that it's about a girl who strives to realize and reach her full potential. What I don't like is the part about feeding only lettuce to the girls who are considered to be overweight and the part where a part of Jenny's punishment for sneaking into the gym is to be fed only lettuce for an indefinite amount of time.

[@rosemariemcgowan6388]

Def unhealthy where would she get her energy from ❤

[@rebekahkissel7629]

I quit dance because of lack of confidence. At 42 I still regret it.

[@Cablecol]

Don't br too hard on yourself , my 65 year old cousin used to dance/ballet but she stopped because her feet hurt. Her feet got ruined in later life. She needed surgery to correct some deformation caused by dancing.

[@user-qr9uh1fd8g]

I quit because of being poor

[@SomewhataMystery]

Any sports gal that eat needs to still eat not skip meals but maintain good eating and slow exercise and good sleep not forced in to adult. These days they not allowed to do this its banned.

[@NeverSayDie1985]

Why do I feel as though I’m watching a woman going through midlife crisis?

[@sunnydayzie1202]

Because she looks like she's 16 going on 25

[@somauk]

Just to prove how humiliating competitive sports can be

[@rileycoyote8275]

Especially when men sidle in and start competing against women.

[@epicrapfan73]

Did she go on to compete in the Olympics?

[@epicrapfan73]

The girls could have also sang "Drive, Drive, Drive the Bus" in a round!

[@essentialeugene]

Is Kari Michaelsen in this special?

[@rosalynjohnson488]

Yelp $ 4:45

[@wally2786]

I wonder what gymnasts today think of this. Look a Nadia’s body when she won the Olympics. It will freak you out!

[@amybole4937]

Only getting a cpl of tries for a new trick and then wanting to scrub it out (wtf). Maybe if they were allowed to eat more they wouldn't be so fragile!!

[@pappysprite]

The girl from Gimme A Break!

[@sarahrubin2402]

I knew I recognized her

[@girlonlaptop]

i recognize one of the girls but i don't know from where and i never heard of Gimme A Break before. What is it?

[@pappysprite]

@@girlonlaptop Gimme a Break was a very funny sitcom back in the 1980's. If you ever get to catch it on reruns, I highly recommend it. You have to get past the fact that it is a bit dated and kind of a cheesy show, but it is pretty funny. It is also suitable for a family show, which is getting to be harder to find these days. This particular actress played Katie, the oldest daughter. Nell Carter was the lead in the show and she was hilarious.

[@girlonlaptop]

@@pappysprite after i commented i searched it then immediately remembered it, i even know all the words to the theme song, i totally forgot about that show, i used to watch it back then!!! That was a good show. Was that girl on any other shows b/c i feel like she was but somehow she got lost in the crowd of tv.

[@girlonlaptop]

@@pappysprite i found this about her www.imdb.com/name/nm0584566/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

[@Windsweptzariel]

Glad gymnasts can compete older today.

[@DouglasBalgaard-yp4is]

30:07 the tape skip's 😅 " well most people complained 😢 about something 😮😂❤ it doesn't bother me though 😅.

[@bluebee5266]

What belongs to the skip?

[@mirandavinci4146]

I didn’t like that gymnast. She was pressuring them too much and not letting them have any breakfast is wrong because everyone has to have breakfast and you can’t just eat lettuce for dinner. She should be arrested for that

[@djsi38t]

MY EYES! The Blur is a bit to much to handle.

[@ourtravelingzoo3740]

The main girls mom was on mommas family

[@ekswanger]

6:45 Vitamins and lettuce for dinner?

[@tracyconnors5284]

Salad and water

[@juliealbright5191]

I love these Afterschool Specials. But the lead girl looks nothing like a gymnast.

[@beckystarrski]

Just yelling “Overweights” in the morning like that! 🤦🏼‍♀️ How revolting!!

[@ORIGINALREDY2MIX]

17 is old? Lol

[@sylviamcmullen8367]

No its not 17 is still in school lol 12 grade

[@zxyatiywariii8]

It's old in gymnastics. Especially if someone is hoping to get to the Olympics.

[@kidmack1121]

@@zxyatiywariii8 In other Sports too. Hopefuls in the four major sports are usually in the system by 14-15. If they aren't picked up by 17 and in some type of farm system during their spring/summer breaks, they are considered long shots, and will only make it as walk-ons.

[@claudiakrizay]

@@kidmack1121 I am nearly 64 and can still do 50 push ups without my knees on the ground without a break. Also I can still walk up 10 flights of stairs- age is only a number.

[@claudiakrizay]

just to add I had anorexia from the time I was 17 until I was 50 and at 63 I am in excellent health.

[@SomewhataMystery]

Girls that age still need a breakfast its not good to for the body skip meals lettuce alone is not enough you need protien in the body that how someone can faint have anemia need iron also they were treating them like a model they are just kids.

[@sunnydayzie1202]

Gymnasts in the 70s and 80s did nearly starve themselves

[@irwinfletcher8440]

Ginny eat something

[@Lisa-vh3nh]

I always would get upset when I turned on the television after school, and without a warning, an afterschool special would come on, and I felt like it was the worst thing ever when it replaced my regular shows. Wish that was the only worry that I had in the present days...

[@maximusprime3459]

Wheaties

[@bg5097]

Not realistic at all. Too big. Bad attitude. No team spirit. No confidence. Going awol. Should’ve been cut immediately.

[@sunnydayzie1202]

Yup there is no way she would be competing at that height and weight. She was already 20 when the movie was made so she definitely doesn't have the body of a 16 year old gymnast

[@DouglasBalgaard-yp4is]

32:32

[@wildabeast1]

cheez

[@janetjohnson7279]

👍🏽👍🏾👍🏼

[@MsTinkerbelle87]

The boomers and Gen X go on and on about how life was perfect and zero problems back then in the comments while watching a show about ED’s🤡 Do you read the comments you post?

[@theirmom4723]

Do you and others that were born near the 90s and after, realize how easily triggered and whiney you all are? Didn't think so.

[@capacola262743]

dang! tons of hot snapper in this one! too bad the video quality is shit.

[@DouglasBalgaard-yp4is]

People are so critical,,, it's fine this is 43 years old I'm glad it's here to see.

[@theirmom4723]

you are disgusting

[@vdrake1963]

Look how white the sport was then... it's gotten a lot more color since then...

[@terikirkland8713]

stupid comment

[@jeanmarcks6269]

Why is it about race all the time?!

[@ellenolaughlen8101]

Not enough. Unfortunately race is still an issue in America. People of color are stereotypically not supposed to be gymnastics/figure skating. This comes from closed mined people who believe minorities live in ghetto and can’t afford lesson or the actual bigots who think they will never work hard enough. I wish People were different and it wouldn’t matter but until equality is reached we need to encourage people of color not to let the world pigeon hold them.

[@Anna-in8xu]

here !!! here!!!@@ellenolaughlen8101

[@zxyatiywariii8]

It's strange how people obsess on race more now than they did when I was a little girl. 🤷🏾‍♀️ And I was a little brown girl, but I had friends who were lots of different races and that didn't matter to us because we all loved doing the same things so we had more in common than differences.

[@annalisapluma9490]

It's so refreshing to watch something that isn't infected with SJW nonsense. Very few gymnasts have EDs. Even fewer Americans do. On the other hand, close to 3/4 of Americans are overweight/obese. I watched my mom die of diabetes linked to her obesity. It's not a laughing matter. Why people are so obsessed with anorexia (less than 1% of the population suffers from it) and bulimia (higher but still below 5%) is crazy. Our country is getting sick through overeating, under-exercising, and all-around disinterest in maintaining a healthy weight. THAT is truth, not manufactured news via SJW Nation.

[@isabellemyzer1807]

While I agree that we shouldn't encourage obesity, I don't think we should encourage under eating either. I'm bulimic and have struggled greatly with body image. I have pcos which makes it hard to lose weight. either way is unhealthy.

[@cheesyDELISH48]

I think most people in the US lack balance. Instead of shaming people about being fat or for not being super active we should encourage people to find THEIR balance. Every human is different and what works for one person doesn't for another. Obesity is genetic, some people are just destined to be precieved as fat but that doesn't reflect their health

[@horselightning]

over 8 million people in america have eating disorders and over 1000 die from it a year if you all eating disorders together.

[@raccoonchronicles5134]

Movie is so unrealistic.

[@leecarrillo7551]

and your supporting points are?

[@kimberly4610]

This is real life. Today's bullshit tv is unrealistic. If you think this doesn't happen in real life today you've been brainwashed by the MSM.

[@DouglasBalgaard-yp4is]

I like this movie.

[@Bruce_Wayne35]

@@kimberly4610 I've heard that Kpop stars are only allowed to eat salad and water.

[@Porch.monkey.slayer]

What a shame these uploads are so bad quality they re not even worth a minutes watching

[@Doug.-ce5uy]

A Musical on Broadway Choir 😮❤ comment for the song😅😂.

[@Doug.-ce5uy]

Watching Again--23:14--