Aly Raisman Documentary "Quest for Gold"

This is the most ridiculous commentary I have ever heard!! This is a gymnastics site, the discussion should be about the gymnast and her talent, struggles, etc. not whether or not her family is "rich", which is a matter of perspective anyway. It did not say "they own a house on the cape"...ever think rental?? Anyway, it does not matter. Many of these gymnasts come from families with money-it is an expensive sport!!! If your daughter is at the Elite level you are spending thousands each year, once you make the National team USAG foots the bill. Even to go to Nationals as a level 9 or 10 can cost thousands...but it does not matter how the families get the money, they are all making the sacrifice and most of the gymnasts don't feel any financial burden. I know several of the families of the 2008 Olympic team members had fundraising to send the families toBeijing, does not necessarily mean they did not have money. Aly is amazing, she is such a hard worker and so dedicated. I have seen gymnasts at her level that do not work half that hard and rely more on talent they were born with. She is a sweet girl, she has a loving family, she busts her butt...I will be rooting for her, love her as a gymnast!! Good Luck!

Class warfare in a discussion of a gymnast....Wow....I'm sure Aly's parents didn't steal the money or earn it illegally. I am sure they worked hard for it. The fact remains that an athlete has to practice just as hard if they are rich or poor. How do you know the facts of her life? How do you know what struggles she ( or they) went through? You don't. Case closed.

I am not stating that being rich is wrong for ALY at all - but it was one less stress factor for her and her family. I never meant for you to think of it as a negative - but it just set her to initially have a better opportunity. Yep, she had to practice hard, have the talent (which she does) and sacrifice much in her personal life like anyone else - Funny of your suggestion regarrding renting a bungalow? What - how about a one room hotel room at Super 8 that many other elite gymnasts have lived in for years while they are training? I agree her parents have not flaunted their situation at all - the home on the Cape was not necessary - but the real world is watching this and we can see that Aly lives in a much different world than we do - whether she is a world class gymnast or not. She is still my fav of the top 5 and her parents seem very low key and I firmly do not believe they used their money or influence to try to push for more for Aly, she earned what she got by doing her job. I dont think anyone should apologize for being rich or pretend to be something they are not - but as you agreed - being rich or well off, certianly made things a little easier. I certainly do not expect her family to try to raise money to send them to London. Now that would be over the top.

Dougle Edge Sword - I don't deny that having wealthy parents gives one an advantage, but again, how is that a bad thing? You can't really fault her for it, and even if you could, it really doesn't make a difference in her day to day training. You say that she has an advantage as if it's a negative thing or as if she's cheating, but that's not the case.. So her parents can easily pay for her training, but that's doesn't make her a better or worse gymnast or change her accomplishments. As for their "lifestyle" as you call it, I don't think there was any way to limit what they've shown even more, save for Aly's family renting a bungalow and a crappy car and pretending they're not wealthy. The camera crew came to her house to doent her daily life, which is a pretty normal setup for a gymnast in an Olympic year, and they filmed Aly's parents sitting on their sofa. You can't really say they were flaunting their money or promoting a specific lifestyle. Again, I do agree that having rich parents can help along the way, I don't get why you consider it such a terrible and condemnable thing.

Just an insider look. When the girls competed at the Secret Classic - the background group of workers setting the meet up and tearing it down was mostly volunteers and collegiate gymnasts from Chicago. They were at the gym during the whole thing and rubbed elbows with the athletes. At the end of the compeition - some of the college kids felt comfortable enough after seeing the gymnasts all weekend to actually speak to them - I will tell you - ALY was by far the only gymnast that would actually look them in the eye and talk to them as equals and in a personal manner. 3 of the other top 5 were approached and they were either rude or did not want the distraction. It left an impression on these kids (who are mostly all gymnasts themselves). So, I do have to say that whether you are rich or poor or in the middle - it does not really matter when you are talking about being nice and leaving a good impression.

Beatrice - you have to admit that when folks watch these films and see the lifestyle in which Aly was raised they will conclude that she did have an advantage. Gymnastics is a very expensive sport and having money is one less worry for her family and she as she trained. She could have the best of everything. I do think she thinks she is just a normal HS kid and in her little world, I am sure she is. Have you seen the TV Show subortary? I do not think Aly or her family even realizes how privildged she really is. No matter what she is a hard talented worker and no amount of money can buy that. I support Romney but while I think he is good, he could never really relate to my life and such. I think the Aly team should have had more discretion and limited the exposure of their lifestyle. If if the family is naive, the agent knows better. I am not commenting on the GD issue, but that is a different extreme. I am a little put out about all the ads I have seen about Anna Li getting her dad money to come to London - that is all very tricky and it should NOT be handled by the family or athlete themselves. It should come from a 3rd party of such. Aly does not have to worry, I think her family will do just fine affording their trip to London. Once again, she earned her spot - and in my opinion she is the best Amercian Gymnast - and while I don't think she should be bashed for being rich, it has helped her greatly along the way and made things much easier.

I disagree with the previous comments. Her parents are loaded, sure - but so what? I just don't understand why it's a negative thing, or why people would like her less after watching the doentary. It's not like they were flaunting their money or telling everyone how rich they were. She did not choose the venue for her prom, nor did she choose the house or the neighborhood she lives in.. I have trouble understanding what the problem is - why does she need to be a "normal kid with a dream"? And can't she be a "normal kid with a dream" whose parents just happen to be rich? Why would anyone fault her for having "an advantage" when she can't really help it? Her parents' money doesn't have anything to do with her work in the gym, and it seems to me that the people who discredit her accomplishments and her character simply because her parents happen to be rich may be a little bitter. I guess I just fail to see how the fact that her family may or may not have a house on the Cape influences her gymnastics and is such a negative thing to start with, and how it's even our business is beyond me.

Mary & Still a Fan so very well said. I felt the same way watching this.