Books like Chalked Up by Jennifer Sey

Jennifer Sey, a six‑year‑old cast in the sport by her idol Nadia Comaneci, quickly ascended to become one of America’s elite gymnasts. She earned national titles at age eleven and competed at major international meets, sharing the podium with luminaries such as Mary Lou Retton. Sey’s narrative follows her relentless drive toward the senior national team, the World Championships and the 1988 Olympics. In pursuit of gold, she put her health first on a steep decline, facing anorexia, injuries and abusive coaching. The adults surrounding her—parents, coaches and business figures—failed to recognize her spiraling condition. Through this memoir, Sey exposes the darker side of high‑performance gymnastics: the intense pressure, the prevalence of eating disorders, the influence of stage parents and the exploitation by coaches and managers. Her story offers a sobering look at how a culture that celebrates winning above all can destroy the well‑being of young athletes.

First publish date: 2008