Gymnastics-Culture change seeks to produce happier U.S. women athletes

Sunisa Lee runs through her beam routine during the second day of a two-day media event with the USA Gymnastics team ahead of the 2024 Olympics in Katy, Texas, U.S. February 5, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal/File Photo

KATY, Texas (Reuters) - U.S. women's gymnastics, long associated with intense pressure placed on the shoulders of young girls, has entered a new era that prioritizes happiness and career longevity, former Olympians now in leadership roles said.

Not long ago the typical career of an elite gymnast was short and existed in a culture that controlled every aspect of the athlete's schedule, conditioning and diet.