Becoming a gymnast in Russia and New Zealand: Hard work or child's play?

Abstract

Since the 1990s, a number of gymnastics coaches from the former Soviet Union have migrated to New Zealand where they have taken up full-time jobs working as coaches within gymnastics clubs in New Zealand. Many of these coaches experienced significant success in the former Soviet Union, producing gymnasts who won World or Olympic medals, but this same success has not translated to New Zealand. This study utilises life story interviews with migrant Russian coaches in order to explain their lack of success. One of the most conclusive findings is the different understandings of childhood held by Russians and New Zealanders that influence how hard children in these different cultures work. The coaches described that in Russia, hard work and strong focus is expected of children, an expectation that contributes to success in sports like gymnastics that require many hours of training from a young age. By contrast, they argue that the New Zealand understanding of childhood focuses on the importance of play and providing a range of experiences, which does not fit well with the strict demands of elite gymnastics.