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Data: ____/ 08 / 2021 Turma: 9º Ano

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READING COMPREHENSION ACTIVITY

The figure skating world is troubled by eating disorders

By Al Jazeera, adapted.

Figure skating often grabs attention during the Olympics.

One thing is different about this year's competition. Two young skaters who competed four years ago
are not there.
U.S. skater Gracie Gold was 18 years old at the Sochi Olympics four years ago in Russia. She seemed
ready for bigger things after winning a bronze medal with the team. Russian skater Yulia Lipnitskaya was 15
years old. She dazzled the crowds on her way to a gold medal.
Because of eating disorders, both have quit the sport. Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia are
very serious. People with anorexia feel terrified of gaining weight, even if they are already very thin. People
with bulimia go through periods of eating very large amounts of food, called bingeing. Then, they make up
for it by exercising or throwing up. This is called purging.
Judging More Than Moves On The Ice
Skating blends sport with art. A winning routine is not just great jumps and spins. It also involves music
and dance.
Many skaters believe that they are being judged not only on their jumps but also their bodies. It can be
harmful to their mental health.
Gold said in October that she would not compete in the Winter Olympics. She was being treated for an
eating disorder. Until then, it was a part of skating that many did not want to discuss.
The announcement was a big step. With the right treatment from doctors and other experts, people with
eating disorders can recover fully. However, due to the difficulty of talking about mental illnesses, many do
not get the help they need.
Joe Johnson is a Team USA figure skater. Gracie Gold coming forward was a big deal, he said. Now,
more people are talking about mental health issues in skating, he said.
 "Skating is taxing, emotionally and physically. You train six hours a day for about 1,000 hours a year.
All this to compete for just a few minutes. A lot of skaters keep quiet about any worries or issues due to a
perceived fear of appearing weak," Johnson said.
What Is Ideal?
In a sport where athletes work to be perfect, many young female skaters feel pressured. They try to fit
their bodies to the idea that thinner and smaller are better.
"During my first couple of years competing as a skater, I was struggling with an eating disorder," said
Karina Manta. She also is a Team USA skater.
She felt she had to change her body to what she thought a figure skater should look like.
There are stories of female skaters having their weights compared with those of medalists from other
countries. Those competing in pair skating have been told they are "too heavy to be lifted."
Johnson said that some coaches believe if you are above a certain weight, you will not be able to do
jumps. They ignore height and natural build, he said.
Under Pressure On And Off The Ice
Encouraged by her coach, Lipnitskaya would sometimes eat only powdered mixes.
Some figure skaters gain international attention when they are just teenagers. At the same time, their
bodies are going through changes.
Manta said many girls are afraid of growing bigger, thinking it will change their jumps. "They're not
feeding themselves properly."
They might pay a price. Skaters need to be strong enough to handle powerful forces when landing a
jump. Many of the injuries to young skaters are linked to poor nutrition, experts believe.
If you are not eating well, your bones will be weaker, said British ice dancer Penny Coomes. Then
injuries will happen, she said.
"A huge amount of energy and strength goes into a routine," she said. With old ideas of what skaters
should look like, girls are trying for something that's not practical, she said.
It's Not Just A Girl Problem
Male skaters can also struggle with body image.
"There was one skater who would calculate his meals so he ate exactly as many calories as he burned.
Anything else he ate during the day, he would throw up," Johnson said.
The skater never felt he could talk about his problems, he said.
The Olympic Committee has health experts to advise skaters on these topics, said Barbara Reichert, a
leader at U.S. Figure Skating.
However, some believe more has to be done. Johnson said people do not realize how much damage one
comment can do.
People need to stop praising a skater for "looking skinny," he said. They need to stop comparing skaters,
he said. It is not fair to their skating performance.

1) One MAIN idea of the article is that eating disorders are a big problem in the world of figure skating.
What is another MAIN idea of the article?

a) Skaters need to feel more comfortable sharing their problems in order to get help.
b) Skaters like Gracie Gold work very hard to get to the Olympics as teenagers.
c) Figure skating blends strength with the beauty of music and dance.
d) Figure skating is an important sport for many male and female skaters.
2) Read the paragraph from the section "Under Pressure On And Off The Ice."

They might pay a price. Skaters need to be strong enough to handle powerful forces when
landing a jump. Many of the injuries to young skaters are linked to poor nutrition, experts
believe.

HOW does this paragraph support the main idea of the article?

a) It introduces the idea that experts are interested in figure skating.

b) It illustrates that skaters need to train a long time to jump.
c) It explains the effects of not eating properly on skaters' abilities.
d) It emphasizes the danger for skaters in learning to jump high.

3) What is the relationship between anorexia and bulimia?

a) People with anorexia do not gain the weight they need to, while people with bulimia gain too much.
Both are serious illnesses.
b) People with anorexia do not eat enough, while people with bulimia may eat a lot at times. Both are
serious illnesses.
c) Anorexia causes many skaters to quit the sport because of injuries, while skaters with bulimia choose
to keep on skating. Both are serious illnesses.
d) Anorexia causes many skaters to exercise too much or throw up, while skaters with bulimia often
stop exercising. Both are serious illnesses.

4) Why does Joe Johnson feel that coaches should stop comparing skaters to one another?`

a) He thinks skaters will stop listening to their coaches if they feel criticized.
b) He thinks skaters from different countries should not compete against each other.
c) He thinks skaters need to stop feeling pressured to change their natural shape.
d) He thinks skaters perform better when they are not worried about their scores.