Work harder than anyone. Be the most talented. Sacrifice everything. And if you re lucky, maybe you will go to the Olympics. Grace lives and breathes gymnastics--but no matter how hard she pushes herself, she can never be perfect enough. Leigh, Grace's best friend, has it all: a gymnastics career, a normal high-school life ... and a secret that could ruin everything. Camille wants to please her mom, wants to please her boyfriend, and most of all, wants to walk away. Wilhelmina was denied her Olympic dream four years ago, and she won't let anything stop her again. No matter what. Monica is terrified. Nobody believes in her--and why should they? By the end of the two days of the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials, some of these girls will be stars. Some will be going home with nothing. And all will have their lives changed forever.
This book really did a great job capturing the intensity of elite athletes, while also reminding us how human they are. Tumbling follows five gymnasts during the two days of the Olympic trials. There are ups and downs and lots of revelations.
Carter depicts the drama and inner conflicts, which women competing at this level experience. She shows us the sacrifices they make and the toll the sport takes on their bodies and their relationships. She shows us the glory of the win and the agony of the defeat.
Overall: A compelling look into elite sports, which was quite deep and very emotional.
