What About the Child?

For most children Kindergarten is a time of transition into education and social development in a safe, nurturing environment. It is where they learn to develop their fine motor skills, receive their introduction to language math and science, and an opportunity to explore the world around them. While many five year olds are entering a world full of brightly colored rooms with stations that allow them to explore their interests, young Kamila Valieva was already on her career path as a figure skater.

At the age of thirteen, when most new teens are exploring their identity, creating social circles and navigating puberty Kamila was travelling to other countries earning competition medals. Just two years later, she is now participating in the international Olympics navigating the onset of a doping scandal. Facing criticism from adults as to why she should not be competing. During a recent performance commentators acknowledged Kamila’s talent, but stated “we should not have seen this performance” due to the doping charges that are being investigated.

Kamila has undeniable talent, that even her critics are willing to admit, but it also undeniable that she is a child. A child who’s talent super ceded all other aspects of who she is starting at the age of three. Why is nobody discussing the immense pressure that is put on children that have to train for inclusion in these competitions? Being an Olympic athlete is not just a leisurely activity, it is a full-time job and while human rights organizations recognize child labor as a form of abuse… is the global society dismissing the rights of children training in sports? Children like Kamila are groomed as young as toddlers to become world class athletes. They are guided to be the best, they are pressured to train and perform, they cannot make mistakes… and when they do it often comes in the form of physical injuries and emotional damages.

Kamila is a child she has been groomed to follow the expectations and guidelines of her trainers, parents, and the other adults in her life that push her towards international recognition. She is not a doctor, she didn’t write a prescription for heart medications while posing with her beloved Pomeranian. Adults made the decision to give her drugs to possibly enhance her performance. Adults this young girl trusts, slipped this child the Olympic equivalent of a roofie so she would physically perform to their expectations.

When are these athletic organizations and the adults involved in achieving athletic greatness going to be held accountable for the possible irreparable damage they are causing these children? When is the unity promoted at the games going to apply to the rights of the children that are raised to participate and compete?

Children like Kamila are raised in a very strict, regimented way to compete against the same children that are their only outlets for socialization and bonding. Socially and emotionally they are given a platform of conflict that teaches them to take advantage of their peer’s weakness, rather than a foundation of empathy, understanding and acceptance. Failure for these children is traumatic. Their existence has been defined by their talent and future performance. At fifteen years old, Kamila is responsible for representing a country that is already scrutinized by the world for their actions and as she carves out lines in ice, she carries the weight of millions upon her shoulders.

It is astonishing how easy it is for adults to deny their own culpability in the treatment of these athlete children. Quite frankly, it is repulsive how young Kamila is defined by how well she performs for judges and a global community, while being judged for the decisions of adults who guided her to that same performance.

Then again, it’s all about presentation… when enough money infused into the glitz and glamour plausible deniability is easily achieved; which is probably why …the Olympics are being held in Beijing and not Xinjiang.