• My daughter loved gymnastics, but it was destroying her knees and joints. • I had to force her to stop, taking away the thing she loved the most. • She was devastated, but now we both know it was the best decision.

I took away the thing my daughter loved most on a warm August afternoon.

I'd watched my daughter twist, tumble, and throw herself in the air for 12 years as a competitive gymnast. But now, it was hurting her, and I had to protect her, even from what she loved most.

It all started with a recreational class at the community center when she was 3. Her passion for gymnastics was clear from the first somersault. With each new skill, she fell more in love with the elite sport. Never wanting her to lose that love, we took things slow. I followed her lead, inevitably winding up

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