Warning — The content you are about to read discusses depression and various types of eating disorders.
At its best, NCAA and elite gymnastics can provide athletes with a sense of euphoria. Things like the feeling when a dismount is perfectly stuck, the opportunity to serve as role models to young gymnasts, NIL deals, being a part of a team, and performing on national and international stages make the hours of hard work feel worthwhile. At its lowest, the sport can cause athletes to suffer from depression, eating disorders, and delayed puberty.
Isabella Magnelli is a fifth-year gymnast at the University of Kentucky, earned first team All-America honors, and scored a 9.950 on beam at the NCAA championships last year. She also has over 25,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok. For Magnelli, though the evolving reality surrounding social media and NIL has resulted in monetary gain, it’s also had negative repercussions on her mental health.
Eating Disorders, Anorexia, and Binge Eating
Before Magnelli entered the world of collegiate gymnastics, her relationship with food was fairly normal. Once she got to Kentucky, her mental health and eating habits declined as a result of social media comments she received. She suffered from both anorexia and binge…
