Christy Henrich 4207190 223894214 2008-07-06T11:18:50Z Ratarsed 438499 [[gymnast]] -> [[artistic gymnast]] {{Infobox Gymnast |gymnastname= Christy Henrich |image= |imagesize= |caption= |fullname= Christina Renee Henrich |nickname=Christy |country= {{USA}} |formercountry= |birthdate= [[July 18]], [[1972]] |birthplace= |hometown= |deathdate= {{death date and age|1994|07|26|1972|07|18|mf=y}} |deathplace= |height= |discipline= Women's artistic gymnastics |level= Senior international |natlteam= |club=GAGE |gym= |collegeteam= |headcoach= |assistcoach= |formercoach= Al Fong |choreographer= |music= |eponymousskills= |retired= }} '''Christina Renee Henrich''' ("Christy") ([[July 18]], [[1972]] - [[July 26]], [[1994]]) was a world-class [[United States|American]] [[artistic gymnast]]. Training with Al Fong at the Great American Gymnastics Express club in [[Blue Springs]], [[Missouri]], Henrich made the U.S. national gymnastics team in 1986 after placing fifth all-around in the junior division at the U.S. National Championships.<ref>[http://www.gymn-forum.net/results/JunUSA/Women/1986.html Results from 1986 Jr. Nationals at Gymn-Forum]</ref> She continued to climb through the elite ranks over the next four years, placing ninth at the 1988 Olympic Trials and winning the silver medal in the all-around at the 1989 U.S. National Championships. She represented the United States at the 1989 [[World Championships]] in [[Stuttgart]], placing fourth with the American team and just missing a medal in the uneven bars final. One of Henrich's original balance beam leaps was named after her in the ''[[Code of Points (artistic gymnastics)|Code of Points]];'' as of 2007 the skill is still included in the ''Code'' and carries a 'C' difficulty rating.<ref>[http://www.usa-gymnastics.org/gymnastics/glossary.html "Gymnastics Glossary & Elements Named for U.S. Gymnasts"] USA Gymnastics</ref> While Henrich was succeeding in gymnastics, her health was beginning to suffer from an [[eating disorder]]. In 1989, while competing in an international meet, a judge told her she needed to lose weight. Apparently, Henrich took the comment to heart. Her drive to lose a few pounds progressed to unhealthy eating habits and, eventually, full-blown [[anorexia nervosa]].<ref name=win>"Dying to Win: The Christy Henrich story" ''Dateline,''1995</ref><ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9407E1DE1F3EF93BA15754C0A962958260 Obituary] ''New York Times'' July 28 1994</ref> The eating disorder was fueled further by the culture of elite gymnastics--which, in the late 80s and early 90s was ruled by "pixies", ie, small, underweight, prepubescent girls--and Henrich's own coaches, who allegedly made insulting remarks about her size and body type. At first, neither her family nor her coaches were aware of the situation.<ref name=lgipb>{{cite book | last = Ryan | first = Joan | title = Little Girls in Pretty Boxes | publisher = Doubleday | location = Garden City | year = 1995 | isbn = 9780385477901 }}</ref> Eventually, Henrich's battle with anorexia took such a toll on her health that she was asked to leave the gym. Her weight dropped to about 47 pounds and her family intervened and compelled her to enter hospital treatment for her eating disorder. In spite of numerous treatments and periods of recovery, Henrich died of multiple organ failure at the age of 22.<ref name=lgipb /><ref name=win /> Henrich's death brought the problem of eating disorders in women's gymnastics into the spotlight. Prominent gymnasts such as [[Kathy Johnson]] and [[Cathy Rigby]] admitted their bouts with [[Anorexia nervosa|anorexia]] and [[Bulimia nervosa|bulimia]];<ref name=win /> and other U.S. National Team gymnasts stepped forward and went public about their own eating disorders.<ref>[http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/sections/news/news/article_346130.php "Gymnasts in pain: Out of balance"] Scott M. Reid, ''OC Register'' December 19 2004</ref> The focus on gymnast wellness was addressed with several programs on both the national and international levels, such as educational videos, nutrition counseling and classes, to varying degrees of success.<ref name=lgipb /><ref name=win /><ref> [http://www.usa-gymnastics.org/publications/technique/1997/7/striking.html "Striking the Balance"], Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, ''Technique'' magazine, July 1997</ref> Additionally, American television channels broadcasting gymnastics competitions, such as [[NBC|NBC-TV]] and [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC-TV]], stopped commenting about or listing gymnasts' weights in captions in the mid-1990s. Television stations from other nations have adopted similar policies. ==See also== *[[Little Girls in Pretty Boxes]] ==External links== [http://edresources.pbwiki.com/Christy%20Henrich Christy Henrich Tribute & Resources @ Eating Disorder Resources wiki] ==References== <!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags--> <div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;"> <references/> </div> <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] --> {{Persondata |NAME= Henrich, Christy |ALTERNATIVE NAMES= |SHORT DESCRIPTION=American gymnast |DATE OF BIRTH=1972-07-18 |PLACE OF BIRTH= |DATE OF DEATH=1994-07-26 |PLACE OF DEATH= }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Henrich, Christy}} [[Category:1972 births]] [[Category:1994 deaths]] [[Category:Deaths from anorexia nervosa]] [[Category:American gymnasts]] [[Category:Originators of elements in artistic gymnastics]] [[ca:Christy Henrich]]