I like watching gymnastics and figure skating in my spare time because I get excited when I see the dazzling skills. Although the two spots of beautiful and exciting, they are also dangerous. If there is one thought that makes gymnasts or skaters cringe, it is injuries. As a part of spots, injuries are inevitable and unavoidable. Some injuries may be minor, like a scrapes and bruises that athletics can deal with easily. Others can necessitate going to the doctors and some can end the career of an athlete.

     Each year, millions of injuries related to the two sports are treated in hospitals across the world.  For example, over 100,000 gymnastics-related injuries are treated in hospitals, doctors' surgeries, clinics and hospital emergency rooms in the USA alone. In developed countries, most athletes have personal injury lawyers or attorneys. In case of being injured, although nobody wants to, athletes can go to their lawyers to ask for insurance claim advice. Even if they do not have personal injury lawyers, their health insurance can cover a large proportion of the rehabilitation costs. In developing countries, athletes often do not have personal injury attorneys. In case of being injured, their rehabilitation costs are often covered by the government. In either way, injuries definitely disrupt athletes training and practice, and even some important competitions.

     Still vivid in my memory, many good athletes were seriously injured which changed their lives. I can never forget how Sang Lan hit her head on the ground when she was doing a vault in the 1998 Goodwill Games. Although the organizer of the games prepared a huge amount of compensation for athletes who injured, Sang Lan could not get enough compensation for herself. According to her personal injury attorney, she was the only one injured in the games and she should have been able to get a lot of compensation. However, she couldn't stay in the US or enjoy the insurance. Of course, because of the severe injury her gymnastic career tragically ended. I also remember that Hongbo Zhao ruptured his Achilles tendon several months before the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. Before the injury Shen/Zhao were the favourites to win gold medal of the pair figure skating at the games. However, their journey to the Olympic Games was not fulfilling despite their second-time bronze medal winning performance. What was so exciting about this couple was their perseverance and commitment to the sport. They took a couple of years off, and returned to the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. Although their performance was not perfect, they still managed to win the gold. I feel proud of them because of their story in which they reached their peak with great power, exquisite skills, and unstopping conviction. Michelle Kwan is also one of my favourite athletes. She is the most decorated figure skater in the US history, but she is only short off the Olympic gold medal. She also had to struggle with injuries. Unfortunately, she missed her last chance to win gold in 2006 as she withdrew from the games. It has become a worldwide priority to protect athletes and prevent injuries. Also, the legal systems of compensating athletes’ injuries are improving with the ever-increasing attention.