Helmets and kneepads – not just for kids
By Whitney
(Photo of Shaun White by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
In my living room last night, an in-depth discussion about this year’s Olympians resulted in much discussion about the bravery, fitness, technical skills and equipment used by the athletes.
The death-defying jumps, the speed, and the quick decisions are what separate us, the benchwarmers and couch potatoes, from them, the elite superstars. They have mad skills, for sure. But no matter their level of experience, they are all outfitted extensively with padding and headgear.
The next morning, following our first taste of the Olympic games this year, we drove by a skate park where my husband marveled at the number of tweens and teens who were skateboarding without helmets. “Unacceptable,” we agreed.
Safety equipment does not imply a lack of skills or a propensity to fall. Just as wearing a seatbelt does not presume you are about to crash the car. If you meet resistance from your kids when you enforce pads and helmet rules, point to the Olympic athletes as examples.
©IOC/Jason Evans
