'We were being pressured to lose weight': S'pore athletes push back against culture of abuse in sport

Former rhythmic gymnast Kathryn Chia (left) and synchronised swimmer Debbie Soh are among athletes who have spoken out about their struggles with body image. PHOTOS: COURTESY OF KATHRYN CHIA, KEVIN LIM
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

SINGAPORE - For a long time, gymnastics was a game of numbers for Kathryn Chia.

On the competition floor, scores were an indication of her ability. Off it, the figures on the weighing scale determined the former rhythmic gymnast's self-worth.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.