Regarding sports: If it's not sexual predators, it's just plain old emotional and physical abuse. Sending your daughter to gymnastics means condemning her to abuse of all kinds.
If you want to scream in frustration, watch a video about the "training" involved in stretching legs so kids can do the splits. They're regularly posted to YouTube by proud parents.
I have no clue how a parent can "proudly" watch their child crying and screaming as someone forces their legs into unnatural positions.
This is exactly where my thoughts converged, too. The abuse is baked in. It seems to me that some people are wired to do anything, absolutely anything, to win. It's fine when adults are making the choice for themselves, it's abhorrent and wrong when the adults are choosing it for children.
I have no clue how a parent can "proudly" watch their child crying and screaming as someone forces their legs into unnatural positions.