Something should be said about Dagny's courage in putting this very private story out there in public. What a huge step that must have been. I assume it was with the aim of reaching other kids out there, subject to similar pressures, with the hope that they (or their coaches) will see the signs before it turns into something life threatening.
Bravo, Dagny.
I was one of those swimmers. I swam for Paul Bergen in 79 & 80 at UT & eventually quit because I got tired of getting weighed every Monday morning & then having to run 10 miles around Barton Springs if my weight wasn't where he thought it was supposed to be. I became anorexic & got down under 100 lbs - guess what? my swimming wasn't the only thing that suffered. I struggled with anorexia until I was about 34 years old. I still look in the mirror and see a fat person. And I still wonder if I deserve to eat sometimes.
Say this to his face if he doesn't already know this.
I was on Longhorn Aquatics those same years. We ran and swam together.
What were your events?
I swam distance 500 & the mile - I wasn't very good compared to some of the top girls, but I did have fun & certainly enjoyed the water polo in the fall! Didn't hear about Deena Deardruff - hadn't heard that name in years. I've certainly "gotten over it" - but it took a long time. Never never never would have guessed Bergen was abusing my team mates. Never. If he did that at UT I was totally unaware of it. Wasn't Eddie Reese at UT back then? (for the men)
Dagny Knutson's Journey:
How an All-Consuming Eating Disorder Shoots Down a Rising Star
Part 4: A World Champion's World Crumbles -- August 25, 2012
Parts 1 - 4
