Lives Less Ordinary

The Breaking Point of a Child Gymnast


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Eileen Chai was only 9 years old when she travelled from her home in Singapore to China alone to train as an elite gymnast. Her training regime was gruelling. Some days she was so tired she wouldn't even have the energy to speak. She won medals but was miserable and lonely. That changed when she got to university and found another way to communicate with others.
Image: Eileen in 1986
Credit: Eileen Chai
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Lives Less OrdinaryBy BBC World Service

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