French psychologist Claire Carrier in an expert on the psychology of young top-competition athletes. Her book, "L’Adolescent Champion : Contrainte ou Liberté" ("The Adolescent Champion : Restraint or Freedom") has just been published by the Presses Universitaires de France. At her private office on the Boulevard St. Germain in Paris, Carrier spoke recently with Newsweek’s Benjamin Ivry. Excerpts :
IVRY : When American gymnast Kim Zmeskal didn’t do as well as expected at the Olympics, some people spoke of "child abuse". Others suggested the she had wasted her adolescence. What’s your view ? (...)