In this video, former Stanford University gymnast and coach Larissa Fontaine considers the age-old question of balancing short-term competitive goals and desires with the need to invest in longer-term development as an athlete and in other aspects of life. Fontaine recalls a year during her career as a gymnast, during which she focused on the longer view.

One important consideration was that her coach was willing to sacrifice competitive goals to support Fontaine's decision. She recognizes that could not have been easy for her coach, and Fontaine's appreciation of her coach's stand is one of the life-long rewards coaches can receive when they put their athletes first.

The video is ideal for athletes, coaches and sport parents alike who want perspective on striking a balance between two elements of sport with different (but not always mutually exclusive) appeals.