"I used to get made fun of all the time" - Aly Raisman reflects on the time when she was body shamed and called 'roids'

Former artistic gymnast Aly Raisman recently reflected on the time when she faced body shaming. Commencing her career at the age of 18, Raisman went on to become a household name in gymnastics.

She rose to fame after competing in her first Olympics as an 18-year-old at the 2012 London Olympics, securing a bronze medal in the balance beam event and two gold medals in the team and floor exercise events. Four years later at the 2016 Rio Games, Raisman grabbed a gold in team and two silver medals in all-around and floor exercise events.

Although her journey appears to be illustrious, it was never a smooth sail for the American, who navigated through multiple experiences of body shaming. In a candid conversation on "Call Her Daddy," Raisman looked at her younger days when she was mocked for being muscular and was called "roids."

“Yeah, it's really interesting. So I, when I was younger, I used to get made fun of all the time for how muscular my arms were. And I remember when I was in fifth grade, the boys would make fun of me and told me I look like I was on steroids and they would call me 'roids' and it made me so sad," she said at 15:00.

Aly Raisman announced her retirement from gymnastics in January 2020.

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"I surpassed my expectations" - Aly Raisman looks back on her distinguished career

Aly Raisman competed in the 2012 London Olympics as an 18-year-old (Image by Getty)

Apart from her Olympic feat, Aly Raisman enjoyed a few successful runs at the World Championships, collecting two gold, one silver, and one bronze medal. Although she earned her initial exploits in London, she captivated the world after the Rio Games, standing out as an experienced player in the team.

During a recent conversation with BBC, Raisman expressed her fulfillment, saying she surpassed her expectations.

"It surpassed my expectations – how many people supported us and watched and knew us," Raisman said. "I don't feel like I'll ever get used to [fame]; I'm still navigating it. I went from being in high school… to getting recognised when I go get coffee. I forget people sometimes know who I am! I never imagined that I would have achieved this, still getting recognized. I surpassed my expectations and I'm grateful for that."

Aly Raisman stopped competing in the competitions after the Rio Olympics without announcing her retirement until January 14, 2020.