A thoughtful fan of Aly Raisman decided to start a fundraising campaign for the Olympian gymnast's parents, Rick and Lynn Raisman. The campaign is aimed to treat the couple for a relaxing day at the spa after going through intense nerves while watching Raisman perform her stunts at the Rio Olympic Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Raisman's parents gained internet fame after they were filmed in the audience as the 22-year-old did her routines almost flawlessly. Fear and distress were evident in both Rick and Lynn's faces as they squirmed uneasily in the stands -- a stark contrast to their calm, cool, and collected daughter competing on the floor, beam, and bars.
Berkley Rothmeier, the GoFundMe campaign's creator, wrote that Rick and Lynn "deserve some time to relax and unwind" after displaying their "enthusiasm, stress, and commitment" for Raisman, who won second place at the women's gymnastics individual all-around, among other honors. As of this writing, the campaign reached $170 of its $500 goal.
Rothmeier said in an interview with TODAY that she and her husband were engaged in sports back in college, and they know personally how stressful competitive sports can be. Rothmeier said she loves how Raisman's parents naturally showed their commitment and investment in their daughter's chosen field.
She added, "So often athletes, coaches, and the rest of their support systems are so stoic we forget just how hard they work and how special they are." Rothmeier said she would donate the money raised by the campaign to USA Gymnastics if she doesn't manage to reach the Raisman couple.
Raisman's parents were fully aware of their nervous reaction viral video at the Rio Olympic Games. In an interview with People, Lynn revealed that she laughed when she saw their jumpy reactions on the video.
"I was probably more nervous than Aly. Our family had always loved the Olympics, long before Aly told me that this was what she wanted to do," Lynn told the news outlet. She said having your daughter compete in the Olympics is an "absolutely amazing" experience, but with it comes heaps of pressure and nerves.
Thinking about the amount of years spent in training, with it coming down to only a few seconds on the floor, beam, and bars, made it a nerve-wracking experience for the Raismans. That stress, however, was worth it and they feel grateful to be one of those parents who get to witness their children's "dreams come true so clearly."
