If you want to scream in frustration, watch a video about the "training" involved in stretching legs so kids can do the splits. They're regularly posted to YouTube by proud parents.

I have no clue how a parent can "proudly" watch their child crying and screaming as someone forces their legs into unnatural positions.

Not to justify it, and I don't have an answer, but won't most sufficiently competitive activities devolve to this in an arms race?

This is exactly where my thoughts converged, too. The abuse is baked in. It seems to me that some people are wired to do anything, absolutely anything, to win. It's fine when adults are making the choice for themselves, it's abhorrent and wrong when the adults are choosing it for children.