Though Raisman hasn’t been inside her high school all year, her friends make a point of staying in touch.
“I’ve actually been surprised because my social life’s been getting better,’’ she said. “Everyone makes more of an effort to see me because I don’t go to school. People text me and it’s nice having them be so supportive.’’
At the traditional Thanksgiving game at Wellesley, Needham’s powder-puff football team let Raisman take a victory lap with them.
“That was nice because I couldn’t play, obviously,’’ she said. “If I didn’t do gymnastics, I would have played, but I didn’t want to risk it. They said they were all bruised and got killed and it was freezing, so …’’
There’s enough risk indoors, where one slipped hand or splattered salto can make Olympus vanish.
“It’s scary, but she seems to do OK with it,’’ said Lynn, who was a gymnast at Newton South High School. “She seems not to let the pressure get to her. She knows how to put it to the side.’’
And how to use the Games as motivation, just as she did four years ago.
“Every day I do think about it when I’m in the gym,’’ Raisman said. “When I think I can’t do it any more, I think about the Olympics and just push myself to keep moving forward.’’
John Powers can be reached at jpowers@globe.com.
