The pressures on young athletes today, many of them brought on or exacerbated by parents, drive young athletes to attain perfection and win by any means necessary. For the young athlete, the challenges of learning how to balance schoolwork, social life, family time, and sports, not to mention other interests they might have, are far more intense and daunting today than they have ever been. This article explores the dangers involved for young athletes as they become involved in sports, including eating disorders and using performance enhancing drugs. Options and potential solutions are also explored, especially those undertaken by former Olympians. (Contains 1 table.)