By Leonard Lim

Most teenage girls would probably not need painkillers - and avoid them anyway, because of side-effects like nausea.

But, to national gymnasts Lim Heem Wei, Sarah Ng, and twins Tabitha and Nicole Tay, popping the pills every few months is second nature when they compete because of the high injury rate.

'All of us took painkillers in Doha last week,' said Nicole, who is nursing an ankle injury.

For more The Straits Times stories, click here.