From Occupational Therapy to the Podium: My Gymnastics Journey

Me At UGA Invite In Jan of 2024 I was the bars champion with a 9.725 in XCEL Platiumn

When I was seven years old, my parents signed me up for a class at IK Gymnastics. At the time, it wasn’t about gold medals or state titles; it was about addressing physical challenges like coordination, balance, and crossing the midline that how I started gymnastics beccause I struggled to cross my midline. My parents enrolled me in an occupational therapy program that just happened to be disguised as gymnastics.

They didn’t know it then, but they were handing me the keys to my future. I instantly fell in love with the sport. There is a specific kind of magic to flipping. That split second where you feel like you are actually flying. Once I graduated from the program, I moved into recreational classes, and it wasn’t long before my passion demanded more. By 5th grade, I joined my first competitive team at Dreams. I competed Xcel Bronze, made state, and felt the thrill of placing for the first time. I remember it was at

Growing Up in the Gym

The year I headed into 6th grade, I made the jump to Wilmette Gymnastics to compete in their Junior Olympic program. I spent three steady, formative years at Level 4. In 2019, I qualified for the Level 4 State Championships, where I placed 8th on bars—a moment that solidified my love for that event.

By 8th grade, I was balancing Level 4 and Level 5. Then, COVID-19 hit in March 2020. Gyms worldwide closed, and for the first time, I was separated from the sport that grounded me. My team stayed connected through FaceTime, conditioning, and weekly Zoom workouts, but walking back into the gym after months away was a day I’ll never forget. It was a reminder that I never want to take a day in the gym for granted.

High School, Coaching, and Finding My Voice

During my sophomore year, I branched out to try high school gymnastics. It was a new environment, but as the season progressed, I felt the pull back to my roots at Wilmette. That same year, I took on a coaching role at my club. Sharing my passion with younger gymnasts changed everything—I realized that teaching the sport was just as rewarding as competing in it.

By my junior year, I was back at Wilmette, competing as Xcel Gold. That season was a breakthrough. I finally broke the nine-point barrier on both beam and floor, qualified for state, and earned my way to the Region 5 Regionals in Ohio.

The Senior Chapter

My senior season was always going to be emotional. I was ready to soak up every minute. I qualified for state at my very first meet, which lifted the weight of pressure off my shoulders. I even added a new skill—a front handspring front—to my floor routine.

While the season had its challenges, especially on beam and floor where I’d struggled in the past, my bars were better than ever. I placed at almost every meet, became a two-time back-to-back bars champion, and hit a personal best of 9.725.

At my final state meet in April, I missed qualifying for Regionals by just .875. It was a tough pill to swallow, but I chose to find the positive: I scored a 9.1 on bars to place 6th in the state, stuck my vault, and successfully completed my beam series and front handspring front. That night, I watched college gymnastics. Seeing those athletes continue to thrive and overcome their own setbacks gave me the perspective I needed to be proud of my own finish.

Resilience and the Future

When I look at my journey, I think of athletes like Simone Biles, Maggie Nichols, Carly Patterson, and Jordyn Wieber. Whether it was Maggie Nichols finding a new purpose at the University of Oklahoma after missing the Olympics, or Simone Biles courageously prioritizing her safety, these women taught me that success isn't a straight line. It’s about resilience, overcoming setbacks, and refusing to give up when things get hard.

If I could give advice to the gymnasts just starting their journey today, it’s this: Have fun. Scores don’t define you, the process does. It takes time, and you won’t get the skill on the first try, but keep going.

As of today, I am proud to look back and see a 4X state qualifier, a 1X regional qualifier, and a 4-time bar champion. My journey didn't start with natural coordination, but it led me to find my strength, my community, and my lifelong passion. Chasing the path to coach college gymnastics one day. And the best part? I’m just getting started.