Gymnast Salute: My Life Flipping Through The Air Preview

I am so excited to share my gymnastics story with all of you. Gymnastics became a really big part of my life and many people don’t know but I did not start gymnastics the normal way typically just jump into a mommy and me class at the age of 2.

My story took a different path,  I started as Occupational Therapy at IK gymnastics  because I struggled with crossing my midline. This is what introduced me to the sport of gymnastics to teach me how to overcome that challenge. Later I went to Dream Gymnastics to compete for XCEL Bronze. Finally, I trained at Wilmette Gymnastics  for level 4 and level 5, ending with me competing for XCEL gold and Platinum. Every gym door that I walked into the coaches, teammates, and everyone who I got the pleasure to get coached by has made me who I am today so thank you. 

Once I successfully graduated from the program at IK, I started doing recreational classes.  As my skills improved, I started moving up the class levels and looking back on it was pretty fast. I joined my first competitive team at Dreams in 5th grade. I did Xcel Bronze, made state, and placed a few times that season. For the following competition year I went to Wilmette since the head supervision there saw me at a Xcel Bronze meet during my season and wanted me to compete for their team Wilmette Gymnastics so that following season I made the switch to Wilmette Gymnastics in their Junior Olympic Program (which if you don't know it is level 1-10). 

I started the sport of gymnastics at the age of 7 and right away I fell in love with the sport that feels like you are flying . Before I knew it, this turned into my whole life. I began competing in the sport of gymnastics when I was in 5th grade until I was a senior in high school. I am not shy of the competition field and I grew up flipping in the gym from every cartwheel to every double back off bars it became everything I ever knew. I want to do my best to continue inspiring the next generation of gymnasts. I may not be on the competition floor anymore but I started sharing my passion for gymnastics in the role of coaching 4 years ago. It made me realize that I enjoy it as much as competing. 

I am proud to say that since I retired from the sport in May of 2024 I am happy to share that I am a 4x State Qualifier, a 2023 regional qualifier, a 3x bar champion and one of those bar scores being a 9.725 my highest ever. In the following chapter I hope you hear and learn some of the ways I stay involved with the sport that I don't know who I would be if I did not start when I was 7. 

There is nothing more amazing than watching the joy of athletes that you have helped show what the sport of gymnastics really is. Most people say it is the hardest sport to do and they are right. During my gymnastics career, I was hit with dreadful mental blocks, comparing myself to others, and surviving in a sport that is based on being perfect. This sport has taught me many lessons, it gave me a second home, lifelong friends, opportunities and memories I will cherish forever. I could not have had better coaches, teammates, and everyone I met. Leading, guiding, and learning from you have made me who I am today. 

If you thought I was leaving the gymnastics scene for real after I retired well you were wrong and I am never leaving. I  may not be on the floor but from any perspective. I am being a part of the sport that I have given me so much. I have a big passion in being a role model to the younger athletes. 

I found many ways to stay connected to this sport and the amazing coaching that has given me a second family. I have got the opportunity to become a gymnastics judge. Not only am I watching the sport I love, I am making an impact in the gymnasts' lives. I have increased my platform to being able to connect with the gymnastics community on a larger note with my website I created during my senior year of high school called gymnast salute since I wanted to find another to stay connected and involved to this incredible sport. I have added some of the articles and interviews that I have written for my website that I hand picked to make it into this book. 

When something that you have done since you were seven comes to an end and you have to move on you feel lost since it is something that you grieve since it was such a big part of your life. 

 I hope you will flip the page and come with me as I tell my story  about gymnastics. As we dive into these next few chapters, I hope this can  paint a picture of my gymnastics journey. Showcasing my passion, love, dedication, and hard work through the sport of gymnastics from OT, to rec classes, to team, to a 2-time bars champion, to coaching, finally through judging, and seeing how I overcome struggles.  

This is my story: from walking into the gym for the first time, to competing, to overcoming injuries and challenges, to bringing success, too, despite my challenges, giving back to the sport I love so much. I found myself looking back on my gymnastics story, how it all started, and realizing how far I have come.   

Some advice I would give to current and future gymnasts would be to have fun with gymnastics and your team; scores don't matter, it's the process that matters, it will take time, and you may not get it on the first, but always keep going with things that get hard.    

At the time of reading this book, I am currently a rising junior at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and I am majoring in Physical Education. I hope to continue giving back to the sport of gymnastics, inspiring athletes, leading, guiding, mentoring athletes through the sport I am so passionate about. 

I am hoping to release the full book soon but hope u enjoy the preview

Forever and always a gymnast, 

XOXO, NatNat