My Journey Beyond Competitive Gymnastics

The other day, I was reading UNSTOPPABLE by Maggie Nichols and it inspired me to write this article.

I retired from the sport I loved on May 23rd, 2024. Looking back now, saying goodbye was really hard for me. I went from always going to practice to one day just having to find another routine. For many of the athletes who have retired from your sport or anyone who has retired recently, you understand that it is not easy but making this website has helped me stay with the sport.

The End Of A Era

That day marked the end of my competitive gymnastics era, my last practice at my club gym, the last time I put on a leotard, swung giants on the bars, and flipping through the air doing what I loved the most. There is just no other sport that feels that you are flying. Gymnastics had been my whole world, and for such a long time, I did not know how I would live without it. 

What Gymnastics Gave Me

Over the span of my 11 years of doing this sport, gymnastics taught me so much more than skills and routines. It gave me a second home, lifelong friends, countless opportunities, and memories that I will carry with me forever.

The coaches, teammates, and mentors have not only guided me along the way and have shaped not only my skills but who I am as a person. 

My Competition Journey

I competed on the best team at Wilmette Gymnastics for seven years. It was an amazing experience. I started at the age of 7, not sure of where it would take me but it took me to from three teams to three state qualifiers, a regional qualifier, and three bars championships.

To this day I am happy to say that my highest ever was a 9.725. From every leap, turn, and jump has left a mark on me. 

Gratitude for the People Who Made It all possible

Thank you to my Teammates,Coaches, and Everyone along the way.

Throughout my gymnastics career I had the best coaches, thank you for believing and supporting me. You coached me to be better in the gym daily and made me the best gymnast l could be. I may have not been the easiest athlete to coach but your effort and commitment did not go unnoticed. You both made the season so fun, enjoyable, and you were so supportive. The countless effort you put in each one of us to be better did not go unnoticed. The drills, the routine work, and corrections helped me get so much better throughout the season.  am so glad I still get to work alongside you and coach this sport. 

Throught out my gymnastics carrer I struggled with mutiple mental blocks but I couldn’t overcome by myself especially back skills on floor and backhand springs on beam. You cared about me, cheered me on when I was struggling in the gym, cheered me up at a meet, and when I hear NatNat or Nat  in the gym or at a meet that is honestly the best. It motivates me in the gym and at meets. 

Thank you for making my bars and vault routines so much better! These two events have always been my 2 best and still is. I am have so much better on both this season. This was because of all the drills we did on both events and the amount of repetitions we did that helped us with our bars and vault in general.

Thank you for making my Beam and Floor so clean. The  drills, the amount of times we went through routines to make it look good. Could not have learned how to be graceful without doing my routines over and over again. These two event used to be my weakest and I would score real low but this season that changed. I improved on both of them and I became more comfortable and confident on both.

So grateful to get the opportunity to be coached by you. The best season with the best coaches.  Could not have done it without you. 

I also had the best teammates to do this sport with, thank you for being my support system, my hype at the gym, and my little family in the gym. Even though I no longer train alongside you, I continue to cheer you on from afar, grateful for the friendships that will last a lifetime.

Thank you to everyone I met along the way for a photo, autograph, conversation, and even if you got the opportunity to coach me. Forever will cherish all these memories.

A New Chapter, Same Love for the Sport

Looking back, I remember the tears, the triumphs, and the countless hours of practice. Saying goodbye was bittersweet, but it opened a new chapter.

While my time as a gymnast may have ended, gymnastics will always hold a special place in my heart. Today, I remain really involved in the sport. I coach gymnastics, I am a USAG gymnastics judge, and I run a gymnastics website, keeping me connected to this incredible community.

I may not compete in gymnastics anymore, but will always be a part of me.