WAG Go for Platinum or Quit?

[Xcelgymnast_Lynn]

I am currently a 14yo Xcel Gold. I will turn 15 in a few months. I deal with some chronic illnesses, one of those being Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which does cause frequent injuries. I am faced with the dilemma for next season. Realistically, I could probably go Platinum next season... beam might be hard - but I can do it. I just need to figure out what makes the most sense. I am honestly leaning towards quitting, maybe coaching. My body just isn't able to handle it anymore. I also have horrible mental blocks on beam, back tumbling on floor, and the beginnings of one on vault. Here's what I compete currently:

Floor: Front Tuck, FHS step out RO, full turn, split leap wolf jump
Vault: FHS
Beam: Full turn (hit or miss), split jump straight jump (connected), cartwheel (hit or miss), handstand, RO dismount
Bars: kip cast back hip circle cast squat on (all connected), tap swings and half turn dismount

The skills I have that I don't compete:
Floor: Front pike into the pit, 1.5 turn
Vault: 1/2 on, doing yurchenko drills
Beam: not really anything, I struggle here
Bars: high bar kip, toe circle, clear hip with light spot, training flyaway

So my burning question is: Should I try to push Platinum next year, or is it time for me to just quit?

Quitting would give me extra free time, but I love the sport. My joints are struggling with the sport, but I love the sport. Please help.

 

[Greatlakesmom]

Are you competing Gold the next couple of months? If so, I recommend you wait to make a decision. See how you are feeling after this current season ends. You may have a clearer picture in a few months. Both physically and mentally. If you do decide to stop competing, coaching would be a great way for you to continue to stay involved in the sport you love. Best of luck!

 

[observantmom]

I don't know much about Ehlers-Danlos syndrome but I did google it before responding. If you love the sport, could you talk to your coaches about only competing certain events or increasing difficulty in the events you enjoy and not in the ones you have mental blocks with? If you were my daughter, I would tell her not to get caught up on being gold versus platinum level, but rather focus on the individual events and the goals you set for yourself. i.e. does it really need to be a choice between going to the next level and quitting or is there a middle ground that could work?

Also, have you been working with a physical therapist on a regular basis? Working to strengthen your joints and having the coach and PT involved to discuss what movements are best suited to you specifically may help form a strategy so that you can continue to compete and do what you love while trying to remove the most painful physical elements? I'm not sure if that's realistic or not but thought I'd try to share some ideas. I wish you best of luck!!!

 

[Gaby]

Quitting gymnasts sometimes is not a bad choice when your body can’t handle it all. Life has so many options and opportunities , not all just about gymnastics. Maybe you can fall in love with other sports or other activities and become excel at them, because you are still young .

 

[Xcelgymnast_Lynn]

Are you competing Gold the next couple of months? If so, I recommend you wait to make a decision. See how you are feeling after this current season ends. You may have a clearer picture in a few months. Both physically and mentally. If you do decide to stop competing, coaching would be a great way for you to continue to stay involved in the sport you love. Best of luck!

I am competing gold through state in I think May. My mom is pushing for me to be done as she is sick of doctors appointments and injuries.

 

[Xcelgymnast_Lynn]

I don't know much about Ehlers-Danlos syndrome but I did google it before responding. If you love the sport, could you talk to your coaches about only competing certain events or increasing difficulty in the events you enjoy and not in the ones you have mental blocks with? If you were my daughter, I would tell her not to get caught up on being gold versus platinum level, but rather focus on the individual events and the goals you set for yourself. i.e. does it really need to be a choice between going to the next level and quitting or is there a middle ground that could work?

Also, have you been working with a physical therapist on a regular basis? Working to strengthen your joints and having the coach and PT involved to discuss what movements are best suited to you specifically may help form a strategy so that you can continue to compete and do what you love while trying to remove the most painful physical elements? I'm not sure if that's realistic or not but thought I'd try to share some ideas. I wish you best of luck!!!

We've done PT and all sorts of stuff but my joints are just chronically week. If I could, I'd stay in gymnastics just for the bars. The problem is that's way to expensive and my family can't afford it.

 

[observantmom]

We've done PT and all sorts of stuff but my joints are just chronically week. If I could, I'd stay in gymnastics just for the bars. The problem is that's way to expensive and my family can't afford it.

That's a hard situation to be in and it is very expensive. I agree with your potential idea of coaching and maybe your gym would be willing to work out a situation where the money you earn could help offset your gym expenses? Or maybe exploring some school activities that may be a good fit with your background that don't require the money that a club sport does? Poms, Diving, Dance, etc? Maybe that would help fill the void as well! I hope you find an answer that works for all of you!

 

[Xcelgymnast_Lynn]

That's a hard situation to be in and it is very expensive. I agree with your potential idea of coaching and maybe your gym would be willing to work out a situation where the money you earn could help offset your gym expenses? Or maybe exploring some school activities that may be a good fit with your background that don't require the money that a club sport does? Poms, Diving, Dance, etc? Maybe that would help fill the void as well! I hope you find an answer that works for all of you!

I do speech team at school and there is a potential to swim. I can't do poms, diving, or dance, due to the impact. I am going to do my best to wait until the spring to make a full decision but I have to start thinking about my options now.

 

[JPC13]

We've done PT and all sorts of stuff but my joints are just chronically week. If I could, I'd stay in gymnastics just for the bars. The problem is that's way to expensive and my family can't afford it.

As someone with some longstanding joint injuries, I'd suggest you think about doing a lower impact sport. Gymnastics is particularly hard on the body. What about swimming?

However your joints feel now, you need to think about how they're going to feel at 40/50/60.

 

[Xcelgymnast_Lynn]

As someone with some longstanding joint injuries, I'd suggest you think about doing a lower impact sport. Gymnastics is particularly hard on the body. What about swimming?

However your joints feel now, you need to think about how they're going to feel at 40/50/60.

The thing is according to the doctors based on my conditions and age, I shouldn't be able to walk let alone do gymnastics. And with my rapid decline currently, I am expected to be in a wheelchair by the end of high school. I really really want to try and stay in gymnastics for as long as I can. Swimming is definitely something I would consider switching to. Also speech team, scholastic bowl, math team, and key club.

 

[JPC13]

The thing is according to the doctors based on my conditions and age, I shouldn't be able to walk let alone do gymnastics. And with my rapid decline currently, I am expected to be in a wheelchair by the end of high school. I really really want to try and stay in gymnastics for as long as I can. Swimming is definitely something I would consider switching to. Also speech team, scholastic bowl, math team, and key club.

I will say that you're likely to go farther in life by being good at math than just about anything else. It's a fantastic core skillset.

 

[Xcelgymnast_Lynn]

I will say that you're likely to go farther in life by being good at math than just about anything else. It's a fantastic core skillset.

I know that logically. But I just love the feeling gymnastics gives me so much.

 

[B&M's mom]

Believe me when I say that there are other things that will give you that feeling. My daughter had joint issues that ultimately drove her from the sport at age 16. She had tried qualifying elite but her issues prevented her from being successful. She moved to doing L10 only but still had issues. She finally decided to walk away from the sport on the cusp of college. She was able to dive and in her junior year of high school, dove for the first time. She loved it and was able to dive on a D1 team in college. She has no regrets about giving up gymnastics to this day and will tell you how much happier she was diving. Just be aware that if you decide to stop competing, you will likely find something else that brings you as much joy.

 

[TheXcelMom]

I love your grit.
It feels as if you enjoy being in the air. Maybe trampoline and tumbling? the trampoline piece may be less joint impact.
Please check back in and let us know what you ended up doing. I'm sure you'll make it a success no matter what.

 

[Astraea_9]

We've done PT and all sorts of stuff but my joints are just chronically week. If I could, I'd stay in gymnastics just for the bars. The problem is that's way to expensive and my family can't afford it.

It wouldn't cost anymore to stay in for bars only then for all events, so if you can afford to do it all events why not just bars? Platinum does allow event specialists and you should be able to negotiate a deal with your gym to attend only some of the platinum practices since you are doing only bars and that would reduce cost considerably. I believe the meet fees are still the same unfortunately.

 

[Xcelgymnast_Lynn]

It wouldn't cost anymore to stay in for bars only then for all events, so if you can afford to do it all events why not just bars? Platinum does allow event specialists and you should be able to negotiate a deal with your gym to attend only some of the platinum practices since you are doing only bars and that would reduce cost considerably. I believe the meet fees are still the same unfortunately.

My family struggles with paying for my gymnastics. I have to work for it. Bars isn't easy on my joints either so it's kind of either do it all or nothing.

 

[Astraea_9]

My family struggles with paying for my gymnastics. I have to work for it. Bars isn't easy on my joints either so it's kind of either do it all or nothing.

I'm not sure what the costs are but have you considered rhythmic gymnastics instead? It looks much easier on the joints and would let you compete a form of gymnastics. There are several rhythmic gymnastics gyms in my area. I don't think they are as widespread as artistic gymnastics gyms but if you are near a major city probably have an option somewhere nearby.

 

[Xcelgymnast_Lynn]

I'm not sure what the costs are but have you considered rhythmic gymnastics instead? It looks much easier on the joints and would let you compete a form of gymnastics. There are several rhythmic gymnastics gyms in my area. I don't think they are as widespread as artistic gymnastics gyms but if you are near a major city probably have an option somewhere nearby.

Last time I did rythmic gymnastics... I got tangled up in the ribbon, hit in the back of the head with a ball, tripped over clubs, and fell on a hoop. Not sure if its the sport for me LOL

 

[ldw4mlo]

My niece has Ehlers Danlos and POTS. It’s not easy and you need to take care of yourself.

You could do another year of gold. More muscle memory skills, easier

 

[Xcelgymnast_Lynn]

My niece has Ehlers Danlos and POTS. It’s not easy and you need to take care of yourself.

You could do another year of gold. More muscle memory skills, easier

I'm considering event specializing on bars. My favorite and not too hard on my body.