Anon Feeling very behind and comparing myself to others, does anyone else feel this way? (also kind of a vent, sorry)

[Anonymous (2763)]

Hii I'm not sure how this works lol I just joined this website today haha

I'm 14 (turning 15 in less than an hour actually lol) and I sometimes feel bad abt myself when I see ppl my age or even younger than me doing skills that are out of this world meanwhile the hardest thing I can do is a roundoff bhs (and my bhs form is not great either). There are also so many ppl my age and younger competing internationally and I have never even been to a competition nor made it to a competition team.

I haven’t gone to a gymnastics class since I was 11 mainly because this coach said something to me which discourages me after I went on an elite competitive team trial, it didn’t even have anything to do with my skills, it was because I was shy and I had trouble making eye contact.

I’ve just always wanted to make a name for myself in this sport and knowing if I didn’t stop doing it for years I would’ve been a lot better, especially as every gymnastics club I have been to, coaches have noticed I am more cut out for advanced competition teams instead of beginners classes (somehow I have never made it to one). I’m starting to like gymnastics more now and I’m on the waiting list for a new gym but I always think it’s too late to achieve what I’ve always wanted to achieve. Being in the women’s artistic squad. I have a great passion for gymnastics and a lot of knowledge on it but I would not say I’m amazing. For all the years I’ve done gymnastics I’ve been told by many people am really good and like my aptitude but I’m never satisfied with how I’m doing no matter how hard I work. I know this doesn’t come overnight but I’m annoyed because I get so many mental blocks which have become a massive hindrance to my progression over the years

I’m also really worried with how I’ll look in the class at my new gym because even though they recommended me in a class with people aged 10 and over I’m worried I’m going to be much older than everyone and just look out of place. I’m also like 5’5 or 5’6 so I’m worried ppl will look at me strange or see me as an adult because in the uk, aged 16 is an adult and i don’t know if i will ever have enough time to progress to a high level and make it out of the recreational classes because i so badly want a career in this sport.

 

[Anonymous (7413)]

I don’t know a lot about European and UK gymnastics, but I do know that there is far more opportunity for an average or even beginner teen or adult gymnast there than there is here in the U.S., where insurance rules make it difficult to continue past age 18 outside of NCAA or elite gymnastics.

Not only do you have the opportunity to do club gymnastics when and if you go to college, but there’s also team gym (at least in continental Europe), which seems to attract more teens and young adults. Here in the U.S., it’s very much an up-or-out model by high school, although some gyms take girls at your level for xcel and some states have high school teams that take novices.

Please don’t give up. A career in the sport doesn’t just mean going to the Olympics. There are careers that would keep you in gymnastics in coaching, training, PT/physio, nutrition, medicine, etc. You sound realistic and like you’ve seized the opportunities you have had, so don’t beat yourself up- see yourself as persistent and passionate and think about how those qualities will help you in the future.

 

[Anonymous (42b4)]

I started gym at 12 and I didn't make it to a high level, but I did manage to compete at a decent level (kinda excel gold-platinum) and had super good results at the level I competed. I used to train and compete with girls 3-4 years younger than me, but it wasn't a problem for me. I competed since I was 15 yo until I was 20, when I injured my ACL and retired from competition, I still trained a bit the next few years and I became a coach and judge, which I still am.