Off Topic Introductions Thread (2025 Version)

[skschlag]

Hi! I am the mom of an NCAA MAG gymnast I have been around this sport now for 20 years! I cannot believe he is a senior

 

[AlexandraU16]

Hi I am a mom of 3- currently one competitive gymnast and one preschool gymnast. Oldest tried for a while too but didn’t love it and struggled as her younger sister was moved into higher levels quickly and so moved onto other things.

Middle daughter recently turned 7 and is finishing up her second season competing (xcel bronze last year, now xcel silver) at a small gym that uses xcel instead of compulsories. She started preschool gym at 3.5 and was quickly moved to pre team and team by 5. Since then she has been working hard and making steady but reasonable progress. (no elites, major fast tracking, TOPS/HOPES at our gym or even in our area)

I have always loved gymnastics (didn’t do much myself as a kid) and am a gym nerd through and through. I’ve fallen in love with the technicalities of the sport and learning the deductions and proper shapes etc. I’d love to be a judge someday but since I have little personal gymnastics experience I’d feel unqualified. I try very hard not coach my own daughter and not point out her deductions but I have enjoyed helping parents who ask about their kids’ deductions on gymnastics scoring groups etc.

We are a homeschool family (unrelated to gym) and spend a lot of time hiking, fishing, and generally having a good time in our Appalachian mountains.

 

[CreateMagic]

Hi! I'm a mom of 2, my 10 year old son is competing level 5 division 1 this year (and also next year, because we don't do level 6, and he'll still be too young for 7), and my 6 year old daughter is in rec. I've been coaching gymnastics since I was 15, despite never actually being a gymnast, and is been so fun to share my love of the sport with my kids. My absolutely favorite part of this sport is that it teaches kids patience, delayed gratification and resilience. All things that kids, like my own and myself, with adhd, tend to struggle with naturally. My least favorite part is the expense.

 

[Jerode]

Which does she like better, gymnastics or wrestling?
We have had gymnasts do both, but they eventually choose one or the other.

She is doing gymnastics in PIAA WIPAL. We are one of the districts that have a program.

 

[JBS]

Welcome to the site everyone... ChalkBucket is getting busier again! Help keep the site active by posting whenever you log in!

 

[NGAgym]

Hi! I am a 13 year old diamond. I do a program called NGA and it’s not really called “xcel” it’s just a regular level. I am on track to be a level 9 by 14 and a level 10 by 16. I am currently working on overcoming a mental block. I am also working on aerial back-tuck combo on BB. I currently train 17.5 hours a week(plus privates so more like 19 hours a week)

How I got into gymnastics: my older brother(now 20) was a Boy Scout and the building they had was right next to gymnastics facility. I saw a girl doing sole circles on strap bar and I remember thing and it was so cool. So me, my mom and my dad walked in and 2-3 days later I was a gymnast! I started as a preschool gymnast but then moved up to rec, then a couple months later, I was in preteam. I started competing in level 2 then level 3 then I was going to compete level 4 but then I had to move. I moved but my coach didn’t let me compete level 4 until the last meet, then the pandemic shut my gym down. It opened up 8 months later and I went back to competing.

For my non-gymnastics life: I am in 7th grade and started do homeschooling after 2nd grade. I have so many pets. I did ballet for like 1.5 months but absolutely hated it.

 

[superNova08]

Hi!

I'm a retired gymnast. Was set to compete Xcel Platinum before my body started to give out on me and I had to retire. Once I get my drivers license I intend to get a coaching job. I really enjoy watching college gymnastics and elite gymnastics. I still keep up with all of my skills on a trampoline as we have one in our backyard. Pretty sure I could still do a kip on bars if I wanted to as well.

Non-gymnastics related, I'm 16 (17 in a month!) and set to graduate high school in May. I'll be going to college next year. Yes, I'll be a full year younger than everyone else but that'll be okay. I attend school part-time due to some mental health struggles last year that ended in my being recommended for homeschool. Ultimately we decided on a hybrid option where I take 3 classes at my regular high school and have completed all of my other classes virtually through our alternative school.

 

[mom2newgymnast]

I just realized I haven't introduce myself yet, so here goes.

I joined here when my daughter was just getting started in gymnastic (hence my username) and she's now in her 4th year of level 10 and is a junior in high school. She competed every level except 6 (gym didn't compete 6 at the time, but she did do a full year at level 5) I am sure I am biased, but I think she's a great gymnast, but she hasn't had the success that she had hoped for in level 10. She's had injuries and mental blocks and just struggles, but she persists. She's really wanting to compete in college and had a little interest before the season started, but her results this year haven't been what she hoped for and so not much communication lately. I'm hoping that her post season goes well so teams will start paying more attention to her. Of course I just want her to be happy and I'm just along for the ride.

 

[NutterButter]

Old timer here! I just had to look up my join date of Jan 2013! I found ChalkBucket when my DD was dealing with fear issues with her cartwheel on beam. I think I googled something like “gymnast scared of cartwheel” and found this site. My DD started the sport late, doing a year of Xcel Silver before moving to DP. She graduated as a L9 and did D3 gymnastics for a couple of years before an injury forced her to retire. My DD graduated college last year and we just learned she will be starting grad school at an Ivy League in the fall!

I’ve learned a ton over the years from all the parents, coaches and athletes on this site. This site not only made me a better parent but also saved my sanity more than once in this crazy sport.

 

[GymCAMom]

I was a lurker for a long time before I finally joined in on the fun. This forum has helped me maintain a level head about the sport's progression!

I have been a lifelong lover of the sport. My daughter is currently competing in Xcel Gold and having fun! I check in with her to discuss her training, mental well-being, what she wants, etc. She is a hard worker and a great teammate and she carries that with her to other sports she does outside of competition season.