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.

 

[GymCMLA]

I've been around for over a decade on ChalkBucket.
Mom to 4 gymnasts.
WAG NCAA D3
TNT turned Diver NCAA Division 3
TNT level 8/OP/OP navigating his program folding this coming summer
WAG L8
I was a high school gymnast back in the day and a gym mom since 2002 where it all began in the 1's and 2's class.

 

[bookworm]

Well I'm a real oldie here , at least 12 years and probably more ...I had 2 multi year Level 10s that have been done with the sport for 7-8 years but we were IN it for 16-17 years...200 mile round trip commute for the last 6 years. One competed D1 and that was intense and the other was a successful diver in college (knee ended her gym career).

My oldest is still involved in gymnastics as an NCAA meet coordinator and I go to multiple NCAA meets during the season....the girls and I are getting ready for a whole weekend of NCAA conference championships that we watch 800-2000 miles apart and group text about!

And I still read a ton, hence my name, Bookworm.

PS. I also have a son who was a baseball player.

 

[GymnastMomX2]

Hi I’m a former gymnast, now gym-mom. My first job was as a rec coach, and I did that for several years in HS and college. I was also briefly certified as a level 4/5 judge but then covid hit and I never actually judged a competition and let all my certifications expire. My older daughter is an adult and now retired from gymnastics, and my younger daughter is a level 10.

 

[Gymgirl84]

Hi! I'm a former gymnast (was a late starter and I did gold-like levels for about 5 years until I retired because of a knee injury), then I became a coach, which I've been for about 15 years now. Currently coaching levels close to level 3-5-gold in the US. I've also been a national judge for around 15 years too and now I'm also a gym mom to a 9 year old, level around 3-4. I'm a total gym nerd and love watching/reading anything gymnastics.

 

[Janchen]

Hi all! I‘m a gymnast and coach from Germany. I‘ve been in gymnastics classes since I could walk and still enjoy it over 20 years laters. This year I’m competing all four events again for the first time in over five years. About 10 years ago I started coaching recreational gymnastics. I also do wheel gymnastics. It is a fascinating sport. If you don’t know what it is you should definitely check it out on youtube.

 

[JessSyd]

Feels weird to be posting in an introduction thread when I joined in…(checks profile) 2013! Wow, time flew.

I first joined when my kid was invited out of a rec class and into a development class for four year olds. She’s 16 now, and in her second last year of high school. It’s been a slow journey for her - injuries and two years lost to covid shutdowns - but she did level 8 last season and will repeat it again this season (and next season). She’s basically in a low-hours holding pattern right now, maintaining skills and strength while focussing on the crunch-time years of school. (Do not get me started on the requirements for University entrance in Australia. They’re about as fair as that sort of thing can be, but they’re tough on the kids). She’s an accredited beginner judge and will do the intermediate course when she has time to study for it.

I found this site because it was listed under ‘want to know more’ in the orientation pack I was given when my kid went into the development class.

My journey has gone from suspicious about gymnastics (no daughter of mine is going into an eating disorders sport) to incredulous gym mum (what do you mean six hours a week - that’s crazy talk) to anxious gym mum (yeah but will she move up with her friends) to crazy gym mum (that gym made all the mothers crazy) to chill gym mum. Then it took an unexpected direction when I trained as a judge. Here, gyms need to provide a judge for every session they have a girl in at competition. Usually it’s a staff member but gym was short staffed, so as someone who clearly has an interest in the sport, I was approached. It’s fun, and it feels like a way of giving back to the sport a bit.

 

[Deleted member 30712]

Let's get the conversation going with some simple introductions. Tell us about yourself.

I'll start.

My wife and I are gymnastics coaches. We have 3 children that are all gymnasts. One in the NCAA at the US Air Force Academy (she was a 7 year L10).... one daughter that is a senior in high school that is a L10... and a son that is an 8th grader and a L9. We all enjoy gymnastics.

I started ChalkBucket in 2005 as a place for everyone to learn more about gymnastics!

Please remember... this is a public site... so only post what you want everyone to see.

I am a talented gymnast known for my impressive skills and dedication to the sport. With years of training and hard work, I have made a name for myself in the gymnastics world, showcasing both strength and grace in my performances. My passion for gymnastics and commitment to excellence have earned my recognition, and I continue to inspire others with my athleticism and perseverance. I am a 4 time Individual Invitational gymnast and 10 time team Invitationals for gymnast team.

 

[catchingupmom]

I'm a Canadian (I know possibly not popular in the USA at the moment, ha!) gym mom. Thank you to Chalk bucket, I've gotten a lot of support when needed and learned so much! I have two kids (one boy one girl) and my daughter has done gymnastics for 8 years. Wasn't even on my radar, a friend invited her to do recreational gym with her at age ten and the rest is history. Currently an 18 year old level nine, competing for six years now. DD took the semester off of university to concentrate on what may possibly be her last year of gymnastics (decision probably depends on her progress this summer) and as a result will go to nationals for the first time this year. So incredibly proud of the non-score outcomes she's had over the years. She also did track and now is coaching both gymnastics at her gym and track and field at her old high school (insert her maniacal laugh over the conditioning she will be inflicting on that team). Son does archery, I'm so glad I was the mom to a high achiever first, as he's not as high scoring most of the time, and helping her work through disappointment has helped me to not take it too seriously and focus more on the experience. I feel I've grown right alongside my DD on this journey!

 

[LydiaN]

Hello.
I am the parent of 10 year old twins both in competitive gymnastics. My daughter is currently finishing up her season in XG, and my son finishing up his first year in level 5. We currently live in San Antonio, TX. We are a military family and looking at a move next summer so I thought this may be a good resource for getting some insight at other gyms when the time comes.

Lydia

 

[Mr.Bishop]

Hello! I have a daughter that was very much into competitive Gymnastics but recently stopped doing it. I'm hoping she gets back into it, and I can't really figure out why she stopped. Anyway, just a parent who cares and hopes to get back on the Pommel Horse.