Is is too late for me to join gymnastics?

[MissAbby09]

So I'm 15, I used to gymnastics when I was a lot younger. (started with mom & tot classes, then preschool tumbling, then regular classes in kindergarten & 1st grade) Then we moved and I still loved gymnastics but we could never really find a gym around here. Anywayy, I gues now that I'm 15 I'm finally getting around to starting gymnastics lol. Is it basically too late? lol I'm 5'1 and 95 lbs. I have a lot of leg muscle and I'm working on upper body muscle. I'm quite flexible, also. I'm satisfied with doing this just recreationally, but is there any chance I can become sucessful and do this competitively? I really love this sport.

 

[livelifetumble8dx]

yes of course you can! theres a girl in my preteam class who is turning 15 and she'll be joining the level four comp team next September and started in February! You can do anything if you put youre mind to it. Age is just a number, numbers are math and math sucks!

 

[kgymn]

So I'm 15, I used to gymnastics when I was a lot younger. (started with mom & tot classes, then preschool tumbling, then regular classes in kindergarten & 1st grade) Then we moved and I still loved gymnastics but we could never really find a gym around here. Anywayy, I gues now that I'm 15 I'm finally getting around to starting gymnastics lol. Is it basically too late? lol I'm 5'1 and 95 lbs. I have a lot of leg muscle and I'm working on upper body muscle. I'm quite flexible, also. I'm satisfied with doing this just recreationally, but is there any chance I can become sucessful and do this competitively? I really love this sport.

GO FOR IT!!!! As long as you are happy with doing it recreationally you have nothing to lose. I was a lot like you, I did some gymnastics when I was in elementary school, I quit to do dance (parents wouldn't let me do both, and heaven forbid big sister got pretty costumes and not me! LOL) then when I was also 15 I finally decided I wanted to go back into gymnastics. I was lucky that my coach from when I was younger was very welcoming to my coming back. I was the oldest one at the gym (it was a small gym and only went through level 7) and all my classes had really little girls. It was actually a great experience for me because in addition to learning the skills myself, my coach used me as sort of an assistant coach to help the other girls and explain to them what I found worked best as I learned the same things as them. Before I had to leave due to surgery (not gymnastics related) I was training to compete with the level 5 team. I was 5'7" and not naturally flexible, and my strength was in my shoulders (almost a liability as it impeded my shoulder flexibility.)

It sounds as though your body is more naturally built to your advantage, and if I could do it so can you! You never know until you try and you have realistic expectations so you have nothing to lose.

~Katy

 

[MissAbby09]

Thanks for your input. I'm happy to hear that it's not too unrealistic to try to do this competitively.

 

[cher062]

It's never too late to do things you love no matter what it is. Unfortunatly many Gyms have a different opinion on that. My DD's old gym would recommed either a rec class or Prep Op. But they would say 15 is too old to start. Look around and see what is available. and GO FOR IT!!

 

[MissAbby09]

It's never too late to do things you love no matter what it is. Unfortunatly many Gyms have a different opinion on that. My DD's old gym would recommed either a rec class or Prep Op. But they would say 15 is too old to start. Look around and see what is available. and GO FOR IT!!

I'm in an intertermediate rec class right now. Gym doesn't have a problem with it, I'm just with a lot of younger kids! lol. Thanks for your input.