Is it worth it?

[natalie1333]

Hi everyone! I am 14 years old and in eighth grade. I was in gymnastics when I was younger until I was about 10 in level 6 when I tore a muscle in my knee. My friend wanted me to start gymnastics this summer with her. I decided to give it another go. This is of course an extremely difficult sport, so I think when she realized how much you have to give all the time it made her want to quit. I am used to this, but she has left now. I'm doing Xcel, but I don't know if it is worth it for me to stay in gymnastics. I am the only one who isn't a decent level for my age at the gym I go to. I'll give a overview of my skills:

Vault: Handstand flatback. Working on my handspring on lower mats, but having some trouble with the heel drive.

Beam: Cartwheel, side handstand dismount, jumps & leaps I have down, full turn (sometimes haha) and still working on my forward handstand.

Floor: Roundoff, cartwheel, handstand forward roll, backbend, backbend kickover (usually I can kick over all the way but not every single time), and working on my front tuck. I don't even have any handsprings.

Bars: pullover, back hip circle. Working my squat on.

As you can see, I've lost most of what I could do. I know gymnastics is a sport for little girls though, and people half my age can do more than this. When I'm at practice, I just feel out of place. I know I don't belong, and without my friend there with me I feel more like an outcast more than I ever have. I love this sport, but I am the only one on the prep op team there, and I don't think there are many other girls at other gyms who are in my situation. I feel like people there consider me a waste of time, but I think I would get that vibe any gym I decide to go to. Is it worth it to keep going in this sport? I realize any college scholarships are highly unlikely. Should I just accept the face I am no longer the 10 year old gymnast I was, things are different now, and should I just move on? Would I even have a chance at any competitive career at all? I would hate to do that but I can't help thinking I should move on every time I am at the gym. I haven't learned many new skills at all, I think this is because the coaches are focusing on the girls there who do have potential.

Sorry for such a long post! All feedback is appreciated! I just thought it would be nice to see what opinions other gymnasts had.

 

[Amusibus]

I don't know about competitive, but I did rec as a 10 to 18 year old, then quit. At 29, I went back for about 8 months, just once a week. I relearned my round off backhandspring back tuck on floor without a spot, and a front one and a half twists into the pit and a layout full backward on the trampoline.I relearned my kip and front hip circle. I did learn back a lot of what I once had, in a nice adult rec class where I wasn't embarassed. I did this because I had once loved, and still loved gymnastics. I did learn that an adult's joints just cannot take the pounding anymore like a kid's can. I also have one club foot and a one inch leg length difference. If this old lady, now 41, could do it, then so can you!! You just have to figure out if you want to.

 

[Quadqueen]

I agree with Amusibus...you can do it if YOU want to. If it really bothers you being the only prep-op and being older at your gym, is it possible for you to find another gym? We have LOTS of older girls on prep-op, and you would fit right in, so I'm sure there are other gyms out there that might offer the atmosphere you're looking for.

 

[LiveLoveTumble]

Do you still love gymnastics? If you do, then you should stay. I am in a rec class once a week, and while I am a level above all the other girls, I am also the oldest by a couple years. I was invited to team but had to decline because of financial issues. I sort of feel like I don't fit in, but I don't actually mind it that much, I don't focus on that and just focus on the gymnastics. If you feel like you are not getting enough attention, maybe you could talk the coach about it. For example, if they are not busy with another girl, ask if they could come over and spot you or give you feedback on a skill. You could also look into other gyms and see if they have prep op teams with older girls if there are any others around you. Even if you don't end up switching, you'll see that there are other girls your age who are at your level too. Gymnastics doesn't have to be just for little girls, it's for anyone who loves it! As someone on here (I think cbone) said, no matter how many things are on the "pro" list to quit gymnastics, if "I still love it" is on the "con" list, you'll regret it. Just food for thought

 

[gymgurl]

I quit when I was 10 as well because I broke my arm and then the gym closed down and then the other gym nearby burnt down (I never competed though and was only really level 1 or 2) I quit until I was 15 when I went back to it and 3 years down the track I am level 7. As you were a much higher level you could probably pick everything up much quicker so yeah i'd say its worth a shot

 

[natalie1333]

Thanks for the responses!

Yeah, I do still love gymnastics. I do want to stick with it. I just feel kind of weird being the only 'older girl' at this gym. I don't get much attention from coaches either, maybe a correction here and there, but for the most part any skill I have learned in the past few months is something I taught myself to do. Maybe I just need to find a new gym! I just didn't know if it was that normal to have this set of skills at my age. But now I don't feel as weird! all of this feedback is very much appreciated, so thank you!

 

[Kiwi]

Definitely keep going if you love it! You are still young. I did a bit of rec gym as a kid then gave up at about 13 or 14 and have always regretted that I didn't keep going with it. I started going to adult gym at 43, I am now 46, and there are a lot of limitations on what I can do now because of my much older body. At first I felt very out of place in the gym, but then I competed at the Masters Games (a big sports event for older people) and met a few other older gymnasts, which was great, as I found I am not the only one still doing gymnastics at my age, although we are rare. I'm sure some people think I'm nutty, but I really love gymnastics and enjoy doing it.

Your previous training will help you a lot if you can get the coaching you need. The brain has an amazing muscle memory, things will come back quicker than learning them from scratch. I'm sure you'll get back your handspring and flic-flac. Talk to the coaches to see if you can get the kind of coaching you need, or investigate other gyms if you can't get what you need at your current gym. It would be great if you could find an Xcel team.

 

[T the gymnast :)]

Stick with it!! I'm 13 in 8th grade and I'm not even competing yet!! I have the same skills as you and I know what you mean. It's awkward to be around a bunch of 7 or 8 years olds but youre doing it for the love of the sport!! message me if you ever wanna talk