WAG Moving to Europe

[GymMom88]

My husband's job is relocating our family to Europe for a 2-3 year period. We have two daughters in gymnastics (an 11 years old training Level 7 & an 8 years old training Level 5). They both train roughly 16-20 hours/week. We want to keep the girls in competitive gymnastics while abroad, so they can easily transition back to their US gym when we get back. We have the choice to live anywhere in Europe, but have narrowed it down to major cities in Belgium, Luxembourg, France, or Switzerland. We need to be close to trains/airports so my husband can travel for work.

Does anyone have any insight into how competitive gymnastics works in Europe.... are the 'levels' the same as the US? Do they train as many hours? Any stand out gyms we should be looking at? Really any insight or advice anyone has to help us with our gym search would be appreciated!!

 

[Coach Kate]

This was a very long time ago, but my best friend from college had a similar situation when she was a teen. Her family lived in Germany for a year or two and her and her younger sister were both optional level gymnasts back in the US. I'm not totally sure how it worked, but they did gymnastics in Germany and she at least felt she could compete to her strengths better than she could in the US, as the levels and skills/requirements were different. Her sister went on to qualify to western states after they moved back. Overall, she says it was a great experience and she ended up going back to Germany as an au paire after college, and several more times to visit.

The levels will definitely be different. I hope someone can help you out with finding specific gyms.