Parents When did you “know”?

[NYCMom]

To parents of Level 10/elite/college gymnasts- I am curious if there was a moment or a season or a level when you became pretty certain that your daughter had what it takes to get that far. I know there are so many uncertainties in this sport and as someone whose daughter is just starting optionals, nothing can be guaranteed beyond today, so I’m really not trying to apply any predictions to her future. I am just curious, looking back, was there a skill, or a meet, or a finished season, or something else, that you think was the turning point in your daughter’s career when you (and she) started believing or realizing that level 10/college/elite was a realistic goal? Would love to hear stories!

 

[Dahlialover]

This is such a smart way to ask this question! I’d also love to hear from people who thought they knew and then realized that it wasn’t going to happen like they expected.

 

[Ty’s Dad]

Call it weird, but I knew when my daughter was a level 7 she would become an elite and get a full scholarship, to the point where I was going back-and-forth with people on this group about it. When her scores changed from 33AA to 38+AA and she really was loving the sport at that point we knew.

 

[GymnastMomX2]

My daughter will be competing level 10 for the first time this year (knock on wood), she should have competed 10 last year but got injured and had a major surgery that knocked her out for 6+ months.

There was never really a moment for me, I honestly never thought she would make it this far, between all the injuries she’s had, and fear/mental blocks she’s overcome on beam, she surprises me every year. Her goal is D1 gymnastics and while I think it’s possible, I’m also realistic and know it’s a long shot and staying healthy/injury free is not a given.

Ok if I had to pick a moment it might be when she sent me a video of her doing a bar routine for the first time last month. That’s when I was like ok maybe she can compete level 10. (At least on one event.. lol)

 

[NutterButter]

My situation is a little different because my DD was D3 but I did have a moment where I knew. Junior year - the time between Westerns and early summer. She gained a lot of new skills in a short amount of time. While I knew my DD would still likely be L9 for her senior year, she was getting the right skills with the right start value to at least get some attention from D3 coaches. Given her late start in the sport she really never seriously considered D3 as a possibility.