Every time the Summer Olympics happen, I am so excited because it's a huge time in the sport of Gymnastics. But it was also the time when I missed the sport the most.
I did gymnastics for 11 years of my life. I grew up going to practice and the gym was my second home. A lot of my childhood memories are connected to gymnastics.
But eventually, I quit. It wasn't because I hated the sport or anything, it was because I was always getting injured.
It's what happens in gymnastics. So I quit and never got to have one last practice. It was weird being home and not at the gym. It was weird not going to practice for 15 hours a week. I tried other sports but it wasn't the same.
The Summer Olympics happened the summer before I started college and I fell in love with the sport just as I always did. And then I went to college. And like most freshmen (or college students), I went to the club fair. I went out to where the club sports were to see what sports my school had and ended up spotting the table for club gymnastics.
I ended up talking to the club president, who told me that all skill level are welcomed to join. I went to the first meeting and then the first practice. It almost felt like going home the first time I stepped back in the gym.
It wasn't the same gym, but it didn't matter.
I hadn't done gymnastics in five-ish years, so I was rusty, to say the least. Everyone was super nice and no one cared that I was bad and had to gain back many skills. I loved going to practice and getting my clothes all chalky from the bars. I loved trying new tricks and falling onto mats whenever I failed. I loved being apart of an amazing team.
I loved getting to compete and loved that two of my best friends came to watch.
I felt like myself getting to do the sport I loved again when I was in the unsettling stage of college (the time when you are trying to figure out your life and find your friend group). It was almost like I found part of me that got lost.
I'm so glad I returned to gymnastics. I might not be good, I might have gotten injured again and I won't be able to do it once I graduate, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
It's worth it to return to a sport even if you quit many years ago.
