The Olympics showcase heroic and above-average talent that a normal person would only dream of achieving. Olympic gymnasts obtain this talent. Now, looking back at my own gymnastics career, it is safe to say I accomplished nothing in comparison to Simone Biles and Aly Raisman. While they were winning gold medals, I was getting kicked out of practice. Don't get me wrong, I once dreamed of going to the Olympics, but my subpar talent denied me of that. So, here are the expectations every gymnast experiences and the sad reality of them never coming true.
Expectation:
Reality:
You either A. Run the entire length of the floor mat because you forget to tumble. Or B. You find yourself landing on your face instead of your feet.
Note: Both of these happened to me.
Expectation: First Competition
Everyone else.
Reality: First competition
Me.
Expectation:
Reality:
You either A. Miss your hands on your backhandspring and fall straight to the floor. Or B. Are to scared to even attempt this suicidal trick.
99.9 percent of the time, I was answer B.
Expectation:
A perfectly stuck landing.
Reality:
A not so perfectly stuck landing.
When this happens, you know your next practice is going to be hell. Followed by your coach forcing you to stick and stick and probably stick again that same skill, which will only scare you more and leave you crying on the balance beam for hours.
Expectation:
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F08%2F19%2F6360722716656583451319779017_giphy-12.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=242&h=2efd6f9410cec94fe1c1c4d85e8625636678788d7eb55def71f957bb06d47646&size=980x&c=3126949975 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F08%252F19%252F6360722716656583451319779017_giphy-12.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D242%26h%3D2efd6f9410cec94fe1c1c4d85e8625636678788d7eb55def71f957bb06d47646%26size%3D980x%26c%3D3126949975%22%7D" expand=1]
Reality:
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F08%2F19%2F6360722722726975771772798103_giphy-4.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=398&h=948b853e035da5c559ed9132980ce78df28e311be4dfbe2e35f3c0937eb1c090&size=980x&c=2231982510 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F08%252F19%252F6360722722726975771772798103_giphy-4.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D398%26h%3D948b853e035da5c559ed9132980ce78df28e311be4dfbe2e35f3c0937eb1c090%26size%3D980x%26c%3D2231982510%22%7D" expand=1]
Enough said.
Expectation:
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F08%2F19%2F636072272676113992-1590760859_giphy-1.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=737&h=5fd69b53d6935592a500def2577dd97bdbeaa16969fcb471f76a25813ff9b003&size=980x&c=1683825595 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F08%252F19%252F636072272676113992-1590760859_giphy-1.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D737%26h%3D5fd69b53d6935592a500def2577dd97bdbeaa16969fcb471f76a25813ff9b003%26size%3D980x%26c%3D1683825595%22%7D" expand=1]
Reality:
You cannot even flip twice in the air, even if your life depended on it.
Expectation:
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F08%2F19%2F636072274182713248505980047_giphy-7.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=841&h=6cd21e5224cc376520218ee736b9c9bf33881831926b708326ec44ec6e128461&size=980x&c=557332377 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F08%252F19%252F636072274182713248505980047_giphy-7.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D841%26h%3D6cd21e5224cc376520218ee736b9c9bf33881831926b708326ec44ec6e128461%26size%3D980x%26c%3D557332377%22%7D" expand=1]
Reality:
You painfully crash down splitting the balance beam, which causes everyone to cringe and you to slowly roll off and land on the floor in the fetal position.
Expectation:
Reality:
The trick you usually preform amazing never seems to be performed amazing in a competition.
Every gymnast wants to be the best. We all chase perfection, but perfection does not exist. Well, at least not on the average level. There are some highs, but a lot more lows in the sport of gymnastics. And all the times I swore I was going to quit, I never did because something kept me going. Maybe it was my coach screaming at me to do another backhandspring on the balance beam or my best friends getting kicked out of practice with me. Either way, I would not trade the memories for anything and I have gymnastics to thank for them.
For those of you who aren't aware of this truly awesome day, Galentine’s Day was coined by superwoman Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation.
