The Toll of Competitive Gymnastics, Through the Lens of Former Gymnasts

Her feet shake as she stands on the beam, his arms tremble as he pulls himself onto the parallel bars. Both of these sensations are something any competitive gymnast is familiar with-- my parents can attest to that. Competitive gymnastics is a brutal sport, requiring athleticism, grace, and an undiscussed concept-- strong mental health. 

As a child, I always had a fascination with gymnastics. I guess it comes with the package of having two former gymnasts for parents. My father was an artistic gymnast throughout his childhood, but he stopped when he was around 13. My mom, on the other hand, was a rhythmic gymnast who started later, and kept doing gymnastics throughout college. Despite this, I never became an actual competitive gymnast. The most I did was learn how to do cartwheels, handstands, and backbends on the grass of my front yard. But why? If my parents were both competitive gymnasts and enjoyed doing it, why didn’t they push me in the same direction? 

There were many reasons for their decision, the most prominent being that competitive gymnastics takes a toll on your body, is difficult on your mental health, and eats up any sort of time you might have had in your childhood. My mom and dad did gymnastics in the time of the Soviet Union, and Russia is renowned for amazing gymnasts, meaning nobody cut them any slack. The practices were rigorous and fast-paced, and they were pushed to their limits-- and then a bit more. It was a joyful time, and they wouldn’t have traded it for anything. At the same time, they realized when it was time to slow down, especially my mom. She ended up with multiple injuries, and eventually knew it was time to quit for the sake of her health. 

This reminds us of an incident during the Tokyo Olympics this year. The whole country watched-- some with disappointment, some with anticipation-- as a 4’ 8” woman stepped onto the balance beam after shocking the whole world with her decision. When my parents heard about Simone Biles and the choice she made, they knew unequivocally that she made the right decision. They knew, better than many people in the American public, what it meant to be a gymnast, and also what it meant to step back, and take time for themselves. Simone had the pressure of the entire world on her shoulders, and she had been pushing herself to new heights. She’s irreplaceable in gymnastics, but even the biggest names in the game need a break. 

So what does it mean to be a gymnast? It means something different for every person. For my dad, it meant being athletic and flexible, and doing yet another flip off the parallel bars. For my mom, it meant a balance of fitness and grace, creating exquisite combinations of props--balls and ribbons galore!-- and movement. For both, it meant a constant push to be better and be stronger. And for Simone? Only she knows what goes on in her head, but it could be all of this and more. It’s also knowing when to respect your feelings and your body, and take a step back. Gymnastics will always make her heart soar, and she’s contributed so much to this field. Perhaps that’s why the world should put their judgement aside and simply raise their hands in applause for this infinitely powerful woman.